01x01 - Persha Seriya

[bunniefuu]

Hi, Mum. Happy Birthday, dear.

My best wishes to you.

May you stay forever
young and beautiful.

Mum,
best wishes from my guys as well.

Wishing you joy and health!

Let's sing
"God grant you many years".

MAMA

Please leave your message
after the tone:

Vital! My son, my dear!

Please call me back. I'm worried.

It's me, your mother.
Sure, who else can it be?

Oh, God. Hello.

Excuse me.

Hello?

Well.

Hey, Tolia.
I thought it'd be Vital calling.

What? No, he didn't call me.

I keep calling him every hour.

While we're on the line, he may
be trying to get through. Tolia!

What?

Jesus.

That's it.

Can you please buy me a new phone?

This one seems to have some issues
with the network. Will you?

Tolia!

Daughter!

-Happy Birthday!
-Happy Birthday!

Mum, let me take the flowers.

How is my birthday girl today?

I'm fine.
Have you bought me a new phone?

Oh, no. I wanted to present it
with honours and celebrations.

We'll have all these
as soon as Vital is back.

The only thing I want now

is to hear my son.
Nothing else really matters.

Mum, that was my choice. It's cool.
The camera is powerful.

The images are just top.

I'll install YouTube
and show you how to go online.

OK. There you go.

I don't think Vital
can get through to the old phone.

Shall we have dinner?

Sure, let's go.

Where is your phone?

What for?

He could have failed to get through
to me and called you instead.

What?

The day's almost over.
He didn't wish me a happy birthday.

Who knows, maybe he couldn't.
Or his battery died.

I'm going nuts.

He could have asked his friend
to make a call.

Nina, this is not
a sports competition. This is w*r.

There they are, Ukies.

You make a record.

Pat them down properly.
Look for grenades.

You morons.

This one is wounded, bandage him up.

B*stards.

They were sh**ting at civilians

and we are giving them first aid.

Your name?

Your name?!

Vitalii Anatoliiovych Shvydchenko.

Who is your chief?

Look in the camera.

Mum!

Have a look.

Your name?

- Vitalii Anatoliiovych Shvydchenko.
- Who is your chief?

I just wanted to install YouTube.

Why did you come here?
Why did you come here?

Do you want to see your mum?

What an awful phone
you gave me, Tolia.

Nina.

Do you think I'm out of my mind?

Come here.

Shrapnel penetrated the shoulder.
A bone may be involved.

A surgery is necessary.
Left eye hemorrhage

owing to the head injury.

Probably a moderate concussion.

Dilated pupils.

Pain shock.

What does this mean?

This means he's alive.

You see?

Vitalii Shvydchenko.
We called you this morning.

- Dear Nina Petrivna and Anatolii...
- Serhiiovych.

Your son
is currently being held c*ptive

in a non-government-controlled area.

On behalf of the State of Ukraine
I assure you that

Listen, let the state alone.

Can you say anything off the cuff?

- I am not authorised...
- But who is?

Easy now, Tolia.

Moreover, there is
an element of state military secret.

A state secret?

Where is my son
and what's happening to him?

This state secret of yours
is broadcast all over the Internet.

The state of Ukraine

is making every possible effort

to free your son from captivity.

What should we do?

Say something like a human,
not in this on-duty manner of yours.

Just wait and pray.

Just sit and wait?

How can I? Tolia, let's go.

Goodbye.

My dear, let me concentrate.

Me,

Nina Petrivna...

Me, Nina...

I can't, I can't...

I want my son back.
Give me back my son.

Mum, if it hurts this much,
shall we try another time?

I'll be fine in a minute.
Don't be frightened, my dear.

Please give me back my son.

Please give me back my son.

Please give me back my son.

You can get together
a mothers' delegation,

address the President,
the Prime Minister, journalists, TV.

You know, like half of my life
flashed before my eyes these days.

They all keep telling that the state
takes all the necessary measures.

Well, yeah.

If only the state was ready
for a bloody hell like this.

The whole army is
like thousands of my Vital.

You see?

Children went to the frontline
straight from the beach,

in their shorts and flip flops.

I got in touch with other mothers,
whose children are in captivity.

They all keep hearing the same:

"Be patient. Competent authorities
are dealing with the issue.

Wait for the exchange".

Wait for what?

Until he is shot?

Or until he dies from his wounds?

Wait! Competent authorities!

Nina, you used to have
a boyfriend there long ago.

What was his name? Andrii.

You're crazy! That was 25 years ago.

Hello.

Let her in.

Hi.

Hi.

Why didn't you come earlier?
What made you wait so long?

Well, no time to wait now.

I'm finally here. Will you help me?

Have you swallowed your pride?

I have.

Well.

Take a seat.

The conversation seems to be long.

Two coffees, please.

- Hello, Gena.
- Hi yourself.

Will you get straight to the point
or recollect our school years?

Come on, Gena.

Why? You're calling me
from behind the demarcation line:

that means that
you need something out here.

Let's say, I need...
Are you still in the loop?

Before you ask: I won't be able
to help much. What's your question?

Listen, I need to free someone.

He was taken c*ptive by you.

It would be great
if we could come up with something.

He is innocent,
just an ordinary soldier.

Captured around a week ago.

Why do you need this?

Personal reason, otherwise
I wouldn't call.

He's my relative.

That's a big deal.
Around 30,000 dollars.

I'll find out. They'll call you.

All clear.

What are my actions?

They'll call you.

When shall I call you?

I said, they'll call you.
Don't call me back.

Got that? Well, take care.

- Hello, Andrii. Go ahead.
- Here is the news.

There are people
who can help get him out.

That's 30,000 dollars.

How much?

30,000 dollars.

No guarantees, but also
no alternatives.

It's up to you to decide.

Here they are.

Another 6,000 dollars.

I sold my car to Slavko.

I wanted 5,000 dollars,
but he just gave me money and said:

"I know you are in trouble,
take it".

That's almost 12,000 dollars.

But we need 30,000 dollars.

You know, I'll sell my car service.

They asked me last week.

You're kidding.
You've invested so many years...

No big deal.

If I managed once,
I'll manage twice.

Nina, we need our son,
not some kind of business.

A brand new lift platform,
diagnostics.

And, what is the most important,
the guys are good with their hands.

- Probably half the price.
- But the price is minimal anyway.

You see,

my son's been captured.

I need the money for a ransom.

That's not my problem.

It was not me who sent him there.

Let your conscience judge you.

Shall we sign?

Deal! Let's go sign the papers.

Hi. Your signature here and here.

- I can't find the wrench.
- Have you checked it in the box?

Well, everything's perfect.
I've sorted out the tax issues.

And you received money
for your maidanned chap.

- What did you say? Huh?
- You heard that.

- Well, repeat!
- F*ck you.

Are you f*cking crazy?

Tolia! Tolia!

Tolia! Call the ambulance!

I couldn't resist. In his mug,

I saw the faces of all those
who shot at our Vital.

My dear, he did not sh**t.

Nina, how come that...

that... they and we

live in the same world?

Have you seen those videos?

With Vital.

Nina, take money under the pillow.

That's what Slavko brought
for the car service.

Oh, darling.

Here you are.

Nina, it seems you do not
quite understand who I am.

A security service officer
can't take money for a w*r prisoner.

But who can?

Here is a phone number of a person
who will help you.

He is in Lysychansk.
His nickname is Leshy.

The money must be given personally.

You'd better go there asap.

- May I?
- Sure, you may.

Those bloody flies.
Take a seat, Nina.

It's hot.

When you close
the windows, it gets stuffy,

when you open, flies are everywhere.

For God's sake.

The nurse has cleaned up
a little this morning,

but it's hot here,
like on the beach.

Nina.

Here you are.

We raised as much as we could.

That's peanuts,
but it will come in handy.

I wanted to ask you
for another leave. Unpaid.

Unpaid? Are you kidding?

Fill out the form.

The leave is yours.
And it will be paid.

Hello. Your husband is sleeping.
He is OK and stable.

I've just came
for a couple of seconds.

Tolia,

honey, wake up.

What happened? Anything bad?

Nothing. Everything's OK.

Do not worry. Listen to me.

We have to go for Vital ourselves

and give the money to the person

who rescues our guys from captivity.

Well.

I'll go then.

You?

But who else?

No, dear.

You're not in the best form now.

You see?
Every day, every moment is precious.

I thought that I'd go there.

- I won't let you go.
- Calm down and listen.

Listen to me. Listen to me, dear.

I'll just go there and back again.

How long will it take? Two days.

Well, a week maximum.
I'll manage. I swear.

I'll be calling you every day,
every hour, if you wish.

Well. I really need you here.

And I need you healthy, darling.

No alternatives.

My dear.

My dear,

please keep visiting your father
and take care in general, OK?

Here is a phone number of my friend
from the Security Service.

He knows everything.
Just in case, you can call him.

Mum, I'm not a little girl any more.

Everything will be all right.

It's time for me to go. Bye.

The Uzhhorod-Lysychansk train

arrives in Myrhorod station.

Feet away.

Train 47
departs from the first track.

Take your feet away, I said.

Are you a volunteer?

Today, I'm a volunteer, tomorrow,
I'm an actor.

Will you have sausage?

Which sausage?

I have something to drink as well.

Enjoy yourself.

You're squeamish.

- And I offer you everything I have.
- I see that.

- You see what?
- A profiteer?

What was that?

Kind of offence?

It didn't work out that way!

I'm not that thin-skinned.

You kind of gave me a title,
didn't you?

We'll get a drink and celebrate it.

You drink yourself.

You risk. I'll get more.

You said I'm a profiteer.

But who will help me?

My daughter lives in Myrhorod
and I am from Slovianoserbsk.

And where are you from, Madam?

- I'm from Zhytomyr.
- Hmm, Western blood.

Just for you to know,

Slovianoserbsk is on the other side.

I am nobody, both there and here.

And you are all so smart here,
but how to live?

I have to balance
between two stools.

We used to live in harmony.
We used to live fine.

Why do they make use of us,
these politicians?

Well, listen.

What do you need, ha?

You'd better
make less fuss yourself.

We used to live fine.

Why did you run headfirst
to that referendum?

Let's separate, let's separate.

So what? Who did you separate from?

Or who are you stuck with?

Come on, tell me.

And now, you're wandering around
trading from these checkered bags.

How do you like it?

Look here.

What are you trying to sell now?
Have you been there?

Have you been...

Ouch! What was it?

- Does it hurt?
- No.

Drop it.

My name is Bodia.

And my name is Nina.

Grisha, I'm here.

Coming through!

Nina Petrivna?
You called me, I'm Leshy.

- Get into the car.
- Let's talk here.

Have you come here
to solve a problem or not?

Here he is. Vitalii Shvydchenko.

There, on the reverse,
is his personal data.

Well done! A solid approach.
And what about the cash?

Have you been told the amount?
It's 30 grand.

Bring me my son
and you'll get the money.

How do you imagine that, mummy?

Like: "Give me the guy.

I'll bring the money tomorrow"?

They'll hang me up by my nostrils.

That means we've failed
to solve the problem, Leshy.

Well, we've failed then.

Stop, mummy. Let's meet halfway.
Half up front

and that's only
due to my spotless reputation

or you'll leave empty-handed,
Nina Petrivna.

Turn away!

Here you are. Count.

Huh, "Count".
Sounds like an idea for a nickname.

I'll use it to bully Dynia.

- OK now.
- What then?

Then you have to wait, mummy.

For how long?

Tomorrow, here, at 3 p.m.

Where shall I go until tomorrow?

Rent a flat. That's your problem.

You're free now.

FLAT FOR RENT

- How much?
- Not much.

But it's a bed in the room,
not a separate room. Is this OK?

- Yeah.
- Deal. Let's go. Follow me.

Damn it! You flushed
your money down the toilet.

He promised me to bring him
tomorrow afternoon.

No offence, but are you all crazy
there on the mainland?

This one told you he's Leshy,

the other will tell you
he's Domovyk. And you believe...

You say you have his phone number?

Those SIM-cards cost peanuts.

They change their phones every day.

And they rake in money.

Masha.

What?

You mean, he ripped me off?

Yes, he did.

Do you know him?

He's not local, obviously.
A bird of passage.

The number you are calling
is currently unavailable.

Nina, don't you get it?
He ripped you off.

He will neither call, nor come.
I swear.

Roasted sunflower seeds.

Hello.

Andrii, your Leshy ripped me off.

Did you pay him?
I told you, no guarantees.

I don't care about the guarantees.

Or the lack of those.

I'll try to find out asap.

- I see.
- Don't think that's so easy.

- Just give me a couple of minutes.
- I see, Colonel.

I'll call you back.
Give me some time.

I'll sort it out myself.

Do not call me back.

We must act carefully.

Stop making noise.

Oh God.

- Tolia, my dear, hello.
- Finally!

How are you there?

- We're fine.
- I am fine as well.

- Have you met anyone?
- I have.

- And Vital?
- No.

- No.
- And when?

It's not that quick. You know,
I'm not ordering pizza here.

- I'm going...
- For God's sake, Tolia.

- Why?
- Calm down, please.

How can I calm down?

All according to plan.

- Sure?
- Yeah.

- How is Darynka?
- Yeah, today.

Did she come?

- That's good.
- Nina, is everything fine?

I can hear you crying.

- Well, I'm waiting for a call.
- Nina.

- OK.
- Bye.

Stay in touch.

- Captain Kuzmenko.
- Hello, Captain.

- Nina Schvydchenko speaking.
- Shvydchenko. Mother?

Right you are.

Mother of Senior Sergeant
Vitalii Shvydchenko.

I'm listening.

I am in Lysychansk now.

I wonder if I can get to your unit?

We listen into their communications.

Russian regular units
are stationed there.

Or separatists,
under Russian command then.

I have a pile
of their military cards in my desk.

Hybrid w*r, damn it.
They are not there

and they were not sent there.

They shell civilian targets.

They shell
from behind the civilians.

They shell hospitals and clinics.

They trade captives.

They carry out ill*gal trafficking

and here we have
mortar and Grad shelling daily.

And when we request
to open the return fire,

we are just told
to monitor the situation.

Kind of ceasefire on paper.

Well.

Let's get down to business.

Our guys have been monitoring him
for around a month

and they will track him down soon.

You're not the first
he took money from,

but he will pay everything back.
There is no way around it.

The second news is about the guys.

According to radio intercepts,
they are here. Across the river.

In Krasnyi Luch
or in Slovianoserbsk,

right next to us.

Well, how can I get there,
to the other side?

I would ask them somehow.

- Hey, mummy.
- Finally, there are humans as well.

No amateur performance of yours, OK?

The last thing is to look for you,
isn't it?

Komar!

This is Shvydkyi's mother.

Arrange the accommodation. Yours.

You spend the night elsewhere.

Plus.

The most important thing is
that the guys are alive.

That means we'll rescue them.

You see? And now take rest.

Tomorrow, you'll take a train
to Zhytomyr.

- I...
- Well, mummy.

My orders
are not up for debate here.

Follow me.

My house key. I used it
in my school years, you remember?

Remember.

Keep it with you.

As soon as I am back from w*r,
you'll use it to open the door.

Will you, mum?

I will.

That's the last package.

Open it.

- Bodia.
- You go now. I can manage.

Jesus. A phantom from the train.

You appeared before me

like a goddess, like an inspiration,

like a nonsense, out of nowhere.

What do you need?

Are you from Slovianoserbsk?

Well, let's assume.

I really need to get there.
To the other side.

Where, there?
You, a Ukrainian-speaking banderite.

You will end up
at the first checkpoint

and finally in the basement.

Do not press on me.
I do not want to commit sins.

How much?

No matter how much. I don't care.

That's you
who will finally get imprisoned.

Then I'll pay someone else.

Stop.

No-one else is needed if I am here.

My son is in captivity there.

I'm going to find him.

Well, 5,000 dollars.

2,000.

I pay you the half up front.

I need money for a ransom.

Bodia.

Damn you.

Let's go.

Please take your seat, Madam.

Well, a thousand bucks is not a sin,
but an income, isn't it, bro?

Come on, Nina. Move it!

Well, Nina.

You don't love me.

- I'm afraid of you.
- Oh God.

You'll ruin my life,

and I'll go drown myself.

Bodia!

Hey, Bodia!

Bodia!

Holy..! I thought you drowned.

People like me, they float.

Moron!

Come here.

Won't I crush anything there?

You won't. Hurry up.

and here it's just 15 minutes
and we're home.

No questions. My people.

Give me your bag.

- Wait.
- Let me catch you.

- Hey, hey!
- What have you done?

- Are you crazy?
- You want them sh**t us?

You should have turned on
the silent mode.

And I would. In a while.
You could wait. Crazy. Oh God.

Nina, they won't wait.
Here they sh**t without warning.

Keep it in mind: you're not "here"
any more, you're already "there"

and there,
you do not need a phone at all.

They won't check your passport,
but they'll check your phone.

You oughta say "thank you" to me.

Thank you.

Don't be sarcastic.
I risk my life, by the way.

And now - sit quiet.