PETROV
What's really going on here? How dangerous is this?
FOMIN
There's mild radiation, but it's limited to the plant itself.
PETROV
No it isn't.
FOMIN
Excuse me?
PETROV (stands)
I said no it isn't. Who do you think you're talking to? Some country idiot? I went to university. And I have eyes in my head.
(to the Committee) You saw men outside vomiting. You saw men with burns. There's more radiation than they're saying. We have wives here. We have children. I say we evacuate the town.
More whispers. Evacuate? To where? No, he's right-- no, he's insane, an alarmist!
BRYUKHANOV Gentlemen, please! My wife is here. Do you think I would keep her in Pripyat if it weren't safe?
PETROV
Bryukhanov-- the fucking air is glowing!
More crosstalk. Voices rising now. Bryukhanov has lost control of the room. Dyatlov tries to step in.
DYATLOV
The Cherenkov effect-- it's a completely normal phenomenon, it can happen with minimal radiation-No one listens to him. Loudly arguing with each other now. And then: tap tap tap ... TAP TAP TAP
They turn to: THE OLD MAN in the corner. Tapping his cane on the floor. Everyone quiets down.
The old man is ZHARKOV. He makes a motion to stand. The guard comes over quickly to help him up, but Zharkov waves him off. He can do it on his own. He rises slowly, then:
ZHARKOV
I wonder-- how many of you know the name of this place? We all call it "Chernobyl" of course, but what is its proper name?
They look at each other. No clue. Unticlass="underline"
BRYUKHANOV The Vladimir I. Lenin Nuclear Power Station.
ZHARKOV
Exactly. Vladimir I. Lenin. And how proud he would be of you tonight--
(to Petrov) —especially you, young man... and the passion you have for the people. For is that not the sole purpose of the apparatus of the State?
Zharkov looks at them, his old eyes twinkling with memories of great days... of great men...
ZHARKOV
From the Central Committee all the way down to each of us in this room-- we represent the perfect expression of the collective will of the Soviet proletariat.
The Members take this in. Sobered. But proud.
ZHARKOV
Sometimes, we forget. Sometimes, we fall prey to fear. But our faith in Soviet socialism will always be rewarded. Always. The State tells us the situation is not dangerous. Have faith. The State tells us they do not want a panic. Listen well.
Zharkov turns to Petrov once again.
ZHARKOV
True, when the people see police, they will be scared. But it is my experience that when the people ask questions that are not in their own best interest, they should simply be told to keep their minds on their labour-- and to leave matters of the State to the State.
Zharkov scans the room. Has them in the palm of his hand.
ZHARKOV
We seal off the city. No one leaves. And cut the phone lines. Contain the spread of misinformation. That is how you keep the people from undermining the fruits of their own labour. That is how your names become inscribed in the hallways of the Kremlin.
The men in the room look back at him in reverence. Dreaming of promotions. Certificates. Maybe even medals.
ZHARKOV
Yes, comrades. We will all be rewarded for what we do here tonight.
(beat)
This is our moment to shine.
A beat-- then: APPLAUSE. The Committee Members rise to their feet. Wonderful! Wonderful! Bryukhanov, Fomin and Dyatlov stand and applaud as well. The system is working. All will be fine.
Petrov looks across the table at another younger Committee Member. They both seem to understand that reason has lost. There's no choice but to clap along with everyone else.
Applause for delusion. Applause for death.
Applause for the Vladimir I. Lenin Nuclear Power Station.
141 INT. BUNKER - OUTSIDE THE COMMAND ROOM - MOMENTS LATER 141
SITNIKOV listens to the applause coming from behind the door of the command room. He's sweaty. Nervous.
The door to the conference room opens, and Bryukhanov sees the Pripyat ministers out. Shaking their hands. Smiling.
But once the ministers are out of sight, the smile drops. Back to business. He sees Sitnikov waiting. What's this guy doing here? A guard whispers to Bryukhanov.
Ah. Fine. Bryukhanov signals for Sitnikov to enter.
142 INT. BUNKER COMMAND ROOM - CONTINUOUS 142
Sitnikov enters. Sees Fomin and Dyatlov there.
BRYUKHANOV
Well?
SITNIKOV I sent my dosimetrists into the reactor building. The large dosimeter from the safe, the one with the thousand roentgen capac--
DYATLOV (snaps) What was the number?
SITNIKOV
There was none. The meter burned out the second it was turned on.
Dyatlov shrugs. Suddenly calm.
DYATLOV
Typical.
BRYUKHANOV See? This is what Moscow does. They send us shit equipment, and they wonder why things go wrong.
SITNIKOV We found another dosimeter.
Dyatlov tenses again.
SITNIKOV
From the military fire department. It only goes to 200 roentgen, but it's better than the small ones.
FOMIN
And?
Sitnikov hesitates. All his life, he's been warned not to be the bearer of bad news.
SITNIKOV
It maxed out. Two hundred roentgen. Fomin, Bryukhanov and Dyatlov register shock. Then:
FOMIN
What game are you playing?
SITNIKOV
No-- I asked him, he took multiple measurements, my best man--
BRYUKHANOV It's another faulty meter. You're wasting our time.
SITNIKOV I checked the meter against a control--
DYATLOV
What's wrong with you? How do you get that number from feedwater leaking from a blown tank?
SITNIKOV
You don't.
DYATLOV
Then what the fuck are you talking about?
A long silence. Then:
SITNIKOV I walked around the exterior of building 4. I think there's graphite. In the rubble.
Bryukhanov looks at Fomin and Dyatlov, who scoff.
DYATLOV You didn't see graphite.
SITNIKOV
I did.
DYATLOV
You didn't. YOU DIDN'T. Because it's NOT THERE.
Fomin steps in. A calmer voice.
FOMIN
Are you suggesting the core-- what? Exploded?
SITNIKOV
Yes.
FOMIN
Sitnikov. You're a nuclear engineer. So am I. Please tell me how an RBMK reactor core "explodes". Not a meltdown— an explosion. I'd love to know.
SITNIKOV
I can't.
FOMIN Are you stupid?
SITNIKOV
No.
FOMIN Then why can't you?
SITNIKOV
I don't— I don't see how it could explode.
Fomin throws up his arms. Looks at Bryukhanov. See? Not possible.
SITNIKOV
But it did. Dyatlov slams his fist down on the table.
DYATLOV
Enough!
They all turn to him. Startled.
DYATLOV
I'll go up to the vent block roof. From there, you can look right down into Reactor Building 4. I'll see it with my own eyes.
He stops. An odd look on his face. Then:
He VOMITS violently. The others move back in shock.
Dyatlov stares at the vomit on the floor. In a daze.
DYATLOV
I apologize.
He tries to lean on the table for support, but misses completely and COLLAPSES to the ground.
BRYUKHANOV
Guards! Three guards run in.
BRYUKHANOV Take him to the medic. Or the hospital. Whatever he needs.
Two of the guards lift Dyatlov off the floor. Begin helping him walk out. Dyatlov has a strange look on his face.
We've seen it before. Right after the explosion.
Bewildered.
FOMIN (to Bryukhanov) It's the feedwater. He's been around it all night.
Bryukhanov nods. Then Fomin glances at Sitnikov.
FOMIN
You go then.
SITNIKOV
What?
FOMIN
Go to the vent block roof and report back what you see.