Scenes cut from Russia 1917 script II
Ok then! (Parts II and III continue chronologically in the script):
***
The apartment which the revolutionaries have occupied was once a lavishly furnished bedroom in a town house- chandeliers hang from the ceiling, draped in dust-hangings, and one side of the room is dominated by a huge four poster bed with an elaborate coat of arms carved over it and hangings all around it. This tent-like encampment is the base for Sergei and Irena. (Indy has a bunk behind a screen in the opposite corner). Irena is cooking cabbage on the stove. Sergei is painting a banner. Boris is at the table, drawing a poster showing a landlord trampling on a peasant, and arguing with Dmitri, who is watching him.
Boris: How can you say that? You grew up in the same village as me! Didn't you see the landowners grinding the people into misery?
Dmitri: I saw a society in which everyone knew his place, in which no-one had to strive to show he was better than the next man. There at the top was the Tsar, God's own anointed ruler, holding it all together. Now he's gone, and Russia is falling apart.
Irena: Now he's gone, and we can start turning this country into somewhere worth living in.
Rosa (enters): Hi! Is Indy about?
Sergei: He'll be in soon.
Irena: It's his cabbage.
(awkward pause)
Rosa: Is it okay if I wait?
Irena: Hey- did we ever turn you away? You can help peel the potato.
(Rosa goes over to help... Rosa and Irena have the discussion about whether or not Indy knows that Rosa likes him. Indy comes in a few minutes later.)
Indy: Hey! That smells good! (He looks in the pot) You really know how to make something out of nothing, Irena.
Boris: A skill we Russians have developed over the centuries.
Sergei: And which we soon won't need.
Rosa (happily peeling away): Once we've achieved democracy.
Irena: Once we've achieved Communism.
Rosa: Well, when we hold the elections the people will decide if they want you Bolsheviks or not.
Dmitri: I'm afraid the Bolsheviks won't let the people vote on anything at all. One of the priests at the seminary said he's heard that Lenin's going to stage a coup within the next ten days.
Indy: Oh yeah? Know anything about that Sergei?
(Sergei takes a playful swipe at Indy with his banner).
Sergei: Hey, Indy! Remember our deal?
Irena: Stop talking politics and come and do some useful work, Indy. Help Rosa with that potato. She hasn't finished it yet!
***
The way in which Indy gets lured to the birthday party differs in this script. After Indy hands over the bread to his friends, Rosa suggests the Mozart performance.
Rosa: Indy- there's a Mozart recital on at the Conservatory and I was wondering if you'd like to take --
Indy: Yeah, I would Rosa. I really would: but I have to go back to the embassy right away. I have some stuff to check there. See you around.
Indy hurries out leaving Rosa alone at the table. She watches him disappear down the street, a picture of misery. At night, at French spy headquarters, Indy comes down the steps of the basement and starts rummaging around in the stacks of paper on both desks, pulling out leaflets and posters that have silted up there. He starts dividing them into piles, looking at something on each one before he decides which pile it goes in. Gradually one pile grows larger and Indy looks at it curiously and glances at the calendar hanging on the wall.
Indy (to himself): Great way to spend my birthday, sitting in a basement in Russia, counting leaflets.
After his work, Indy makes his way home through streets crowded with even more people on soap boxes and waving posters. Suddenly a huge figure blocks his path and he starts back in alarm.
Boris: Hey! Attaché! Where are you off to in such a hurry?
Indy: Well, I'm going home, Boris. What did you expect?
Boris (putting his arm around Indy): You're going too fast. Pause and look around you! This is what revolution is all about - people speaking their minds without anyone trying to stop them. Look! Listen! It's a marvelous sight. Mensheviks, Bolsheviks, Democrats, Anarchists - all having their say. You don't realize - this has NEVER happened here before. The lid has been clamped on for a thousand years - and this summer it's off!
Indy: It's great Boris - but I've had a long day, I just want to get back -
Boris (gripping him tighter): This fellow here, for example - listen to him. He's a friend of mine. He's gong to explain how if the peasants are left to themselves - they'll turn the entire country into a rural paradise.
Indy lets out a sigh, but submits, realizing that Boris is not going to give up. Eventually they make their way back home, up the darkened stairs. Boris still has his arm around Indy's shoulder.
Boris: And there are hundreds of people like him, ordinary men and women all over Russia, able to speak their minds at last!
Indy: You didn't tell me he was going to speak for an HOUR AND A HALF, Boris!
Boris: But it was fascinating, wasn't it?
Indy: I just want to get into my room and lie down and sleep.
As they reach the top of the stairs, Dmitri appears in front of them.
Dmitri: Hi, Boris! Hi, Indy!
Indy (going past him wearily): Hi, Dmitri- see you later.
Dmitri: No - I just want to tell you -
Indy: Tell me what?
Dmitri (floundering): Tell you - tell you - a joke I heard today at the seminary.
Indy: You have to tell it now?
Dmitri: I might forget it.
Indy (giving in): Okay, Dmitri. Shoot.
Dmitri (launching into what is clearly going to be a long recital): One day, Ivan the Terrible was out hunting in the forest with a full retinue of his nobles, when out of the undergrowth game an enormous...
Indy makes it to his door, but Boris and Dmitri are hot on his trail.
Dmitri: And that reminds me of another story I heard once --
Indy: It may do, Dmitri, but I don't want to hear it. It's been great talking to you guys, but I need some peace and quiet now. Bye.
Indy opens the door to find the room packed with all his friends and half the people from the Bearpit. As the door opens, they all yell out "Surprise! Happy Birthday, Indy!"
***
The gang takes Indy for his "present", i.e. standing witness to the historic speech by Lenin, which was very much changed for the episode:
Lenin: Comrades! You have lost faith in the Provisional Government! If you had listened to me you would never have HAD faith in the Provisional Government! They have deceived you with sweet promises: they have deceived the entire Russian people! We have no option but to fight for a complete socialist revolution - to fight until the proletariat wins full victory! That means a Russia governed by the people in one great armed militia! The people - running their everyday affairs themselves! Classes abolished. Capitalism - wiped out. The dictatorship of the proletariat! One day, I predict, the people will create a society so perfect that the state itself will wither away, leaving only harmony - no police, no army, no bureaucrats; no compulsion! What does Kerensky offer instead? Lighter chains for the workers! As long as they are prepared to go on being slaughtered in a war whose only object is to provide immense profits for international capitalism! There can be no compromise with these frauds. That is the message we must hammer home in every factory, barracks and village in Russia. Peace! Bread! Land! Keep on saying it until all Russia rises up to demand it - and then - THEN - we will lead the proletariat to victory!
The crowd cheers wildly and Indy sees Sergei arguing with a man in a black cap, their words are hard to make out. The crowd surges out of the room and they are swept past.
Irena: Indy - come on - we've got to get you home.
Indy (switching his attention away from Sergei and grinning at her): Hey, Irena: Thanks! This is about the most interesting birthday I ever had.
***
Later, Indy breaks into the room with the printing presses.
Indy: (reading to himself): Workers and peasants - the moment has come for the people to strike without mercy and bring Kerensky and his henchmen down into the dust of history. We will gather at -gap - and march on the Winter Palace at -gap - again!" Damn it - it's just a proof. I want the finished version. It must be here somewhere.
Indy continues to search the building, muttering to himself and gathering up as many leaflets as he can find. Suddenly he hears a noise at the door, someone is unlocking it. Indy pinches out the candle and retreats towards the window. But before he can get there the door opens and the light is switched on. Two solidly built men with rifles come in.
Bolshevik 1: See! I told you - there's nobody here.
Bolshevik 2: How do you know, comrade - you haven't looked yet.
Bolshevik 1: It's empty, I tell you. Look!
The second Bolshevik sees Indy's abandoned candle lying on a press: he picks it up - the wax is still melted. The two men glance at each other as the significance of this sinks in.
Bolshevik 2: You take that side, I'll take this. And take the safety off your rifle!