Tarakanov addresses a group of eight soldiers, still in their heavy gear, but not wearing gloves or masks.
TARAKANOV You have performed your duties perfectly. I wish you good health and long life. All of you are awarded with a bonus of 800 rubles.
Tarakanov approaches the first soldier. Shakes his hand.
TARAKANOV
Thank you.
SOLDIER #1 I serve the Soviet Union.
Tarakanov moves to the second soldier. Shakes his hand.
TARAKANOV
Thank you.
SOLDIER #2 I serve the Soviet Union.
469 EXT. VERY TOP OF THE COOLING TOWER - CONTINUOUS 469
The two men attach a pole and RED FLAG to the top of the tower. It flaps in the wind.
TARAKANOV (V.O.)
Thank you.
SOLDIER #3 (V.O.) I serve the Soviet Union.
470 EXT. LIQUIDATOR CAMP - SAME 470
From here, we can see the REACTOR SITE in the near distance. And the RED FLAG fluttering on the cooling tower.
PAVEL - stands in place, gazing out at it. He's gaunt. Sallow skin. His hair seems thinner. Numb. Blank stare.
He's smoking now.
A YOUNG RECRUIT, 21, fresh-faced believer, walks up to Pavel, and joins him looking out at the flag.
RECRUIT
Makes you proud, doesn't it, comrade? Pavel doesn't look at him. Just keeps staring out.
RECRUIT
They sent me over to you. For assignment.
(his radiation badge) They gave me this to wear. I guess everyone has one. We don't have anything to worry about, right?
Pavel still doesn't look at him. But:
PAVEL
You can get up to 24 roentgen before there's a problem.
RECRUIT Oh. How much do you have?
Pavel keeps his eyes locked on the flag. Takes a long drag on his cigarette. Then:
PAVEL
23.
DISSOLVE TO:
471 INT. HOSPITAL - DAY 471
The maternity ward. New mothers pass in front of us. Some walking, some being wheeled. Cradling their newborns.
But we move through them like we're not there. Like we're a ghost. Until we find an open door... and stop.
In a bare room, LYUDMILLA sits on the edge of the bed, still in a hospital gown, looking out the window. Forgotten. And alone.
She puts her hand to her belly, and:
FADE TO BLACK
END OF EPISODE FOUR
CHERNOBYL
Episode 5 - "Vichnaya Pamyat"
Written by Craig Mazin
August 3, 2 018
Copyright© 2018 Home Box Office, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
NO PORTION OF THIS SCRIPT MAY BE PERFORMED, PUBLISHED, REPRODUCED, EXHIBITED, SOLD OR DISTRIBUTED BY ANY MEANS, OR QUOTED OR PUBLISHED IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING ON ANY WEBSITE, WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF HOME BOX OFFICE, INC. THIS MATERIAL IS THE PROPERTY OF HOME BOX OFFICE, INC. AND IS INTENDED FOR AND RESTRICTED TO USE BY HOME BOX OFFICE, INC. ONLY. DISTRIBUTION OR DISCLOSURE OF THIS MATERIAL TO UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS IS PROHIBITED.
501 EXT. PRIPYAT - DAY 501
The iconic "PRIPYAT 1970" sign on the outskirts of town. Crisp and white. Colorful flowers planted at its base.
MUSIC: score, recalling memories of glory, or perhaps a dream of a glory that never was.
502 EXT. PRIPYAT - VARIOUS - DAY 502
Even a planned Soviet city can look beautiful on a day like this. Alive. Someone's dream of home...
SITNIKOV (who went to the roof) takes a stroll with his wife. They hold hands. Their DAUGHTER, 4, toddles along in front of them with their DOG.
OLD WOMEN sit together on a bench, gossiping and arguing as they do each day.
YUVCHENKO (who held the reactor door open) - pulls his 2- year old SON along in a little WAGON.
CITIZENS swim slowly across the community pool.
LYUDMILLA is in a shop with OKSANA. She looks out through the shop window to the street, where she sees VASILY standing with MIKHAIL, who holds his baby.
Mikhail offers to let Vasily hold the baby, and he does.
Lyudmilla watches her husband cradling the infant. Vasily turns and sees her watching. He smiles at her. Pure love. And she smiles back. Her husband. Her life. One day it will be their baby. One day.
A figure passes behind Vasily in the background.
CLOSE ON - SHOES walking with purpose. We pull back to reveal - ANATOLY DYATLOV.
Lunch sack in his hand. Cigarette in his mouth. Walking as he does every single day. Walking to work. Ahead of him, up and off in the distance... the CHERNOBYL POWER PLANT.
CUT TO TITLES
END TITLES, CUT TO:
503 INT. BRYUKHANOV'S OFFICE - DAY 503
TITLE:
APRIL 25, 1986 2:00 PM
FOMIN sits patiently across from Bryukhanov's desk. DYATLOV sits in the other guest seat. Glances at Fomin. Casually disdainful of him. Silence.
Then, finally:
FOMIN
I hear they might promote Bryukhanov. This little problem we have with the safety test? If it's completed successfully... yes, I think a promotion is very likely. Who knows, maybe Moscow.
Dyatlov's eyes narrow.
FOMIN
Naturally they'll put me in charge once he's gone. And then I'll need someone to take my old job. I could pick Sitnikov...
It takes a moment for Dyatlov to swallow his pride. Then:
DYATLOV
I would like to be considered. FOMIN
I'll keep that in mind.
The door opens, and BRYUKHANOV enters. Fomin rises, but Bryukhanov gives him an annoyed wave to sit the fuck down. Then he starts opening desk drawers. Looking for something.
FOMIN
Viktor Petrovich, preparations for the test have gone smoothly. Comrade Dyatlov has been working per my instructions, and Reactor 4 output has been reduced to 1600 megawatts. With your approval, we're ready to continue lowering power to—
BRYUKHANOV We have to wait.
Fomin and Dyatlov weren't expecting that. Not good.
FOMIN
Is there— ?
BRYUKHANOV You're going to ask me if there's a problem, Nikolai? You can't read a fucking face?
He's found a pack of cigarettes. Lights one. Tosses the lighter down on his desk.
BRYUKHANOV Three years I've been trying to finish this test. Three years! (beat)
I just got a call from the grid controller in Kiev. He says we can't lower power any further. Not for another ten hours.
DYATLOV
A grid controller? Where does he get off telling us—
BRYUKHANOV It's not the grid controller's decision, Dyatlov— it's the end of the month. All the productivity quotas? Everyone's working overtime, the factories need power, someone's pushing down from above. Not that we'll ever know who.
(smokes, then) So do we have to scrap it or what?
FOMIN
No. I don't think so. If we need to wait ten hours, we wait.
BRYUKHANOV Running at half power? We're not going to have stability issues?
FOMIN
No, I should think--
BRYUKHANOV I'm not asking you.
Fomin musters a smile to cover his bile. As you wish, sir.
DYATLOV
It's safe. We'll maintain at 1600. I'll go home, get some sleep, and come back tonight. We'll proceed then. I'll personally supervise the test. And it will be completed.
Bryukhanov considers that. Then a grunt of satisfaction.
BRYUKHANOV Well I'm not waiting around. Call me when it's done.
He gets up and walks out. Dyatlov follows. But Fomin lingers behind. Waits until they're gone. Then runs his fingers covetously along the edge of Bryukhanov's desk. The desk of a powerful man. A man in charge...
SOUND: a loud ELECTRONIC BUZZER/BELL
504 EXT. CITY - MORNING 504
A rambling, squat complex of white buildings dotted with barred windows. We hear the BUZZER BELL again. The sound of an institution on a rigid time schedule.