SHCHERBINA I know the job isn't over. But it's the beginning of the end.
The beginning of the end? Legasov looks up. A strange look of pity on his face. And then... he slowly shakes his head.
No.
The smile fades from Shcherbina's face, and: KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK on the door. Shcherbina crosses over and opens it. A soldier is standing there.
SOLDIER
I'm sorry to bother you, Deputy Minister, but— it's the miners.
Shcherbina looks back at Legasov. What now?
335 EXT. REACTOR SITE - MOMENTS LATER 335
Legasov and Shcherbina follow the soldier through the work site, under the glare of FLOODLIGHTS. They walk around a truck and stop dead, as they see:
THE MINERS - working. Digging, emptying the carts, doing their job.
In the nude.
Well, they have their shoes on. And their paper hats. But otherwise? Completely naked.
Legasov and Shcherbina just stare dumbstruck. And then they sees GLUKHOV, as naked as the others.
Legasov raises a hand to him. "May we have a word?"
Glukhov walks over to them. Zero self-consciousness.
GLUKHOV
What?
Legasov isn't quite sure what to say.
GLUKHOV
They won't give us fans, and it's too hot for clothes. So we're digging the old way. This is how our fathers mined.
Oh.
GLUKHOV
We're still wearing the fucking hats. What do you need?
LEGASOV
You aren't as protected without— GLUKHOV
Are you telling me it will make a difference?
Legasov hesitates. Then remembers who he's dealing with. Shakes his head. No. It won't.
Which is what Glukhov expected. He looks back at his men, then turns to Shcherbina.
GLUKHOV
When this is over-- will we be taken care of?
Legasov and Shcherbina say nothing. There's no point in lying to this man.
Glukhov stares back at them in disgusted disappointment.
Then without another word, he heads back to the tunnel. Naked. And resigned.
336 INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT 336
A pen writes in Cyrillic in a notebook. Half a page of notes. The other page full. Six or seven pages behind that one. The pen underlines something. Then:
KHOMYUK stops writing. Looks at Toptunov.
KHOMYUK
So the power level jumped from 200 to 400 megawatts.
TOPTUNOV Yes. Very fast.
KHOMYUK
Why didn't you press the AZ-5 button and shut the reactor down?
TOPTUNOV
We did. I reported the increase to Akimov— and he pressed the button.
Khomyuk puts her pen down.
KHOMYUK That's not possible, Leonid.
He turns to her. Grunting in pain from the effort.
TOPTUNOV
He did. I saw him do it. I swear. And that's when it exploded.
She leans back. Utter disbelief. Silence, then:
KHOMYUK
What?
TOPTUNOV I wasn't supposed to be there.
(tears in his eyes) It wasn't supposed to be me.
Khomyuk can only stare in shock.
Vetrova enters with a nurse, who wheels a tray of medicine.
VETROVA
I'm sorry, he needs rest now. Khomyuk rises.
KHOMYUK
Of course.
(mind spinning) Which room is Akimov?
VETROVA
337 INT. HOSPITAL ROOM 27 - LATER 337
CLOSE ON - Khomyuk's notebook. She finishes writing "pressed AZ-5, large jolt, then explosion" (Cyrillic).
REVEAL - Khomyuk sitting in a different chair. Akimov's room. We never see Akimov. He remains off-camera. But we HEAR him. A terrible, rattling breath.
Khomyuk's face tells us all we need to know about what Akimov must look like. There is terrible pity for him. And horror at what he is suffering.
KHOMYUK
Thank you, Comrade Akimov. You should rest now.
She gets up to leave, sick to her stomach and on the verge of tears. And we stay CLOSE on her as she HEARS him... his awful voice... pained and confused and heartbreaking.
AKIMOV (O.S.) We did everything right... we did everything right...
338 INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS 338
Khomyuk emerges from Akimov's room. Cold sweats. She chokes back the nausea. Breathe... breathe... easy, easy...
She begins walking down the hallway, trying to absorb what has become of these men. And what they've told her.
Breathe. Breathe. You're okay.
She turns a corner, then STOPS short. What is she seeing?
REVEAL - she is right in front of the door into VASILY IGNATENKO'S room. She looks through the window.
IN THE ROOM - Lyudmilla is sitting inside the protective plastic sheeting.
She is saying something to her husband that we cannot hear. She touches him with her left hand. But her right hand is held gently on her belly. She's smiling.
Khomyuk stares in utter shock, then BARGES INTO:
339 INT. ISOLATION ROOM - CONTINUOUS 339
She FLINGS the plastic slats aside and GRABS Lyudmilla by the wrist.
KHOMYUK
Get up!
Khomyuk PULLS Lyudmilla from the chair, and begins DRAGGING her by the wrist toward the door.
VASILY
Lyusya?
LYUDMILLA
LET ME GO!
VASILY
Lyusya?
But Khomyuk keeps DRAGGING, pulling Lyudmilla out into the hallway...
LYUDMILLA (screaming) STOP IT! STOP IT!
VETROVA comes running over, drawn by the noise.
KHOMYUK
You let her in that room? Inside the plastic? Touching him?
VETROVA LYUDMILLA
What did I tell you? It's not true!
KHOMYUK Did you know she's pregnant?
Vetrova absorbs that in shock. Gapes at Lyudmilla.
VETROVA What have you done?
Lyudmilla, scared, starts to cry. Shaking her head. No. Nothing. Nothing...
VETROVA (again, terrified) What have you DONE?
Khomyuk lets go of Lyudmilla. Turns on Vetrova.
KHOMYUK
What kind of place is this? Where is her protection? Do you have ANY IDEA what you're dealing with?
VETROVA
Of course I do. Please, I don't want--
KHOMYUK
No. People are going to hear about this.
VETROVA
Wait--
KHOMYUK
People are going to hear! You understand? Everyone is going to hear!
The BLOND MAN steps in her path, stopping her short.
BLOND MAN What is everyone going to hear?
Khomyuk knows instantly what this is. And that she's made a terrible mistake. Only one way out of this.
KHOMYUK
I'm here on behalf of the official Chernobyl commission. I have been authorized by Valery Legasov to—
She glances behind her, sensing ANOTHER MAN arriving from the other direction. Standing behind her now.
KHOMYUK
You can check this. My name is--
BLOND MAN We know who you are.
(and again) What is everyone going to hear?
340 EXT. KREMLIN - MORNING 340
The sun rises over Moscow... TITLE:
MAY 7, 1986
341 INT. KREMLIN HALLWAY - MORNING 341
The same room we saw when Legasov first arrived at the Kremlin.
And he's sitting in that little chair again. Waiting. This time, an empty chair next to him.
A moment, then SHCHERBINA arrives. Sits down next to Legasov.
SHCHERBINA You have your notes?
LEGASOV
Yes.
Shcherbina seems preoccupied. Then:
SHCHERBINA Khomyuk was arrested last night.
LEGASOV
What? Why?
SHCHERBINA I don't know.
LEGASOV
Was it-- ?
SHCHERBINA Of course it was. I'm working on it.
LEGASOV Boris, I can't—
SHCHERBINA I'm working on it. What else do you want from me? (beat)
Fix your tie, for god's sake.
Legasov has no choice but to accept this. And attempt to fix his crooked tie. Then: