Bezpalov moves the dyno torch around so they can see: THE WALL OF THE DUCT.
Water continues to slowly fill the space
Ananenko moves slowly toward the wall... the two other men following along in a chain...
When they get to the wall, Ananenko grabs hold of a PIPE. There are SIX pipes running along the wall. He counts down... first, second, third, fourth.
Fourth. That's the one that leads to the sluice gate. He begins FEELING HIS WAY forward, hand over hand, never losing contact with the fourth pipe...
...and the others follow in the near darkness.
whir whir whir...
EXT. CHERNOBYL - VICINITY OF THE HATCH - SAME 302
Pikalov, Shcherbina and Legasov stand waiting. No one says a word. Then Shcherbina checks his watch.
Legasov says nothing. Just keeps staring at the hatch.
SHCHERBINA Is it possible the water has already killed them?
LEGASOV
Yes.
SHCHERBINA So then what?
(beat) If it doesn't work?
Legasov doesn't answer. Because there is no answer.
INT. DUCTS - SAME 303
Dark. It's deeper here. And emerging from the pitch black...
...the three men. Holding tight to each other. Following that single pipe. Their only hope. The barest of light coming from Bezpalov, whose hand is getting tired.
The pulsing of the torch is lower... lower...
They get closer to us. Closer. Closer. Breathing louder. Water rising up to their WAIST. And then:
A JARRING NOISE
REVERSE TO SEE: in the darkness, Ananenko has walked right into the CLOSED SLUICE GATE. His MASK is knocked askew.
BARANOV - moves quickly. Adjusts the mask back onto Baranov's face.
whirwhirwhirwhirwhir
Breathe. You're okay. Look. We did it. We found the gate.
On the sluice gate - TWO RUSTY WHEEL VALVES on either side. Ananenko wades to one. Bezpalov gives Baranov the dyno torch, and moves to the other.
The valves look as if they have never been turned.
If they can't open them, then this was for nothing. The men put their hands on the valves.
Look at each other. And then: THEY PUT their all into it... and before we can even see if the wheels budge--
304 EXT. CHERNOBYL - VICINITY OF THE HATCH - LATER 304
Shcherbina paces. Pikalov stares at the ground. Legasov stares silently at the hatch.
And then: a noise... loud enough that it can be heard even from here. A heavy THUMP THUMP THUMP on the hatch.
Soldiers rush over. Open the hatch.
BEZPALOV emerges. Soaked from the waist down, and SHOUTING in triumph.
The soldiers BURST into cheers and applause as Baranov and Ananenko follow Bezpalov out...
Legasov, Shcherbina and Pikalov all slump with relief. They did it. Shcherbina motions to Pikalov, who immediately heads toward some military firemen.
PIKALOV
Bring the hoses in. Start pumping.
Shcherbina CLAPS Legasov on the shoulder. Beaming.
SHCHERBINA Look. Look at our boys!
ON THE THREE - surrounded by cheering soldiers. They look absolutely fine. Bezpalov takes a swig of vodka.
It's a jubilant scene, but Legasov looks as if he's going to throw up.
LEGASOV Get them to the doctors.
Legasov walks away. Shcherbina absorbs that, then looks back at the scene. The men continue to hug and congratulate the divers and each other, even as the military firefighters bring in the pump hoses...
Ananenko catches sight of Shcherbina. The man who told him it must be done.
The smile fades from Ananenko's face. Replaced with the simple pride of a man who knows he may have just given his life to his people.
He raises a bottle to Shcherbina, and Shcherbina solemnly nods back.
305 EXT. NOVAYA BASMANAYA STREET - MOSCOW - AFTERNOON 305
A large, imposing stone building set back from the street. Two stories, with tall windows in orderly rows.
LYUDMILLA, the firefighter's wife, enters frame, carrying her dingy suitcase. A country mouse far from home.
She stops in front of the building. Looks up at it. She's never felt so small or afraid in her life.
TITLE:
APRIL 30, 1986 HOSPITAL NUMBER 6, MOSCOW
306 INT. HOSPITAL NUMBER 6 - MOMENTS LATER 306
Lyudmilla approaches the receptionist at the front desk.
The receptionist, YENINA, 30, is filling out some paperwork. Lyudmilla just stands there, waiting silently.
Finally, Yenina STAMPS the paperwork, removes her reading glasses, and:
YENINA
Yes?
Lyudmilla dutifully recites what the military officer told her to say.
LYUDMILLA I'm here to see my husband, Vasily Ignatenko. He's a firefighter from Chernobyl. I have permission.
YENINA
Chernobyl? I'm sorry. No visitors.
LYUDMILLA But-- Major Burov, he told me-- he said—
YENINA No exceptions.
LYUDMILLA Please-- I came all the way from Kievskaya oblast...
Yenina is unmoved. Just keeps staring.
Lyudmilla puts her suitcase down, and opens her purse. Digs out some crumpled MONEY. Holds it out silently to the receptionist.
Yenina looks at the money, then grabs a small slip of paper, selects a STAMP from her wheel, and— TWHACK. Stamps a visitor's pass.
She takes Lyudmilla's money, and hands her the pass.
307 INT. HALLWAY - RADIATION WING - MOMENTS LATER 307
Lyudmilla walks down the hall with her suitcase and her stamped pass.
She sees a DOCTOR, VETROVA, 30's, wearing a cloth face mask.
LYUDMILLA
Excuse me?
Vetrova turns. Surprised to see a visitor. She lowers her face mask.
VETROVA
Who are you? What are you doing up here?
LYUDMILLA I have a pass.
VETROVA
You can't be here. It's not safe. Lyudmilla starts into her recitation.
LYUDMILLA I'm here to see my husband, Vasily Ignatenko. He's a firefighter from--
VETROVA
I know who Ignatenko is, but you can't.
Lyudmilla tries to hold back her tears. It's not working.
LYUDMILLA But I have permission. I have--
Lyudmilla opens her purse once more. There's not much left.
Vetrova realizes what Lyudmilla's doing. Oh god. She puts her hand on Lyudmilla's. No need for that...
VETROVA (reluctant) You can have thirty minutes with him. Not a minute more.
Lyudmilla, relieved, nods.
VETROVA
And you cannot touch him. In any way. Do you understand?
LYUDMILLA
Yes.
The doctor hesitates, then:
VETROVA
Room 15.
LYUDMILLA (overwhelmed) Thank you.
As Lyudmilla starts to walk down the hall—
VETROVA
You're not pregnant, are you? Lyudmilla stops. Turns back to the doctor.
LYUDMILLA
No.
The doctor nods. Go on then.
308 INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY / ROOM 15 - MOMENTS LATER 308
Lyudmilla rounds a corner. Room 12... 13... 14... Room 15. She screws up her courage, and then pushes the door open.
REVEAL: the FIREFIGHTERS... Vasily sitting up on one bed, Kibenok and Pravik sitting side-by-side on the other.
Pravik is hooked up to an IV. And they're each in hospital pyjamas. Skin reddened, as if sunburned. But otherwise?
They're fine. Playing cards, in fact. Pravik looks up.
PRAVIK
Look who the cat dragged in. Vasily sees Lyudmilla. A big grin breaks out on his face.
VASILY
What did I tell you? There's no hiding from this woman...
The firefighters laugh. Vasily rises as Lyudmilla drops her suitcase and RUSHES into his arms, hugging and kissing him as she weeps for joy.
VASILY Ow ow... easy! Easy!
She backs off slightly, but just keeps sobbing on him.
VASILY
It's okay. Shhh, Lyusya, shhh. I'm okay. We're all okay...