TIGER, TIGER

screenplay by
Mark Stouffer & Dennis Johnson

CONTACT:
Stouffer Pictures
tel 805-966-4960
stouffer2@cox.net

PAu 3-601-752

TIGER, TIGER
FADE IN:
EXT. SKY - A B-29 BOMBER - DAY
Trailing smoke and fire, a silver B-29 BOMBER, peppered with
cannon holes, struggles through the clouds. One engine is
completely missing. One is on fire. The remaining two sputter.
Theres a huge hole on the STARBOARD SIDE of the nose.
SUPER TITLES: NOVEMBER, 1944 / SOMEWHERE OVER MANCHURIA
INT. B-29 - DAY
WIND WHISTLES through the shattered bomber. There is blood
everywhere. The RIGHT SIDE GUNNER is dead. The RADIO OPERATOR
is dead. The NAVIGATOR is dead.
Where the CO-PILOT sat, there is only part of a human body.
CAPTAIN CONOR HALL, age twenty-five, the pilot, is covered
with the frozen blood and gore of his Co-Pilot. In the nose,
the DEAD BOMBADIER still clutches his Norden bombsight.
Wounded, Conor struggles to keep the plane flying.
CONOR
MAYDAY! MAYDAY! Does anyone copy?
My RF is out! Everythings out! Im
flying blind, somewhere North of
Anshan. Over.
(radio static)
Through the riddled canopy, Conor sees an endless wilderness, then A FLASH OF SUNLIGHT bounces off a FROZEN LAKE.
CONOR (O.S.)
I see a lake. Im setting her down!
EXT. B-29 - DAY
It starts a steep descent.
EXT. WOODS ON THE EDGE OF LAKE KHANKA - DAY
MONGOL PARTISANS, encamped in the woods, are STARTLED by the
B-29, as it ROARS OVERHEAD at tree-top level!
A COMMANDER SHOUTS ORDERS! The Partisans leap onto their
HORSES.

2.
EXT. FROZEN LAKE/B-29 - DAY
The B-29 glides like a huge, fiery bird, then BELLY FLOPS
ONTO THE ICE!
The Partisans charge out of the WOODS, onto the snow-covered
ice and GALLOP AFTER the B-29!
THE B-29 SLIDES SIDEWAYS. ONE WING SHEERS OFF, EXPLODING IN
FIRE AS THE MAIN FUSELAGE SLOWS, STOPS.
Just as the Mongol horsemen reach the wreckage, a RED ARMY
STAFF CAR, vintage 1920s, roars up. A RUSSIAN COMMANDER and
his MONGOL LIEUTENANT leap out of the car. The RUSSIAN starts
screaming orders!
INT. B-29 - DAY - A SERIES OF SHOTS
as Mongol Partisans pour into the burning aircraft.
They scoop up every map, code book, and chart.
They search the bodies of the dead Americans for personal
effects.
They RIP OUT the NORDEN BOMBSIGHT and every piece of RADAR,
NAVIGATION, RADIO and GUNNERY HARDWARE not bolted to the
airframe.
Too dazed to resist, CONOR HALL is yanked from his seat and
dragged out onto the ice.
INT. FISHING CABIN - DAY
Conor is shackled like a prisoner of war. Two NKGB (SECRET
POLICE) SOLDIERS guard him.
The RUSSIAN COMMANDER and his MONGOL LIEUTENANT watch silently
as an NKGB COLONEL thumbs through what could be an American
CODE BOOK. The COLONELS AIDE, an NKGB LIEUTENANT is on a
RADIO PHONE.
Note: This dialogue is in Russian with English subtitles.
NKGB LT.
Yes. Yes. I understand.
(he turns to the
Colonel)
Sir. They said bring everything.
Its all valuable. Including him.
The Colonel nods to Conors guards. They drag him out of the
cabin. The Colonel follows.

3.
The LT. and another NKGB SOLDIER dump the American maps,
code books, personal effects, into burlap bags.
EXT. FISHING SHACK - DAY - SNOWY
The RUSSIAN COMMANDER and his MONGOL LT. follow the NKGB LT.
out of the shack. They watch as Conor is dragged to a waiting,
BLACK SEDAN.
The NKGB SOLDIERS climb into a military truck.
MONGOL LT.
Where are they taking him?
The Russian Commander pulls out a HERSHEY BAR, rips it open,
and takes a big, satisfying bite.
RUSSIAN COMMANDER
Taking who? I didnt see anyone,
Comrade. Did you?
The BLACK SEDAN and the MILITARY TRUCK rush off.
INT. BLACK SEDAN - DAY - SNOWY
As the sedan speeds away, Conor manages one last glimpse of
his B-29.
What is left of his plane is being hauled away by Mongols
leading teams of pack horses.
EXT. NKGB PRISON - NIGHT - ESTABLISHING
This is the kind of prison from which few emerge alive.
SUPER TITLES:

STATE SECURITY HEADQUARTERS - VLADIVOSTOK

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT - CLOSE ON

A PIN-UP PHOTO OF BETTY GRABLE.
Her back is turned to the camera to show off her legs and
her derriere. The photo is dropped onto a table covered with
code books, flight charts, and manuals pulled from Conor's
B-29.
WE GO WIDER to see...Conor teetering on a chair under a bright
lamp in a dark, stony room. His eyes are nearly swollen shut
and blood oozes from his mouth. His tortured fingers struggle
to hold a blanket around his naked body, as he shivers
uncontrollably.
AN INTERROGATOR turns from the table to face Conor.

4.
INTERROGATOR
Once again. Why were you flying over
Soviet territory?
I was lost.

CONOR

BOOTS are HEARD approaching the room. TWO GUARDS and the
INTERROGATOR snap to attention, as an NKGB GENERAL enters
with a MEDICAL OFFICER.
The Medical Officer goes straight to Conor and starts to
examine him. The General goes straight to a table covered
with the code books, flight charts, and manuals.
NOTE: The following dialogue is in Russian with English
subtitles.
Well?

GENERAL

INTERROGATOR
Sir! Hes told us everything. And
hes told us nothing.
GENERAL
Perhaps he has nothing more to tell.
INTERROGATOR
Then what shall I do with him, sir?
GENERAL
Well, we cant just send him home.
If we have him, the Americans will
also know that we have his plane.
That would give away our game now,
wouldnt it?
Yes, sir.

INTERROGATOR

The INTERROGATOR pulls out his sidearm and checks to see if

its loaded. It is.
GENERAL
Theres no need for more violence,
Major. Why waste a bullet, when we
can just send him to the Gulag?
The INTERROGATOR reholsters his sidearm.
DISSOLVE TO:

5.
EXT. AN UNFINISHED RAILROAD - DAY (WINTER)
Conor is now part of a prison gang. He is one of hundreds of
zeks, building a railroad to no place, in the middle of
nowhere. Heavily armed SOLDIERS and vicious attack dogs guard
the prisoners as they go about their labor, crushing rock
and laying down ballast and ties and rails.
SUPER TITLE:

SEVEN YEARS LATER

Its winter and a freezing wind blows snow into huge drifts.
Conor is hollow-eyed, unshaven, dressed only in the rags of
a prison uniform. He and an OLD MAN struggle to lift a huge
boulder and carry it to a nearby rock crusher. Suddenly, the
Old Man gasps and falls to the ground, twitching.
TWO GUARDS immediately step forward and drag the Old Man
away. The guards pull the Old Man to a ditch and throw him
down the embankment, where he comes to rest among many frozen
bodies of dead prisoners. He struggles vainly to climb back
up.
Another PRISONER quickly joins Conor on the boulder. CLOSE
ON Conors face. His jaw tightens. There is defiance in his
eyes!
EXT. PRISON CAMP - DAY (DAWN)
Its still winter. Dawn at the main gate of Conors labor
camp. Conor, thin and gaunt, looking older now, and carrying
a small bundle, is marched out of the gate to a waiting truck.
As TWO GUARDS help him up, the prisoners already aboard make
room for him.
SUPER THREE TITLES, one at a time:
The Exile Express / Novadstok, Siberia / Winter, 1951
The tailgate goes up and the truck grinds away, into a snowy
forest.
CONORS P.O.V. - THE PRISON CAMP
It recedes into the morning fog.
EXT. SNOWY WOODS - DAWN - ESTABLISHING/TIGER
A SIBERIAN TIGER prowls through the woods, as silent as a
moonbeam. Its nose smells food. Its eyes and ears scan for
danger.
SUDDENLY, THE SILENCE OF THE WOODS IS SHATTERED BY THE ROAR
OF AN OLD TRUCK SHIFTING GEARS. The truck, like some monster

6.
of the dawn, charges over a hill, following some invisible
and impossible road.
The tiger roars at the truck, baring its magnificent and
lethal fangs.
EXT. SNOWY WOODS/TRUCK - DAWN - CONOR
While his fellow prisoners, and the TWO SOLDIERS guarding
them, shrink back from the cold and the snow, Conor defies
the elements, so only he sees the tiger step into the road.
The tigers huge round eyes glow yellow as it watches Conor
and the truck pass.
Amazed, Conor watches the tiger as long as he can.
CUT TO:
INT. YELENAS BEDROOM - DAY - YELENA AND YURI
are making love.
Yuris lips and fingers explore Yelenas body.
Yelenas lips and fingers explore Yuris body.
YELENA, in her twenties, is small, slim and very beautiful.
Despite her age and her sexual experience, she seems both
child and woman.
YURI, is a man in his early 40s. His face is strong, but
carries the scars of service in World War II. He has just a
touch of grey in his hair and a pinch of bureaucratic flab
around his middle.
Now Yelena is on hands and knees as Yuri thrusts into her,
from behind. Yuri climaxes and he and Yelena fall together
onto the bed. Before Yuri can slip away, Yelenas arms wrap
around him in a frantic embrace. She crushes him to her naked
body.
YELENA
(panicky)
How can you say you dont love me?
YURI
Please, Yelena.
Yuri breaks away, sits up.
YELENA
How can you make love to me like
this and not mean it?

7.
YURI
Because this isnt love, Yelena.
This is just our arrangement.
YELENA
But it could be love, Yuri. If you
let it.
YURI
Why are you so surprised, Yelena?
Did you think, we would go on like
this forever? You knew this would
end someday.
Yuri covers Yelenas naked body with a sheet, then climbs
out of bed. He limps to his clothes (an old war wound) and
starts to get dressed.
Yuris military bearing reflects, not only his rank, hes a
Major in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the MVD, but also
his responsibilities, as the Commandant of Novadstok, an
outpost on the Far Eastern frontier.
As he dresses, Yuri studies himself in the mirror. Behind
him, her back turned away in modesty, Yelena buttons up a
very plain dress.
YELENA
Why cant you just take me with you?
Or send for me?
YURI
You know I cant. Even if I wanted
to.
Yelena comes up behind Yuri and hugs him.
YELENA
But youre an important man. Youre
a Major, the Commandant of
Novadstok. All you have to do is
write the orders...sign the papers.
YURI
(he considers it for
a second)
And if I did? What then, huh? If
Comrade Stalin didnt shoot me, wed
both end up in the Gulag.
Yuri turns to face Yelena.

8.
YURI
Ive waited a long time for this
reassignment. A long time to get out
of this purgatory. And no one is
going to take it away from me. No
one. Not for love. Not for sex. Not
for money.
Yelenas lip quivers. Tears form and she starts to cry.
YURI
Stop it, Yelena! Stop it! Youre
acting like a child!
Embarrassed, Yuri breaks away. He grabs his officers cap
and his cane.
YELENA
Whats going to happen to me, Yuri?
YURI
Youll survive.
Yuri stops to kiss Yelena goodbye.
YURI
(softly)
Youre young. And beautiful. And a
lot stronger than you think.
As the Major leaves, Yelena begins to cry.
INT. BOARDING HOUSE/STAIRS - MORNING
As Yuri comes hobbling down the stairs from Yelenas room,
he is greeted by MADAM USOVA and a TEENAGE GIRL carrying a
tray with a pot of tea, cakes and biscuits.
MADAM USOVA
Ah, good day, Comrade Major. I was
just bringing you and Yelena some
tea and cakes.
The girl keeps her eyes down, as Yuri grabs a cake.
YURI
Go ahead. Take them to her.
MADAM USOVA
Certainly, Comrade Major.
As soon as the Major hobbles out the front door, Madam Usova
snaps her fingers and nods for the young girl to take the
tea and cakes back to the kitchen.

9.
EXT. NOVADSTOK RAILROAD STATION - LATE AFTERNOON
A crowd of babushkas, all bundled up against the cold, are
lining up to greet the in-bound Trans-Siberian train.
All the women have little wheeled carts or sleds, from which
they sell scarce and homemade goods to the new arrivals and
to the passengers bound for Vladivostok.
INT. BOARDING HOUSE/HALLWAY - LATE AFTERNOON - MADAM USOVA
is pounding on Yelenas door.
MADAM USOVA
(panicking)
YELENA! YELENA! Youre going to be
late! Youre going to miss the train,
again! Youre going to lose your
place!
INT. YELENAS BEDROOM - LATE AFTERNOON - YELENA
is curled up on her bed. Madam Usovas annoying pounding
finally gets her attention. Yelena HEARS a train whistle and
sits up.
EXT. ROAD TO NOVADSTOK/TRUCK - LATE AFTERNOON - CONOR
also HEARS the train whistle and looks off, but he cant see
it, because of the woods and buildings.
As the truck enters the outskirts of Novadstok, it passes a
sawmill, then a motley group of adobe and log shacks...a
sled being pulled by a single horse...and two women, bundled
up against the cold. The Soldiers call out to the women and
toss them kisses.
EXT. RAILROAD STATION - LATE AFTERNOON - OLD SOLDIER
Walking along the platform, is VICTOR "The OLD SOLDIER". He
is still wearing his WW II uniform, his tunic covered with
medals. Victor is a man of the street and the garbage bin;
dirty, smelly, repulsive. He meanders among the women browsing
their wares.
VICTOR
Good afternoon, ladies!
(sniffing a pot of
borscht)
You call that borscht?
BABUSHKA #1
Get away, pig.

10.
Suddenly Victor spots Yelena.
VICTOR
(waving)
Hey, Yelena! Hurry! Hurry!
A disheveled Yelena is on the other side of the tracks,
pushing her own cart along a path that winds through a shanty
town of desperate men and women.
Now as the train approaches, its whistle blasting, Yelena
starts across the tracks toward the station platform.
Suddenly, her cart jams in a rut and packets of precious
cigarettes, toothpaste, and candies slide off and fall to
the ground! Yelena drops to her hands and knees and
frantically tries to retrieve her merchandise. But its too
late...
Hearing the oncoming train, Yelena slowly rises. Overwhelmed
by hopelessness, she turns and stares, wide eyed, straight
into the eye of the fast approaching locomotive.
People on the platform begin to scream and shout.
VOICES
OH, MY GOD! SHES GOING TO KILL
HERSELF! YELENA! DONT! SOMEBODY
HELP HER! SOMEBODY CALL THE POLICE!
YELENA!
Seeing Yelena, the train engineer throws on his brakes.
As the 40-ton train slides toward Yelena, its brakes squealing
and its whistle screaming, Victor appears out of nowhere,
grabs Yelena and pulls her to safety.
The train plows into Yelenas cart, sending it and her
cigarettes, toothpaste and candies, raining down on the
station platform.
Yelena, stunned to be alive, turns on Victor and beats him
with her fists. He cowers under her blows.
YELENA
BASTARD! PRICK! SON-OF-A-BITCH!
Suddenly, there are SHOUTS AND POLICE WHISTLES!
VICTOR
YELENA! ITS THE POLICE! Go! Go! Get
out of here!

11.
Yelena looks up, sees the chaos she has created, then,
suddenly afraid, she dashes into the confused and excited
crowd.
TWO POLICEMEN arrive. Policeman #1 whacks Victor across the
back with his stick.
POLICEMAN #1
So! Its you again!
The babushka selling the borscht rushes up and grabs
Policeman #1.
BABUSHKA #1
No! Not HIM! Not HIM! It was that
whore, Yelena!
(pointing off)
She tried to kill herself. And look
what she did!
Policeman #2 spots Yelena rounding the corner of the train
station.
POLICEMAN #2
There she goes.
Releasing Victor, the Policemen start blowing their whistles
and chase Yelena.
EXT. NOVADSTOK/TRUCK - LATE AFTERNOON - CONOR
Just as Conors prison truck pulls up in front of the MVD
(Ministry of Internal Affairs) and MGB (Ministry of State
Security) building, a chunk of frozen mud explodes against
it. The splattering mud hits Conor in the back of his head.
The Soldiers whirl around and point their guns at Yelena,
who is standing in the middle of the muddy street. Yelena
picks up another chunk of mud and throws it.
YELENA
BASTARDS! Come on, kill me. KILL ME,
why dont you?
The Soldiers lower their guns and push Conor and three other
prisoners off the truck.
SOLDIER #1
Dont worry about her.
SOLDIER #2
Thats just crazy Yelena.

12.
COWARDS!

YELENA

Yelena turns around and starts to throw mud at people hurrying

along a wooden sidewalk. They duck.
One rock of hard mud crashes through a store window.
Now, the Two Policemen, still blowing their whistles, arrive.
Yelena runs. They give chase.
Conor and three other new exiles, KOLYA, LEV, and BORIS, are
hustled into the MVD/MGB building.
INT. MVD OUTER OFFICE - NIGHT - CONOR
and Kolya are seated at separate desks, being processed in
by TWO YOUNG MVD LIEUTENANTS.
Having done this dozens of times, the Lieutenant is bored to
death.
LIEUTENANT #1
(looking over Conors
papers)
So, youre an American. Do you speak
Russian?
Conor nods.
LIEUTENANT #1
Good. Because youre a Siberian now.
Suddenly, the door to the outer office opens and the TWO
POLICEMEN drag Yelena into the room.
Hearing the commotion, Yuri limps out of his office. He is
stunned to see Yelena.
YURI
What the hell is she doing here?
The two Policemen are reluctant to say.
POLICEMAN #1
She tried to kill herself, again.
What?

YURI

POLICEMAN #2
This time, she also broke a window.

13.
CAPITALISTS!

YELENA

YURI
(he looks at the faces
in the room)
You leave me no choice, Yelena.
(to the Police)
Give her thirty days. Half rations.
And make her work off the window.
Yelena falls on her knees and scrambles toward Yuri. Conor
cant help but notice how young and striking she is.
YELENA
No! No! Please, sir! Not jail. You
promised me! Not jail!
YURI
If I see you in here one more time,
Yelena, I SWEAR, Ill have you shot!
YELENA
(surprised)
But Comrade Major, thats what you
said last time!
YURI
(to the Policemen)
GET HER OUT OF HERE!
YELENA
No! No! I deserve to be shot!
Yuri returns to his office and slams the door. Conor watches
as the Police drag Yelena away.
The Lieutenants return to their work.
LIEUTENANT #1
So what kind of work did you do at
the camp?
CONOR
Busted rock. Cut timber.
LIEUTENANT #1
Timber? Good. Thats a skill we can
use. Theres a sawmill just outside
of town. Theyre always looking for
strong arms.
CONOR
But I dont have an ax.

14.
LIEUTENANT #1
Buy one. You do have money, dont
you?
Conor nods. The Lieutenant leans close to Conor and motions
for Conor to show him. Conor, obediently, pulls out a handful
of rubles. The Lieutenant counts the money, keeps half; gives
back half.
LIEUTENANT #1
(in a low voice))
Never show anyone how much money you
have.
INT. MVD/MGB - COMMUNAL SHOWER - NIGHT - CONOR
and the other new arrivals are naked, taking a hot shower.
Isolated from the men, five showerheads to the left of Conor,
is Yelena.
Yelenas body, lathered head to toe with soap, is thin, but
gorgeous. She has small, but perfect breasts.
Conor stares at her. Yelena notices, throws him a dirty look,
then turns her back to him.
INT. MVD/MGB - CORRIDOR JUST OUTSIDE SHOWERS - NIGHT
Still naked and dripping wet, Conor and the other men are
being led down the corridor, when, SUDDENLY, the lead ESCORT
GUARD stops the line.
Yelena steps out from her shower. She and Conor exchange
glances, then she hurries on, her naked body glistening under
the overhead lights.
Conor, the Escort Guards and the three other exiles, quickly
follow her. Yelena turns a corner.
The new corridor is lined with half a dozen OFF-DUTY MVD/MGB
Soldiers. As soon as Yelena appears, the animals start to
clap and whistle. An UGLY CORPORAL grabs her.
YELENA
You got a cigarette?
CORPORAL
Oh, yeah, Yelena. Right here!
The Corporal unzips his fly and shoves Yelenas hand inside.
Yelena squeezes.
YELENA
Hmmm. Too soft to smoke.

15.
A SERGEANT grabs her away from the Corporal.
YELENA
You got a cigarette?
SERGEANT
Sure. I got just what you want.
The Sergeant, swings Yelena around and thrusts at her from
behind. Yelena grimaces, then breaks away.
YELENA
Sorry. But youre not my brand.
Without asking, Yelena shoves her hand into the pants of a
YOUNG SOLDIER.
YELENA
How bout you, good looking? You got
a cigarette? I mean, A REAL CIGARETTE?
Suddenly, the Young Soldiers eyes flutter.
Ah, shit!

YELENA

Yelena yanks her hand out. She wipes her hand on the Young
Soldiers unbuttoned tunic.
YELENA
I think you have a problem, soldier.
INT. MVD/MGB - DELOUSING ROOM - NIGHT
Conor and Yelena are half dressed and hunting for the rest
of their clothes. Conor pulls up a tattered bra.
CONOR
Looking for this?
Yelena looks up as Conor tosses it to her. She studies Conor,
trying to figure him out.
YELENA
You got a cigarette?
Conor shrugs. Maybe he does. And maybe he doesnt.
YELENA
Yeah? Well, fuck you! FUCK YOU ALL!
ESCORT GUARD (O.S.)
Get a move on you two, if you want
any supper!

16.
Conor and Yelena finish dressing.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. MVD/MGB - JAIL LOCKUP - NIGHT
Conor, Lev, Boris and Kolya are crammed into a cell for two.
A low-wattage bulb high in the ceiling, suddenly goes out.
LIGHTS OUT!

JAIL GUARD (O.S.)

Conor, slides down against the bars of the adjoining cell.

He tries to find a comfortable spot to sleep. Exhausted, he
closes his eyes.
Suddenly, Conor sits up, as something pokes him in the ribs.
CONOR
Ahh! What the...
He turns and sees the dark shape of a human head on the other
side of the bars.
YELENA (O.S.)
(whispering)
How about it? You got a cigarette or
not?
Conor is amused and somewhat excited to hear Yelenas voice.
He flips open his Great Coat, finds his secret compartment,
rips a couple of small threads and pushes out a machine made
cigarette. He slips it through the bars to Yelena.
YELENA (O.S.)
Thanks. Got a match?
No.

CONOR

YELENA (O.S.)
Ill get one.
Suddenly, Yelena is pounding on the bars of her cell.
YELENA (O.S.)
HEY! COMRADE! COMRADE! IVE GOTTA
PEE. WHICH ONE OF YOU HORNY BASTARDS
WANTS TO WATCH?
WE HEAR the JAILERS scrambling, a ring of keys rattling,
jackboots approaching the cells.
GO TO BLACK:

17.
INT. MVD/MGB - JAIL LOCKUP - NIGHT - YELENA
strikes a match and lights her cigarette. For a moment, Conor
sees her face in the match light. Yelena, sitting on the
other side of the bars, passes a second wooden match to Conor.
CONOR
Thanks. So where did you learn to be
so...so resourceful.
YELENA
On the street.
CONOR
Here? In Novadstok?
YELENA
Hell, no. Not in this shit hole.
Back in Moscow.
CONOR
Youre from Moscow?
Was.

YELENA

Yelena passes the cigarette through the bars to Conor. He

takes a few wonderful drags, then passes it back.
CONOR
Howd you get here?
YELENA
On a prison train.
CONOR
I mean, what did you do?
your crime?

What was

YELENA
My crime? Ha! Being born. Being an
orphan. Being homeless. Being a
woman. Take your pick.
CONOR
They sent you here for that?
YELENA
Of course. I lived on the street. I
was a real nuisance. By the time
they caught me, I was too old for an
orphanage. And too young and fertile
to shoot. So they sent me here, to
(MORE)

18.
YELENA (CONT'D)
be a whore-bride for Comrade Stalins
exiles.
CONOR
So what do you do here, when youre
not in jail?
YELENA
(irritated)
Shit, you ask a lot of questions!
What are you, secret police? MGB?
MVD?
CONOR
No. Not MGB. Not MVD. Im just trying
to make conversation. I havent spoken
to a woman in...God, must be eight
years. And never one so (takes a
deep breath)...so sweet smelling.
YELENA
Thats just soap.
CONOR
Maybe. But to me you smell like a
field of wild flowers.
Yelena leans closer and breathes Conors scent.
YELENA
And you...you smell like a jail.
They laugh.
YELENA
So what was your crime, Comrade?
CONOR
Being an American.
YELENA
An American? That is a crime.
CONOR
You didnt answer my question. What
do you do when youre not in jail?
YELENA
I try to run away.
From what?

CONOR

19.
Everything.

YELENA

CONOR
Whats everything? Are you married?
Do you have a husband that beats
you? Children that hate you?
No.

YELENA

CONOR
A job you cant stand? What then?
I can keep a secret.
YELENA
Why should I tell you anything. I
dont even know your name.
CONOR
Conor. Conor Hall.
(pause)
Before...When you begged the Major
to shoot you...Did you mean that? Or
was that just a game you play here?
YELENA
No. No game. I dont care anymore.
Theres no pleasure in life. Were
all going to die anyway, so why wait?
Why suffer to the bitter end, huh?
Suddenly a SHADOW looms over Conor and Yelena.
GUARD #2 (O.S.)
HEY! SHUT UP IN THERE! OR ILL PUT
YOU BOTH ON REPORT!
Conor and Yelena shrink back into the darkness.
CONOR
(whispering)
I guess we better. We dont want to
be put on report.
YELENA
(whispering)
No. They might put us in jail.
(pause)
My name is Yelena.
CONOR
(whispering)
I know. Yelena, the wild flower.

20.
Yelena smiles to herself.
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
EXT. WOODS - MORNING - CLOSE ON
a blood trail in the snow. Obscuring the blood trail, are
two sets of human footprints, one large, one small.
EXT. WOODS/AN OUTCROPPING OF ROCKS AND TREES - MORNING - A
MAN AND HIS YOUNG SON
are hunting squirrels. The MAN has a small caliber rifle.
The BOY, a few paces behind him, holds three dead squirrels.
The squirrels drip blood on the snow.
The Man lights a cigarette, searches the trees. He squints;
thinks he sees a squirrel; raises his gun...
SUDDENLY, A HUGE SIBERIAN TIGER APPEARS FROM A ROCKY OUTCROPPING AND POUNCES ON THE MAN!
THE GUN FIRES! THE MAN SCREAMS!
THE BOY DROPS THE SQUIRRELS AND SCRAMBLES AWAY, SLIDING INTO
A CAVE-LIKE SPACE BETWEEN THE ROCKS!
THE BOY CAN ONLY WATCH IN HORROR AND SCREAM AS THE TIGER
MAULS, THEN KILLS, HIS FATHER.|
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. MAJORS OFFICE - MORNING - THE MAJOR
is giving his standard welcoming speech to the new exiles.
Conor, Kolya, Lev and Boris are standing at attention, heads
slightly bowed. The Major steps up to Conor and looks him
straight in the eyes.
YURI
Forget every one you ever knew. Every
place you ever loved. Because theres
no going home.
(he moves to next man)
If you try to go home, if you try to
leave the district of Novadstok, you
will be hunted down and sent
immediately back to the labor camp
from which you came. You are all
enemies of the people and exile is
forever.
(MORE)

21.
YURI (CONT'D)
(he moves to third
man)
But dont despair, Comrades, because
today you are being born again. In a
few minutes youll be released to
make a new life for yourselves. Here
in Novadstok, you will be as free as
youll ever be. So make the most of
it. As of now, therell be no more
free rations. So if you want to eat,
find work as quickly as possible.
Find a place to live. Find a wife.
Make children. There is still time
to contribute to our glorious
socialist society. Still time to
make something of yourselves. I only
ask that you obey the rules and stay
out of trouble. If you do, then this
will be the last time we meet. If
you dont, I can guarantee you 20
more years at hard labor. Any
questions?
There are none.
EXT. MVD/MGB BUILDING - MORNING - CONOR
carrying his hobos bundle, exits the building. Lev, Boris
and Kolya hurry out the MVD/MGB gate. Conor walks to the
gate and just stands. Finally, he takes several deep breaths
and marches out.
EXT. NOVADSTOK STREET - MORNING - CONOR
hurries along the sidewalk his eyes drawn to the windows of
the shops.
INT. A STATE MERCANTILE STORE - MORNING - CONOR
stands looking up at the skin of a Siberian Tiger nailed to
a wall. The skin is very old and ratty and full of bullet
holes.
As Conor wanders among the sparsely filled counters and
empty shelves, two CUSTOMERS, the STORE MANAGER and
CASHIER/CLERK eye him with disgust.
STORE MANAGER
Hey! Hey! We dont want your kind in
here!
Conor ignores the man. The Manager doesnt know what to do.

22.
Conor finds an ax and returns to the front.
How much?

CONOR

The two anxious Patrons hurry out. The Clerk shrinks back.
The Store Manager is annoyed.
STORE MANAGER
You idiot! You just cost me two
customers. I said we dont serve
your kind in here.
CONOR
Oh. What kind is that?
STORE MANAGER
(sputtering)
Cri..Criminals. Mur..Murders. Thieves.
Rapists. Child exploiters.
CONOR
Oh. Well, Im much worse than that.
Im an enemy of the people.
WHAM! Conor embeds the ax in the wooden counter.
CONOR
(bitterly)
Im also a free man. So how much for
the ax?
EXT. SAWMILL - DAY - ESTABLISHING - CONOR
his new ax on his shoulder, makes his way toward the sawmill.
A big painted sign reads: FAR EASTERN TIMBER TRUST.
EXT. SAWMILL - DAY - LABOR BOSS AND CONOR
The big, ruddy LABOR BOSS is looking over Conors papers.
LABOR BOSS
Sure I could use you. I could use
twenty men like you. Id put you to
work in a minute, but I cant. You
have no residence permit. When you
find a place to live, come back.
Conor nods.
EXT. NOVADSTOK - DAY - A SERIES OF SHOTS
as Conor tries to find a place to live.

23.
On the porch of a BOARDING HOUSE, a FAT LANDLADY scans Conors
papers, shakes her head, and slams her door in his face.
A FARMER leads Conor through his HEN HOUSE. Arriving in the
back, Conor discovers TWO OTHER EXILES aready sharing that
limited space. This time, Conor shakes his head, spins around
and leaves.
Conor is trying to warm up in the RAILROAD STATION WAITING
ROOM, when a POLICEMAN rousts him out.
Conor walks through THE SHANTY TOWN that parallels the
railroad tracks. He is appalled by the sight of people living
in cardboard boxes and under stacks of filthy matresses.
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY - CONOR
sits at a table near a window, waiting for his food. A bottle
of vodka is already on its way to being empty.
The restaurant is smoky and filled with the laughter and
chatter of laborers, party bureaucrats, soldiers and just
plain slackers. Somewhere, someone is playing a folk melody
on an accordion.
Suddenly, Victor appears at Conors window. He looks at Conor,
smiles, then disappears.
A WAITER brings Conor his food, then holds out his hand.
Conor counts out some money. Then more money. Finally, the
Waiter is satisfied and Conor is broke.
As Conor starts to eat, Victor approaches him.
VICTOR
(smiling)
Spare some change? Some bread? A sip
of vodka, for an old soldier?
Conor, his mouth full, tears his bread in half, spreads some
butter on it and hands it to the man. Victor salutes his
thanks.
VICTOR
Thank you, Comrade. I never forget a
kindness.
Conor watches, as Victor moves on into the room. Patrons
start to notice him. He is a regular.

24.
VICTOR
(to no one in
particular)
I was in the Great War! I was at
Leningrad. At Stalingrad. I swam
across the Elbe River under fire. I
blew-up Panzer tanks! I have the
medals to prove it! See!
He holds up his medals.
PATRON #1
(pointing)
Whats that blue one for? Begging
under fire?
The room erupts with laughter.
VICTOR
(holding up blue medal)
This one? This one is for killing
Hitler...with my bare hands!
Derisive laughter. A patron holds out his unfinished bowl of
stew.
PATRON #2
Well, I think youve earned this,
General.
Just as Victor reaches for it, the Patron dumps the stew
onto the floor. The room breaks into laughter.
PATRON #1
Well, eat up. Drink up.
Patron #1 dumps the last of his vodka onto the floor next to
the stew. More laughter.
Finally, Victor falls to his knees and starts to pick out
the chunks of potato still left in the stew.
Conor turns back to his own meal. Suddenly, an MGB (SECRET
POLICE) OFFICER, stands before him.
MGB OFFICER #1
Your identity card.
Conor hands the man his Gulag discharge and his new MVD ID
card.
The restaurant goes quiet, as a SECOND MGB OFFICER starts to
circulate through the room. Everybody in the room pulls their
papers out, ready for inspection.

25.
Victor, still on his knees, ignores the MGB Officers and
continues to eat.
SUDDENLY, JUST OUTSIDE THE RESTAURANT, WE HEAR SCREAMING,
SHOUTING, WAILS AND CURSES...
The two MGB Officers rush out, followed by everyone in the
restaurant except Conor and Victor.
Conor stands, licks his wooden spoon, and looks out the
window.
EXT. RESTAURANT - DAY - CONORS P.O.V.
a crowd is gathering around a horse-drawn sled. The SQUIRREL
HUNTERS WIFE, is screaming out a tale of horror. The boy we
saw earlier is in the back of the sled, crying. He is holding
his fathers bloodied corpse!
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY - CONOR
is joined at the window by Victor.
Shes back.
Whos back?

VICTOR
CONOR

VICTOR
The maneater. I dont know yet, if
its a male or female, but I like to
think its a tigress, out for revenge.
CONOR
Revenge? For what?
VICTOR
For being hunted. For being starved.
For being run out of her territory.
CONOR
Maybe shes just out for blood?
VICTOR
Maybe. She killed two men last year.
And one the year before. Hell,
everybodys got to eat.
Victor turns and quickly gathers up as many plates and bowls
of uneaten food as he can carry. Along the way, he fills an
empty glass with left-over drams of vodka.

26.
CONOR
A tiger, huh? So why havent the
soldiers hunted her down and killed
her by now?
VICTOR
(as he gathers food)
Because shes smart.
(he laughs to himself)
And she knows the forest better than
any man ever will. She knows just
when to strike. When to lay low. And
how to stay out of sight. These days,
the only tigers those fools can catch,
are old or sick or already half dead.
The last thing a man wants, is to
come face to face with a healthy and
hungry, six hundred pound Siberian
tiger.
CONOR
How do you know so much about it?
Victor drops all the food he has gathered onto Conors table
and sits down to eat.
VICTOR
Im one of the few, who was actually
born here. Long before I hunted
Germans, I hunted tigers. I prefer
the tigers. They don't shoot back.
He points at whats left of Conors stew.
VICTOR
Are you going to eat that, Comrade?
CONOR
Yes. And dont call me Comrade.
Victor goes back to his scraps of food.
EXT. RESTAURANT - DAY - CONOR
steps outside. He watches the panic and the chaos surrounding
the dead hunter.
Suddenly, a military truck comes roaring up, with SIX ARMED
SOLDIERS aboard. One of the Soldiers is trying to control
two barking dogs.
An MGB CAPTAIN leans out of the truck cab and barks orders
to the two MGB Officers we just saw in the restaurant. The
two MGB Officers, in turn, start selecting men from the crowd,

27.
hustling them onto the truck. MGB Officer #2 spots Conor. He
points at him.
MGB OFFICER #2
YOU! WITH THE AX! ONTO THE TRUCK!
EXT. WOODS - LATE AFTERNOON - CONOR
has become part of the hunting party. WE HEAR barking dogs.
WE HEAR cursing. WE SEE OTHER HUNTERS stumbling through the
heavy snow. The hunting party is very thin and spread out.
Conor is huffing and puffing, trying to keep up. His ax is
in his hands and his hobos bundle is tied crudely to his
back. He is sweating despite the cold. Suddenly, Conor stops,
leans against a tree, then vomits up his stew and vodka.
The SOUNDS of the dogs and the OTHER HUNTERS begin to fade
away.
Conor suddenly realizes that the hunting party is getting
far ahead of him. He spits out the last bitter taste of vomit
and hurries after them.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WOODS - LATE AFTERNOON - CONOR
Now the Sun is lower, the woods are thicker and the snow
deeper, rising into high drifts. Conor turns one way, then
another. He is LOST. SUDDENLY he hears...KA-BLAM, BLAM,
BLAM...three rifle shots. But from which direction? They
seem to echo from every direction. Conor decides and hurries
on.
EXT. WOODS/CLEARING - LATE AFTERNOON - CONOR
stumbles out of the woods into a clearing. The snow is
pristine, broken only by a few old stumps of cut trees.
Directly ahead, the snow rises like a small hill.
Swinging around the hill, Conor crosses the clearing.
Just as he enters the tree line on the other side, HE SEES
IT! A WOUNDED TIGER, ITS COAT RED WITH BLOOD!
CONOR INSTINCTIVELY FREEZES! BUT THE TIGER HAS SEEN HIM!
MAD WITH PAIN, THE TIGER DRIVES TOWARD HIM!
CONOR TURNS AND RUNS!
CONOR STUMBLES THROUGH THE SNOW AND WOODS, THE TIGER CLOSING
IN FAST!

28.
JUST AS CONOR REACHES THE CLEARING, THE TIGER GOES FOR THE
KILL! IT LEAPS! IT KNOCKS CONOR DOWN! ONLY CONORS HOBOS
BUNDLE SAVES HIM!
THE TIGER SHREDS THE BUNDLE, TOSSING ALL OF CONORS WORLDLY
POSSESSIONS INTO THE SNOW. CONOR, KICKING AND SCREAMING,
MANAGES TO GET TO HIS FEET!
THE TIGER LEAPS AGAIN! THIS TIME CONOR SWINGS HIS AX AND
DRIVES IT DEEP INTO THE BEAST!
EVEN BEFORE THE TIGER HITS THE SNOW, CONOR IS SCRAMBLING
AWAY, UP THAT LITTLE HILL HE AVOIDED EARLIER.
REACHING THE TOP OF THE HILL, ALIVE AND GASPING FOR BREATH,
CONOR TURNS TO LOOK BACK. BELOW HIM, THE TIGER STARES BACK
WITH DEAD EYES.
CONOR IS TRYING TO GRASP WHAT HAS JUST HAPPEN, WHEN...
SUDDENLY!....THE GROUND, BENEATH HIS FEET, CRACKS! AND HE
DISAPPEARS INTO THE EARTH!
INT. LOG CABIN - LATE AFTERNOON - CONOR
comes crashing down through the roof of a snow and ice covered
log cabin. Conor lands hard, smashing a table and chair and
bringing down a shower of rotten wood, earth and mortar.
Conor picks himself up. What is left of daylight streams
down the man-size hole above him. Rats and mice squeal as
they try to hide from him. His eyes finally adjust to the
semi-darkness.
It is a small cabin, but well built (except for the roof)
and well appointed with a fireplace, an iron, wood burning
cook stove, and small pantry. There are two windows in the
cabin as well as a door, but they are covered with snow and
ice.
The cabin is littered with empty food cans and vodka bottles.
Against the wall is a bed, and in the bed, the FROZEN CORPSE
OF AN OLD EXILE! Theres a deep gash across his throat. In
his right hand he holds the suicide weapon, a broken vodka
bottle; in his left hand, he grasps a piece of paper.
Conor pries the paper out of the mans icy hand. Scribbled
in a very shaky hand, are two Russian words.
SUBTITLE, in English: I QUIT
Conor searches the cabin and finds a shovel.
DISSOLVE TO:

29.
EXT. WOODS/CLEARING/CABIN - SUNSET - CONOR
on top of the cabins roof, clears snow from the chimney of
the iron stove.
INT. LOG CABIN - NIGHT - CONOR (A SERIES OF SHOTS)
Conor starts a fire in the iron stove and warms his nearly
frostbitten fingers.
He wraps the corpse of the dead man in a blanket.
Using a tin can, he catches a rat.
Conor rips the now-roasted rat apart and devours the meat.
He eats a handful of snow to wash it down.
Finally, Conor collapses onto the dead mans bed. He stares
up at the hole in the cabin roof. The sky is crystal clear
and the stars shine like jewels. A TIGER ROARS in the woods.
Conor closes his eyes and falls asleep.
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
EXT. NOVADSTOK - MORNING - CONOR
drags the wrapped bodies of the dead man and the dead tiger
into town on a makeshift sled.
EXT. MVD/MGB BUILDING - MORNING - CONOR AND YELENA
As Conor reaches the MVD/MGB building, he sees Yelena under
guard. She is shoveling horse manure out of the street into
a horse-drawn cart. She looks at Conor and shrugs.
EXT. MVD/MGB BUILDING/COURTYARD - MORNING - CONOR AND YURI
The Major examines the dead tiger and the dead exile. For a
moment, he studies the old mans face.
INT. MAJORS OFFICE - MORNING - CONOR
is sipping a rare cup of hot tea. The Major is looking over
the dead mans papers. He reads the two words scrawled on
the paper.
YURI
Its good you came in when you did,
Captain. I was about to declare you
an escapee. And for that, Comrade,
you could be shot.

30.
CONOR
No one has called me Captain in a
long, long time.
YURI
I was in the war too.
(he taps his bad leg)
Stalingrad.
(pause)
I dont normally reward an exile
for doing their civic duty, but I
admire courage and integrity.
Something I havent seen since the
war.
CONOR
Thank you, Major.
YURI
So, Im in a good mood. How can I
help you?
CONOR
The man who died...his cabin...Id
like to live there.
YURI
(skeptical)
Why? Its little more than a grave.
CONOR
True. But its not everyday a man
gets to choose his own grave.
YURI
Alright. If thats what you want. Go
ahead. Live there.
Thank you.
More tea?

CONOR
YURI

CONOR
No. This is fine.
YURI
As long as youre here, let me ask
you something. Have you considered
getting married?
Married?

CONOR

31.
YURI
Youre still a young man. Handsome.
Strong. That cabin in the woods will
get very lonely. It would suit a man
to have a woman in his bed. You do
like women, dont you, Comrade?
CONOR
Of course. But, you forget, sir, I
just got here. Until now I didnt
even have a place to live, let alone
time to meet a woman.
YURI
I understand. So let me tell you
about this woman I know.
(he remembers)
In fact you may have seen her. Her
name is Yelena.
CONOR
Yelena? Oh, yes, I did. Yelena, the
little tigress.
YURI
Do you know her?
CONOR
Not really. We just happened to meet
in your jail.
YURI
I see. Have you talked to her?
A little.

CONOR

YURI
What do you know about her, Comrade?
CONOR
Nothing. Only that she is unmarried.
And unhappy.
YURI
Did she tell you about the orphanage?
CONOR
Orphanage?
(he shakes his head)
She said she was too old for an
orphanage.

32.
YURI
(nods his head)
Ah, thats just like her.
(pause)
Did she tell you that shes a widow?
That her first husband, was arrested
and shot more than a year ago? Hmmm?
And that, since then, she has probably
slept with half the men in this town?
CONOR
No. But we all do what we have to
do, Major.
YURI
Yes. Including me. Which is why I
want you to marry her.
What?

CONOR

YURI
I said...I want you to marry Yelena.
Conor is dumbfounded.
YURI
Look, Captain. Things dont work
here the way you want them to. The
State needs children. Its every
womans duty to marry and make
children. Yelena knows that better
than anyone. Why do you think she
was sent here, all the way from
Moscow, hmm? To be a whore? No! To
be a wife. To marry some poor exile,
like you.
CONOR
I understand, sir. But...what if she
doesnt want to marry me?
YURI
She has no choice. Yelena will do
what I tell her to do.
CONOR
And if I dont want to marry her?
YURI
Id call you a fool. Then send you
back to the Gulag.

33.
I see.

CONOR

YURI
Look on the bright side, Captain.
Yesterday you had nothing. Today you
have a house.
(he glances at a
calendar)
And, in twenty-eight days, youll
also have a wife. What more could a
man ask for, huh, but children?
CONOR
(nervously)
Yes. I see your point. Twenty-eight
days. Thank you, Major.
Conor bows respectfully, returns the tea cup and heads out
the office door.
YURI
You see, I told you I was in a good
mood.
EXT. WOODS/CONORS CABIN - DAY - ESTABLISHING
Conor has cleared the cabin of snow and cut a path to an
outhouse.
A huge bonfire is consuming trash from the cabin.
INT. JAIL - NIGHT - YELENA AND YURI
Yuri is visiting Yelena in her jail cell. Yelena is sorting
through the things that Yuri has salvaged from her bedroom.
YURI
Im sorry. This is all I could find.
All that was left in your old room.
After a long silence...
YELENA
I dont want a husband. I had a
husband.
YURI
Its not like hes a complete
stranger. He says he knows you. Hes
the American.

34.
YELENA
(remembers)
Mr. Cigarette.
Who?

YURI

YELENA
He gave me a cigarette, once.
YURI
See. Already you have something to
live for.
(pause)
He really wants you Yelena.
YELENA
Of course. Im a woman in a
godforsaken wilderness. What man
wouldnt want me? You did, once.
YURI
You should be grateful. You should
thank me. He seems like a decent
man. It will be a good marriage for
you. Trust me. You need this, Yelena.
Besides, you have no choice. Ive
made my decision. Accept it.
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
EXT. WOODS - DAY - CONOR AND LOGGING CREW (A SERIES OF
SHOTS)
YAKOV, ANS, LEV and MIHAIL trim logs already felled.
OTHER MEN attach hooks and lines to logs ready to be dragged
out of the woods by a team of horses.
NIKOLAI, holding a rifle at the ready, keeps his distance
from the loggers and watches them and the woods.
Conor and SERGEI work in tandem to chop down a tall tree.
SUDDENLY the underbrush around Conor explodes!
TIGER!

CONOR

Conor and Sergei scramble away, as a WILD BOAR comes crashing

out!

35.
Nikolai rushes forward and takes a bead on the boar, as it
charges Conor.
CONOR
SHOOT! SHOOT DAMN IT!
But Nikolai doesnt fire, forcing Conor and Sergei to climb
the nearest tree.
As Conors fellow loggers applaud and roar with laughter,
the angry boar finally snorts and disappears.
Enraged, Conor jumps down, grabs the rifle out of Nikolais
hands and decks him with a fist to the nose.
SERGEI
STOP! STOP! ITS NOT HIS FAULT!
Mihail helps Nikolai to his feet.
MIHAIL
(to Nikolai)
Hes new. He didnt know. No hard
feelings, huh?
Nikolai shrugs and shakes his head. He picks up a handful of
snow and rubs it on his nose.
CONOR
He could easily have shot that boar!
Is he here to protect us or to kill
us?
Conor retrieves his ax.
SERGEI
Both. But dont worry, Comrade, hes
a terrible shot.
(calling)
Nikolai! Hey, Nikolai! Show Conor
your bullet!
Conor looks over at Nikolai.
Nikolai, a little slow in the head, grins and pulls a long,
brass bullet out of his pocket. He holds it up for Conor to
see.
SERGEI
You see. They only give him one
bullet. One at a time.
Conor and Sergei seat themselves on a fallen log and break
out their cigarettes. They are joined by Ans, Yakov, and

36.
Mihail. Nikolai keeps his distance, scanning the woods
constantly.
CONOR
Just one? Why? Is he some kind of
marksman?
SERGEI
No, hes just Commissar Bayevs
brother-in-law. How can you be a
marksman, if they never let you fire
your gun?
CONOR
Is that why he didnt shoot the boar?
Because he only has one bullet?
SERGEI
No. Because of all the questions.
ANS
Why did you shoot your gun, Nikolai?
Why did you waste your bullet,
Nikolai? Was someone trying to escape?
SERGEI
You see, no one cares if our lives
are in danger. They only worry about
us trying to escape. Trying to leave
the district.
YAKOV
As if anyone would even try.
ANS
Besides, if you only have one bullet,
why waste it on a wild boar? Huh?
Why not wait and shoot a man or
something of real value, like a tiger.
CONOR
A tiger? Whats so valuable about a
tiger?
ANS
Everything...the skin, the meat, the
bones, the teeth.
MIHAIL
You got screwed, Comrade. You could
have gotten a lot of money for that
tiger you killed. Instead you gave
it to the Major.

37.
ANS
I bet the Major made three, four
hundred rubles off it.
How much?

CONOR

ANS
Three, four hundred rubles.
How?

CONOR

ANS
On the black market.
SERGEI
Shut up, Ans.
ANS
(irritated)
What? Its not like Im giving away
a state secret.
(cautiously)
Everyone here, except him,
(he nods toward Conor)
...knows theres a black market for
tigers.
YAKOV
They say the bones alone are worth
sixty rubles.
MIHAIL
(explaining)
You see, the slant-eyes think tiger
bones give them bigger hard-ons. So
they pay a small fortune for the
bones. Then grind em up and use em
to make tiger wine. Its nothing
new. Its been going on for centuries.
CONOR
So, if man wanted to make a few extra
rubles...?
ANS
(smiling)
Well, the next time you kill a tiger,
Comrade, you let us know first.
(he indicates the
other loggers)
Okay?

38.
EXT. STATE MERCANTILE STORE - DAY (DUSK) - CONOR
The skin of the tiger Conor killed is on display in the window
of the store. As Conor studies it, Victor ambles up.
VICTOR
See how big and flat her paws are?
They're like snowshoes. She could
creep upon you as silently as a ghost.
Believe me, you'd never hear her
coming. The last thing you'd feel,
would be the weight of death upon
you and the sharp pain of her canines,
slicing into your neck. But dont
worry, Comrade, the agony would only
last a second, because as she bit
down...
(he snaps his fingers)
...your neck would break. And if
that didnt kill you, the blood
gushing out of your arteries,
(he indicates the
caroid arteries)
certainly would.
(pause)
Good kill, Comrade. Only its not
the maneater.
CONOR
Its not? It almost ate me.
VICTOR
Shes too old. Her canines were worn
out. She was starving. She only
attacked you, because she was wounded
and you ran.
CONOR
Damn right I ran.
Conor starts to enter the store.
VICTOR
By the way, congratulations! I hear
youre getting married.
CONOR
Bad news travels fast.
VICTOR
To Yelena no less. It cant be all
that bad. Ive known Yelena since
she was a child. Now shes a beautiful
(MORE)

39.
VICTOR (CONT'D)
woman and if I were twenty years
younger...
CONOR
Its not the woman I resent. Its
being told when and whom to marry!
Conor disappears into the store.
EXT. A ROAD UNDER REPAIR - DAY - YELENA
is part of the prison labor crew forced to dig out rocks and
haul them away. She is working on a sloping embankment and
can barely see the road bed.
As she struggles to lift a rock, a very red apple comes
bouncing down from above. Surprised, Yelena quickly grabs
it.
She climbs up the embankment, just in time to see Conor, his
ax on his shoulder, hiking up the road.
She watches him then takes a bite out of the apple.
ROAD GUARD (O.S.)
Back to work, bitch!
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
EXT. WOODS - DAY - CONOR AND SERGEI
are trimming a fallen tree.
SERGEI
So whens the wedding?
CONOR
Couple days. Everyones invited.
Even you.
Sergei grins.
As Conor cuts away a small limb, he suddenly stops. He slowly
pushes the branch aside to reveal a crude lean-to and the
skeletal remains of a man.
SERGEI
Whatd you find, Comrade?
Sergei comes up beside Conor. He crosses himself, then glances
back at Nikolai. Nikolai is not watching them.

40.
Sergei quickly searches the body. He finds old food, a bottle
of Vodka, frozen solid, a handkerchief, a crude compass and
a wad of old rubles.
SERGEI
Some poor fool who thought he could
escape.
Escape?

CONOR

Sergei hands Conor the compass and the handkerchief. Conor

unfolds the handkerchief. Its a map.
Nikolai finally notices that Conor and Sergei have stopped
working. He ambles towards them.
SERGEI
Quick! Its Nikolai!
Sergei slips the rubles into his boot. Conor palms the
compass, and pretends to wipe his face with the handkerchief.
Sergei grabs the bottle of vodka and intercepts Nikolai.
SERGEI
LOOK! LOOK WHAT THIS IMBECILE DID!
HE LET THIS BOTTLE OF VODKA FREEZE!
As Nikolai examines bottle of vodka, Conor lops off a tree
branch with his ax. The branch falls, hiding the long-dead
exile.
NIKOLAI
(to Conor)
IMBECILE!
INT. LUMBER COMPANY TRUCK - NIGHT
The truck is hauling the logging crew back to Novadstok.
Most of the men are zonked out. Nikolai is trying to squeeze
a drink from the frozen bottle of vodka.
Conor and Sergei silently study each other, as only men who
share a deadly secret can.
INT. CABIN - NIGHT
Conor examines the map. All the symbols on the map are in
Russian, but its obvious that it is a map of the land between
Novadstok and the eastern sea coast. Military outposts and
labor camps are noted. There is no scale, and no distances
are indicated.

41.
Conor sets the compass on top of the map and turns the map
until it lines up on north.
Satisfied, Conor searches for a hiding spot, then stuffs the
hankerchief-map into a crack between the logs of cabin. He
buries the compass in a carton of salt.
EXT. CABIN - NIGHT
Conor smokes a cigarette, as he stares up at the NORTH STAR.
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
INT. CABIN - DAY - A RUSSIAN CALENDAR
The day of Conor and Yelenas wedding is circled. Conor
crosses off his last day of freedom.
INT. CABIN/JAIL CELL/SHOWER - A SERIES OF SHOTS
INTERCUT between Conor in his cabin and Yelena in her jail
cell, as they prepare for their wedding.
Conor, standing naked in a small wash tub, gives himself a
sponge bath.
Yelena showers, alone and undisturbed.
Conor shaves off the beard hes grown.
He brushes his teeth.
Yelena brushes out her hair.
Conor buttons up his best shirt, then slips on his new suit
jacket.
Yelena packs everything she owns into Yuris paper shopping
bag.
Conor slugs back a glass of vodka.
INT. COMRADE MAJORS OUTER OFFICE - DAY - CONOR
is sitting on a wooden bench, holding a small, faded bouquet
of paper flowers, and smoking his last cigarette as he waits
patiently for his bride-to-be. His ax leans against the wall.
Yelena, escorted by TWO MVD JAIL GUARDS, enters carrying
her shopping bag.
Conor stands, stamps out his cigarette.

42.
CONOR
(trying to smile)
Hello, again.
YELENA
(she nods)
Hello.
Yelena slips off her ragged overcoat to reveal a clean,
brightly colored, summer dress.
Conor gives Yelena the flowers.
For you.

CONOR

She looks at the flowers, unimpressed.

YELENA
I hear you have a house now.
CONOR
I wouldnt call it a house. Its
just a cabin on the edge of the woods.
Its sturdy, but needs work. Ive
also got a job working for the timber
company. And you? How have you been?
YELENA
Cold. Very cold.
CONOR
Oh! Im sorry. Forgive me. Here,
take my coat.
Conor slips off his coat and tries to wrap it around her.
YELENA
No. No. Im okay.
Look.
isnt
mine.
to do
takes

CONOR
Yelena. I know this...marriage
your idea any more than its
So lets just do what we have
today, okay? And see where it
us.

YELENA
Sure. We can always kill ourselves
tomorrow.

43.
CONOR
(sharply)
Stop! Stop! I dont want to hear
that kind of talk! Ever! You
understand?
Yelenas face narrows.
YELENA
Who the hell are you, to tell me how
to think? Who the hell are you to
tell me what to do with my life?
CONOR
Im the man whos about to become
your husband, thats who!
YELENA
Husband?
(she shakes her head))
No. No. No. Not my husband. Just my
new jailer, thats all.
For a long moment Conor says nothing. Then...
CONOR
Husband, jailer, whatever, were stuck
with each other.
Suddenly, a man and a woman burst out of Comrade Majors
office. The new husband and wife can barely keep their hands
off each other.
One of Comrade Majors Lieutenants beckons Conor and Yelena.
Conor slips on his suit coat.
As Yelena follows Conor into the Majors office, she drops
Conors bouquet of flowers into a waste basket.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT - CONOR AND YELENA
are celebrating their wedding. There is music and laughter,
drinking and dancing. Everyone is here.
Victor is stuffing his stomach and his pockets with food.
Conor, Sergei, Ans and Yakov are drinking heavily.
Yelena dances with everyone. Her dancing is erotic and
uninhibited and drives the men wild.

44.
Conor makes several attempts to dance with her, but Yelena
avoids him.
Finally, Conor just grabs her. She resists, then lets him
take her into his arms. They dance.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT - CONOR AND YELENA
Conor is dragging Yelena to a waiting sleigh. Sergei is
holding the reins. Wedding guests watch with amusement.
YELENA
(slightly drunk)
I dont want to go! I want to stay
and dance! You cant make me go!
Oh, no?

CONOR

Conor picks Yelena up and throws her over his shoulder.

Theres applause and laughter from the wedding guests.
CONOR
Im your husband, now! Remember?
YELENA
YES! But only on PAPER!
She fights and kicks, as Conor carries her to the sleigh.
EXT. ROAD THROUGH WOODS - NIGHT - CONOR, YELENA AND SERGEI
Sergeis sleigh carries Conor and Yelena from their wedding
party to Conors homestead in the woods.
ANOTHER PART OF THE WOODS - THE ROAD TO CONORS CABIN
The sleigh pulls up in the middle of nowhere. Conor grabs
his ax, jumps out and helps Yelena down. He shakes hands
with Sergei.
CONOR
Thank you, Sergei. Please thank the
Boss for the use of his sleigh. It
was very kind and generous of him.
SERGEI
Well, its not everyday a logger
gets married. He just wants to make
sure youll come back to work tomorrow
and not just lay about.
(he winks)

45.
Conor nods. Sergei tips his hat to Yelena.
SERGEI
My best to you both.
Sergei snaps the reins and the horse trots on.
Conor, a little tipsy, heads down the road, into the woods.
Yelena hesitates, studying her new husband and the wilderness
that is her new home. Then, still carrying her paper shopping
bag, she reluctantly follows Conor.
Somewhere in the woods, WOLVES HOWL.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. CABIN - NIGHT - CONOR AND YELENA
are naked in bed. Conor is doing his best to make love to
Yelena, but Yelena is not responding. She is somewhere else;
emotionally shut down.
Disappointed and confused, Conor finally rolls off his new
bride.
Im sorry.

YELENA

Yelena slips out of the bed, grabs her ragged coat, wraps it
around her naked body and curls up in front of the fireplace.
After a moment, Conor stands over her. Yelena cringes,
expecting blows. Conor reaches down for her.
Yelena slowly takes his hand. Conor pulls her into his arms,
kisses her, then leads her back to their bed.
EXT. THE MOON - NIGHT
clouds sweep in and swallow the moon.
INT. CABIN - SUNRISE - CONOR AND YELENA
Yelena has cooked Conor a breakfast of sausages and bread.
Conor is enjoying every morsel.
CONOR
I work until sunset. Sometimes, the
men and I go into town for a drink,
but Im usually back by seven for
supper. Where did you learn to cook
like this? From your mother?

46.
YELENA
No. In an orphanage. In Moscow.
CONOR
An orphanage? But, you said...?
YELENA
(sharply)
I know what I said. I lied.
Conor says nothing. He takes another piece of bread, wraps
it in a piece of cloth and puts it inside his shirt.
CONOR
Are there any more of those sausages?
If there are, Ill take them with
me, for my lunch.
YELENA
No. You ate them all.
CONOR
Oh. Well, maybe you can buy some
more.
EXT. - CABIN - MORNING - CONOR AND YELENA
Yelena watches from the doorway of the cabin, as Conor, his
ax on his shoulder, marches off to work.
INT. CABIN - MORNING - YELENA
sits, silently, at the makeshift kitchen table staring down
at dirty breakfast dishes, steeling herself for the day ahead.
She looks around the cabin. Its a wreck.
Suddenly, a rat dashes across the floor. Yelena throws the
frying pan at it. She misses.
Desperate, she dumps Conors cigarette butt can onto the
table. She sorts through them, finds the biggest butt and
lights it. After a few puffs, she uses it to light up the
next one.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. NOVADSTOK - DAY - YELENA
walks through the town. WOMEN stare at her and whisper.
As she approaches YURIS HOUSE, she sees Yuris STAFF CAR
and his DRIVER waiting. She slips into the shadows and watches
as Yuri comes out of his house. OLGA, his matronly

47.
HOUSEKEEPER, hands him his briefcase and his lunch. He gets
into his car, and drives off.
INT. MERCANTILE STORE - DAY - YELENA
wanders through the store, picking out whatever there is to
buy that she needs.
Two workmen are breaking open an odd-shaped shipping crate.
Curious, Yelena stops to watch.
The sides of the crate fall away to reveal a COPPER, STANDALONE BATHTUB. Yelena GASPS with surprise and envy. Shes
never seen anything like it.
AN ANGLE ON YELENA AT THE COUNTER
STORE MANAGER
Congratulations on your marriage,
Yelena. I hope this means, you wont
be breaking any more windows. So,
how can I help you, Mrs. Amerika?
Yelena dumps her bag load of goods onto the counter-top,
then hands over two ration books.
Wrap it up.

YELENA

As the Store Manager stamps Yelenas ration books, the Store

Clerk starts to add up Yelenas purchases. The Clerk stops
and consults with the manager.
YELENA
Is there a problem?
STORE MANAGER
No. Its just that youve spent a
little more than your new husband
has earned so far.
The Store Manager shows Yelena a Timber Company account book.
He points to a negative balance. Yelena shrugs.
YELENA
Hmmm. Alright. Ill just put some
things back.
STORE MANAGER
I wouldnt. As you can see, we dont
get a lot of goods, Comrade. Its
best you buy what you want when you
can. You may not see it again for
months.

48.
Years even.

STORE CLERK

STORE MANAGER
Why dont I just deduct what your
husband owes today, from next months
pay?
YELENA
You can do that?
Of course.

STORE MANAGER

INT. CABIN - NIGHT - CONOR AND YELENA

Conor, slightly drunk, looks over a table full of the items
that Yelena bought. Hes trying to understand.
CONOR
YOU SPENT NEXT MONTHS PAY, ALREADY?
YELENA
Not all of it.
CONOR
WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?
Yelena is trembling and on the verge of tears.
YELENA
(screaming back)
THAT YOU WANTED SAUSAGES, YOU BASTARD!
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
EXT./INT. - CABIN - A SERIES OF SHOTS
as Conor and Yelena clean and repair their cabin.
He repairs the roof; caulks openings in the log walls; white
washes the walls; rehangs the cabin door. She cleans the
windows; hangs curtains; stuffs the mattress with clean straw;
boils water and sterilizes all of the cooking utensils; scrubs
the wooden floor. He chases out the mice; he repairs the
outhouse; burns trash. She stocks their pantry with bread,
smoked fish and sausages, shines a Russian coffee pot, hangs
fresh boughs of fir around the cabin, fills a vase with a
bouquet of paper flowers.

49.
WE END on Conor and Yelena in front of their cabin proudly
admiring their hard work. Conor smiles at Yelena. She smiles
back. He hugs her.
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
EXT. CABIN - DAY (MORNING)
Yelena is seeing Conor off to work.
YELENA
Dont forget. We need bread.
I wont.

CONOR

Conor leans to kiss her goodbye. Yelena hesitates, then lets

him.
EXT. BAKERY - NIGHT
Conor, carrying a weeks ration of bread, steps out onto the
wooden sidewalk.
Across the street, A SINISTER LOOKING MAN, dressed in black
leather and looking every inch like a SECRET POLICEMAN,
watches him.
Conor heads up the street. The man follows.
EXT. NOVADSTOK STREET - NIGHT
Conor finally notices the The Man. The Man is keeping his
distance, but when Conor speeds up, The Man speeds up.
Suddenly, Conor darts down a dark side street.
The Sinister Man runs after him.
Conor grabs the Man in a choke hold and pushes the blade of
his ax against the mans throat.
CONOR
Who are you? What do you want?
SINISTER MAN
(choking)
Life!
CONOR
Tell me why youre following me and
I just might spare your life!

50.
The Man struggles to get out of Conors grip. Conor finally
slams him against a wall.
The Man gasps for breath.
SINISTER MAN
Youre the American, right?
CONOR
What if I am?
The Man slowly unbuttons his coat. Conor holds his ax at the
ready.
The Man pulls out a battered copy of LIFE MAGAZINE!
Life!

SINISTER MAN

Conor breaks into laughter. He grabs the magazine. He thumbs

it.
SINISTER MAN
Five rubles. Cheap.
CONOR
Five rubles? No way. This magazine
is two years old. One ruble. Take it
or leave it.
The Man holds out his hand. Conor shoves a ruble into it,
slips the magazine inside his coat and hurries away.
SINISTER MAN
(to himself)
Cheap American!
He spits after Conor.
INT. CABIN - NIGHT
Conor enters, hands Yelena a loaf of bread, and quickly slips
off his winter jacket.
YELENA
Only one loaf?
CONOR
Well get by. But forget the bread.
Come here. Ive got a suprise for
you.
Yelena joins Conor at the table. Conor unrolls the LIFE
magazine.

51.
What is it?

YELENA

CONOR
Its LIFE! LIFE magazine!
Yelena backs away.
YELENA
No! No! You shouldnt have that.
Its forbidden!
CONOR
Lots of things are forbbiden, but we
still do them. Still dream about
them. For Christs sake! Come and
look. It wont bite you!
Conor slowly turns the pages, savoring every image of home.
Yelena cannot believe the goods being advertised: TV SETS,
RADIO/PHONOGRAPHS, COCA COLA, CIGARETTES, REFRIGERATORS,
FREEZERS, 1949 MODEL CARS.
YELENA
Its all propaganda.
CONOR
No. This is life in America. This is
how it is. This is where I come from.
This is where we belong. And thats
where were going someday.
YELENA
You're crazy.
CONOR
No. I'm not crazy.
YELENA
Then how? Do you have a magic carpet?
Conor hesitates, then retreives his hidden map. He spreads
the handkerchief open on the table. Yelena is stunned and
frightened.
YELENA
Oh, no! They shoot you for that,
too!
CONOR
Dont worry. Theyll never find it.
Look. Heres Novadstok. Heres the
Sea of Japan. I figure its about
(MORE)

52.
CONOR (CONT'D)
eight or nine days to the coast...then
we steal a boat...and make for Japan.
YELENA
Japan? Whats Japan?
CONOR
Its a country.
YELENA
Like America?
CONOR
No. Not like America. But there would
be Americans there.
YELENA
But there are so many guards. Wed
never make it Conor.
CONOR
Yes we would. Sure, they guard us at
the logging camp, but there are no
guards in the forest, because they
dont expect us to try to escape.
And if we did, so what? The tigers
would get us anyway.
YELENA
Tigers! Oh, Conor. Its so dangerous.
CONOR
Yes. But at least wed be free! Free,
Yelena!
YELENA
But, Conor, we are free.
Conor grabs his MVD I.D. card from his coat pocket.
CONOR
You call this being free?
(he indicates the
cabin)
Or this? Living like a serf? Is this
the life you want?
Yelena says nothing.
CONOR
I know. I know. Its hard to imagine
real freedom, if this is the only
life youve ever known.

53.
YELENA
Im just afraid, Conor. Afraid for
us.
Conor sweeps her into his arms.
CONOR
Dont be afraid! Youll love America.
In America, I can give you all the
things youve only dreamnt about.
New clothes. New shoes. A real house.
And food. Oh, the food! Food you
cant even begin to imagine.
Like...pizza! And beer! And hot dogs!
And chocolate sodas!
Chocolate?

YELENA

CONOR
Yes! Chocolate! Chocolate bars and
chocolate sundaes and chocolate cake
and chocolate cookies...
Yelena suddenly kisses Conor.
DISSOLVE TO:
LATER - CONOR AND YELENA IN BED
They have just made love. Yelena tickles Conors nose with a
feather.
CONOR
Never have I experience so much
passion.
YELENA
So when do we go to America?
CONOR
Soon. I hope. Maybe in spring. Or
summer, when the snow is gone and
its warm.
Shoes.
What?

YELENA
CONOR

54.
YELENA
Shoes. Thats what I want. A fancy
pair of shoes with spiked heels,
like I saw in the magazine.
CONOR
Only one pair?
YELENA
Why? How many pairs can I have?
CONOR
Dozens. Women in America have dozens
of pairs of shoes.
YELENA
Dozens? Oh, Conor.
She smothers him with kisses.
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
EXT. ROAD TO VILLAGE - DAY (LATE AFTERNOON)
Conor and Yelena pull a sled as they hike to town.
EXT. GENERAL STORE - DAY
YURIS STAFF CAR is parked out front. Conor doesnt recognize
it, but Yelena does. She hesitates, then, reluctantly, enters
the store.
INT. GENERAL STORE - DAY
Yuri is at the counter, stocking up on vodka and cigarettes.
Conor ambles up beside him.
YURI
Well, Captain Hall. What brings you
to town?
CONOR
Onions and potatoes.
The STORE CLERK hauls two huge burlap bags of potatoes and
onions out from behind the counter.
CLERK
Here you are, Conor.
CONOR
Thanks, Vlad.

55.
Yuri turns and spots Yelena, carrying a small basket, browsing
the merchandise. He watches her.
YURI
So. Are you enjoying my gift?
AN ANGLE ON YELENA AND TAMARA
TAMARA, a girl of eighteen, studies herself in a mirror. She
is quite distressed by what she sees.
YELENA (O.S.)
You have beautiful skin.
Startled, Tamara turns to Yelena.
TAMARA
Do you really think so?
YELENA
Yes. Its just that the winters here
are so hard. Cheeks get the worst of
it.
Yelena looks at herself. Her face is weather beaten too.
TAMARA
I know. Have you lived here long?
YELENA
Yes. And you?
TAMARA
Couple of months. My new boyfriend
likes my skin to be soft and rosy.
YELENA
Soft will come with spring. But rosy?
Come here. Let me show you a secret.
Yelena takes Tamara to a shelf of pickled vegetables. She
pops open a jar of beets.
Yelena dips her finger into the beet juice and rubs the juice
softly on Tamaras cheeks and lips. It makes the girls cheeks
glow and look rosy. Then she dabs her own cheeks and lips.
They admire themselves in the mirror.
YELENA
See. Hell never know the difference.
And if hes hungry enough, his kisses
will be sweeter than ever.
They laugh.

56.
YURI (O.S.)
So, thats your secret.
Yelena and Tamara turn to find Yuri staring at them. Tamara
takes the jar of beets from Yelena.
TAMARA
Yuri. Can I have this?
Of course.

YURI

As Tamara hurries to the store counter, Yelena gives Yuri a

look of stunned surprise.
YURI
Shes my sister. Tamara. Shes just
visiting.
YELENA
I didnt know you had a sister.
YURI
(he laughs)
Neither did I.
Yelena moves on. Yuri checks himself in the wall mirror.
Conor is watching them.
Yelena stops to admire the copper bathtub.
YURI
We need food and winter gloves and
what do the fools send us? Bathtubs.
Yuri raps on the metal.
YURI
This is big enough for two.
Yelena circles the tub. Yuri follows her.
YURI
Can you imagine soaking in a tub
like this? It would be heaven on
earth.
YELENA
Yes. And some day I will. But not
here! And never with you.
Yelena moves on to a display of SHOES. Yuri glances down at
Yelenas boots. They are a disaster.

57.
YURI
You need new boots.
He hands Yelena a pair of WORK BOOTS. Yelena hands the BOOTS
right back.
YURI
Whats wrong? This is a good Russian
boot.
YELENA
Its so...so proletarian.
Proletarian?

YURI

YELENA
In America, women own a dozen pair
of shoes and not a single pair look
like that!
In America?

YURI

YELENA
Yes. And when I get to America, I
will have a pair of shoes for every
day of the week. For every season of
the year. For every occasion. In
every color of the rainbow. And a
dress to match.
YURI
Is that so? And just when are you
moving to America?
YELENA
(she shrugs)
Someday. Conor promised to take me.
Did he?

YURI

Yuri watches Conor approach.

CONOR
Did you find what you wanted, Yelena?
Yelena holds up her empty basket.
CONOR
Then lets go, before it gets dark.
(he nods to Yuri)
Major.

58.
Captain.

YURI

Yuri watches Conor and Yelena leave, then joins Tamara at

the counter.
TAMARA
Who was that woman, Yuri? She was
very nice to me.
Nobody.

YURI

EXT. ROAD TO CABIN - DUSK - CONOR AND YELENA

Conor is pulling the sled loaded with the potatoes and onions.
CONOR
That was really stupid. Telling the
Major we were going to America.
YELENA
Dont worry. I know Yuri. He thinks
Im just playing with him.
I hope so.

CONOR
FADE OUT:

FADE IN:
EXT. ROAD - MORNING (SNOWY) - CONOR
is hiking to work. Hes bundled up against a blizzard-like
morning.
Yuris staff car approaches. Conor watches it pass. In the
back seat of the chauffered driven car, is Comrade Major.
Right behind the staff car comes a flatbed truck. TWO SOLDIERS
guard the copper bath tub.
INT. CABIN - DAY (MORNING)
Yelena is paging through LIFE magazine, when she HEARS Yuris
staff car and the truck pull up. Caught, she frantically
hides the magazine.
Yuri knocks. Yelena throws open the door.
YELENA
Comrade Major?

59.
A FEW MINUTES LATER
The copper bath tub fills half the room. Yuri polishes it
with a hankerchief.
YELENA
Is this a gift or a bribe?
YURI
Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Yelena. That hurt.
It's a gift. Call it a belated wedding
gift or going away present. After
all, you're going to America and Im
going back to Moscow.
YELENA
I cant accept your gift.
YURI
No. But you will.
ANOTHER ANGLE - A FEW MINUTES LATER
Yelena is pouring Yuri a cup of tea. She notices that the
LIFE magazine is slipping from its hiding place and is about
to fall onto the floor. Yelena positions herself to draw
Yuris eyes to her and not the magazine.
YELENA
So, hows your sister?
YURI
To tell the truth. She really wasnt
my sister. Like you, she was from
Moscow. But all she wanted was to
learn a trade. So I sent her to the
coal mines at Kolyma.
YELENA
That was cruel.
Yuri shrugs.
YURI
Its a cruel life we live.
YELENA
So when do you leave for Moscow?
YURI
Im waiting for my orders. Hopefully
in couple weeks. Dont worry, Ill
see you again before I go.

60.
Yuri finishes his cup of tea.
YURI
You make a wonderful cup of tea. I
wonder why I never realized that?
As Yuri stands, the LIFE magazine falls to the floor! Yelena
jumps up and stands on top of it. The commotion draws Yuris
attention.
YURI
No. No. You dont have to see me
out.
Yuri and Yelena look into each others eyes. Theres still a
flicker of passion between them. Yuri bends toward Yelena,
as if to kiss her. Yelena wets her lips, as if to receive
his kiss. Yuri stops and looks down, toward the floor. Yelena
holds her breath. Yuri reaches down...
...and examines Yelenas hands. Theyre rough and red.
YURI
You should get some lotion for your
hands. They were such beautiful hands,
once.
Yuri tips his hat and limps out to his car.
Yelena sighs, grabs the LIFE magazine, and rushes to the
cook stove. She is about to throw the magazine into the
flames, but stops. She looks at her red, raw hands, then
hugs the magazine to her heart.
INT. CABIN - NIGHT
Conors attention is divided between his supper and the copper
bath tub.
CONOR
Send it back. We dont need it.
YELENA
No. It was a gift. How would it look?
CONOR
I dont care how it looks. I dont
want to think about the Major every
time I take a bath.
YELENA
No! You just dont want me to think
about Yuri, everytime I take a bath.

61.
Yuri?

CONOR

YELENA
Thats his name.
CONOR
(he understands)
Oh. I see. Well, my name is Conor.
C-O-N-O-R. Can you remember that?
(Conor looks at the
bathtub)
At least itll make a great planter.
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
EXT. WOODS/TIGERS DEN - DAY - A TIGRESS
arrives, dragging the carcass of a small deer to the den.
She drops it and slips into her den.
INT. DEN - DAY - TIGRESS AND HER CUBS
Sensing their mothers return, two blind and helpless, twoweek-old cubs start to meow like kittens. One of the cubs is
very strong and frisky. It goes straight for the tigresss
teat. The weaker cub struggles just to crawl to its mother.
The contented tigress lays back and licks the strong cub.
EXT. WOODS/LAKE

- DAY - YELENA

carrying a bucket of ice, struggles up the path, through the

woods, from the lake to the cabin.
EXT. WOODS - DAY - YELENA
As Yelena is huffing along the path through the woods, she
suddenly stops and puts down the bucket.
She opens her overcoat, reaches inside, feels herself, then
pulls up a bloody hand.
Shit!

YELENA

Yelena continues hauling the bucket to the cabin.

We cant help but NOTICE that shes leaving a little trail
of red splotches on top of the snow.
DISSOLVE TO:

62.
INT. CABIN - NIGHT - CONOR AND YELENA
are together in bed. Conor, turned against the wall, is
snoring. Yelena, on the edge of the bed, is awake.
She checks herself again, sighs, then gets out of bed.
She tosses a rag onto the smouldering coals of the cook stove.
Shivering, Yelena pulls on her boots and coat.
She finds some clean rags, steals a cigarette and some matches
from Conors stash, and quietly sneaks out of the cabin.
EXT. CABIN - NIGHT - YELENA
makes her way against a cold wind, to Conors outhouse.
INT. CABIN/OUTHOUSE - NIGHT - YELENA
pees, then lights up her cigarette. After a few puffs, she
opens her winter-coat, rises up a little and starts to shove
the clean rags in place...SUDDENLY, THE OUTHOUSE SHUDDERS!
Yelena listens and HEARS nothing, but the wind shaking the
old, wooden structure. THEN SHE HEARS HEAVY BREATHING AND A
DEEP THROATED GROWL!
Looking through a crack in the wood, Yelena sees a huge,
Siberian tiger staring back at her! Yelena gasps.
The tiger circles the outhouse, then slams against the
building again. Yelena starts SCREAMING!
Yelena slams her feet up against the wooden door. The tiger
pushes back! The door bulges inward, but holds!
SUDDENLY, YELENA AND THE TIGER ARE STARTLED, BY A LOUD,
FRIGHTENING, BANGING!
The tiger looks up to see Conor banging on a cooking pot
with the metal head of his ax!
Ignoring Conor, the tiger makes one more attempt to break
down the door! But the door holds!
Suddenly, the tiger whirls around to face Conor. It roars
with anger, and takes two defiant and aggressive steps, toward
him!
Dropping the cook pot, Conor raises his ax in defense and
stands his ground!

63.
For several seconds, Conor and the tiger square off! Finally
the tiger roars ferociously, turns, and lopes back into the
woods. Conor lets out a huge sigh of relief!
Reaching the outbuilding, Conor pounds on the door with his
fist!
CONOR
YELENA! OPEN UP!
After a few seconds, the door swings open to reveal Yelena,
shivering with fear and cold. Conor reaches for her. He nods
toward the cabin.
CONOR
Come on! Before she comes back.
EXT. CABIN - SUNRISE - CLOSE ON
tiger tracks in the snow.
We GO WIDER to reveal Conor, his ax at the ready, studying
the tracks.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT - ESTABLISHING
The light from the windows, are a stark contrast to the empty
and desolate street.
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT - VICTOR, CONOR, SERGEI, ANS, YAKOV
The restaurant is noisy and cheerful, with an after-work
kind of crowd. A WAITRESS is handing Victor a half-eaten
bowl of soup.
VICTOR
Thank you, my dear.
He grabs a piece of uneaten bread and a spoon and carries
the soup carefully to a table in a dark corner.
Across the room, Conor, Segei, Ans and Yukov are having a
drink together.
CONOR
Well, I guess Ill go ask him.
ANS
Yeah. It wont do any harm.
Conor gulps down a shot of vodka, grabs the bottle and walks
over to Victor.

64.
Victor looks up and grins. Conor fills an empty glass with
vodka and sets it in front of Victor.
VICTOR
Well, thank you, Conor.
CONOR
I saw the maneater last night.
VICTOR
What? You did? Where?
At my place.

CONOR

VICTOR
How do you know it was the maneater?
CONOR
Does it matter? It was a big fucking
tiger. It was hunting. It was after
Yelena.
VICTOR
My God, man. Is she alright?
CONOR
Yes. Frightened, but alright. Which
is why I need your help. I want to
find that tiger and kill it. Kill it
before it kills someone else.
VICTOR
I dont hunt tigers any more.
CONOR
This is no tiger. This is a maneater!
Victor reconsiders.
VICTOR
Do you have a gun?
No.

CONOR

VICTOR
Do you own any hunting dogs?
CONOR
No. But I have friends. We can get a
gun. We can get a dog, maybe two.
And weve got axes and pikes. And we
(MORE)

65.
CONOR (CONT'D)
know the woods pretty well. What we
need is a leader. A hunter. Someone
whos hunted and killed a tiger
before. What do you say?
VICTOR
It could be suicide. Count me in.
Victor raises his glass and clinks it against Conors bottle.
EXT. WOODS - DAY - A TIGER
is running for her life. In the BG we HEAR two dogs barking.
EXT. WOODS - DAY - CONOR, VICTOR, SERGEI, ANS, YAKOV,
NIKOLAI AND MIHAIL
are chasing the tiger.
Mihail is in the lead, urging on two barking dogs on leashes.
Nikolai carries his rifle, but instead of axes and pikes,
Conor, Sergei, Yakov and Ans all carry sturdy tree branches
that end in a Y shaped fork.
Victor, carrying an ax, brings up the rear.
EXT. WOODS/ROCKY OUTCROP - DAY - HUNTERS
Mihail and the dogs enter the rocky area where the Squirrel
Hunter was killed. The dogs find remnants of a shredded and
bloody coat.
VICTOR
This must be where that squirrel
hunter was killed.
Shit!

ANS

VICTOR
Look sharp boys. She could be hiding
in the rocks.
Everyone spins around, looking for any color against the
snow or the black surfaces of the rocks.
SUDDENLY, the dogs break away from Mihail and charge toward
a high, rocky ledge...AND THERE SHE IS! THE TIGER THEYVE
BEEN HUNTING!
The tiger lets loose a ferocious roar and everyone, including
the dogs, backs off!

66.
For a split second, its a question of who is going to PANIC
AND RUN AWAY FIRST!
SUDDENLY, ONE OF THE DOGS CHARGES THE TIGER!
THE DOG GETS IN A COUPLE OF NIPS, BEFORE THE TIGER CONNECTS
AND BITES THE DOGS NECK, BREAKING IT!
THE DEAD DOG TUMBLES INTO THE SNOW!
MIHAIL
(screaming)
AHHH! YOU SON-OF-A-BITCH!
NIKOLAI AIMS AND FIRES!
RIFLE!

CLICK!

HES FOGOTTEN TO LOAD HIS

NIKOLAI FRANTICALLY DIGS INTO HIS POCKET, PULLS OUT HIS SINGLE
BULLET, AND FUMBLES IT INTO THE CHAMBER!
BUT BEFORE NIKOLAI CAN AIM AGAIN, THE TERRIFIED TIGER ROARS,
LEAPS DOWN AND LANDS RIGHT BETWEEN THE STARTLED HUNTERS!
THE HUNTERS SCATTER AS THE TIGER BOUNDS AWAY INTO THE WOODS!
WITH ADRENALINE FLOWING, EVERYONE, BUT MIHAIL, GIVES CHASE!
MIHAIL IS ON HIS KNEES, CRYING, AS HE HOLDS HIS DEAD AND
BLOODIED DOG.
EXT. WOODS/CLEARING

- DAY - THE TIGER

is plowing through deep snow, breaking a new trail. As it

enters a small clearing, surrounded by trees, Mihails SECOND
DOG catches up to it.
The tiger turns to fight the attacking dog!
The barking dog, having caught the tiger, backs off, as Conor,
Sergei, Ans and Yakov move in with their Y-shaped tree
branches.
The tiger charges, but the hunters use the Y branches to
beat it back and keep it at bay.
The tiger finally turns, runs a few yards through deep snow,
and leaps into a tree.
It climbs frantically, HIGHER and HIGHER and HIGHER...
SUDDENLY A SHOT RINGS OUT!
The magnificent beast tumbles out of the tree, to land at
the feet of the hunters!

67.
For a long moment everyone waits and watches, as the tiger
twitches and breathes its last breath.
Finally, Victor moves foward. He examines the tigers teeth,
feels its belly, examines its teats.
VICTOR
(to Conor)
Are you sure this is the tiger you
saw?
CONOR
No. It was dark.
VICTOR
Because shes very young. Three,
maybe four years old. A perfect
breeder. Her teats are raw and milky.
Shes probably got a litter somewhere.
So what?

ANS

VICTOR
So what? Well, Comrade, we didnt
kill just one tiger, today, we killed
two or three.
EXT. WOODS/CLEARING - LATE AFTERNOON - THE TIGER
has been gutted; important organs placed in burlap bags.
Mihail cuts off a piece of flesh and feeds it to his Second
Dog.
Conor opens a bottle of vodka, as Ans smears tiger blood on
the cheeks of Sergei, Yakuv, and Nikolai.
As the hunters celebrate their kill, Victor sits under a
tree smoking a cigarette.
Conor takes a drink of vodka.
To success!

CONOR

Ans grabs the bottle, guzzles down a long drink.

ANS
To money! And lots of it.
YAKOV
Right! To lots of money!

68.
The bottle of vodka moves around the group. Finally Conor
offers it to Victor. He takes the bottle and looks sadly up
at Conor.
VICTOR
So, this was all about money?
CONOR
No. It was about killing a tiger.
VICTOR
Yes. For the money.
CONOR
What difference does it make, if we
make money off it or not? It was
dangerous. A nuisance. A manhunter.
You said so yourself.
VICTOR
I know. And she may well be. But I
never killed a tiger just for the
money.
CONOR
No? Well, maybe you should. Maybe
then you wouldnt be wearing rags.
And you wouldnt be begging in the
street. Or living in a new pig sty
every night.
Victor shoves Conors vodka bottle into the snow, rises,
pulls his coat together, and walks away.
SERGEI
Now you did it. Now you insulted
him.
CONOR
How? I was just speaking the truth.
SERGEI
Yes. But without thinking. Or knowing
anything. You think he wants to live
the way he lives? The truth is, he
has no choice.
CONOR
We all have choices.
SERGEI
Not him. I thought you knew. Victor
is a non-person. Hes not allowed to
(MORE)

69.
SERGEI (CONT'D)
work. To earn any money. To live
anywhere. Or to buy anything. So he
survives by begging. Its a new kind
of exile, Comrade. You know, just go
away and die. Only hes too stubborn
to die.
CONOR
So why doesnt he just commit some
petty crime and go back to the camps?
Would you?
No.

SERGEI
CONOR

SERGEI
Well, neither would he. Hes a proud
man, Conor. He actually earned those
medals he wears.
EXT. WOODS - LATE AFTERNOON - CONOR, SERGEI, ANS, YAKUV
are singing and laughing, as they stumble through the woods
carrying the dead tiger in a swing carry that theyve made
out of their Y poles and some rope. The men are one bottle
of vodka short of being drunk.
While Victor leads the party, Mihail and his surviving hunting
dog bring up the rear.
EXT. WOODS/CABIN - SUNSET
The hunters reach Conors cabin on the edge of the woods.
EXT. CABIN - NIGHT - THE HUNTERS
are butchering the tiger by the light of a bonfire.
Victor is carefully removing the tigers skin.
Mihails surviving dog chews on a meaty bone.
EXT. CABIN - NIGHT - CLOSE ON
the tigers skull. It looks like a ghost in the night.
The skull and the other tiger bones have been left out on a
tarp for rodents to clean. Already, a dozen mice scamper
about gnawing on the remaining meat and squealing with
pleasure.

70.
WE GO WIDER - TO SEE
...Sergei, Ans and Yakov walking up Conors road, as Nikolai
helps Mihail swing a backpack up onto his shoulders. Conor
shakes Mihails hand.
CONOR
Thanks again for your help. Im sorry
about Lena.
MIHAIL
Me too. She was a good hunter. But
it was a good way to die. She would
have wanted it that way.
SERGEI
(calling back)
Hey! Come on you two! Conors wife
is waiting for him!
Mihail and Nikolai hurry to catch up to Sergei. Mihails dog
runs ahead, barking at shadows.
Conor looks over at Victor, who is staring out across an
empty field toward the forest a hundred yards away. In the
moonlight, the snow sparkles like sugar candy.
Conor joins him. Victor empties Conors bottle of vodka.
VICTOR
Do you see them, Conor? Theres one.
(he turns and points
off)
And another. Do you hear them roaring?
Huh? Must be a hundred of em. They
keep asking me, why? Why do I keep
killing them?
Victor hands the bottle to Conor, pulls up his collar and
staggers up Conors road.

Why?

VICTOR
(to himself)

INT. CABIN - NIGHT

The tigers skin has been nailed to an 'X' frame and propped
up in front of the cabins stone fireplace to dry out.
As Conor sleeps, Yelena, wrapped in a blanket, sits in a
chair, smoking a cigarette. She stares blankly at the skin

71.
of the crucified tiger. Behind the tigers empty eyes, the
last embers of the dying fire pop and glow.
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
EXT. CABIN - DAY - CLOSE ON THE TIGER BONES
The mice have done their work. Now a couple of black ravens
pick at whats left of the tigers flesh.
WE GO WIDER to see Conor shoo the ravens off. Conor begins
to gather up the bones and shove them into a backpack.
INT. CABIN - DAY - YELENA
is on her hands and knees scrubbing the tigers blood off
the old, wooden floor in front of the stone fireplace.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WOODS - NIGHT - CONOR, ANS, SERGEI, SMUGGLERS
A truck and a sleigh are parked in the woods.
Conor, Ans, and Sergei are meeting with SMUGGLERS willing to
buy the tiger parts and bones.
An ASIAN MAN, quickly, but carefully, inspects the tiger
merchandise by flashlight. He finally nods to the LEADER
and starts to shove the tigers bones into burlap bags.
As Sergei holds a lantern, the Leader counts out money into
Anss hand.
ANS
Hey! This isnt even half what its
worth!
LEADER
Says who? You?
Ans looks to Conor and Sergei. They just shrug.
The smugglers load their truck and drive away. Ans throws a
snowball after it.
ANS
FUCKING THIEVES!

72.
EXT. RAILROAD TRACKS/SHANTY CAMP - NIGHT - CONOR
comes walking through the camp carrying a small bundle. He
finds Victor sleeping under an old, ripped, mattress. Conor
sets down the bundle and wakes him.
CONOR
Hey, Victor. Hey, tiger man.
VICTOR
(startled)
HUH? Im up! Im up! Im moving! Im
moving!
Then he sees its just Conor. Conor presses some rubles into
Victors hand.
CONOR
This is your share. And this.
Conor taps the bundle, then quickly disappears into the night.
Victor
a pair
canned
toilet

opens the bundle. Inside are a pair of woolen socks;

of mittens and ear muffs; a loaf of black bread; some
meats; a small sausage; a bar of soap; a package of
paper. Victor is stunned.
FADE OUT:

FADE IN:
EXT. CABIN - SUNRISE - CONOR
is chopping firewood as, nearby, a small fire consumes a
pile of trash.
INT. CABIN - SUNRISE - YELENA
is shivering in her ragged coat and felt boots, as she
searches for her clothes. They are nowhere to be found.
Instead, layed out for her on the table, are brand new
clothes. New underwear; new red and yellow socks; a plain,
but warm, petticoat; a new dress and a new winter coat.
Yelena picks up the dress, smells it, holds it up against
her body.
Conor enters with a load of firewood. Yelena quickly drops
the dress.
YELENA
Conor? Where are my clothes?

73.
CONOR
I burned them.
What? Why?

YELENA

CONOR
They were old. And dirty. And smelled
bad.
YELENA
But now I have nothing to wear.
CONOR
(nods toward new
clothes)
No. Those are for you.
Yelena doesnt move. She just stares at the new clothes.
CONOR
Is there something wrong? Did I get
the wrong size? If theyre the wrong
size, Ill return them.
YELENA
No. No. Theyre fine. Its just...
Its just that, now I feel dirty.
ANOTHER ANGLE - A LITTLE LATER
Steam rises from Yuris copper bath tub. Yelena and Conor
are bathing together.
Yelena sits in front of Conor, bending forward, as
runs a soapy sponge down her back. After a moment,
back against him. He gently runs the sponge across
shoulders, then down across her breasts, caressing
lips explore the back of her neck.

Conor
she leans
her
them. His

The sponge descends into the hot, soapy water. Yelena shivers,
as Conor finds her and strokes her. She pushes hard against
him, until she can stand it no longer. She turns, struggling
to reach his lips. They kiss passionately, deeply.
ANOTHER ANGLE
Conor and Yelena are in bed, lost in the passions of love
making.
FADE OUT:

74.
FADE IN:
EXT. WOODS/LAKE - AFTERNOON - YELENA
has come for water and to ice-fish. SUDDENLY, SHE HEARS a
frightening sound...WOLVES, nearby, in the woods!
Dropping her fish line, Yelena picks up a small hatchet. She
listens as the wolves BARK, SNARL and HOWL.
EXT. WOODS/TIGER DEN - AFTERNOON - YELENA
From the cover of trees, Yelena sees three wolves, a mother
and two young pups. They have cornered something in a shallow
den under a rocky overhang. Whatever it is, its frightened
and snarling back at the wolves.
Without thinking, Yelena raises her hatchet and starts to
scream at the wolves, chasing them away!
Throwing caution to the wind, Yelena drops to her knees and
peers into the dark den. For a second, Yelena sees nothing
and only HEARS a hissing snarl.
Grabbing a handful of snow, Yelena holds it out. Slowly,
cautiously a tiger cub, about five weeks old, creeps forward.
Its huge eyes look at Yelena. Then its rough tongue lashes
out and licks the snow in her hand.
Suddenly aware of her danger, Yelena checks the snow for the
mothers tracks, but finds none. Satisfied shes alone and
safe, for now, Yelena flops back down on her belly and studies
the young cub.
She talks baby talk to the cub and coaxes her out of the
den. As the cub emerges, Yelena sees another dark shape in
the recess of the den.
Using her hatchet, Yelena carefully reaches inside the den
and drags out the remains of a second tiger cub. The dead
tiger cub shocks and saddens Yelena.
DISSOLVE TO:
ANOTHER ANGLE - LATER
Yelena craddles the cub gently
handkerchief out of her pocket
but the cub refuses to eat. It
licks Yelenas fingers. Yelena

in her lap. She pulls a

and offers the cub her lunch,
just whines like a kitten and
finally understands.

75.
EXT. NOVADSTOK RR STATION - DAY - YELENA
as she walks among the babushkas who are selling their
contraband to the passengers of a train that has just arrived.
One babushka is selling bottles of raw milk.
How much?

YELENA

BABUSHKA #1
Since when did you start drinking
milk, Yelena?
Since now.

YELENA

BABUSHKA
Two rubles a bottle.

#2

Yelena pulls a bill out of her pocket and buys two bottles.
YELENA
I dont suppose you have a babys
nipple?
EXT. TIGER DEN - LATE AFTERNOON - YELENA
pours a little milk into the palm of her hand. The tiger cub
sniffs at it and licks at it, but most of the milk flows out
between Yelenas fingers. The cub starts to whine and cry.
Confused and disappointed by the cubs response, Yelena
suddenly looks around, then opens her coat, unbuttons her
dress and exposes her left breast. She lays down beside the
cub, pours a little milk into her palm and lets it run down
her breast and drip off her nipple.
The tiger cub finds the milk and starts to lap it up as fast
as Yelena dribbles it out. Yelena loses herself in a swoon
of maternal feelings...
INT. CABIN - NIGHT - CONOR
enters to find Yelena missing, the cabin cold, no supper
ready, and the fire in the fireplace nearly out.
He quickly sets about rebuilding the fire.
EXT. CABIN - NIGHT - YELENA
carrying her bucket, rushes out of the woods and into the
cabin.

76.
INT. CABIN - NIGHT - CONOR
is sitting in front of the fireplace, warming his feet and
smoking a cigarette, when Yelena enters.
YELENA
(surprised; out of
breath)
Oh! Youre early.
CONOR
No. Youre late.
YELENA
Im sorry. I was at the lake, fishing.
I fell asleep and lost track of time.
Asleep?

CONOR

Yelena sets down her bucket, quickly throws off her coat and
pulls on her apron.
YELENA
It wont happen again. Ill have
your supper ready in a minute.
CONOR
No hurry. Im not going anywhere.
As Yelena fixes Conors supper, Conor starts to sharpen his
ax.
CONOR
So, did you catch any fish?
Fish?
(pause)
No. No fish.

YELENA

LATER THAT NIGHT

As Conor sleeps, Yelena slips, quietly, out of bed. Conors
eyes open.
Conor watches as Yelena uses a hand mirror to examine her
left breast.
Her breast is bruised and scratched and her nipple red and
sore to the touch. Yelena opens a small, tin can and applies
salve to her nipple.

77.
Sensing Conor watching her, Yelena spins around, but Conors
eyes are shut, as he pretends to be asleep.
INT. CABIN - MORNING - YELENA
watches Conor march off to work.
Yelena pushes the breakfast dishes aside. She retrieves the
bucket with the milk bottles and throws on her coat.
EXT. WOODS/TIGER DEN - MORNING - YELENA
This time, exposing her right breast, Yelena, very carefully,
'breast feeds' milk to the tiger cub again.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WOODS/TIGER DEN - DAY - YELENA AND TIGER CUB
Yelena and the cub play a game of hide-and-seek. The cub
finds Yelena in the bushes, jumps on her and licks her face.
EXT. WOODS/LAKE - DAY/LATE AFTERNOON - YELENA
is ice fishing. Nearby, the tiger cub is slipping and sliding,
as it chases waterfowl that have landed on the frozen lake.
EXT. CABIN/WOODS - NIGHT - ESTABLISHING
a fierce, winter blizzard engulfs the cabin.
INT. CABIN - NIGHT - YELENA
As Conor sleeps, nuzzling up against her, Yelena listens to
the storm raging outside. The cabin shakes with every gust;
windows rattle; and snow blows in through all the cracks in
the cabins logs!
EXT. WOODS/DEN - NIGHT - TIGER CUB
It cries, as the windblown snow begins to bury the den.
EXT. TIGER DEN - DAY (SNOWY) - YELENA
digs frantically with a small coal shovel to dig out the
tiger cub. Finally, WE HEAR ITS MEOWING and then see it poke
its head through the heavy snow.
Yelena pulls the cub out and into her arms. Tears freeze on
Yelenas cheeks.

78.
INT. MVD BLDG/YURIS OFFICE - DAY - YURI
is looking out his office window. In his hand he holds an
official Moscow communication. His mood is somber; his face
full of anger and disappointment.
What Yuri sees out his window is his command: a dark,
depressing, virtually lifeless, frontier village.
Yuri clenches his jaw, and crumples up the official
communication.
INT. CABIN - MORNING/SNOWY - YELENA
is about to go on her daily pilgrimage to the tigers den,
when she HEARS a car pull up.
She wipes the cabin window and looks out. She sees Yuris
car and Yuri, with his cane, getting out.
INT. CABIN - MORNING - YELENA AND YURI
are sharing a cup of coffee and some cake. A pack of Yuris
cigarettes are on the table and he and Yelena are smoking.
YELENA
Im sorry you lost your new
appointment.
YURI
Obviously Moscow wants me here.
Maybe next year a new post will open
up. Or maybe the year after that.
(pause)
So, here I am. Same old post. Same
old Yuri, except that now you can
call me, Colonel. Actually, Lieutenant
Colonel.
YELENA
Congratulations. At least they
promoted you.
YURI
Yes. I must be doing something right.
(pause)
Its ironic, isnt it? Your new
husband...Whats his name?
Conor.

YELENA

79.
YURI
Yes. Conor.... Your new husband and
I are both prisoners of fate. He
gets out of one prison, only to be
exiled to another. Whereas, I never
actually get out of mine...
(he laughs))
I just rise to the top.
(pause)
You know what kept me sane this past
year?
Yelena doesnt answer.
YURI
You did. So I have to ask, Yelena.
Do you still love me?
No.

YELENA

Yuri is disappointed, but not surprised to hear that.

YURI
What about him? Conor? Do you love
him now?
YELENA
(she hesitates)
I dont know.
YURI
You dont know? I thought at least
one of us might be happy by now.
YELENA
I am happy. Doesnt it show?
(pause)
Why did you come here Yuri? To make
me feel bad? To make me think about
the past?
YURI
No. I just wanted to share my good
news. And to see you again. Thats
all. Ive missed you, Yelena.
Yuri reaches over to take Yelenas hand, but she pulls it
away.
YELENA
Dont, Yuri. Please. Its over between
us. Please dont punish yourself. Or
me. Or my husband for that.

80.
YURI
You know Im not that kind of man,
Yelena.
YELENA
Then you wont hurt me? If I say no?
YURI
Hurt you? No. No more than I already
have.
Yuri finishes his coffee and starts to button his overcoat.
YURI
You know, youre as beautiful as
ever. Maybe in time you will find
happiness. After all, winter always
gives way to spring. And spring to
summer.
(pause)
If theres anything I can do for
you, just ask.
Yelena pushes Yuris box of cigarettes toward him.
YELENA
Dont forget your cigarettes.
Yuri pushes them back across the table.
YURI
No. No. You keep them. Maybe theyll
remind you of the good times we had
together.
Yuri stands, dons his officers hat, then limps toward the
cabin door. He turns back.
YURI
You once asked me if I loved you.
(laughs)
With my head up my ass, I foolishly
said no. The truth is, I lied. I did
love you Yelena. And I think I always
will.
Yuri exits.
Yelena thinks of Yuris last words for a long moment, then,
suddenly, jumps up and rushes to the door. She throws it
open...
YURI!

YELENA

81.
...but Yuris car is already disappearing up the road. She
watches it until its gone.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. CABIN - NIGHT - CONOR AND YELENA
Yelena sets a plate of supper down in front of Conor who is
smoking one of Yuris cigarettes and turning the open pack
over and over in his fingers.
As Yelena takes her seat, Conor tosses Yuris cigarettes
onto the table in front of her.
CONOR
So who was here today?
Yelena is cautious...not knowing where this will lead.
YELENA
Comrade Major. Only hes a Lieutenant
Colonel now. They promoted him.
CONOR
What did he want?
YELENA
Just to say hello. To see how were
getting along.
Why?

CONOR

YELENA
Because hes an old friend. And
friends tend to be friendly.
CONOR
How friendly?
YELENA
Not the way you think. Thats over.
CONOR
I wish I could believe you.
YELENA
Believe what you want. You always
do.
CONOR
For days now, youve been sneaking
off somewhere. Tonight, I come home
(MORE)

82.
CONOR (CONT'D)
and theres no Yelena again...no
supper... and I find these.
(he holds up Yuri's
cigarettes)
What am I supposed to think? Huh?
Where do you go? Who do you see?
What do you do?
YELENA
No where! No one! Nothing!
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
EXT. WOODS/TIGER DEN

- DAY - YELENA

has fallen asleep under a sheltering tree. The tiger cub

rests nearby. SUDDENLY, THE TIGER CUB SITS UP. IT BECOMES
VERY EXCITED. IT GROWLS. ITS PANIC WAKES YELENA.
Yelena sits up and HEARS SOMETHING HUGE coming toward them,
fearlessly and noisily through the bush.
SUDDENLY, A HUGE, ASIAN BROWN BEAR COMES CRASHING OUT OF THE
BUSH!
For a second, the tiger cub stands its ground and growls
back!
Surprised, the bear stops. It RISES TO ITS FULL HEIGHT AND
ROARS back. Then it charges the tiger cub! As the cub bolts
for its den, Yelena escapes into the woods!
The bear chases the tiger cub into its den! Unable to get at
the tiger cub, it turns and runs after Yelena!
EXT. WOODS/LAKE - DAY - YELENA AND THE BEAR
WE INTERCUT BETWEEN YELENA RUNNING FOR THE LAKE, THE BEAR
TRYING TO CATCH HER, AND THE TIGER CUB TRYING TO CATCH THEM
BOTH!
EXT. LAKE (THAWING) - DAY - YELENA, BEAR, TIGER CUB
Yelena jumps down onto the slippery and cracking ice, and
runs out as far and as fast as she can, the bear in hot
pursuit.
SUDDENLY, THE ICE CRACKS UNDER THE BEARS ENORMOUS WEIGHT,
PLUNGING THE BEAR INTO THE ICY WATER!

83.
SEEING THIS, THE TIGER CUB PUTS ON THE BRAKES, SLIDES A LITTLE
ON THE ICE, BUT FINALLY SCAMPERS TOWARD YELENA, WHOS MAKING
A BIG CIRCLE, AWAY FROM THE BEAR, BACK TOWARD THE SHORE!
THE BEAR SPLASHES AND STRUGGLES, BUT FINALLY GETS BACK ON
TOP OF THE ICE! SHAKING THE COLD WATER OUT OF ITS COAT, THE
BEAR ROARS ANGRILY, THEN, FRUSTRATED, AMBLES AWAY.
ANOTHER ANGLE - ON YELENA AND TIGER CUB NEAR SHORE
NOW, AS YELENA AND THE TIGER CUB APPROACH THE SHORE, THE ICE
CRACKS AND THEY CRASH THROUGH.
UNDERWATER SHOT
FOR A FEW SECONDS, YELENA AND THE TIGER CUB SINK INTO THE
LAKE. PANIC OVERTAKES THEM! THEY FIGHT TO REGAIN THE
SURFACE!
BACK TO SURFACE
YELENA AND THE CUB BOB BACK UP AGAIN! THE TIGER CUB SPLASHES
WILDLY, AS YELENA PUSHES HER TO SHORE!
FINALLY, YELENA PULLS HERSELF AND THE TIGER CUB ONTO THE
SNOWY EMBANKMENT. EXHAUSTED, SHE HOLDS THE TIGER CUB, AS IT
SHIVERS AND WHINES.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. CABIN - LATE AFTERNOON
Yelena towels off the cub in front of the fireplace. It purrs
and licks her face.
EXT. CABIN - NIGHT - CONOR
returning from work, walks toward the cabin.
INT. CABIN - NIGHT - CONOR
stares down at Yelena asleep with the tiger cub in their
bed.
As Conor reaches out to pet the cub, the cub bares its teeth
and growls. Conor backs off. Suddenly, Yelena awakes. Seeing
Conor towering over her, she grabs the cub, to protect it.
YELENA
Please dont hurt her.
CONOR
Hurt her? Why would I hurt her?

84.
YELENA
Because you killed her mother, so
why not her? Hmm?
Conor says nothing.
YELENA
I named her Nadezhda...Hope.
Because thats all she has left. No
mother. No brother. She's an orphan,
like me.
CONOR
Name or no name, its still a wild
animal, Yelena. You know we cant
keep her. And we certainly cant
take her with us.
YELENA
With us? Where?
CONOR
Have you forgotten? To America.
YELENA
Oh. Yes. America. But thats still a
long ways off. Please Conor, let me
keep her. Just for a little while.
Conor tries to pet the little cub again. It still growls at
him.
CONOR
Alright. For a while. Until we figure
out what to do with her.
Conor heads for the door.
CONOR
Ill build a pen for her outside.
YELENA
No! Not outside! Its winter! Without
her mother, shell freeze to death.
CONOR
Alright. Inside, then. But you feed
her. And clean up after her. And
keep her out of my way.
Yelena nods, then hugs and kisses the tiger cub.
LATER THAT NIGHT

85.
Conor and Yelena are trying to sleep, but the tiger cub,
penned in Yuris bathtub, cries and cries.
Yelena gets up; grabs a bottle of milk; picks up the cub;
settles down in a chair by the fire; opens her undershirt
and, very carefully, 'breast feeds' milk to the cub.
Conor watches from the bed. He is amazed.
EXT. A DARK ALLEY IN NOVADSTOK - NIGHT - CONOR AND THE
SINISTER MAN
The Sinister Man looks around, pulls his hand out of his
pocket and holds out two baby bottles and nipples.
Conor pulls a bottle of vodka out from his coat. The man
holds up TWO FINGERS, and Conor reluctantly pulls out a second
bottle of vodka. The man grins as he exchanges the baby
bottles and nipples for the vodka.
INT. CABIN - NIGHT- YELENA
bottle feeds the tiger cub.
EXT. CABIN - DAY - CONOR
is chopping firewood when he feels a sharp pain. Looking
down, he sees the tiger cub digging its spike teeth into his
boot. Just as Conor kicks the cub away, Yelena grabs it. She
gives Conor a stern look.
INT. CABIN - DAY - CONOR AND YELENA
try to catch the tiger cub, as it chases a mouse. The cub is
knocking over everything in its way.
INT. CABIN - NIGHT - CONOR AND YELENA
are asleep. The tiger cub lays sleeping between them.
EXT. CABIN - DAY - CONOR AND VICTOR
watch as Yelena plays with the tiger cub.
VICTOR
That is truly an amazing sight.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. CABIN - NIGHT
The tiger cub watches and whines from her bathtub pen, as
Yelena, Conor, and Victor eat supper.

86.
YELENA
(to the cub)
Shush now!
Yelena goes to the tub and lifts the cub into her arms.
YELENA
(to the tiger cub)
My, youre getting heavy.
Yelena brings the cub to Victor. He takes the frisky animal
into his arms.
VICTOR
Its a wonderful thing you two are
doing, saving this cub.
CONOR
How old do you think she is?
VICTOR
One, maybe two months. Tiger cubs
arent weaned until theyre about
six months old, you know. A good
year, before theyre ready to leave
their mother.
CONOR
Six months! A year! We may not be
here in six months. Or three. Or
tomorrow, even.
VICTOR
Why? Where are you going?
Conor hesitates. He looks at Yelena.
To America.
America?

YELENA
VICTOR

CONOR
Yes. Were going to escape.
Victor looks at Yelena with shocked disbelief. Yelena looks
away.
VICTOR
(to Conor)
Escape? How?

87.
Conor unfolds his handkerchief map and slides it in front of
Victor.
CONOR
With the help of this map.
Victor drops the tiger cub to the floor. He studies the map.
CONOR
I figure the coast is only about a
hundred and thirty kilometers, due
east. If we can reach the coast...
Victor starts to laugh. Conor stops.
VICTOR
Where the hell did you get this?
Why?

CONOR

VICTOR
Because I havent seen one of these
in years. Its a fake.
CONOR
(stunned)
A what?
A fake!

VICTOR

Victor looks at Yelena.

in her eyes.

There is disappointment and dismay

VICTOR
Im sorry, Yelena. Sorry, Conor. But
your map is worthless.
(pause)
Five or six years ago, there was an
exile selling these maps to the poor
fools just out of the camps. They
trusted him. And his maps. And many
of them died. I heard he made a lot
of money. Unfortunately, you cant
spend that kind of money in hell.
In Hell?

CONOR

VICTOR
Yes. In hell! Thats where I sent
him, when I finally caught him.

88.
Victor hands back the map.
VICTOR
Burn it, my friend. Burn it.
Victor grabs the bottle of vodka and heads for the door.
YELENA
Please, Victor. Dont go.
VICTOR
Dont worry, dear. Im just stepping
out for a drink.
Victor grabs his coat and slips out of the cabin.
Conor stares at the map in disbelief, then throws it into
the fireplace. As the map bursts into flames, Yelena bursts
into tears.
YELENA
Oh, Conor, Conor. No America.
EXT. CABIN - NIGHT
Conor joins Victor.
VICTOR
Is she very upset?
CONOR
Yes. And its my fault. It was foolish
of me to think that we could escape.
Obviously, no one ever escapes.
VICTOR
I didnt say that. I just said your
map was a fake.
Victor hands Conor the vodka. Conor takes a drink.
VICTOR
I know a man, who used to smuggle
tigers. Now he smuggles people.
CONOR
(he understands)
How much?
VICTOR
(he shrugs)
Couple thousand rubles. Maybe more.

89.
CONOR
(he whistles)
Where does one get that kind of money
around here?
VICTOR
That is the problem, isnt it?
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WOODS/LAKE - DAY - A BRIEF MONTAGE OF SCENES AS WINTER
DISSOLVES INTO SPRING
EXT. NOVADSTOK/GYPSY CAMP - DAY - CONOR, YELENA, VICTOR,
SERGEI, ANS
are part of a crowd who have come to a clearing just on the
edge of town to watch a traveling circus perform. We see a
JUGGLER, a FIRE EATER, a STRONG MAN, in a tug of war with an
ox, and a DANCING BEAR.
EXT. WOODS - DAY - CLOSE ON THREE VICIOUS DOGS!
Three snarling dogs are straining against chains holding
them back. SUDDENLY, WE HEAR THE FRIGHTENING, ANGRY ROAR OF
A BROWN BEAR!
Now WE SEE THE BEAR...a chain around its neck, roaring and
swatting at the barking dogs with its giant paws.
We GO WIDER to see Conor, Yelena, Victor, Sergei and Ans
join a crowd of excited men, women and children.
The spectators surround a half-moon arena in which the
dogs are trying to get at the brown bear. The bear is chained
securely to a tree! But the chain is so short, that the bear
cannot escape up the tree and must face the dogs! ALEXI and
TWO OTHER GYPSY MEN are struggling to keep the dogs from
attacking the bear.
VICTOR
Its called bear-baiting.
CONOR
Yeah, Ive heard of it. What chance
do those dogs have against a bear
like that?
VICTOR
None, if this were a fair fight. But
its not. The bear is chained, so
the dogs have the advantage. Every
bite that draws blood, is a point
(MORE)

90.
VICTOR (CONT'D)
for the dogs. And if they manage to
drag the bear down, onto the ground,
the dogs win.
CONOR
When does the bear win?
It doesnt.

YELENA

Conor watches in amazement as, one by one, the three dogs

are let loose on the bear.
WE DONT SEE THE ACTUAL ATTACK, WE JUST HEAR IT AND SEE IT
IN YELENAS FACE.
After a few minutes of HOWLS, ROARS, SCREAMS and the bloodthirsty CHEERS of the crowd, Yelena turns and walks briskly
away.
CONOR
Yelena! Yelena! Where you going?
She breaks into a run. Conor watches her disappear into the
woods.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT - CONOR, VICTOR, ANS, SERGEI,
GYPSIES
The gypsies have taken over the restaurant and there is lively
music in the air. A beautiful gypsy woman dances erotically,
sometimes alone, sometimes with men.
Conor, Victor, and Sergei sit at a table, drinking and
watching the dancer. Ans, a big winner in the bear baiting,
is at the bar, buying the gypsy named ALEXI a drink.
Ans and Alexi talk and laugh and, every once in while, Ans
points toward Conor and the others. Alexi studies Conor,
finishes his drink, then approaches Conor with Ans in tow.
ALEXI
Good evening, Comrades. My name is
Alexi. Did you enjoy our show, today?
VICTOR
Ive seen better.
ALEXI
Of course. But we do the best we
can.

91.
CONOR
I thought the dogs were supposed to
win. Those dogs didnt stand a chance
against that bear. What kind of sport
is that?
Alexi shrugs, grabs a vacant chair and pulls it up to the
table.
ALEXI
I ask myself that all the time. Today
the bear won. Tomorrow, the dogs.
But isnt that what makes it
interesting?
ANS
Its just not fair. Sending dogs up
against a bear that size.
ALEXI
I know. But what am I to do, huh?
(he laughs))
Find bigger dogs? Smarter dogs? Or
maybe, get a smaller bear?
Ans leans down and speaks into Conors ear.
ANS
Or a baby tiger?
CONOR
Fuck off, Ans!
Alexi nods for Ans to leave. He does.
ALEXI
(to Conor)
I hear youre a tiger hunter.
CONOR
Well, you heard wrong.
(nods toward Victor)
Hes the hunter.
Oh.

ALEXI

(turns to Victor)
So, Comrade, do you know where I can
find a tiger? A live tiger?
VICTOR
Sure. In the forest. There are plenty
in the forest. You just go in the
(MORE)

92.
VICTOR (CONT'D)
forest and slit your wrists and Ill
guarantee youll see a live tiger in
no time.
Alexi laughs.
ALEXI
I dont want to bait a tiger, old
man. I just want to buy a tiger. A
small one. One that can grow old
with my younger dogs.
VICTOR
Well, shes not for sale!
ALEXI
She? Who? Whos not for sale?
Conor glances at Victor. Neither answers. Alexi grabs a
passing waiter. He shoves money in his hand.
ALEXI
(to the waiter)
Hey! Comrade! Comrade! A round of
drinks for my friends, here! Better
yet...bring us a new bottle.
Alexi turns back to the table and smiles. Conors eyes are
fixed on the gypsy woman. Alexi notices.
ALEXI
Everythings for sale, Comrades. You
all know that. Goods. Jobs. Women.
Everything. Even tigers. Its just a
matter of price, eh?
(he focuses on Conor)
Look, Comrade, youve got something
I want... And maybe Ive got something
you want.
Alexi pulls out a fist full of money. He lays the money on
the table. Conors eyes shift from the gypsy girl to the
money, then back to the girl.
ALEXI
(whispering to Conor)
Beautiful isnt she? Would you like
to meet her?
Conors eyes lust after the dancer. He is mesmerized by her
beauty and her body.

93.
The Waiter returns with a bottle of vodka. Before anyone can
object, Alexi fills the glasses of Conor, Sergei and Victor
and then his own. He lifts his glass in a toast.
ALEXI
To Comrade Stalin!
Sergei and Victor look at each other. Conor ignores the toast.
Sergei and Victor drink.
SERGEI/VICTOR
(reluctantly)
To Comrade Stalin.
ALEXI
WHOA! Now thats good vodka! Eh?
Alexi quickly fills their glasses to the top again. The Gypsy
Woman dances in front of Conor.
ALEXI
(to Conor)
Like I said, Comrade. Youve got
something I want. And maybe Ive got
something you want.
Alexi starts to put his money away. Conor suddenly grabs his
wrist.
CONOR
You may be right.
Victor glances at Conor, a look of betrayal in his eyes.
INT. CABIN - DAY (DAWN) - YELENA
She is asleep in bed with Nadezhda.
The tiger cub suddenly sits up, awakening Yelena. The cub
growls as she HEARS a TRUCK APPROACHING the cabin.
Yelena listens too. This is ominous.
She throws on her coat and peers out the window.
Conor is leading Alexi and TWO GYPSY MEN toward the cabin.
The gypsies carry ropes, chains and a net.
Yelena grabs the tiger cub and backs away from the door.
The door opens. Conor enters. Yelenas eyes are full of fear
and confusion.
Conor steps aside. Alexi and his men enter.

94.
Alexi goes straight to Yelena. He tries to wrestle the tiger
cub out of her grasp.
NO! NO!

YELENA

ALEXI
GOD DAMN IT! GIVE ME THE CUB!
Yelena fights back. The tiger cub falls to the floor.
NADEZHDA!

YELENA

There is chaos, as the frightened cub tries to get away from

the gypsies. She knocks over chairs and Conors makeshift
table, spilling dishes and food; then she knocks over bags
of potatoes and flour.
Finally, a Gypsy Man scoops the cub up in his net and starts
to drag it, screaming and fighting, toward the door.
Yelena pummels Alexi with angry, vicious blows.
YELENA
NO! SHES MINE! MINE!
Surprized, Alexi starts to defend himself.
Suddenly, Conor grabs Yelena from behind, pinning her arms.
She struggles to get away from him.
YELENA
(to Conor)
You bastard!
ALEXI
(to Conor)
You know, you could have made this a
lot easier.
EXT. CABIN - DAY (DAWN)
Alexi and the Gypsy Men shove the cub into the truck and
slam the gate shut. They jump into the cab, just as Yelena
comes running out of the cabin.
YELENA
NADEZHDA! NO! NOOOOO!
As the truck lurches forward, Yelena just misses grabbing
onto it. She runs after the truck.

95.
YELENA
(screaming after the
truck)
NADEZHDA! NADEZHDA! NADEZHDA! THIEVES!
MURDERERS!
As the truck disappears. Yelena falls to her knees and bursts
into tears.
YELENA
FUCKING MURDERERS!
Conor arrives. He picks her up. She fights him.
CONOR
Please, Yelena! Look! Look! Two
thousand rubles!
Conor shows her the money. She cant believe it.
YELENA
How could you? How could you, Conor?
How could you sell my baby?
CONOR
It was just a wild animal Yelena! I
did it for us! This is our ticket to
freedom! To America!
Yelena slaps the money out of Conors hand. It scatters across
the muddy snow.
YELENA
America? I hate America! And I hate
you!
Yelena rushes back to the cabin.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WOODS/CABIN - NIGHT
Firelight flickers behind the windows, as smoke rises from
the chimney.
INT. CABIN - NIGHT - YELENA AND CONOR
Yelena is in bed, in a deep depression. Conor hovers over
her, carrying a plate of hot soup on a tray.
CONOR
Yelena. Sweetheart. Youve got to
eat something. Look. Ive made you
some soup.

96.
YELENA
Go away. Just...go away.
Conor returns the soup to the kitchen table.
stirs the bowl of soup, but does not eat.

He sits and

CONOR
I'm sorry, Yelena. I thought I was
doing what was best for us.
AN ANGLE ON THE FIREPLACE
An advertisement from LIFE MAGAZINE floats into the flames
and disappears into smoke and ash.
WE GO WIDER TO SEE...
Conor sitting before the fireplace, ripping the pages out of
LIFE, one at time. He watches his dream of home go up in
smoke. Finally, he just throws the whole magazine into the
fire.
Reaching into his pocket, Conor pulls out Alexis money.
He starts to toss the money into the flames, too, but then
stops.
EXT. ROAD TO NOVADSTOK - MORNING - CONOR AND SERGEI
Sergei watches Conor approach, as a lumber company truck
rumbles toward them from town. Conor, carrying his ax on his
shoulder, walks right past Sergei.
SERGEI
(calling after Conor)
Hey? CONOR! Where the hell you going?
The truck stops here!
CONOR
(turning back to Sergei)
I have to find those gypsies. That
prick, Alexi.
SERGEI
Are you crazy?
CONOR
Must be. Tell the boss I went home
sick. Tell him Ill be back tomorrow.
Or maybe the next day. I dont know.
As the truck reaches Conor, he waves it on. The truck slows
and stops to pick up Sergei.

97.
SERGEI
Hes not going to like that!
Conor shrugs and continues walking toward Novadstok.
Sergei hops aboard the truck. It pulls away.
EXT. HORSE BARN - DAY - CONOR AND VICTOR
are hitching a horse to a wagon that sits on big, black
automobile tires.
VICTOR
Dont do this Conor. Even if you
find them, even if you get the tiger
back, my God, man, Markovo is at
least twenty miles from here. Youre
an exile, remember? You cant leave
Novadstok.
CONOR
No? Just watch me.
VICTOR
Twenty miles, Conor! That means twenty
more years in the Gulag, if they
catch you!
CONOR
Maybe thats what I deserve for being
such a stupid fool.
VICTOR
Theyll send you back. Declare you
dead. Yelena will be a widow again.
Theyll force her to remarry. Is
that what you want?
CONOR
No. But perhaps shed be better off
without me.
VICTOR
Conor, youre not listening! Youre
not even thinking about the
consequences!
CONOR
Youre right. Im not. Im doing
this for Yelena.
VICTOR
You love her that much?

98.
CONOR
Yes. I love her that much.
VICTOR
Then let me help you, because youre
going to need it.
They finish hitching the horse to the wagon.
EXT. ROAD TO MARKOVO - DAY - CONOR AND VICTOR
wrapped in blankets, are sitting atop the wagon, as a single
horse pulls them toward Markovo. Conor stares at Alexis
money. Victor notices.
EXT. MARKOVO/GYPSY CAMP - LATE AFTERNOON
As in Novadstok, the gypsies have parked their caravan in a
small clearing, backed by woods. A small crowd of curious
townsfolk and local peasants, many of them children, have
come for a look at Nadezhda.
As the crowd presses around her, the frightend tiger cub,
chained to the outside of a small, wooden cage, snarls, growls
and swats at them.
Alexi approaches, dragged toward the tiger cub by a young,
barking dog.
At the sight of the dog, the tiger cub shrinks back, then
tries to get away. But theres nowhere to go.
Nadezhda gives as good as she gets and in no time, both
animals are bleeding from cuts and bites.
Finally, the little dog gets too close and Nadezhdas claws
rip across the dogs face.
The dog HOWLS with pain.
Alexi grabs a whip and starts beating the tiger cub.
ALEXI
Hurt my dog, will you!
The cub shrinks into a ball of black and orange stripes.
Now, as Alexis whip comes back, a boot stomps on it. Alexi
spins around. Conor is standing before him.
ALEXI
Well, well, well!
With the swing of his ax, Conor cuts Alexis whip in two.

99.
ALEXI
Damn it! Now you owe me a new whip,
Comrade!
Conor pulls Alexis money out of his pocket and throws it
down at Alexis feet.
CONOR
Here's your money. Our deal is off.
ALEXI
Off? A deals a deal, even if you
make it with the devil!
CONOR
Sorry, but she wasnt mine to sell.
She belongs to my wife.
As Conor moves to get the tiger cub, Alexi suddenly coldcocks him, knocking Conor to the ground.
Wiping blood from his mouth, Conor leaps up and charges into
Alexi.
The crowd, excited by the fight, form a makeshift ring
around Conor and Alexi. Within seconds, bets are being made.
The fight is vicious, dirty, and bloody, with Alexi using
every dirty trick he knows to beat Conor. But Conor endures
the punishment. Finally, Conor connects with a blow that
shatters Alexis teeth and drops the gypsy, like a rock, to
the ground!
As Alexi struggles to regain his senses, Conor calmly picks
up his ax and walks toward the tigers cage. Victor follows
him.
Behind them, Alexi staggers to his feet, a knife in his hand.
Now the CROWD OF ON-LOOKERS panics. People grab their children
and run. A UNIFORMED POST MAN, starts blowing a whistle.
Shoving spectators aside, Alexi charges Conor. His knife
slashes Conor through his winter coat.
CONOR
(grabbing his side)
AHHH!
As Conor turns, he swings his ax. The flat surface of the
blade slams against Alexis head. Alexi drops to his knees.
Ignoring his wound, Conor uses his ax to slice through the
chain holding Nadezhda! Victor grabs it.

100.
CONOR
GET HER OUT OF HERE! NOW!
As if this were their plan, Victor runs for the tree-line
with the tiger cub in tow.
Now Alexi staggers to his feet, the knife still in his hand.
Blood trickles out of his left ear. He sees Victor running
with the tiger cub and barks out orders, in a language that
Conor doesnt understand. GYPSY MEN rush to the dog cages,
open the doors and start pulling out the dogs. Alexi points
toward Victor.
Before Alexi can utter another word, Conor grabs him and
shoves the blade of his ax against Alexis throat.
CONOR
Call off your wolves! Or Ill slit
your throat!
ALEXI
(he nods)
Alright! Alright!
(to his men)
STOP! STOP! LET THE OLD MAN GO! LET
THEM GO!
Victor and Nadezhda disappear into the woods.
CONOR
Youre smarter than I thought.
Conor throws Alexi down to the ground. Alexi sees the blood
money in front of him and scrambles to gather it up. He
quickly counts the money as Conor demolishes the tigers
cage with his ax.
ALEXI
(to Conor)
HEY! YOURE TWO HUNDRED RUBLES SHORT!
CONOR
(nodding)
I know. Bribes and expenses,
Comrade. But dont worry, Im an
honest man, with a good job. Youll
get it. Some day.
(sighs)
Some day.
Conor reaches inside his coat. When he pulls out his hand,
its covered with blood. Dropping his ax, Conor sinks to the
ground. As MARKOVO MILITIA (police) surround them, Conor and
Alexi raise their hands in surrender.

101.
EXT. ROAD TO NOVADSTOK - SUNSET - VICTOR
keeps the horse and wagon moving forward at a steady clipclop. He is carrying the tiger cub inside his coat like a
baby.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. CABIN - NIGHT - VICTOR
and Nadezhda approach Conors cabin.
INT. CABIN - NIGHT
Victor gently places the squirming and whining tiger cub
onto the bed, beside a sleeping Yelena. The cub immediately
crawls to her. It starts to meow and purr and lick her face.
Yelena awakes. As tears well up in her eyes, she smiles and
hugs the cub.
YELENA
Oh, Nadezhda! Nadezhda!
Yelena sits up and looks toward the dark figure, building up
the fire.
YELENA
Am I dreaming, Conor?
Victor rises and turns around. Now Yelena sees who it is.
VICTOR
No. This is no dream, my dear.
YELENA
Victor? What are you doing here?
VICTOR
Someone had to bring back the cub.
Yelena senses something is amiss.
YELENA
(looking around)
Wheres Conor? Wheres my husband?
WHERES MY HUSBAND, VICTOR?
INT. COMRADE COLONELS HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - NIGHT - YURI
is asleep in a favorite chair, a book in his lap and a Moscow
newspaper at his feet. His housekeeper, OLGA, enters and
gently wakes him.

102.
OLGA
Comrade Colonel. Comrade Colonel!
Theres someone here to see you.
YURI
(waking up)
Huh? Who?
(sighs)
Now what?
Olga points toward Yelena, who is standing out in the hall,
covered with melting snow and shivering in her thin winter
coat. Yuri jumps to his feet and goes to her.
YELENA
Im sorry to bother you at home,
Comrade Colonel.
YURI
Shhh. Lets get you warmed up, first.
Yuri leads her toward the fireplace and helps her out of her
wet coat. Suddenly, Yelena hugs him and the tears flow. Yuri
trembles, as he holds her in his arms again.
OLGA
Ill bring her a blanket, sir. And
some hot tea.
Olga rushes out of the room.
INT. MARKOVO JAIL/CELL BLOCK CORRIDOR - NIGHT - CONOR
Handcuffed and shackled, with a blood-stained bandage on his
side, hobbles briskly down a dimly lighted corridor. He
struggles to keep up with the two uniformed JAIL GUARDS who
are pulling him along.
EXT. MARKOVO JAIL/COURTYARD - NIGHT - CONOR
is dragged out into the night and across the jail yard toward
a brick wall. The wall is pockmarked with bullet holes from
years of executions. SOLDIERS with automatic weapons stand
near by, smoking and joking. They look up as Conor approaches.
Conor starts to resist his escort guards. He cant believe
this is his fate.
CONOR
You cant just shoot a man without a
trial! I demand a trial!

103.
But the Jail Guards have Conor completely under control.
They drag him right past the Soldiers and right past the
execution wall.
As Conor and his escorts approach the jails Main Gate, a
SOLDIER opens a small, walk-through door in the gate itself.
Conor is pulled through it.
EXT. MARKOVO JAIL/MAIN GATE - NIGHT - ESTABLISHING
As Conor emerges through the gate, WE SEE Yuris STAFF CAR
waiting for him.
THE DRIVER of Yuris Staff Car holds open the back door. The
Escort Guards shove Conor inside.
INT. YURIS STAFF CAR - NIGHT
Conor tumbles into the seat next to Yuri. The car door slams
and, within moments, the car is on its way. Markovos Jail
receeds in the back window. Conor glances back.
YURI
Dont look back, Captain, or youre
destined to return.
CONOR
You were in the Gulag?
Me?

YURI

(he laughs)
Thank God, no. But Ive heard all
the folklore. Cigarette?
Yuri holds out a pack of cigarettes. Theyre the same brand
as Conor found in his cabin. Conor takes one.
YURI
Sorry about the chains. They come
with the crime.
Yuri lights Conors cigarette for him.
EXT. ROAD TO NOVADSTOK/STAFF CAR - NIGHT
Yuris Staff Car makes its way through the dark night.
INT. STAFF CAR - NIGHT - CONOR AND YURI
Conor is looking out the window, watching the landscape pass.
CONOR
So where are you taking me?

104.
YURI
Back to Novadstok. You belong to me,
remember? You know, I could send you
back to the Gulag this very night.
CONOR
Go ahead. Send me back. Or shoot me.
(he remembers Yelena's
words)
Were all going to die someday,
anyway, so why suffer to the bitter
end?
YURI
What makes you think the end has to
be bitter?
CONOR
Because this is Siberia, Comrade
Colonel.
YURI
You dont like Siberia?
CONOR
I have nothing against the country,
just its rules and regulations and
the people who enslave other people.
YURI
(he shakes his head)
You Americans. You are so full of
yourselves. I can see youre going
to be a problem after all.
(pause)
Tell, me something...just between
you and me...just man to man...Ive
heard a ugly rumor tonight that you
are planning to escape our wonderful
socialist state. Is that true?
CONOR
Well, you know what they say, Colonel,
behind every rumor theres a bit of
truth.
YURI
Did you know, that Yelenas first
husband tried to escape?
Conor is surprised.

105.
YURI
She didnt tell you, did she? It was
very tragic. He was very young. He
didnt get very far. They never do.
After the trial, I had to shoot him.
Yelena was devastated and alone, so
I took her in. I bought her food and
clothes and gave her a place to sleep.
I even got her a job, selling candies
and toothpaste at the railroad
station. I gave her everything, but
still, she was never really happy.
(pause)
I dont care what you do with your
life. Escape if you want. I wont
come after you. Just dont try to
take Yelena with you, because she
wont go.
CONOR
Are you sure of that?
Yes.

YURI

(pause)
Even if she wanted to go, I wouldnt
let her.
CONOR
You would, if you really loved her.
Yuri glares at Conor.
Suddenly, the Staff Car glides to a stop. The Driver hops
out, runs around to the side and opens the back door for
Conor.
GET OUT!

YURI

EXT./INT. ROAD TO NOVADSTOK/STAFF CAR - NIGHT

Conor steps out of the car. The car has stopped at the wooded
road that leads to his cabin.
As Yuris Driver unlocks Conors handcuffs and then his leg
irons, Yuri slides over to the open door.
YURI
(in his official
voice)
Next time you want to leave the
district of Novadstok, Comrade, get
a travel permit.

106.
CONOR
You mean Im free to go?
YURI
Yes. Before I change my mind.
CONOR
Thank you, sir!
YURI
Dont thank me, fool. Thank your
wife. Thank Yelena. Apparently she
is very fond of you.
Yuri grabs the door handle and slams the car door shut.
Conor watches the Staff Car pull away. Suddenly it stops.
The back window rolls down. Yuri tosses Conors ax out onto
the road. The Staff Car drives on.
Conor picks up his ax, gathers his courage and starts up the
road to his cabin.
EXT. CABIN - NIGHT - CONOR
approaches the lighted cabin with apprehension.
INT. CABIN - NIGHT
Yelena, her back to the door, is sitting by the fireplace,
holding the tiger cub. Hearing the door open and close, she
picks up the cub, puts her in her pen, and turns to face
Conor.
YELENA
Nadezhda and I have been waiting for
you.
Conor doesnt move. He just watches Yelena, as she goes about
setting the table and pouring him a cup of tea. When thats
done, she finally approaches him and hugs him. He still
doesnt move. Finally, Conor slowly wraps his arms around
Yelena.
CONOR
Thank you. Thank you.
YELENA
Come and eat now, before your supper
gets cold.
Yelena starts to pull away, but Conor wont let go of her.
Tears start to stream down his cheeks. He pulls her close
and kisses her tenderly.

107.
I love you.

CONOR

Yelena replies with kisses.

Nadezhda watches with her big, round, tiger eyes.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WOODS/LAKE - DAY - A BRIEF MONTAGE - AS SPRING
DISSOLVES INTO SUMMER
EXT. CABIN - DAY
Yuris Staff Car is parked in the road. His driver reads and
smokes, while he waits for his boss.
Yuri and Yelena are playing with Nadezhda, who has grown a
lot. Nadezhda has Yuris officers cap and Yuri is chasing
her, trying to get it back. Yelena is laughing.
Conor and Victor watch from a small garden.
CONOR
He just shows up, like this, whenever
the mood strikes him. The way he
acts, youd think he was courting
her, just waiting for me to get out
of his way.
VICTOR
Thats good. That means his mind is
on love. Patience, Conor. My friend
will be here, come winter.
CONOR
What friend is that?
VICTOR
My friend the smuggler.
Suddenly, Yelena SCREAMS!
Yuri limps past Conor and Victor, heading to his car. His
face is full of anger. The left sleeve of his uniform is
torn and blood drips from his finger tips.
Conor and Victor rush to Yelena. She is holding Nadezhda.
Yelena is in tears.
CONOR
What happened?

108.
YELENA
She didnt mean it! She was just
playing. Yuri got too rough. Its
just a scratch, right?
Yuri returns, a revolver in his good hand. He points the gun
at Nadezhda.
YURI
GET OUT OF THE WAY, YELENA!
YELENA
NO, YURI! NO!
Yelena shields the tiger with her body. Conor steps in front
of the gun, shielding both Yelena and Nadezhda.
CONOR
For Christs sake, Colonel, are you
mad? What are you going to do, shoot
Yelena too? Its a tiger, not a puppy
dog. She didnt mean it. Be a man.
Let it go.
Yuri wavers. He looks at Conor, then fires angrily into the
air. He grabs his cap from the ground and limps back to his
car. He tosses the revolver to his Driver and hops in.
VICTOR
He wont hesitate next time.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WOODS/LAKE - DAY - A BRIEF MONTAGE AS SUMMER DISSOLVES
INTO FALL AND FALL INTO WINTER
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. RAILROAD STATION -- DAY
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE stand in stunned silence, as they listen
to A FUNERAL DIRGE drifting out over the station from several
loud speakers. Women and men are weeping openly. One BABUSHKA
has fainted and TWO POLICEMEN are trying to revive her.
SUPER TITLE:

MARCH, 1953

Victor arrives from the nearby shanty town. As he wanders

among the crowd, he looks at all the distraught faces. He
approaches the BABUSHKA we saw earlier selling borscht.
VICTOR
What happened?

109.
BABUSHKA #1
(whispering)
Haven't you heard?
Victor shakes his head.
BABUSHKA #1
(she can barely say
the words)
Comrade Stalin is dead!
VICTOR
STALIN? DEAD? ARE YOU SURE?
The Babushka nods her head.
Victor bursts into laughter and a joyful little jig. The
people stare at him in disbelief.
INT. YURI'S OFFICE -- DAY
A crude TELETYPE MACHINE is spitting out OFFICIAL MESSAGES.
Yuri tears them off, one after another, reading them. In the
BACKGROUND, his STAFF huddle around A SHORT-WAVE RADIO,
listening to a NEWS BROADCAST from Moscow.
RADIO NEWS COMMENTATOR (O.S.)
(squawky radio voice;
in Russian, English
subtitles)
Our beloved leader, Comrade Stalin,
died, suddenly, at 5:34 A.M. this
morning, Moscow time. Attending
doctors fought heroically to save
Comrade Stalin's life, but years of
struggle to create our socialist
motherland, were just too much for
this Hero of the Soviet Union.
A LIEUTENANT approaches Yuri.
LIEUTENANT
Sir? What will happen to the country
now?
YURI
Now? Now the wolves will come out of
the shadows and tear each other apart.
EXT. WOODS - A WINTER CAMP - NIGHT
WE ARE TIGHT ON a tigers, ghost-like skull. The skull turns
slowly in the light of a campfire.

110.
WE GO WIDER to see the CHINESE SMUGGLER examining it. Laid
out in front of him are the bones of at least eight adult
tigers. A second ASIAN MAN examines the pelts of the dead
tigers.
Victor watches them and drinks a cup of steaming tea.
VICTOR
Half now, and half when I know my
friends are safe.
CHINESE SMUGGLER
You drive a hard bargain, tiger man.
Always did.
Victor nods. The men shake hands.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WOODS/LAKE - DAY (WINTER)
Nadezhdas face. Shes nine months old now, and a very big
and healthy tiger.
She moves silently through the forest stalking some prey.
As she approaches the frozen lake, we finally see what she
is stalking: its Yelena, who is ice fishing.
AN ANGLE ON YELENA
Nadezhda suddenly charges out of the underbrush. Hitting the
slippery ice, she loses her traction and slides uncontrollably
into Yelena, knocking her down.
YELENA
Oh! Nadezhda! You big bully!
The tiger licks Yelenas face. Yelena rubs the tigers ears.
YELENA
That was very good. I didnt even
hear you this time.
EXT. CABIN - DAY
Conor is chopping wood for the fireplace when Yelena returns
from the lake.
Nadezhda is following her, but keeping her distance now.
On her way inside, Yelena holds up a string of fish.

111.
Nice catch.

CONOR

Nadezhda circles Conor. Not sure of her intentions, Conor

holds his ax at the ready.
Yelena returns with a bony hunk of raw meat. She coaxes
Nadezhda to her. The tiger grabs the meat, backs off, then
starts to devour it.
Conor steps up beside Yelena and watches the tiger eat.
CONOR
Victor says if you keep feeding her,
shell never hunt on her own. Let
her go, Yelena. She belongs in the
forest. Every day you play this game,
itll just get harder. For both of
you.
YELENA
I know. Tomorrow.
Conor hugs Yelena to him.
CONOR
Thats what you said yesterday. And
the day before that.
EXT. CABIN - NIGHT
A light snow is falling. Nadezhda watches the cabin from the
tree-line. She licks the falling snow off her nose.
Suddenly, her ears stand up. She stares at the cabin.
Victor is making his way to the cabin, pulling a tarp-covered
sled behind him.
INT. CABIN - NIGHT
Conor and Yelena are suddenly awoken from sleep, by a
thunderous pounding on the cabin door.
Conor grabs his ax, while Yelena lights an oil lamp.
VICTOR (O.S.)
Conor! Yelena!
Conor opens the door, a blast of cold, snowy air and Victor
slip inside.

112.
Sorry
night
night
heard

VICTOR
to wake you. Its a hell of a
to be out, but a wonderful
at the same time. Have you
the good news?

No.

CONOR

VICTOR
Stalin is dead. May he rot in hell.
YELENA
Comrade Stalin?
Yelena gasps. Tears well up in her eyes.
VICTOR
Don't weep for him, Yelena! He would
never weep for you.
(to Conor)
You still want to go to America?
CONOR
Sure. Some day.
VICTOR
Not some day. Now!
Conor glances at Yelena. Theres surprise and terror in her
eyes.
VICTOR
My friend, the smuggler is back. He
said hed take you to the coast.
Both of you, but we must hurry. Itll
take us all day to get to the
rendezvous.
CONOR
What are you talking about? Were
broke. We couldnt pay to be smuggled
into Novadstok, let alone the coast.
VICTOR
Forget the money. Its all arranged.
Ive been planning this for a long,
long time. Years and years.
Our escape?

CONOR

113.
VICTOR
No. My escape.
(he laughs)
There was just one problem. Theres
no place for me to escape to! By the
time I realized that, I was too old
to even dream about it. But you and
Yelena...You still have your whole
lives ahead of you. You two, at least,
have someplace to go. Right now the
country is in mourning. But tomorrow
it'll be in chaos. It's the perfect
time to escape. So go! Go! While you
still can.
Stunned, Yelena sits at the table.
CONOR
Yelena. Whats the matter?
YELENA
Oh, Conor. Conor. You go.
CONOR
No. I cant go without you.
YELENA
I dont belong in America. This is
where I belong. Besides, Nadezhda,
she needs me.
CONOR
FORGET NADEZHDA! She doesnt need
you! I do! Shes a wild animal! You
saved her. And now shes free to
live her life in the forest. Now
its our turn to be saved and to be
free.
YELENA
(she shakes her head)
No. No. You dont understand, I cant
go! Yuri...
CONOR
What about Yuri?
YELENA
I promised him. If he let you go, I
would be here, waiting for him.
Please, Conor...If you love me, go
with Victor.

114.
VICTOR
She's right, Conor. This could be
your only chance. Do you want to die
here? Or in America?
Conor hesitates, torn by the choice. Then he hugs Yelena,
until she gently pushes him away. He starts to put on his
clothes.
EXT. CABIN/WOODS - NIGHT (SNOWY)
WE SEE the cabin in the BG, as Conor, wearing a BACKPACK,
helps Victor drag his sled along a snow-covered forest trail
that rises toward a ridge line.
VICTOR
Shes following us.
CONOR
(looking back,
hopefully)
Yelena?
VICTOR
(whispering)
No. Nadezhda.
(he nods left)
Shes right over there.
Conor looks.
Nadzheda is watching them from a safe distance. Suddenly,
she lopes away and disappears in the pines.
Conor stops. Decides.
INT. CABIN - NIGHT
Yelena is in bed. She has been crying. Conor enters and lifts
her into his arms.
CONOR
TO HELL WITH YURI! I know you love
me! And youre coming with me, if I
have to tie you up and carry you!
Yelena smothers Conor with kisses.
ANOTHER ANGLE - A SHORT WHILE LATER
Yelena is dressed. She is hurriedly scribbling a note on a
piece of paper.

115.
CONOR
Come on, Yelena. Victors waiting.
Yelena attaches the note to the copper bathtub, takes one
last look around the cabin, grabs the bouquet of paper flowers
from the vase on the table, and hurries out with Conor.
EXT. CABIN - NIGHT (SNOWY)
Yelena looks around the yard.
Nadezhda?

YELENA

CONOR
Shes gone, sweetheart. Back to the
forest.
YELENA
But I wanted to say goodbye.
EXT. CABIN/WOODS - NIGHT (SNOWY)
Conor and Yelena join Victor in the woods. Victor gives Yelena
a big hug. They hurry on, the sled obliterating their tracks
in the snow.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WOODS/RIDGE LINE - DAY (MORNING)
Conor, Yelena and Victor have reached the top of a small,
forested ridge that overlooks their cabin and, in the
distance, Novadstok. The trio stop to catch their breaths.
Somewhere a TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS.
VICTOR
Thats the express from Vladivostok.
Conor and Yelena are looking down on their cabin, when they
suddenly see YURIS STAFF CAR coming up their road.
YELENA
Shit! Its Yuri!
CONOR
What the hell is he doing here?
YELENA
I dont know. I must go back.
No!

CONOR

116.
YELENA
Darling, I can buy you time. Time
for you and Victor to get away!
CONOR
No. Time means nothing without you.
Lets go!

VICTOR

Victor grabs the sleds tow rope. Conor hustles Yelena along.
They push on.
INT. CABIN - DAY (MORNING)
The cabin door is open. Yuri is standing next to the copper
bath tub reading Yelenas note.
INSERT: YELENAS NOTE: (In Russian/English subtitles.)
Yuri. You were right. It was big enough for two, but not
for three. Goodbye. Yelena.
EXT. CABIN - DAY (MORNING)
Yuri scans the forest. He studies the footprints in the snow.
He quickly finds the trail the sled is making. He returns to
his car and driver.
YURI
Notify, Captain Rosovsky. Tell him
to bring his dogs.
DRIVER
(saluting)
Yes, sir, Colonel.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WOODS - DAY (LATE MORNING)
Led by SIX BARKING DOGS and their HANDLERS, A DOZEN ARMED
SOLDIERS follow the sled trail.
Yuri and CAPTAIN ROSOVSKY, a young, handsome, eager officer,
are bringing up the rear of the hunters.
CAPTAIN ROSOVSKY
Sir! If we dont pick up the pace,
we may lose them.
Lose them?

YURI
(MORE)

117.
YURI (CONT'D)
How can we lose them, when theyre
leaving a trail as wide as a truck?
Have patience, Comrade. Whats the
fun of a hunt, if the tiger doesnt
get a head start?
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Victor, Conor and Yelena halt again. They listen. THEY HEAR
BARKING DOGS in the distance.
CONOR
Theyre coming after us.
VICTOR
Of course. Thats what they do.
Victor opens a pack on the sled and pulls out a bottle of
yellowish liquid. He sprinkles the fluid over the ground and
on the bushes.
Whats that?

CONOR

VICTOR
Deer urine. Itll drive the dogs
wild.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Its the same spot Victor sprinkled deer urine. The dogs are
going WILD. Their HANDLERS fight to get them under control
and back on the trail.
Yuri smokes a cigarette, while he waits.
EXT. WOODS/RIVER - DAY (AFTERNOON)
Victor, Conor and Yelena are pulling the sled straight down
the middle of the rocky stream.
ANOTHER ANGLE - A SHORT WHILE LATER
They pull the sled out of the stream and across a rocky
embankment.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WOODS/STREAM - DAY (LATE AFTERNOON)
Conor and Yelena are pulling on dry socks, as Victor shows
his map to Conor.

118.
VICTOR
Think you can find this place? This
is where my friends will meet you.
CONOR
I used to fly a bomber to a target
smaller than that.
VICTOR
Good. Just stick to the ridge line
and youll have no trouble. Well, my
friends, I guess this is goodbye.
Yelena grabs Victor and hugs him.
YELENA
Im going to miss you, old man.
Conor shakes Victors hand.
Victor watches Conor lead Yelena up a steep, rocky trail,
then hauls the sled back into the snowy woods.
EXT. WOODS/STREAM - DAY (LATE AFTERNOON)
Yuri and his men have reached the rocky stream. The trail
has disappeared and the dogs are confused. They cant find
the scent.
As soldiers search the river bank, Yuri paces anxiously.
Finally, dogs bark. Someone shouts out. Everyone converges
on the rediscovered trail.
Several of the dogs break away from their exhausted handlers
and go charging off on their own.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WOODS - DAY (DUSK)
Yuri and his soldiers are following the sled trail, when the
POINT MAN signals. Everyone stops. Waits. Yuri joins the
Point Man. Ahead, through the trees Yuri sees the glow of a
campfire.
Yuri silently signals for Captain Rosovsky to encircle the
camp.
EXT. WOODS/CAMP - NIGHT
Victor is roasting a rabbit over his campfire. His tarpcovered sled is nearby.

119.
Suddenly, a revolver is pointing at the back of Victors
head.
VICTOR
Good Evening, Comrade Colonel.
Yuri steps around in front of Victor. Victor glances around.
He is surrounded by Soldiers.
VICTOR
If I had known you were bringing the
army I would have cooked more. Im
afraid I dont have enough for
everyone.
Yuri scans the campsite. Yelena is not there. He sits across
from Victor, still pointing his gun at Victor.
YURI
I should have killed you long ago.
VICTOR
Dont you remember? You did. When
you made me a non-person.
Victor offers Yuri a rabbit leg. Yuri reholsters his revolver
and samples the rabbit.
YURI
Hmmm. This is good.
Victor offers Yuri a glass of vodka. Yuri gulps it down.
Victor refills Yuris glass.
Suddenly, O.S., they HEAR the sound of BARKING DOGS. The
dogs are far away.
YURI
(he smiles)
It sounds like my dogs have caught a
tiger or two.
EXT. WOODS/RIDGE LINE - NIGHT
Conor and Yelena are under attack by the hunting dogs that
escaped their handlers.
Conor protects Yelena, by beating back the dogs with his ax.
SUDDENLY, Nadezhda comes charging out of the bush and rips
into the dogs!

120.
EXT. WOODS/CAMPSITE - NIGHT
Victor and Yuri listen to the horrible sounds of the dogs
being killed or wounded. Yuri is stunned. When there are no
more sounds, Victor goes back to eating.
VICTOR
Life is full of surprises, Comrade.
Sometimes the tigers get away.
(he nods toward the
sled)
Yelena wanted you to have the sled.
She said it was a gift.
Yuri checks under the tarp. The sled is full of tiger bones
and pelts. He quickly covers the contraband.
YURI
Youve been a very busy hunter.
VICTOR
Guilty as charged.
YURI
It's going to be a different world
tomorrow.
VICTOR
It's a different world already.
YURI
You may be right.
They lift their glasses of vodka and skoal.
To life.
And freedom.

YURI
VICTOR

EXT. WOODS/RIDGE LINE - NIGHT

Yelena is hugging Nadezhda. The tiger is licking her face.
Suddenly, THEY HEAR THE ROAR of another tiger. Nadzheda turns
to the sound. She grabs a new scent out of the cold air,
then ROARS back. For a moment shes torn between Yelena and
the new scent. Then, instinctively, she heads back to the
forest.
Conor and Yelena watch Nadezhda disappear, then push on.
DISSOLVE TO:

121.
EXT. CABIN - NIGHT - ESTABLISHING
SUPER TITLE:

ONE YEAR LATER

Its another winter. Smoke rises from the chimney and the
windows are aglow with lamp light. A MYSTERIOUS FIGURE
approaches the cabin.
INT. CABIN - NIGHT
Victor is asleep in a comfortable chair in front of the
fireplace. Pounding on the door awakens him.
Victor cautiously opens the door. An ASIAN MAN stands outside.
Without a word the man hands Victor a small package and is
gone.
Victor returns to the fireplace. The package is battered and
covered with postage stamps and customs labels.
Victor rips it open.
Inside is a beautiful, hand-painted, ceramic figurine of a
charging tiger and a post card.
The message on the post card is in Russian. It reads:
SUBTITLE, in English:

"LOVE, YELENA"

Victor smiles to himself.

He flips the card over. Its a view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
FADE OUT.