I'm Yermakov, Ivan
And he was John
So we're kind of namesakes
We met in the summer of 2001
For two months I'd been locked up
in the village of Verkhny lskhoi by Aslan Gugaev
Back then, none of our lot had heard of him
His detachment wasn't that big
There were three of us there
Me, Fedka and a Jew a commercial
A businessman from Vladikavkaz
Called Semyon, I think...
Me and Fedka were sawing up wood when they brought them in on a truck
There were another two of our guys with them...
VLADlMlR GOSTYUKHlN
YURl STEPANOV
You killed my brother!
Yes, I killed your brother!
And a whole lot more!
I whipped your sorry black arses and
I'll keep whipping them
because you're enemies...
Did they pay you well?
Don't kill me! Please!
I just arrived
I'm not guilty! Please!
My mum's all alone...
STAS STOTSKY
Scum
Voyna
Look down!
I want to speak to the British Council
What's he want?
Something in English
Take the bucket it stinks!
Who was shooting?
They killed two of ours
American?
Give me your hand
They cut his head off
Shit happens...
Take the jug
It'll be us next!
John
Margaret
I didn't like her at first full of herself
Wouldn't even look at you
I didn't understand that she was just embarrassed
We all crapped in the same bucket
And I thought ginger was a right weed
In the hole, it's every man for himself
you're always hungry and they beat you the whole time
He wasn't too bad, though
He looked after her
A 'gentleman'
And from the start with me...
because of my English, no doubt
Back in Tobolsk I finished computer school
and in Chechnya
I'd get the news by lnternet for Aslan
...and a whole lot more besides
I whipped your sorry black arses and
I'll keep whipping them
because you're enemies...
Did they pay you well?
Don't kill me! Please!
I just arrived
I'm not guilty! Please!
My mum's all...
I'm worn out. Can't get any relaxation
There's a war on...
When will it end?
When all the Russians will live in the North
You're white
You've got the White Sea
We're black
We've got the Black Sea
Why did you kill the lads?
It took me three years to find that Lieutenant
I paid thirty grand to get him
He shot my brother
I found him in Rostov
He killed a lot more good Muslims besides...
And the youngster?
Who needs someone like that?
He goes off to get some vodka
There's a war on, and he leaves his post
Is that any way to carry on, lvan?
No
You're either a shepherd or a sheep
Those who let themselves be skewered
they're the sheep
Russians
There are people amongst you
I saw one in jail near Virkhayansk
A hardcore convict, strong, like a Chechen
If people like him led Russia
you could win this war
But you've got too few of them
You're stupid and weak
And you're led by half-wits
You've given back the Ukraine, Kazakhstan
You've just given away half the country for free
Soon the Chinese will take the Far East
You're fighting us
while in Moscow I've got a hotel
three restaurants, four brigades
in Petersburg, Moscow and Samara
I milk the Russians like cows
but we still get money out of the state budget
Do you know...
why you fight badly?
You don't know?
Because you're not fighting for your Homeland!
You fight
because you've been herded out here like a sheep
I know my ancestors going back seven generations
I'm a descendant of the Murid, Hadji Kazi
A hundred and fifty years ago
he was already cutting you lot up
This is my land
and I'll clear it of unbelieving dogs
until there's not a Russian from here to Volgograd
Got it?
So, what are they writing about us on the lnternet
The satellite's gone, we'll catch another
Aslan, tell your men not to beat me round the head
This is the lnternet
you've got to use your brains
and there's a lot in English
And the foreigners asked if they could have a wash
Come here
I'll pay! I'll pay!
In accordance with the Shariat
taking money from Jews for military actions
is considered legitimate
And while you won't pay us
I'll pay!
We will cut your fingers off
I tried to translate what Aslan had said
but John didn't understand
So I just said they don't like Jews
Can I have another cigarette?
He got it immediately about Jews
but that it was all a put on for him
that they were getting him ready...
What did the Jew's seventy grand matter to Aslan?
They didn't mention a ransom to John for a month
They beat one guy to frighten the others
The main thing for them is to break a man
so that he'll pay the money himself
And they certainly know how to break a man
Then they took us away
Where're they taking him?
You just worry about yourself
This is an offence against our human rights!
Margaret
I'm OK, John
Shut up, bitch!
This is an offence against our human rights!
What's he want? Something to drink
He can wait
Shut up, John
You know~where they are taking us?
Nice place!
Shut up, do what they say
What did they say?
Margaret
I love you, you know?
We'll be OK
We can get through this, being you
We'll be OK
Been in long?
Captain Medvedev
Give a proper report
What? Give a proper repor
Take it easy!
Right, attention!
Who are you?
Private Kulik
Sergeant Yermakov
Captured on May 10th, 2001 during a battle on the road
from Alkhan Yurt to Urus Martan while carrying supplies
And them?
They're commercial
Actors from England
They were doing a theatre tour in Georgia
John, what you play in Georgia?
Shakespere, Hamlet...
I've read the...
Well, they're actors...
At ease
We mustn't let things slip, lads
There's a war on
Is it your back, Comrade Captain?
Contusion and shrapnel round the vertebrae
Let me take a look. Fedka!
How did it happen?
How? We were on a transporter
A rocket went straight through Kit a guy in my platoon
I only worked it out when I came round
Whoever was inside the transporter bought it
So we were lucky...
You may have been lucky...
But what about your platoon?
I got concussed just like you, Comrade Captain
And the bullet's here...
How long had you served?
Two weeks to go before my tour was over
And him?
Still wet behind the ears
His first year
Captain Medvedev was a tough nut no doubt about it
Everyone worked that out straight away
You can't break a guy like that
can't wear him down
If we'd had more like him
what an army we'd have had!
We all felt his strength, his confidence
He's lying there, can't even get up
but he's got this calm inside him
A commander
And Margaret fell in love with him I knew straight away
I think we're somewhere here. Here
It seemed to me they took us further
No. We didn't go faster than 25 to 30 an hour
And up into the mountains
No, it's a mountain pass
With machinegun placements
I think they're guarding the road to Georgia
If only we knew what that river is...
What's the difference?
Well, I'm getting hungry
You have to exercise
She says you have to exercise...
Careful, careful...
Here
They are not going to get two million pounds for u
She didn't know
What?
Like that?
We are not going anywhere until you...
Yes
What?
Says they can't come up with two million even if they sell everything
Why?
No
No, no...
Says the government won't pay
They're in negotiations with the Russians
What fucking negotiation for?
I am living in a sex pit!
We haven't washed in two months
Just find the fucking money, Mark
Is this another way out?
Yes
Look
Margaret can't take this
You understand me?
He says they'll do everything
Right, enough!
Same thing over and over for half an hour!
What's she to him?
Fiancee
He's not lying?
No
Ask him if he could get two million together
John, was...you can get money England?
Yes, absolutely
Yes, he says he can
Tell him the woman stays with me
In exactly two months he gives me two million
If he doesn't, the whole lot of us will fuck her
and then I'll cut her fucking head off
Tell him
Why're you using foul language?
Allah forbids it
Speaking Russian is the same as using foul language
To Allah, all your words are the same. Translate
I didn't believe they'd let us go
It wasn't the Chechen way
Too smart for them
And they like to play with you:
tell you you're going to be released
Let you wash in the river
Then you sit and wait for two days, get ready...
Well, I expected a trick...
Come on, what's the hold up?
It's not an order
Just a favour...
Comrade Captain!
You know the address?
I'll do everything, if I get out before you
Whatever it takes, I'll get you out of here, Marga
Whatever it takes, I love you
I love you, I love you, Margaret
Take care, John!
Mind your mind
I can't decide whether to let you go or not
The baksheesh for you is rubbish
They're paying nothing
And who'll get on the lnternet for me?
The Captain
I know you put the wrong address on the letter you wrote
You said
Alright, tell them about the Captain
I'm tired be a shame to kill him
I paid fifty thousand for him
If they don't let my nephew go
who'll give me that money back?
Tell them I'll wait another month and that's it
Will he get the money together?
I think so
He wants to get married
We're counting from today
He's got two months
Or he won't have anyone left to marry
Alright. Don't come back
I won't let you go a second time
How should he pass the money on?
If he wants to, he'll find a way
Tell him to give his number and I'll phone
Give him your phone number
Give him this
He can watch it later
No, they're not taking us to Grozny
These people, lvan are...the terrorists
You don't negotiate with terrorists
Aslan said they can't stop counting...
What if it's nothing?
You wouldn't get through with it
We never left Russia
So your security vote is out now come for the captain
You'll fright?
I don't know
Why you say your friend?
I don't know
No, definitely not to Grozny
Don't get worked up
They'll stop the car...
take us out and shoot us
You know Aslan
He let us go
I don't know why
No one paid for us
that's for sure!
If it had been Khattab or Basaev
that I'd understand...
there's politics involved
But who's Gugaev?
Maybe it was a trade-off with the local security service
Someone told me it happens all the time
The FSB swap a gangster,then get the credit
They said they'd carried out a secret service mission to free us
Well, the usual nonsense
It didn't make any difference to me who did what
Could I have some more water?
If you can make her come fast for free?
What?
I said if you can make her come fast for free?
Yes, they should have
Maybe he will now
maybe they let her go
No, they won't
Now Aslan wait money
We haven't...
Well, it's not like cut her head off...
I think give you a notice
What is it?
I don't know, cheap
They don't pay a lot for a soldier
We're not commercial
just slaves really
How much for a commercial?
Depends
There's a market in Shatoi
The prices go up and down there
Buy one, order another...
'Order'?
Well, how do you 'order' a murder?
Are you just off the moon?
But you're talking about gangsters!
Chechens are gangsters
All of them? Yes
That's the anger in you talking
Well, you know best
Listen, can I have a cigarette?
Um...it's like...I don't know if I'm losing my mind
I...you know, I couldn't understand what was...
what was going on, and why being stocked?
And you don't know if it's day or night
Um...which is...which is frightening
And, as I want to put in this
um...there is another seller
And, this time, there's an Russian there
um...one of them, lvan
he speaks some English which make things a bit easier
But then they...
We were slaves
We had to earn our food
And what did you do?
Everything. In the fields, sawing wood. All sorts
Was it hard?
Not really
Anything's better than sitting in the cellar
Only the nutcases used to beat us
They'd get high and have some fun kicking us
We wanted more food
And there was no salt
You coming to Petersburg?
No, I'm going home
I want to be in time to get into the Linguistics University
on the interpreter's faculty...
You don't know any English
and the exams have finished
My Mum was at school with the rector
And the military board will help
Mum said I have to be quick though
Tobolsk, via Petersburg
Listen, if you're ever in Nizhny, here...
Ivan, you know, l...
Alright, Fedka
Maybe we'll meet again...
Before going to the Medvedev family
I told everyone in Chechnya about the Captain
phoned headquarters
then managed to phone the lnterior Ministry
Told the cops about Gugaev's nephew in prison
Just the way Aslan wanted
When I went to see the Medvedevs
I knew there was nothing doing
They're good people
spoke with me, gave me tea
I just worried about my socks making a stink...
Please, help yourself. Thank you
And what's he doing there?
Nothing. Waiting for a prisoner exchange
Why don't they exchange him?
Mother!
The Chechen was sentenced to execution
then the sentence was reduced
He's a danger to society
so they won't to let him go
and it's taking forever
But why's it taking forever?
Mother, put the tea on
Why take forever?
Why keep a Chechen they...
wanted to execute anyway?
I don't understand
I always said about those men in their caps
I never used to buy my oranges from them in the market
Tell me, is he really in good health?
Yes. What can I say?
Do I look healthy?
Well, he's healthier than me
and he asked me to tell you not to worry
Asked me to tell...
asked me to tell...
My Dad's a hero
He's defending our Homeland against gangsters
He'll come back soon
and we'll go to the zoo like we used to
And then I went home to Tobolsk
And John went to look for the money
They cut people's heads off!
I can only repeat, Mr. Boyle
that together with the Russians
I were doing everything we can
What exactly are you doing?
In forty five days' time, they'll kill her!
Do you understand me?
Mr. Boyle, I know how difficult it must be for you
but try to look at things reasonably
You're here...aren't you?
and this is our directory and this is what we have been doing...
What?
I've been trying to tell you for the last hour
And, I'm simply here because they let me come here to get the money!
I've seen them, you know
they cut people's fingers off
Mr. Boyle, you're an reasonable man
You understand the absurdity of the demand for two million pounds in exchange for hostage
I mean, the cheques are understandable and that's what we do
And, as the policy, you know that our Magesty's Government gives...
...Mr. Boyle...Mr. Boyle...
I...I...I...
What air strikes!
What are you talking about?
Nature is not in a stage of war with Russia
Tell Aslan
um...tell Aslan I'll bring the money
yes, just...tell him just not to touch Margaret
I'll bring the money
I...I can't understand!
I can't...what?
Margaret? Margaret!
Are you alright?
No! Wait...I'll bring in the money...
just, um, yeah, I'll get you out
yes, I know, it's hanging...
So, how you're gonna raise the money?
You're gonna have to sell everything
you'll do whatever it takes
We'll get the money
You are being ridiculous!
You can't expect me to sell your property
It should short notice or raise them mortgaging cash?
You complacing slump!
Do you know, she's in a pit there?
Do you know what hunger is?
Do you know what is like being kicked in the head
Do you know they will rape her
and they'll cut her head off?
Do you know that?
Because I know!
I know
It's...ain't England they'll make
it's in Russia
Look, if the Government of the Great Britian
refuses to help, one of the Magesty's subjects
then, I'll find the money
I'll find her
and would buy her freedom
Ran over time
Do you think the Russian military action's in kick she has been just justified?
Mr. Boyle
Hi, I'm...
I represent Channel 4
Look, you don't have to answer me now
but...um...it usually take time to check the money out
Call me
My company prepares to give you two hundred thousand pounds
Okay?
But we want video, material everything's going on there
We'll give you the camera
we want you to picture every event with... with details...
and a detail commentary on everything and everyone involved...
if even we sell your house and all Margaret's belongings
it's still only have about four hundred thousand pounds
I'm just worried that it's not gonna happen soon enough
I still need a million and six hundred thousand!
It'll take about five days
I have got two days left!
So, do we sell?
Yeah
Yes, of course
We have to give what we get
I'm sure sooner you're gonna realize that something is better than nothing
Why kill a women when you can have four hundred thousand pounds?
Four hundred thousand is an enormous amount!
I got much what would do for
four hundred thousand is enormous amount!
But what're we doing is a hundred pound...
Ivan? Is it you?
I thought you were at the war!
Don't you remember me?
I'm Simakov, Stepan
So, all over then?
What?
Well, the war!
We'll have to get them in!
I'll tell the lads
How's your dad doing?
What about my dad?
Well, he's in hospital, up on the hill
Hi, Sliva
Hi, lvan
Two years had passed
it was like I'd never left
Sliva still a handit
same as he was at school
His parents got him out of being conscripted
It's a shame would've seen the world
worked some things out
Most of the people there
haven't been further than Tyumen
Mum had aged a lot though
and Dad...
Hi, Zinka. My dad's here...
Ivan! We saw you on TV!
Zin, my dad's here...
Have you seen Katya?
Zin, my dad's here!
Eh, yes, yes...
Why do I drink, son?
Because life's become boring
I lived until I was about forty
and that was it
Misery, all of it
No love, son
It's good that you were at war
War makes a man of you
And that's what you should be
A man has strength
It's all held together by that strength
I had strength, but it's gone
If I could be up and on my way to war now!
Don't be angry with me about your mother
she's a good woman
but I've just fallen out of love with her
You'll understand later
Remember, son:
if you fall out of love, walk away!
You can't live without love
You mustn't, son!
Hello, mum
Ivan!
Everyone says they saw you on television
but I missed it
It's no big deal...
To our brothers
Sapek, Uvar, Taran and Tolka
who are no longer with us
They hadn't been at war
Our own Siberian lads killed them
We all went to the same school
Some my age, some older
I didn't know Taran at all
but Sashka Uvarov was a friend of mine
Russian Ministry of lnternal Affairs
I'm just seeing that the Russian soldiers as you've seen in the those video
and that they cut people's heads
Does he understand what we're talking about?
The position of the President of the Russian Federation
Mr. Putin is that we mustn't pay ransoms to terrorists for hostages
So I apologize
if they can't help
I can give you a certificate
Call me, we can have a deal
Well, I'm John Boyle
This is Moscow
Every Russian institution has refused to help me
but I've found a translator in Ministry of Foreign Affairs
who's giving me four thousand pounds
the number of a former KGB major
involved in ransoming for hostages
He's based in Vladikavkaz
uh...which is the capital of near the Chechnya border
So, now what I'm going to do is find the translato who go with me there
and to deal with terrorists
I wanted to work with computers
nothing doing
You say you were in Chechnya
and they start scratching their chins
We're using new technologies here, they say
So I got knocked back everywhere
The military board were no use either
I could get work loading trucks without them
Ivan, let's get married
Where will we live?
Dad will be out of the hospital soon, then what?
Ivan, you asked me to wake you!
I'm up Auntie Val!
Put the tea on
Why aren't you at work today?
Because it's Saturday
I bought some good tea, 'Akbar'!
Aren't you from round here then?
I am looking for lvan Vermakov
Ah... No-speaka-di-Russian...
Ivan Vermakov
Ah, you want lvan!
Should have said, instead of mumbling away
I'm here in Tobolsk now which is a capital of Syberia
How did he get there?
I don't know
Doesn't speak a word of Russian
Alright, in Moscow they put him on a plane
but in Tyumen?
He found the station
bought a bus ticket
then on the ferry, then he found me
Good going
As soon as I saw him, I knew
Knew what?
What was going to happen
So, how much money you get?
Forty hundred and fifty pounds in Moscow's British Embassy
thirty five thousand with me
Ivan, to us I got a plan
I got a number of men in Vladikavkaz
can help passing me the money
and it's KGB
Give me
We go to Moscow, take the money
go to the Vladikavkaz
you make a deal with Aslan for four hundred and fifty thousand pounds with KGB
which's in Chechyna with Margaret back
John...no, I won't go
We're going to Vladikavkaz
You do deal with the KGB
you do a deal with Aslan, you go home
What ever left with 35 thousand pounds is yours lvan
Help me!
I'm back in Moscow
this time with lvan Yermakov
but he got a gun with him
but it doesn't seem it's the police's fault...
but the police... was stopping us
...into the mountains to hunt goats
Let's see the documents
And the cartridges?
As they should be by law, officer
They're stored separately
Alright. Good day
Can we have our own compartment?
Not shy, are we?
We'll pay...
I can't make any promises
Take compartment Six for now and we'll see
Anything you say, my lovely!
I'll be hoping...
Be off with you, my 'lovely'
Why did I go?
Not for money, that's for certain
But why? I don't know
Maybe to get Aslan
Probably because of the Captain though
I asked our commander about him
I asked for help
He's got connections from back in Afghanistan
He said, 'What're you worried about
be happy you got out'
It's not your war
we'll manage without you
I got angry about it
And I felt sorry for Ginger
Where'd he be without me?
And why not ride to Vladikavkaz and back for free?!
What were the gun and the ammunition for then?
But we were going to the Caucasus!
And the stuff was good
I could always use it for hunting
And he was paying!
Hi, guys. I'm Alexander Matrosov!
Where to?
That way
I got it. I'll put the case away, alright?
Hey, skinny!
American?
Alexander Matrosov
This is John, and I'm lvan
Guys, I'm Alexander Matrosov!
No free compartment
so I'll have to cramp your style
Soon the scum will clear off
But, for now, I'll play host!
Anything else?
Take it easy for the moment
They're reliable guys
They're responsible
you say the word, and that's it!
No going back!
Of course, they're black-arsed scum
but they deliver the goods bang on time
and never screw you!
And you know some major players down there?
Come on, lvan!!
I'm Alexander Matrosov!
Well, I might have some business for you Matrosov
Hey, scumbag!
Get us some more vodka
and get us some nibbles...
Look, skinny's conked out
I'm in the train from Moscow to Vladikavkaz
Last night, a...well...an Russian gangster
a gangster called alexander Matrosov
promised to intermediate in...paying the ransom for...for...
Moment
He was a funny guy
Alexander Matrosov
He was buying heroin from the Chechens
and taking it to Russia
We got very drunk in the restaurant car
I saw straight away
he was a con-artist
I didn't tell him anything
just checked him out...
Ivan, this Alexander Matrosov
who is he again?
A Russian hero
In Second World War
he brought a General
And...?
Nothing
Arriving in Vladikavkaz!
Do you want the ticket receipts?
Chechens?
No. No Chechens
Give me
Hello? Can I speak to Alexander Kardanov?
Yes, Kardanov
They'd talked a lot of rubbish to John in Moscow
There was no big shot ex-KGB guy who exchanges hostages
The guy said he was an FSB Major
He knew we were coming and was waiting
When I met him
I knew we'd landed in a right mess
But what was I supposed to do
turn round and go home?
You were prepared to kill, even then?
Journalist
you go off to play pool back in Moscow
What's your goal?
To pocket some balls, in order to win
Well, this is war, this is...
Sergeant, what're you getting
so worked up for him about?
Comrade Major, it's not my money
so I couldn't care less
But ten percent is steep
He hasn't got much as it is
Gugaev knows how much we've got
any less and he won't let her go
He'll either rape her or cut her ears off I know
And we're late only four days left
The ten percent isn't for me
There's my people
the people in Chechnya
It's a big operation
an illegal operation, Sergeant
What if we said 50,000?
I wouldn't be sitting here, Sergeant
What are we haggling for?
You've got the money with you?
Who carries that kind of money, Comrade Major?
What guarantees can you give?
Serious people in Moscow gave you my number Sergeant
and I don't give out lOUs
You've no choice, Sergeant
Without me you're screwed, got it?
Day after tomorrow, we meet here
I'll bring the money
There's one condition I go with you
Following is meeting with KGB major
Ivan's come back, kind of rejected
but not showing why
he's just told me on the tram which is going run around
town in sort of circle
Anyway, he is trying to talk to me I'm trying dumb
and I call the Embassy in Moscow
We'd got tails everywhere
I noticed when I got our bags from the station
Guys watching, gangster faces
harder than our Siberian guys
They weren't looking for me
they didn't need me
And John was in the tram
So the game was on...
Listen, where're you from?
Nizhny Tagil
Almost my neck of the woods
I'm from Tobolsk
In for much longer?
Five months
Conscript?
On a contract
Been to Chechnya?
What do you think we're doing here?
What do you want?
I really need to get into Chechnya
Give us some help...
I'm here for the first time
we never went in from this side
Always through Mozdok
I've got no idea here
If I got over the border
I'd find my way from there
Leave something behind over there?
I was captured over there
I've been in Civvies for a month
but I've got a debt to pay
Tell me who I've got to talk to
and whatever I've got I'll...
Well, what have you got?
What do you need?
What size do you take?
What've you got in here?
Nothing worth thieving!
That's a joke, right?
What're you looking at?
Is that it then?
Stay down!
We'll be going through their border now
Don't sweat it
they're our guys on the post
See you round, guys!
You guys are totally fucking mad!
We're in Chechnya?
we're possibly...
pass through to the checkpoint to Chechyna
but it just leaves
without lvan and me, nothing else
Stop shoot!
Don't shoot me and don't shoot people who help us
Shoot you should
Not me, understand?
Tourist!
I'd noticed that he was filming everything
mumbling to himself
but so what?
When he spoke to me, I understood
but otherwise...
But shooting a film? You've told me
but I never would've guessed...
They're about to kill his woman, and he's filming
They're strange
It's funny in English 'to film' and 'to shoot'
are the same word 'shoot'
I didn't know. He told me later
Anyway, we went on
just the two of us
Keep up!
shit, the map's too small!
What?
Shit!
John!
Idiot!
You're working well
Where's your owner?
Are you deaf?
Shoot, John!
Shoot
Come
You do right
Get bags
Nice
We kill them?
Yes!
But you must kill them
But that's a woman
You did kill her
John, it is war, very simple
If I don't kill them
they kill you
after, they kill me
No think, it's war, John
Thinking forward
To survive, you must kill
Drink
I won't
Drink
I killed them!
No, I killed them
I, John
It's no good
You must kill them because it's war
My war finishes
It's your war, John!
I know for what I do here
War is not that!
It's not shooting
I shoot it!
Blood, John!
Blood!
Sit down, please!
It isn't what I meant
I don't know how to fight
Two years ago
I also don't know how to fight
They make me
but you got yourself
He was nearly broken then
I didn't go near him for the rest of the day
He mumbled into his camera
I had a bit more to drink and slept
I thought, if he keeps moaning
I'll hand myself in to our guys
The bastards had all our military locations on their maps
I even knew where I'd go
But the next morning he's as fresh as a cucumber
Come on, he says, let's go
Stop!
Waiting for a bus?
End of the road, darky
Russian! I'm just a shepherd!
I've been tending my flock!
Listen, scum, I know a lot
One word of bullshit and I'll shoot
If you hear the word 'three'
you're no longer living
Name?
Ruslan Shamaev!
How many slaves?
No slaves, I just tend a flock...
One, two...
OK! Two, ages ago
but my brother took them for a debt I owed him!
When did you shave the beard off?
Two weeks ago! They made me!
I'm a simple fellow, I live in the mountains!
Where?
Nizhny Alkun!
Where's Aslan Gugaev?!
One, two...
He was in Katan-Yurt...
Three...
Russian! I know! I'll show you!
Whatever you want!
Careful, scum
You're my slave now
And if you screw up
I'll blow your head off
Gugaev. One...
On the pass!
Protecting the mountain pass!
Now we're talking!
Get up and show me on the map
If I have any doubts about what you say
it's over I've counted to three
I don't know Russian so good
You speak fast
I shoot even faster!
We're here. Where's Aslan?
Not here
Well done
You've passed the first test
Let's try the second
Where?
Over there. My hand's tied
I can't point
Here?
No. There!
There, you've passed the second test
Just the third one left
Now, my shepherd friend
you show us how to get there fast and safe
And so that you don't think I'm joking
I'll tell you straight:
me and the Lone Ranger are finished anyway
same as you! Got it?!
But, if we complete our NATO mission
I give you my word as a Russian paratrooper:
I'll let you go!
You can go tend your flock!
But, you know how difficult these things can be...
Albatross Four!
Ruslan Shamaev. Nizhny Alkun
Check his identity and report back
If I'm not on the wire tomorrow
kill all his relatives. All of them. Over
This is Beslan Khatuev's jeep
His brother's disappeared
Everyone's looking for him
We won't get there in this jeep
We have to go across the glacier
Faster that way
Ruslan believed us
especially when we dumped the Landrover
Get up! Move it!
Get a move on!
Ivan, you don't have to beat him all the time
If you go
No, it's just a...
You remember how they beat you
Isn't that a matter of revenge?
Yes
This land is no English
I said move it!
You must go there and come back
Don't worry
I've told them to leave your family for now
But they're fierce...
I'll do everything, Russian!
Let's take a break
After the killing of a Chechen woman...
after that there are 3 terrorists
we have to take to the capital
and he's showing us to cross this glacier
towards the terrorists' base
On the whole
he's being cooperative and friendly as he work for us
But lvan keep beating him all the time... Iike a prey
I know a way through the ravines
There's no one round here
All the villages are deserted
After the deportations, the Chechens didn't come back
You're from Moscow, yes?
Yes
You have a university there?
Yes
You studied there?
Everyone in Moscow studies there
My uncle lives in Moscow
He didn't study there
But he's not Russian, is he!
My eldest son is very clever
I want him to study in Moscow
Have you got contacts there?
Yes, but it's expensive
I've got money
I want our clan to have a politician!
But he's not very good at reading
That's not important anymore
You just need contacts
You'll help, yes?
No problem. If your son survives
All the money's wet!
Who did the jeep belong to?
Beslan Khatuev
What's his call-sign?
I don't know Khatuev's honest!
Who's do you know?
Loads. Who's do you need?
Get Gugaev
Gugaev!
Salaam, Aslan!
How's the lnternet doing without me? It's lvan
Salaam, lvan. What do you want?
Just to say 'Salaam'...
I heard the Englishman is bringing the money
He's late. I'm waiting, for now...
How are my friends?
They're fine
I'm sure they are
But first you promise before Allah that
you won't trick us
OK. Who'll hand over the money?
OK isn't good enough promise before Allah!
I've got a witness here
A muslim believer
I swear before Allah! When?
In four days time. Over and out
We'll see how faithful you are to Allah
We have to get there in two days
Got it?
We got there in a day and a half
Ruslan took us across some goat-tracks
in from the Georgian side
which was totally unguarded
All we had to do was make the exchange
John
we go in the morning
You own a radio
I own other radio
You go downwards, you take Margaret
and wait, wait there
Okay?
Now sleep
You must rest
Good night
Russian, he won't keep his word
I heard how he spoke
All Gugaevs are lying dogs!
Our families have always lived close together
on either side of the mountain pass
He's our blood enemy!
They always stole our cattle through the pass
Our grandfathers fought, even made peace
In the second war
they took 60 sheep from us
I'm a fighter, you're a shepherd, he says
Your father's brother wanted to kill my grandfathe
But he got scared, and you're just the same! He says
Why're you telling me all this?
Tomorrow he'll kill the American
then you, and then he'll kill me
You won't answer the radio
so my family will be killed too
That's right
Pistol, John, this grenade
you pull this and throw
I know
You...
I know
Here, your radio...
...give you
Throw grenade in the hole
Understand? Yeah!
Repeat!
I throw the grenade and jump in the hole
So, proud Chechen shepherd, can you use thing?
Not all Chechens can tend a flock
but all Chechens can shoot
You have a chance to save the honour of your clan
Russian, tell yours to leave my family alone
They'll kill you...
maybe...
I'm your family now, got it?!
Protect me, and you'll save them
If I see it's all over for us
then I'll tell them
Let's go
In his book and film, john says you were
beating the Chechen shepherd...
and then you just give him weapons
So what?
Weren't you afraid he'd shoot you in the back?
Of course not
I had his family as hostages
Salaam, Aslan
Salaam, lvan
You're a mountain man, lvan
I live on the plains
We brought the ransom
Let's go
Margaret, Margaret it's me, Margaret
Where the hell are you?
Margaret, tell me you're okay
Margaret...
Where's the keys? Margaret
Where's the keys?
Where're the keys?
There
Ruslan!
No! Obey your orders!
You won't get out of here!
Then you won't get the money
Tie his hands!
Oh, Margaret
Ivan, it's Margaret
What about your oath, Aslan?
Go to the machinegun
Tell your people already
It's still too early!
Morning, Comrade Captain!
Hello, Sergeant. Give us a smoke
What have you done to us?
We'd landed ourselves right in it
We couldn't use Aslan for cover
No way back through the pass with the Captain
We could go down through the village
but there were a lot of beards down there
The Captain said it: climbing a tree is easy
getting back down's the hard part
He's a great guy
He thought of using the river
They weren't expecting that
Comrade Captain, we need air support
We're finished without it
We're too far off to use the radio
Let's try the satellite phone
You're well-stocked, Sergeant!
How does it work?
Simple we need to catch a satellite
I'll tune it in
Hello! Give me HQ chief
Colonel Malykhin!
Captain Medvedev! Move it!
Great line!
If only we had these...
It's Captain Medvedev. Hi, Kolya
Listen, we're surrounded
send some air support!
There's five of us, two English
The Shatoi region, south of ltum-Kali
coordinate 34
There's an abandoned village with a big old tower!
We're in the tower
Yes, they're firing at us!
I think we can hold out for an hour
There's nowhere to land
Alright then
So? Are they coming?
John
You promise me money, 35...
Yes, of course
Lads, give us a cigarette
Long to go? Seven months
Just back from Chechnya?
From Grozny
Alright
Here. It's a bonus from NATO
for the fight against international terrorism
It's English money almost two thousand dollars
You know the rest
John made a film and became famous
I'm being prosecuted for killing citizens of the Russian Federation
I was a civilian, after all
John put it all in the film
about the woman in the jeep
and the old man with his kid at Aslan's
How did he shoot it all?
He wrote a book as well
My Life in Russia
He didn't come to the court case, of course Gave evidence over there
But the brave shepherd Shamaev turned up
detailing how I tortured him
how I cynically slaughtered Chechen women and children
He lives in Moscow now
His son's at university there
Margaret never did marry John
I gave the Captain all the money
I knew what was waiting for him back home
His wife wrote
said they'd done some expensive operations
He's stuck up for me
He's a good man
I don't think they'll put me away
but who knows
Our lot in Tobolsk keep looking to Moscow:
What will Putin say
will there be legal reforms?
Still haven't seen that film
It'd be fun to watch it now
Director:Aleksey Balabanov