A Gentleman in Moscow

To an entirely unanticipated and truly wonderful friendship.

She's an actress.

Both Lenin and Trotsky

have their favorite film directors.

I'm good friends with all of them

and could arrange introductions.

Pleasure is mine, Miss Urbanova.

Close the door on your way out.

- - Together, we can build

- a new Russia. - Mishka.

- You know him? - Yes.

I am truly sorry I came between you and Helena.

We can move forward

rather than back.

War and Peace, Tolstoy's finest work.

You have read it?

Consider it a Christmas present.

Goodbye, Alexander Ilyich.

Will you be all right without me?

Oh, my dear Nina,

there's really no need

for you to concern yourself

with an old fuddy-duddy like me.

All the same. I shall.

- -

Progress, they say.

Well, the coffee's ready.

Might as well come along.

Well, thank you.

I'm sorry, I don't think we've ever been properly introduced.

Abram. I'm the caretaker of this place.

Well, I'm delighted to make your acquaintance.

- My name is Alexander Ily... - Oh...

I know who you are.

- -

Is that cannon fire?

They're-they're clearing away the old buildings.

The bees do their best to ignore it.

Here. The fruit of their labor.

Mmm. Oh, that's delicious.

Just a hint of lilac.

- From Alexander Gardens. - Oh.

You know, in a week or so,

the honey will taste of cherries.

The honey on our estate in Nizhny,

it tasted like apples, all the way through spring.

Where the apple blossoms fall like snow.

- Yes. - I know it well.

The death of Lenin

plunged the country into a power struggle

between Trotsky and General Secretary Stalin.

Life inside the Metropol remained largely the same.

Good morning.

- Good morning. - And you.

Ah, beautiful, Marina.

The Count settled into comfortable routine.

Days passed, seasons turned.

Nina!

Oh.

- How was school this year? -

Did you misbehave yourself?

Mm?

The capitalist system is at the root of imperialism.

Yes, but the individual has a role to play, too.

I mean, do you think, without ambition

and a particularly strained relationship

- with his mother... -

...Napoleon would have conquered Europe?

If not him,

it would've been someone else.

When they exhaust resources at home,

nations develop expansionist policies and pursue wars

that only serve the ruling class.

Secretary Stalin tells us this.

Your move, I believe.

I don't remember my position being quite so desperate.

- - Anna.

- Just over here, over here. - Anna.

- Give us a smile. - Give us a smile.

Look this way, Anna.

Lovely.

And turn to the right.

- Beautiful. - Comrade Urbanova.

Anna, how was it working with Golubev?

Comrade Urbanova.

- Excuse me, young man. - How can I help you today?

I just wondered if the room was ready.

Yes, certainly.

- Anna. - Lovely, lovely, thank you.

- Oh, one more, Anna. - Thank you,

- gentlemen. - Anna, just one more...

In the dozen or so times that Anna had returned

to the hotel since their night together...

...not a single word had been exchanged.

Make your move.

May I introduce Sergey Ivanovich Semenov?

He's writing a piece on you.

He wants to hear all about your new film.

It's lovely to meet you.

Pleasure.

Audrius. Bottle of Bollinger.

The 1917, if you'd be so kind.

Again?

Never fear failure, rather fear never trying.

But you have tried.

Many, many times before.

Yes, all right.

Give her this note with the champagne, all right? Thank you.

Comrade Urbanova.

Mishka.

I wasn't expecting you for another week.

What is it?

We should go upstairs.

The Party still monitors the activities

of exiles abroad.

I was made aware yesterday that the Countess died.

I am truly sorry.

How did it happen?

It was reported that she'd been in ill health

for a number of years.

I don't know the cause exactly.

She was 87 years old.

I will count myself lucky to live so long.

And her funeral was befitting of a woman of her standing?

I understand there's a magnificent Orthodox church

in London.

A service was held at the crematorium in Golders Green.

A crematorium?

And her-her ashes are to stay in exile?

She deserves better.

I should hold some sort of church service for her.

She still has friends in Moscow.

We do not engage in ceremonious superstition anymore.

Oh. God is in exile, too.

I'm the last of the Rostovs.

After me...

...there is no one else.

The wine must be Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

We'll serve caviar to taste on arrival.

Vichyssoise. Steamed fish.

To go along with the main event, whole spring lamb.

And what's the occasion?

You want all this to be served

at the same time, after the caviar?

Yes, of course.

It wouldn't be a feast

if it was served piecemeal.

A gathering in remembrance of my late grandmama,

the Countess Rostova.

H-How many guests?

Twenty.

When my husband died, we weren't allowed to hold a service.

Be careful. This will be frowned upon.

Oh, I'm sorry. I had no idea.

Why would you?

Ah, yes.

Well, it's been years since it was used.

Stand up straight. You're slouching.

I feel we could restore it

to something akin to its former glory.

What do you say, gentlemen?

Stop sucking it in.

An outrageous slander.

"Sucking it in," she said, Yasha.

Maybe there is a reason this fine china

hasn't been used for the best part of a decade.

It's against Party rules.

Even so,

don't you miss serving people who have the refinement

to appreciate our efforts?

If you could send the measurements

to Sidorov on Nikolskaya.

Gregor has made suits for me before.

Shouldn't be difficult for him to make one in the style

of my father's suit.

We have to be very careful not to

draw too much attention.

Don't worry.

I'll make sure everyone is on their best behavior.

Ready to order, sir?

I'll have the Latvian stew.

And would you like a glass of wine with your stew?

Might I suggest the Rioja?

Rioja?

I'm terribly sorry. Please, I'll, uh... Ignore me.