Warning: Screenplay translation is work in progress!

Download original text (Russian).

SPOILER ALERT
This page of the Morevna Project contains significant information which reveals plot details meant to be hidden from the audience and revealed during the course of watching it. If you read further on this page, you will of course find out about these details. If this bothers you, don't read any further and close this page. Otherwise, welcome to the project. :-)

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Translation notes (TL Notes):
* The format [text] signifies inaccurate/alternative translations, as well as various notes on the script.
* The format |text| is used for improper English. If you can find a way to reword any of these, please do.
* For the most part, Russian word order is preserved. I prefer mostly literal translations for the text, but proper wording for the dialog.
--Nikitakit

“Marya Morevna – a beautiful queen from Russian fairy tales. According to some interpretations, Morevna comes from the word "mor" – which means “death”; according to others, the image of "a strong woman living in the steppe" or "queen-girl" refers to the matriarchal nomadic Sarmatians.”

Wikipedia (ru.wikipedia.org)

Intro

EXT. IVAN'S HOUSE – DAY - ESTABLISHING

Ivan's home (log cabin). Rings of smoke come from the chimney on the roof.

INT. IVAN'S HOUSE - IVAN'S ROOM – DAY

IVAN, 21, a red-haired guy is sitting at the table in front of a computer. Camera view is set as if the viewer is looking at him from a computer screen. IVAN is wearing a white jacket and light-colored jeans. A blue T-shirt is visible under the jacket.

NARRATOR (V.O.)

Once upon a time there lived a Tsarevich, named Ivan,

who had three sisters.

One sister was a mechanic, the other a doctor,

and the third was a priestess.

First, the MECHANIC-SISTER, 22, runs behind IVAN's back carrying a wrench. Then the DOCTOR-SISTER, 24, runs through the room with a first aid kit. Finally, PRIESTESS-SISTER, 28 slowly passes through deeply immersed in some magical book.

NARRATOR (V.O.)

On one beautiful sunny day

a terrible thunder was heard,

the wall split in two,

and a car crashed into their house.

The sun, seen through the window, gets hidden behind dark clouds. A thunder occurs followed by a sound of crash, the ground starts shaking and pieces of plaster fall from the ceiling. IVAN turns his head to the left towards the source of the noise. MECHANIC-SISTER and PRIESTESS-SISTER run past in the same direction.

INT. IVAN'S HOUSE - DOCTOR-SISTER'S ROOM - DAY

A car with a broken front window sticks out of one of the room's walls. There is a person lying on the floor – the BUSINESSMAN - who has been thrown out of the car. DOCTOR-SISTER is leaning over him.

NARRATOR (V.O.)

A handsome young man appeared from the car.

He took one of Ivan's sisters as his wife,

and left with her to where he came from.

DOCTOR-SISTER injects something into the BUSINESSMAN, he jumps up and invites her with a gesture to sit in the car. DOCTOR-SISTER gets in the car and they leave together.

NARRATOR (V.O.)

Ivan was left with only two of his sisters.

IVAN and the two sisters are repairing the wall.

:::: NARRATOR (V.O.)

Time passed. Then once again,

the wall split in two, and

another car crashed into their house.

Another car crashes into the opposite wall of the same room. From the front window of the car flies out the RAPPER. IVAN and the MECHANIC-SISTER step back in panic, while only PRIESTESS-SISTER remains in place.

NARRATOR (V.O.)

A handsome young rapper appeared

from the car. He took the oldest sister

as his wife, and left with her to where he came from.

The RAPPER jumps from the floor in a break-dance style, runs towards IVAN, shakes cordially his hand, tells him something and points to the PRIESTESS-SISTER. She blushes. The RAPPER and the PRIESTESS-SISTER, hand in hand, get in the car and leave.

INT. IVAN'S HOUSE – MECHANIC-SISTER'S BEDROOM – MORNING

The sunrise is seen through the window. MECHANIC-SISTER is sleeping in her bed.

NARRATOR (V.O.)

A month passed and then Raven -

the brave guy - crashed into their house

with his car. He wore leather. A rocker so to say.

A car crashes into the wall. But nobody gets thrown out of it. The MECHANIC-SISTER wakes up and screams while trying to cover herself with a bedsheet. The ROCKER inside of the car unfastens his seatbelt, turns off the car audio (no music is heard but one could see the peaks on the screen in the car) and steps out from the car. He stands right in front of the MECHANIC-SISTER and smiles.

A door bursts open and IVAN appears at the doorstep. In a flash moment, the MECHANIC-SISTER turns to him. Then she gets enraged. She powerfully hits the ROCKER with a wrench that was hidden beneath her pillow (yes, indeed, she sleeps with a wrench under her pillow). The ROCKER gets knocked-out. MECHANIC-SISTER flings her working jacket on her nighty, drags his unconscious body into the car and takes off.

NARRATOR (V.O.)

He took the last sister as his wife.

The camera shows a wall with photos from Ivan's sisters' weddings. He stares at them, then sighs, turns around and walks off, scratching his head.

NARRATOR (V.O.)

Ivan was left alone. Soon he felt miserable, but nothing could be done about it.

Nazar's Visit

INT. IVAN'S HOUSE - BASEMENT – DAY

IVAN is in front of the computer chatting in Jabber. On the table besides him there is a glass with an unknown liquid substance.

EXT. THE ROAD TO IVAN'S HOUSE – DAY

Semi-truck with a trailer rides the road, heading to the Ivan's house. Camera shows the side view of the front wheels.

INT. IVAN'S HOUSE – BASEMENT – DAY

Ivan keeps chatting.

The camera follows the road, side view, The truck with the trailer overtakes the camera. The trailer is notably big. The emblem on the back of it reads “M2 Motors”.

INT. IVAN'S HOUSE – BASEMENT – DAY

The camera shows Ivan from the side. The lower part of Ivan's face, as well as his hands typing on the keyboard are in focus. The liquid substance in the glass suddenly shakes. Ivan stops typing abruptly.

EXT. THE ROAD TO IVAN'S HOUSE – DAY

This time the camera shows the back wheels of the truck. They crash and throw asides dirt and garbage from the road.

INT. IVAN'S HOUSE – BASEMENT – DAY

Ivan stops typing and looks behind his back towards the viewer. His eyes narrow with suspicion.

EXT. THE ROAD TO IVAN'S HOUSE – DAY

The truck appears from the nearest hill. The air on the horizon trembles. The noise from the truck engine increases.

INT. IVAN'S HOUSE – BASEMENT – DAY

Ivan jumps abruptly away from the computer pushing away his chair in such a way as if he is running away from death. He runs upstairs. The viewer can now see that he has been wearing only boxers.

EXT. IVAN'S HOUSE – YARD - DAY IVAN runs out of the house and stops in front of the door, placing his arms apart as if trying to shield the house behind him.

IVAN

(desperately waving hands)

No-o-o-o! No-o-o-o!!!

Screech of brakes. The truck stops right in front of IVAN, almost pinning him to the wall of the house . IVAN breaths heavily he is sweating with cold cold sweat. NAZAR (Nazar Brave), 26, jumps out of the truck's cabin. He takes several steps forward examining the surroundings.

IVAN

(frightened)

Um... There is no one else left here!

NAZAR BRAVE

Don't panic Ivan Tsarevich, it is you that I'm looking for!

IVAN panics.

NAZAR BRAVE

(continuing)

I was sent by my sister – Marya Morevna the Beautiful Queen. She wants to meet you, Ivan Tsarevich. Go immediately.

IVAN

(still shocked)

But how?

IVAN and NAZAR stand in front of the door to the trailer of the truck, their backs to the camera. The door is opening slowly. There is a cool shiny sports car inside. IVAN stands motionless, awed by the sight. Then NAZAR attracts Ivan's attention back by jiggling with a keyring in his hand. IVAN looks at the keys.

INT. IVAN'S HOUSE – BASEMENT - DAY

The room with the computer. The computer is still turned on. A lamp blinks. The camera zooms the screen. The text “Fedora Home” can be read on the desktop. A “New message” icon is flashing in the tray. In a few moments, the flashing window with the messages appears on the screen. The text reads:

(11:12:32) TSAREVICH: Moreover, this modification in the suspension bracket will decrease the stability of the whole system
(11:13:00) М^2: Hey, maybe you can come and look at this by yourself? Then we could discuss all details with you in person.
(11:13:12) * Personal vCard received from M^2*
(11:13:18) TSAREVICH: Sounds interesting, but it looks like it's too far for me...
(11:14:40) М^2: Has my brother arrived there yet? ;)

At the bottom of the screen appears a text: “File with new location received”. Then the screen goes black and instead appears a progress bar with the text: “Loading...”

On the Road

EXT. DAY - HIGHWAY

IVAN drives his new car down the highway. The car's stereo is turned up to full volume. The sun sets and rises a few times.

The main credits are displayed over this.

Meeting Marya Morevna

EXT. DAY - ABANDONED TOWN

The road passes through the hills on the outskirts of a city. Along the road stands a fence covered with graffiti. Beyond the fence, a billboard is attached to a tall open frame structure.

By all appearances, a battle recently occurred there - buildings nearby are damaged by explosions, some are destroyed. The road is covered with bodies of people in military uniforms, wrecks of motorcycles, and other machines, various street weapons... Here and there, signs of grenade explosions are visible. Amidst the junk lying on the ground there are pistols, machine guns, and various other weapons, but they were all destroyed or deformed by some unknown force. One tommy-gun lies crushed by someone's foot as if it were made from tin foil. There are also street-fighting weapons – debris, clubs, metal pipes, chains, and hammers.

IVAN'S CAR approaches. He can't drive any further because otherwise he would have to run over the bodies. IVAN gets out of the car and looks around in a daze. Then he closes the car door. A sound indicates that the car alarm system is turned on. IVAN carefully starts to walk forward. His foot accidentally touches a bat on the ground. The bat rolls aside and stops near a soldier lying on the ground. IVAN goes through the smoking remains and bodies.

The hand of the soldier near the bat begins to move.

There is a small rise at the road nearby. A gorgeous bike is at the top. IVAN starts climbing up to see that the bodies of soldiers form a circle around the body of a girl leaning across the bike – MOREVNA (Marya Morevna, 21). She sits on the ground, leaning her back against the bike. She has violet hair and wears a long black cape and high-platform boots. A strange amulet, part of which is broken, is tied on a cord around her neck.

IVAN jumps to her side, shakes her shoulders.

IVAN

Hey! Wake up! Are you alive?

IVAN turns around, looking for help.

IVAN

Anyo-o-one! Is there is any one alive here?!

IVAN breaks off a rear-view mirror from the motorcycle and, after wiping it against his clothing, brings it to the girl's face. The mirror barely clouds from her breath.

IVAN wipes the perspiration from his forehead, drops the mirror, carefully takes girl in his arms. He lifts her and as he turns, we see the logo of “M^2 Motors” on her coat.

IVAN bears MOREVNA to his car. The girl's hand hangs down lifelessly. A katana, attached to her waist with some belts, drags along the ground behind her.

IVAN stops at the foot of the hill. A threatening group of people forms and bars the way. Apparently, they were lying on the ground until now, and have just come to. Although they are in uniform, they look more like bandits than soldiers. The GENERAL stands out in front. He has a fresh bruise under one eye. The rest also appear completely rumpled.

GENERAL

Stop, sir, if you value your life.

IVAN keeps silent, not knowing what to say. He takes in the view. The band are armed with weapons they had just picked up. There is an uncomfortable pause. The SOLDIERS stand still, holding weapons in their hands.

GENERAL

Give her to us.

IVAN

(surprised/wonderingly)

Why should I do that?

GENERAL

All this mighty force...

(gesturing with his hand)

...was slain by Marya Morevna, the so-called 'Beautiful Queen'. We wanted to blow up her reign, but luck was not on our side.

IVAN looks at the girl lying in his arms, with surprise. He recalls the “M^2 Motors” logo on her back. He looks at the soldiers. His eyes meet with the eyes of the GENERAL. IVAN sighs, he lowers his eyes and carefully places MOREVNA on the ground.

The SOLDIERS relax a little. The GENERAL, with a creepy smirk on his face, steps forward. Suddenly, IVAN's hand picks up a pipe from the ground. IVAN steps in front of the crowd, shielding MOREVNA, who lies at some distance on the ground.

IVAN

(his lips shaking)

I do not... can not do that.

General spits out viciously to one side.

GENERAL

Son of a...

The GENERAL makes a gesture and a very strong soldier moves forward - PAYLAT. PAYLAT approaches IVAN, heavily and smoothly, his steps making dull thumps as his feet hit the asphalt. IVAN squeezes the pipe in his hand. His other hand appears to be hold something in a fist.

PAYLAT swings his cudgel. At this moment, IVAN presses a button on his car remote, hidden in his hand. The car behind the soldiers fires up its headlights and honks its horn. The SOLDIERS turn around. PAYLAT is also distracted for an instant. IVAN seizes the moment, hits PAAYLAT in the hand, knocking the cudgel away to the side. IVAN quickly makes a step forward, ending up behind the PAYLAT's back. He intends to hit PAYLAT in the knees from behind. But at this instant he notices that one of the SOLDIERS jumps, trying to grab him. Then IVAN sets his foot back on the ground without kicking, and grabs PAYLAT by the collar. PAYLAT, trying to catch IVAN, starts to turn, IVAN uses his motion to turn as well, such that once again he is behind PAYLAT. The jumping SOLDIER flies by.

At the same time, IVAN makes a sudden movement, punching his fist right into PAYLAT's face. PAYLAT tries to dodge back and falls. The two bodies fall at the same time - PAYLAT onto the ground and the jumping SOLDIER into some garbage bins nearby.

IVAN lifts his hand from the ground, pinning PAYLAT's back with his knee. IVAN breathes heavily, his eyes wide open. He cannot tear his eyes away from the prostrate enemy, not believing his success. Finally, he shifts his attention and sharply raises his head to the remaining crowd.

IVAN

Drop your weapons to the ground, and I won't break his arm...

(he moves his knee from the back onto the neck)

...or his neck.

PAYLAT looks up at the GENERAL. The GENERAL raises an eyebrow. A strange contented smile appears on his face.

GENERAL

Take him.

The SOLDIERS carry out the order and they run to IVAN. IVAN looks at the GENERAL's smirk behind the crowd of the running SOLDIERS. He lowers his eyes, the SOLDIERS grab him, but he had not yet done anything to PAYLAT.

The SOLDIERS hold IVAN as they beat him, and the car remote control lies under their feet. They step on it as part of the rhythm of their impacts, and each time the car honks its horn sorrowfully. They do not pay it any attention.

IVAN slips down to the ground and is dragged towards the GENERAL.

The GENERAL swings back for still one more punch, but a gust of wind blows by, and an unearthly ray of light illuminates his face (the reflection of the sun on MOREVNA's katana). He raises his head upward and looks off in that direction. The remaining SOLDIERS also turn around.

Nearby, MOREVNA stands on her feet. Her raincoat and hair blow wildly in the wind. She holds a katana, tilting it to direct the reflected sunlight at the GENERAL's face. His face is distorted by expressions of distrust, spite, and fear.

Top view of IVAN lying on the ground. The SOLDIERS leave his body and exit the screen as they rush off towards MOREVNA, picking up weapons as they go. The view pans smoothly back to IVAN, lying on the ground.

IVAN looks into the sky. White fluffy clouds sail on in the blue sky. In front of the sky appears the inclined face of MOREVNA.

MOREVNA

What's your name?

Cut to IVAN's face, with all his cuts and bruises, with a wide smile.

IVAN

I am Ivan. Also known as “Tsarevich”.

MOREVNA

I know you then. I'm Marya Morevna.

IVAN

I know.

MOREVNA

(laughs)

That means we know each other!

She gives him a hand. IVAN takes it and she helps him up.

IVAN stands to his full height, covering the view of MOREVNA. MOREVNA then moves onto the foreground, shoulder first, giving IVAN a smile.

IVAN turns around; the two stand back-to-back. The camera circles around them, showing the soldiers getting up from the ground and starting to surround them.

The fight begins. In the crowd IVAN only manages to dodge impacts, is finally hit and falls to the ground. At this moment MOREVNA uses her sword to block a blow aimed at IVAN. IVAN then starts to stand up, but the crowd has encircled them. The bodies of people surround MOREVNA and IVAN. Above the crowd flies the katana, hit out of her hands. In an instant their two bodies fly out of the crowd.

IVAN and MOREVNA fly up into the air face up and parallel to each other. Time slows down as they turn their heads to each other. MOREVNA is surprised to see IVAN smiling at her.

When they fall back to the earth, IVAN uses inertia in order to rise immediately, not slowing his movements to give MOREVNA his hand. IVAN is pulling MOREVNA towards himself and they start to dance face-to-face amongst the soldiers, not forgetting to kick them off. As they dance they step on various objects under their feet, which, tossed up, fly to the sides and hit the bandits.

MOREVNA, not believing her eyes, looks at IVAN. The amulet on her neck starts to shine. Around them forms something like a vortex, which throws back the SOLDIERS as it expands.

The debris, pulled upward by the vortex, falls into the billboard attached on the tall structuretal, which immediately breaks apart into numerous pieces, which slowly begin to fall from the sky, looking like rose petals.

MOREVNA and IVAN remain alone among the devastated opponents. The sun is already setting.

Military helicopters with searchlights appear from behind the tops of the buildings. The searchlights refract through the "petals" circling in the air, as a result acquiring color, and illuminating all around. Under these iridescent (rainbow) rays MOREVNA and IVAN continue to dance.

One of the people, peering out from a helicopter.

SOLDIER IN HELICOPTER

(shouts)

Fire!

MOREVNA and IVAN run, holding hands beneath the hail of shots, to the motorcycle and sit on it. The motorcycle rears up and takes off. They rush along the road.

EXT. NIGHT - HIGHWAY

MOREVNA and IVAN ride on the motorcycle along the night road. NAZAR passes them in his SEMI; they wave at him.

INT. BAR - NIGHT

MOREVNA and IVAN again dance together. (This time normally.)

EXT. DAY - MOTORCLUB

Wedding of MOREVNA and IVAN. The wedding is in the motorclub. IVAN's SISTERS and NAZAR are present. Above the newly-weds flies a SPARROW with a flower in its beak.

Morevna's departure

EXT. DAY - MOREVNA ESTATE

MOREVNA's estate consists of a palace on a hill, two garages, and around them a garden, something like a small grove. The palace is enclosed by a wall.

A howl is heard, and a howling body flies out of the grove, launched into the air by an invisible force.

EXT. DAY - MOREVNA ESTATE - GROVE

AGENT sits in the brushwood near the wall of the house, following the body with a horrified gaze. The wall of the house is rigged with a large quantity of explosives. The AGENT wipes sweat from his forehead and lowers his eyes to the cord stretching from the explosives. With shaking hands he takes out a matchbox. He strikes a match on the box.

Behind his back, from somewhere above, IVAN hangs face down on a rope. A puff of air resulting from this motion puts out the match. But AGENT does not notice IVAN behind him and takes out a new one. IVAN looks at his actions with interest. With shaking hands, the AGENT moves the match near the fuse.

IVAN

Whatcha doing here, friend?

AGENT shouts and jumps up out of surprise. IVAN detaches his harness from the rope and puts his feet on the ground.

AGENT snatches out a knife. Then, after some thinking, his other hand takes his identification from his breast pocket.

AGENT

I'm a government agent!

IVAN

(tiredly)

Yes, I know- I know... And I am the owner of this house.

EXT. DAY - MOREVNA ESTATE - COURT

IVAN leaves the grove, dragging AGENT by the foot. There is an enormous lump on the AGENT's head. In his other hand, IVAN carries a large bundle of explosives, which were previously used to rig the wall. In the very center of the court stands a threatening catapult. AGENT desperately scrapes his fingers on the earth, but IVAN confidently takes step after step forward in the direction of the catapult. MOREVNA appears from one of the doors of the house.

IVAN

(still walking)

Ah, Marya Morevna, here's what I can't make sense of.

Is this place, like, covered in honey? We don't really live all that richly, but they just keep coming here! Lousy Extremists!

IVAN places Agent in the catapult.

IVAN

... As if there are no other houses around!

IVAN presses the trigger and the catapult throws the howling agent into the air, far beyond the wall of the estate.

MOREVNA

As if this entertainment doesn't make you happy.

IVAN

Of course! But say, why did you throw my 32-inch monitor on his head?

EXT. DAY - MOREVNA ESTATE - GROVE - FLASHBACK

Chibi-style animation. AGENT stands opposite IVAN, holding a knife and his identification. From the window above, MOREVNA throws a monitor on AGENT's head. IVAN jumps up from surprise and shakes his fists.

EXT. DAY - MOREVNA ESTATE - COURTYARD

MOREVNA

(shrugs)

It's all right. We'll sell the explosives and buy you a 33-inch one.

IVAN

At his rate I may soon open a TNT trade! I wonder, when will they realize that we have webcams set up everywhere?

MOREVNA walks a motorcycle from the garage.

MOREVNA

I'm going out to a biker gathering. It's pretty far away, so I won't return until tomorrow.

(Takes out keys)

Here are the keys to all the doors in the house. Feel free to go anywhere, but don't touch this key and don't unlock the door it opens.

IVAN

(takes keys)

Why?

MOREVNA

(stomps her foot)

You just shouldn't, I said!

IVAN shrugs with a smile, as if saying “fine, fine”.

MOREVNA

Well, bye...

She sits down on the motorcycle and leaves. IVAN waves after her.

Return of Koshchei The Deathless

INT. DAY - MOREVNA ESTATE - ROOM

IVAN sits at his computer. The screen displays the a "Fedora Castle" desktop operating system. Next to IVAN stands a can with some beverage. IVAN lifts it to take a drink, but the jar is empty. IVAN sighs and rises from the table.

INT. NIGHT - MOREVNA ESTATE - CORRIDOR

IVAN, holding a candle, walks up to the door of the cellar, unlocks it, and goes in.

INT. NIGHT - MOREVNA ESTATE - CELLAR

The door into the cellar opens with a squeak. IVAN goes down the stairs.

We see IVAN's legs, walking on the cellar floor.

IVAN looks around, as if searching for something. In the cellar there are many barrels, bottles, and foodstuffs, as well as the explosives taken from the extremists.

IVAN passes by a massive iron door with with an enormous lock, and finally stops next to a shelf with bottles.

IVAN

Aha… Here!

IVAN extends his hand towards the bottle. The sound of a bubbling liquid is heard.

KOSHCHEI

(from behind the door, in a sepulchral voice)

He-eeelp me-e-e...

IVAN

(peering from around the corner)

Huh? What?

KOSHCHEI:

(a little more clearly)

Hee-eeee-eelp me-e-e...

IVAN looks at the lock, then to the keyring. Memories flash through his subconscious, which show MOREVNA and KOSHCHEI. They battle in some cave. The appropriate key falls from the ring by itself.

IVAN

Oh... the forbidden key!

(puts key in the lock)

Well, let's see...

IVAN opens the door slightly and carefully peers in. Again there is a flashback. IVAN shouts out of fright, shock, and surprise.

In the closet, on 12 chains, hangs KOSHCHEI (who resembles a robot-transformer). IVAN enthusiastically examines him.

IVAN

(awed, in a whisper, almost about itself)

Such amazing tuning...

The eyes of KOSHCHEI open, his view passing over the figure of IVAN.

KOSHCHEI

Who are you?

IVAN

I am Ivan-Tsarevich.

KOSHCHEI

Ivan-Tsarevich! How good it is that you are here. Give me a drink...

IVAN readily hands KOSHCHEI his bottle.

KOSHCHEI

...some gasoline.

IVAN goes away and returns with a gas can. KOSHCHEI drinks. His eyes light ablaze, and he laughs a sinister laugh. KOSHCHEI tears apart the chains and stands up to his full height, towering above IVAN.

KOSHCHEI

Thank you, Ivan-Tsarevich. You have helped me.

From now on, you won't be able to see Marya Morvna anymore than you can see your own ears!

KOSHCHEI's engines flare, he transforms into a flight vehicle and flies away after breaking a few beams in the ceiling, as well as the window in the wall.

There is a slow-motion effect: KOSHCHEI flies out, fragments from the broken window flying to all sides. Then the camera quickly returns into the cellar through the holes made by Koshchei. Now sober, IVAN is in a panic. He quickly runs out of the cellar, runs to the garage, sits in a car and rides out in pursuit.

EXT. NIGHT - ROAD

Along the road IVAN hastily tries to call MOREVNA on her cell phone. It reports "Subscriber is temporarily unavailable."

EXT. NIGHT - CLEARING WITH MOREVNA'S BROKEN MOTORCYCLE

IVAN sees MOREVNA's broken MOTORCYCLE on the road, all in flame. MOREVNA's sword is thrust into the ground nearby, and near it lies a wounded bird - SPARROW. IVAN sharply brakes, as result of which his car drifts and stops perpendicular to road. IVAN jumps out and runs to the motorcycle, but the nearer he goes, the more he slows down, finally slowing to a walk. He bends to his knees, taking the SPARROW in his hands.

IVAN

What happened here?

SPARROW

What misfortune! An evil robot-transformer kidnapped Marya Morevna. And it hooked me. Good-bye, Ivan-Tsarevich.

The SPARROW dies.

IVAN

No!

SPARROW

(raises its head)

And tell my family that I loved them all dearly.

IVAN pulls MOREVNA's katana from the ground and puts it behind his back.

IVAN

(tearfully shaking his fist)

I will tell them, I will definitely tell them. And I will save Marya Morevna as well! Farewell.

IVAN runs to the car, sits down, and drives away.

While he drives, pictures blink on the screen, showing him visiting his sisters.

Encounter with the first sister. DOCTOR-SISTER walks towards him with the BUSINESSMAN. She hugs IVAN. They talk. DOCTOR-SISTER runs out of the frame and then runs through the background with a first-aid kit, in the direction of her car.

Encounter with the PRIESTESS-SISTER. IVAN sits at the table. He eats and tells them. They are sad and remain silent. Then IVAN suddenly smiles and says something about the food. PRIESTESS-SISTER looks happy.

Encounter with the MECHANIC-SISTER. IVAN asks her husband and her about something, they think, but contritely shake their heads. ROCKER opens a briefcase before IVAN. IVAN nods and takes it.

A State Meeting

INT. DAY - COMMAND CENTER

A luxurious hall with high windows. There is a long table in the middle. At the table sit the GENERAL, MINISTER OF FINANCE, ADVISER, MINISTER OF SCIENCE, MINISTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH, and MINISTER OF CULTURE. At the head of the table sits the President - OROSHAY POLIVAYEVICH, 38. The GENERAL's face is completely covered with plasters (band-aids). All in all, everyone present resembles a patient in a psychiatric hospital - enormous bags under their eyes, tics, shaking hands, spasms, shaking lips, and shifty glances.

Photographs of KOSHCHEI flying with MOREVNA's body on his shoulders are scattered across the table.

A CHURCH CHOIR stands behind the back of the President.

ADVISER

Well, and what do you propose we do now? In the present situation...

GENERAL

I repeat: without air support, any of our actions are doomed to failure.

MINISTER OF FINANCES

General, you like war, don't you?

Do you understand how much each helicopter costs the government? I'm afraid even to recall how the last encounter of our armored division with Marya Morevna ended.

GENERAL

I repeat, this was pilot error!

MINISTER OF FINANCES

(sarcastically)

Of course, and the legendary attack on our research center was also 'pilot error'!

MINISTER OF SCIENCE

(in the background, with disgust)

Ugh!

MINISTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH

(in the background, simultaneously)

Don't bring that up!

GENERAL

If our respected Minister

(points in the direction of the Minister of Science)

had immediately reported the incident with Yaga, we would not have simply dismissed her, but would have locked her up in the right place. And then...

MINISTER OF SCIENCE

Yaga was an outstanding specialist. If there had been proper control over the criminal gangs during that period, then such an incident simply could not have occured at all and the EVNN project would have been completed.

GENERAL

I am putting forth my best efforts, but I don't have enough people. If you had granted me helicopters earlier, we would've already finished Marya Morevna and her entire farce.

MINISTER OF FINANCES

I completely understand your desire to singlehandedly destroy Marya Morevna. After all, it was you who aimed to be the “Death Carrier”.

GENERAL

(bangs his fist on the table)

That's a serious accusation!

ADVISER

You must be grateful that we sent to you help during the previous incident.

GENERAL

Then why so late? It was already time to send medical helicopters!

MINISTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH

(suddenly awake)

Of course we would have sent you medical helicopters, except, as you remember, our budget was cut so that we could not make even one flight!

All begin to speak simultaneously, an uproar rises.

ADVISER

Is it for this reason that the Minister has arrived in a private jet?

MINISTER OF FINANCES

We were forced to do this in order to finance the construction of the national cathedral.

MINISTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH

No one is more concerned about the President's health than I!

GENERAL

But where is this cathedral? The money has already been allocated four times over!

MINISTER OF CULTURE

Yes, the people need religion; we need something to keep their minds occupied!

President bangs his fist on the table out of fury.

OROSHAY POLIVAYEVICH

Enough!

Silence reigns.

OROSHAY POLIVAYEVICH

We know the location. We know the situation. All the maps are still in our hands. We will make a helicopter strike.

General looks victoriously at the minister of finances.

OROSHAY POLIVAYEVICH

Should that fail, we will mine the entire island and blow it and the both of them to hell.

The eyes of General flare up still brighter.

OROSHAY POLIVAYEVICH

(wipes his sweaty forehead with the palm of his hand)

I'm tired and, moreover, I can't miss dinner.

CHURCH CHOIR

(begins to sing)

Oh esteemed President,

God save you,

Your family, friends, relatives.

Lord, save the Tsar!

Accompanied by the sounds of their voices, Oroshay Polivayevich leaves the room with a blissful smile on his face.

At the Old Ruins

EXT. EVENING - RUINS OF RESEARCH CENTER / COURTYARD

Late evening. The sun has almost entirely vanished beyond the horizon. Old ruins of some research center next to the highway. The complex has been neglected for a long time; it is evident that the main building was seriously damaged by a powerful explosion in the past.

It begins to drizzle.

IVAN's car drives past the ruins, but then stops. IVAN looks at the ruins.

The rain picks up.

IVAN brushes his fingers around his red, bruised, eyes and puts his car into reverse. He drives into the courtyard and hides the car under a canopy near the building. IVAN turns off the engine, reclines his seat, and lies back in it. He closes his eyes.

The moon peeks out through the clouds. The rain drums on the roof of the car, drops running down the windshield. The ruins seem absolutely lifeless. IVAN is asleep.

Morevna's Flashback

EXT. STONY WASTELAND - DAY - FLASHBACK

Picture in mono-chrome.

Stony landscape. A sea splashes in the distance. Out of the stones grows an enormous, thick, and knotty tree - an oak. The surroundings are shrouded by smoke. A building is mounted into the body of tree, like a parasite. There is a dark crevice in the building - the entrance.

A trail of blood leads to the crevice, as if someone injured had gone inside.

Camera zooms towards the crevice and into the darkness.

INT. LABORATORY INSIDE THE OAK - FLASHBACK

In the darkness, some fluff begins to fall from above. But in reality it is gray fur. It spins in the air, appearing from nowhere and falling downward.

MOREVNA (V.O.)

Yes, I knew... I came to destroy her…

Instead of the fluff, duck feathers begin to spin in the air.

MOREVNA (V.O.)

But at that moment she became my only way to... my only source of the power. The only source. And I've taken her...

A luminous girl hovers in air among the feathers. It is possible to recognize her as MOREVNA. In the center of her body a shines a thin gold line that is similar to the needle.

In front of MOREVNA an amulet hangs in the air, surrounded by a white substance.

MOREVNA (CONT'D)

...and I became her.

EXT. STONY WASTELAND - DAY - FLASHBACK

Figure of MOREVNA walking away from the oak. There is the amulet on her neck. When she walks away up to a decent distance, far away, on the horizon, on the other side of the sea, a fortress (the laboratory) flies apart into smithereens.

Darkness.

Encounter at the old ruins

EXT. NIGHT - RESEARCH CENTER RUINS, INDUSTRIAL YARD

Drizzle. The moon is visible through moving clouds. IVAN is still asleep in his car.

Headlights suddenly shine brightly through his windshield. IVAN wakes with a start and looks around in confusion.

A tractor-trailer truck, similar to NAZAR's, enters the yard. It turns in the yard and stops. A figure in a raincoat jumps down out of the cab onto the damp earth. This is BABA-YAGA, but the camera does not reveal her face as she walks through the ruins.

IVAN's car is shadowed by a shed and so she doesn't notice it. She walks rapidly over the mud toward the gates in front of the main building. IVAN watches her. Once she passes out of sight inside of the building, he jumps out of his car to follow her.

INT. NIGHT - RESEARCH CENTER RUINS

IVAN follows carefully. He looks around uncertainly, not knowing where he needs to go. He comes to a large double door. On it, half-eroded capital letters "EVNN" can be made out, and below them smaller text, reading "Electronic Versatile Nanodevice Network". The doors are ajar. IVAN stands near them in indecision. Through them he hears a sound like something heavy falling onto the stone floor. IVAN goes through the doors and down a long dark corridor. In it there are many doors, almost all of which bear a logo with the abbreviation "EVNN".

IVAN passes through some laboratories, where various technological debris is left behind: computers and electro-mechanical equipment. A ray of light leaks into the room from one door. IVAN sneaks towards it.

INT. NIGHT - RESEARCH CENTER RUINS, LABORATORY

The room resembles a computer server farm. There are rows of rackmount frames with various computer components in them. In the walls there are fans. A pair of working tables stand in the middle. To one side are prototype mechanical arms and other equipment.

IVAN moves stealthily into the room. The light of a lantern moves around somewhere behind the cabinets. IVAN happens to knock a photograph in a broken frame off of the table towards the floor, but he snatches it out of the air before it smashes into the ground.

IVAN looks at the photograph. In it, two smiling girls are sitting at a table, apparently in this office. Behind them stands a somewhat older woman with white hair in a dressing gown (this is BABA-YAGA in her youth).

IVAN returns the photograph to the table and hides behind one of the racks. The raincoated figure has turned one of the cabinets around. This one is taken up by a large tank in which some liquid gurgles. The tank walls are heavily insulated. BABA-YAGA intently studies the tank. She coughs. IVAN looks intently at her. BABA-YAGA suddenly raises her head as if feeling his gaze.

IVAN stands still, hiding behind of one of the cabinets, out of the BABA-YAGA's field of view. It is not clear whether he managed to hide himself in time or not. There is a rustle and the sound of footsteps. Then complete silence. IVAN waits. He carefully attempts to look out of his hiding place. At this moment, the silhouette of BABA-YAGA appears right behind him in the shadows. She grabs for IVAN's neck.

IVAN grunts and turns to flee, after pushing BABA-YAGA aside. But BABA-YAGA tripped him and IVAN noisily falling into a heap of debris and trips. IVAN scramble to turn and draw his sword, but BABA-YAGA's sword (just like MOREVNA'S SWORD!) is already in his face. The lamp light reflects off the blade into his eyes.

IVAN lifts his hand to block the light. BABA-YAGA, after looking him over, returns her sword to its scabbard and reaches out her hand. IVAN looks with distrust at the raincoated figure.

Sister-Doctor and The Little Sparrow

EXT. NIGHT - CLEARING WITH MOREVNA'S BROKEN MOTORCYCLE

SPARROW lies on a tilted stump. DOCTOR-SISTER's car is nearby. DOCTOR-SISTER attempts to resuscitate SPARROW. MAN-IN-BLACK approaches.

DOCTOR-SISTER

(without turning, angled away from MAN-IN-BLACK)

Is it his time already?

[In the original text there's more doubt in the question. This asking is closer to a prayer, she can't believe that it's time to die for SPARROW. She asking herself, but it equally can be addressed to a MAN-IN-BLACK. And the meaning is like "Can't be it's his time already?", "Surely his time has come?", "Is it really his time already?", "Is it his time has come?" That's the dual-meaning of the scene - it's not clarified to the viewer is DOCTOR-SISTER really see and hear MAN-IN-BLACK or not, but at the both cases scene remains sane. --KonstantinDmitriev 15:21, 30 January 2010 (UTC) ]

[Okay, this has the double meaning you wanted Digitante ]

MAN-IN-BLACK

(smiling faintly)

No, no. I only stopped in passing...

[Not sure what the intent is here. What does he want to ask her? He might say he's "just curious" or "just watching" if the intent was only to find out what's going on with the SPARROW. Digitante 03:45, 31 January 2010 (UTC)]

[Yes, "just watching" - is close to the right meaning. I meant something like "just passing through" / "just passing by" - don't what is correct. --KonstantinDmitriev 15:21, 30 January 2010 (UTC)]

[Okay, "stopped in passing" avoids the unimportant detail and emphasizes motion -- pausing and then leaving without doing anything. Of course MAN-IN-BLACK is "Death", so SPARROW is spared. Digitante 03:45, 31 January 2010 (UTC)]

MAN-IN-BLACK passes by behind DOCTOR-SISTER.

SPARROW opens eyes. From his point of view we see a cloudy image of DOCTOR-SISTER. There is no one behind her.

Getting the map

INT. NIGHT - RESEARCH CENTER RUINS, LABORATORY

BABA-YAGA sits near the tank she has turned around, and untwists its cap. She coughs. IVAN sits on the floor nearby, leaning against the wall with his arms folded. BABA-YAGA fills a container with the silvery liquid in the tank.

BABA-YAGA

(absent-mindedly)

No, I've seen no robots around here.

She puts two wires into the liquid in the container. The contained liquid instantly hardens into a whimsical form.

BABA-YAGA

(continuing)

What does it look like? Who's controlling it?

She takes the solid form out of the container and holds it up to her eyes.

IVAN

No one...

BABA-YAGA raises her head, dropping the object on the floor.

BABA-YAGA

No one?

IVAN

(not noticing her reaction)

It looked that way to me. It talked by itself and...

BABA-YAGA

(looking at IVAN in shock)

He escaped after all...

IVAN

He?

BABA-YAGA

The robot you are looking for. Koshchei. Oh, dark times are coming.

BABA-YAGA gets up off of the floor.

IVAN

Wait, you do know something?

BABA-YAGA grasps for a handle on the tank.

BABA-YAGA

Go home, young man. No time for that now.

IVAN

(emotionally)

Wait, tell me where to find him!

BABA-YAGA attempts to pull the tank across the floor, but it's too heavy for her.

BABA-YAGA

(coughs)

You don't need to know about this. Don't search for your death.

IVAN

(runs up to her)

Please! This is very, very important to me!

BABA-YAGA

(looking fixedly at him)

So you are...

(pause)

Help me out, young man, and I will show you.

EXT. NIGHT - RESEARCH CENTER RUINS, INDUSTRIAL YARD

IVAN and BABA-YAGA pull the tank into the trailer of her truck. BABA-YAGA climbs into the cab, and reaches out with a map.

BABA-YAGA

Here, take this. Koshchei is on Buyan Island.

(points out a road on the map)

This is the way to get there.

IVAN

(taking the map)

Thanks.

BABA-YAGA

Good luck, young man.

BABA-YAGA's truck drives off into the night.

Crossing the bridge

EXT. NIGHT - BRIDGE TO BUYAN ISLAND

There are many SOLDIERS encamped near the bridge. They have military vehicles and trucks loaded with explosives. The bridge is blocked by barricades with signs reading “DANGER!” and “ROAD CLOSED!”

IVAN'S CAR appears from behind the top of nearest hill and stops. IVAN looks at the bridge. Then he guns the accelerator and the car plunges towards the barricades at full speed. SOLDIERS see him, but it's too late, because he's already too close. SOLDIERS run confused.

A SOLDIER

Stop! Not this way! It's blocked!

IVAN'S CAR crashes through the barricades and over the bridge. Two POLICE CARS chase after him. Pursuit continues briefly, but then IVAN makes a high-speed sharp turn which the POLICE CARS can't follow. They crash into bushes on the side of the road and get stuck.

A POLICEMAN comes out of one car, looking towards IVAN'S CAR departing.

POLICEMAN

That guy is out of his mind...

POLICE CARS leave in disarray, returning back to the bridge.

First escape

EXT. NIGHT - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS

IVAN'S CAR races towards KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS.

KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS is enclosed by a rock wall. At the corners, there are several towers. In the center is a main building (the fortress itself), with a central tower above it. A very large garage is attached to one side of the main building.

There is fighting near the FORTRESS. Several helicopters are vainly attempting to shoot at KOSHCHEI as he flies around them. One helicopter is being controlled by PAYLAT. KOSHCHEI shoots down two of the helicopters, but a third succeeds in firing a rocket into KOSHCHEI.

PILOT 1

Take that, Koshchei, you bastard!

KOSHCHEI flies away, but his shell immediately recovering from the damage made by the missile. He continues the battle.

PILOT 1

Damn it! How could it be?

PILOT 2

The Water of Death...

[I'm pretty clueless as to what that was about. But I learned some Russian cuss words. I get that "Water of Death" is significant from the fairy tale, but how is it being used here? An invocation/expletive? Or is he concerned that Koshchei is about to use the Water of Death or something? Also not sure about "Is that so?" -- is Pilot 1 supposed to be taunting Koshchei for running away?Digitante 22:29, 2 February 2010 (UTC)]

[In brief: Koshchei is recovering and pilot 1 wonders how is it possible. Pilot 2 drops in reply: "Death Water", meaning that Koshchei is made of Death Water. But he is to concentrated on the battle to explain that in detail. Death Water concept is briefly described here: http://synfig.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=458#p458 --KonstantinDmitriev 05:33, 3 February 2010 (UTC)]

[I knew what the "Water of Death" was, but I wasn't sure how it related to the conversation (mainly because I misinterpreted the sentence before it) -- thanks for clarifying. I restored this to "Water of Death" which I think you should adopt, because: 1) it's the formula used in the fairy tale, 2) it has been used in a similar way in English stories and science fiction books (particularly your nanomachine explanation occurs in "The Snow Queen" and "The Summer Queen" by Joan Vinge), 3) "Death Water" sounds mundane and boring while "Water of Death" has 'weight' (it sounds archaic, but that's good in this situation), and 4) it is symmetric with "Water of Life", which of course, has a _long_ history in English-language stories and will be immediately understood. Digitante 04:23, 5 February 2010 (UTC)]

[You convinced me. ^___^ --KonstantinDmitriev 07:23, 5 February 2010 (UTC)]

KOSHCHEI, running low on fuel, returns to hide inside the FORTRESS.

PILOT 1

What's going on? Where's he gone?

PILOT 2

He must be out of fuel. He can't last long. Still using A-76, eh?

[I'm guessing this is some kind of reference to the gas station company "76"? Digitante 22:29, 2 February 2010 (UTC)]

[Here's A-76 gasoline referenced, a very low grade kind of gasoline. I don't know is it related to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/76_%28Conoco_Phillips%29 or not. --KonstantinDmitriev 05:33, 3 February 2010 (UTC)]

PAYLAT

Hey, it's a good bargain!

[If this was a word play, you're going to have to explain it to me. Digitante 22:29, 2 February 2010 (UTC)]

[That fits very well! ^__^ --KonstantinDmitriev 05:33, 3 February 2010 (UTC)]

PILOT 1

Cut the chatter! Our priority is killing the target. Concentrate your fire on the central tower!

It's at this moment that IVAN'S CAR arrives at the FORTRESS. IVAN gets out of the car. PAYLAT sees him and takes his helicopter down.

PILOT 2

Paylat!

PILOT 1

Hell with it, follow the order!

The helicopters move towards the central tower.

INT. NIGHT - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS, CENTRAL TOWER, UPPER ROOM

MOREVNA is unconscious, hanging from chains on the wall. Her amulet is gone. In the room is a table and chair. The chair is similar to a dentist's chair.

[I'm assuming this is meant to imply torture rather than dental hygiene Digitante 22:29, 2 February 2010 (UTC)]

[LOL --KonstantinDmitriev 05:33, 3 February 2010 (UTC)]

EXT. NIGHT - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS, CENTRAL TOWER

Helicopters direct sights at the upper room of tower.

EXT. NIGHT - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS, [WINCH?]

PAYLAT'S HELICOPTER lands in front of IVAN'S CAR. IVAN can see into the HELICOPTER. PAYLAT in turn looks at IVAN.

EXT. NIGHT - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS, CENTRAL TOWER

Rockets fly from the HELICOPTERS. They go towards the CENTRAL TOWER, but explode several meters short. The tower is unharmed.

PILOT 1

There's a force field! Damn!

PILOT 2

The source must be...

(cut off)

Now, GUNS on the walls and outer towers open fire on the HELICOPTERS.

PILOT 1

It's a trap!

INT. NIGHT - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS, LABORATORY

KOSHCHEI sits at a control panel, consisting of radar screen, other monitors, and lots of buttons.

KOSHCHEI

Ha-ha-ha-ha!

[God this is cheesy. He needs to have a nice metallic filtered laugh. Would be awesome. Still cheesy though. Digitante 22:29, 2 February 2010 (UTC)]

[^__^ --KonstantinDmitriev 05:33, 3 February 2010 (UTC)]

[I'm auditioning for that part when the time comes to find voices. ;-) Digitante 04:23, 5 February 2010 (UTC)]

With relish swallows gasoline from the mug in his hand.

KOSHCHEI

Bwa-ha-ha-ha!

EXT. NIGHT - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS, CENTRAL TOWER

HELICOPTERS, maneuvering between the towers, are trying to avoid the guns and escape. Above them flies PAYLAT'S HELICOPTER. Guns shoot down one HELICOPTER and heavily damage another.

PILOT 1

Retreat! Retreat!

PAYLAT'S HELICOPTER also flies away damaged, rocking absurdly as it flies.

INT. NIGHT - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS, LABORATORY

Points on the radar screen fly away to the edges, away from the fortress. KOSHCHEI looks with satisfaction at the screen, swallows from mug and stands up in front of the control panel.

The camera exits through the LABORATORY window and tracks to the ROOF of the CENTRAL TOWER.

EXT. NIGHT - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS, CENTRAL TOWER ROOF

IVAN stands on the roof. A rope is tied to his belt. IVAN jumps from the roof downward, swinging Tarzan-style. He hovers directly outside the window of the UPPER ROOM. He can see MOREVNA through the window.

IVAN reachs back and pulls his sword out.

IVAN

Hi, Baby!

[This was in English originally. We could also do it in Russian in the English version (but I'm not sure what would fit) Digitante 22:29, 2 February 2010 (UTC)]

[Let's leave it English. IVAN uses slang, but I'm really not sure that any English-speaking person would use Russian words as a slang in that kind of situation. --KonstantinDmitriev 05:33, 3 February 2010 (UTC)]

INT. NIGHT - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS, CENTRAL TOWER, UPPER ROOM

IVAN cuts the fetters with his sword.

EXT. NIGHT - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS, LABORATORY

The fortress gates burst open in an explosion and IVAN runs out, carrying MOREVNA. He runs to the car. KOSHCHEI, hearing the explosion looks out the window to see them.

KOSHCHEI

(enraged)

What?!

KOSHCHEI runs away from the window. The garage doors open. Two bright headlights are seen within. There is a roar from a motor, and KOSHCHEI exits the garage in his BELAZ [A very large dumptruck http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BELAZ ]

First chase

EXT. NIGHT - BUYAN ISLAND ROAD

Koshchei is chasing IVAN (Pursuit in the style "Need For Speed Underground", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need_For_Speed_Underground).

IVAN tries as hard as he can to escape the pursuit, but he doesn't succeed. KOSHCHEI'S BELAZ is a really souped up machine with modifications.

KOSHCHEI laughs loudly in the cab as he gets nearer. Then he hits the "nitro," fire belches from the smokestack and the BELAZ flies through the air over IVAN'S CAR.

The BELAZ is reflected in the windshield of IVAN'S CAR as it flies over. The BELAZ lands on the road in front of it, blocking the way. IVAN slams on the breaks to avoid hitting it and stops.

KOSHCHEI gets out of the BELAZ and approaches IVAN'S CAR. He tears the window off of the passenger side of the car and pulls MOREVNA out, completely ignoring IVAN. IVAN jumps out of the car in a rage to confront KOSHCHEI, but he's brought up short as KOSCHEI turns to him.

KOSHCHEI

A word of advice, Ivan. Forget Marya Morevna. I'll let you escape this once, but next time there will be no mercy!

IVAN droops his head. KOSHCHEI takes MOREVNA into the BELAZ and leaves. A strange smile appears on IVAN's face.

Blow'em up

INT. NIGHT - COMMAND CENTER

OROSHAY POLIVAYEVICH stands near one of the windows, facing the window, hands folded behind him. He enjoys the view. An adviser enters and whispers something to him quietly.

OROSHAY POLIVAYEVICH

(nods)

Set them off.

Adviser departs.

Second escape

EXT. NIGHT - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS

From the central tower we hear MOREVNA's cries.

MOREVNA

Let me go! Let me go, damn it! Or I'll tear you apart!!!

INT. NIGHT - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS, TOWER ROOM

KOSHCHEI stands facing MOREVNA, who is tied up with ropes. She strains against the ropes, trying (unsuccessfully) to get loose. KOSHCHEI reaches and takes the AMULET from around her neck, and tosses it idly in his hand.

KOSHCHEI

I'll be in my laboratory. But you will stay here!

KOSHCHEI leaves with the AMULET. Rustling is heard at the window. MOREVNA looks through the window, where IVAN is hanging on the rain gutter.

IVAN

All right, let's go?

MOREVNA

Ivan Tsarevich!

EXT. NIGHT - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS

IVAN and MOREVNA run out through the open gates and into the car. As KOSHCHEI passes by the window, he looks through and sees them.

KOSHCHEI

(totally enraged)

What?!

[For future reference, you probably wanted "flipped off", though "pissed" or "pissed off" is my dialect. These expressions are very regional, though. "Enraged" will be understood by all. Digitante 04:48, 31 January 2010 (UTC)]

KOSHCHEI runs to the garage, and starts his BELAZ.

Second chase

EXT. NIGHT - BUYAN ISLAND, HIGHWAY

IVAN and MOREVNA are in IVAN'S CAR, running away from KOSHCHEI'S BELAZ.

IVAN

Faster! Go faster!

MOREVNA

What are we going to do?

IVAN

I don't know! I just want to get you back!

MOREVNA

But what can we do about Koshchei?

IVAN

If we can't shake him, we might have to find a way to finish him off.

MOREVNA

But there's no way. He's immortal.

IVAN

How do you know that?

MOREVNA

His death - is...[me]

The BELAZ rams the back of the car and her last words drown in the sound of crashing metal, but we can see MOREVNA's lips pronouncing "me."

[Yes, the sentence is incomplete. She should say "His death - this is me" --KonstantinDmitriev 07:59, 5 February 2010 (UTC)]

[Okay, if I understood the treatment, this should now make sense. We're referring to the nanomachine connection between MOREVNA and Koshchei. The word should be in the screenplay since the actor and animator need to know it to get this right. I used "in me" instead of "is me" because I think we're talking about the nanomachines being in her body (this would be Water-of-Death technology jargon, so it would be understood by Ivan only under the assumption that he is familiar with the technology -- which I _think_ is true in your story). Another possibility is "is mine" -- as in "if he dies, so do I". Ivan would probably understand that even if he hadn't heard of the Water of Death, even though it's a weird sympathetic-magic idea. It doesn't seem to be important whether the audience understands this connection at this point in the story(?). Notably, the lips will look very different for "me" versus "mine". Digitante 14:24, 5 February 2010 (UTC)]

[Still it's better to stick to "is me" version, because the exact meaning here is "if I die - then he dies". Nanomachines are not referenced directly as being inside of her body, instead of that Morevna is treated as Koshchei's death herself - that' s closer to original meaning. And yes, it doesn't important whether the audience understands this connection at this point in the story. --KonstantinDmitriev 15:24, 5 February 2010 (UTC)]

[BTW: "treatment" is screenwriters' jargon for what you titled "story plot" on the Synfig forum, that is "an informal description of a plot" it can be either a "short" or "summary" treatment (like what you wrote) or it can be a "detailed" treatment, which usually has one paragraph to describe each scene in the final screenplay. Digitante 14:24, 5 February 2010 (UTC)]

[Oh, that's good to know for me! ^___^ --KonstantinDmitriev 15:24, 5 February 2010 (UTC)]

IVAN [desperately] turns the steering wheel, trying his best to keep the car on the road. But his eyes are filled with surprise at what he just heard. He's looking at her instead of the road.

Pictures flash by in black-and-white:

• An opened chest standing inside a cave.

• A broken egg shell on the stones, covered by feathers.

IVAN

God...

KOSHCHEI laughs out loud and accelerates. The BELAZ'S right wheel hits the left side of IVAN'S CAR (where IVAN is sitting), and rolls right over, crushing the entire left side of the car into the asphalt, along with IVAN himself.

MOREVNA, in the right side of the car, remains intact. Her eyes are wide with horror and she cannot speak at first. Then she cries out hysterically.

An image of IVAN talking just now flashes before her eyes and wheel of the BelAz crushing the car with him. [cutaway?][flashback?].

[My issue here was only that the direction seems to say what _Morevna_ sees, but we need to know what the _camera_ sees. I'm assuming we're cutting either to a still image or a moving image of Ivan talking. Does the flashback include seeing him die? (the machine translation mentions a "wheel", but that could be either the "steering wheel" or the "wheel of the BelAz crushing the car+Ivan" (Eww). Digitante 14:24, 5 February 2010 (UTC)]

[Yes, the camera shows event from the Morevna's point of view. Distracting moment, eh? --KonstantinDmitriev 15:24, 5 February 2010 (UTC)]

She continues to scream, even louder. The window behind her (on the right side of the car) is torn away, and KOSHCHEI'S metal hands pull her out of the car. She tries to escape, holding on to the mutilated car, but KOSHCHEI simply pulls her away and carries her off.

Before MOREVNA's eyes flicker images of her memories:

MONTAGE

• IVAN and MOREVNA in a clearing near the house. MOREVNA'S head on IVAN'S shoulder.

• IVAN and MOREVNA on the motorcycle driving on a sunny day. IVAN is sitting on the baggage carrier [isn't trunk a better word?].

[A car has a "trunk". Motorcycles don't. "Saddle bags" might be more common (mounted left and right), but they would be hard to sit on. "Baggage carrier" would be a rack on the back of the cycle, centered on top, allowing bags to be strapped to it. You could sit on that, so it made sense to me. Of course, most bikes are designed for two people. BTW, I don't see anything like this on the computer model -- in fact it looks like he'll have a hard time not getting burned on those tailpipes! Digitante 08:38, 7 February 2010 (UTC)]

• IVAN and MOREVNA swinging on a rope together. MOREVNA screams, but IVAN appears to be enjoying himself.

• IVAN and MOREVNA on the beach, fighting a shark.

The BELAZ is riding away. MOREVNA holds onto the window looking back. We see the road. MOREVNA, going into shock, sits depressed and listless in the seat. KOSHCHEI drives the truck without looking at her.

Revival

EXT. MORNING - BUYAN ISLAND HIGHWAY (WRECKAGE WHERE IVAN DIED)

IVAN's mutilated car lies in a puddle of blood. The sun rises.

IVAN'S SISTERS' cars drive up from three sides. First their HUSBANDS get out, then the SISTERS get out themselves.

DOCTOR-SISTER takes out a syringe into hand and with a medical cart and first-aid kit goes out of the camera view to the wreck. She starting to throw debris, boots, bottles and other junk out of frame border.

|Because of the sequence begin to throw out the fragments, boots, bottles and so forth. junk|

[The original says "boots, bottles, and so forth", but why should those be there? Shouldn't it just be broken pieces of car? Or is this intentional comedy? Digitante 22:14, 11 February 2010 (UTC)]

[Intentional comedy. ^___^ --KonstantinDmitriev 15:38, 12 February 2010 (UTC)]

MECHANIC-SISTER approaches. She takes out a wrench and begins to work, unbolting something, welding, and so on.

[BTW, a wrench normally implies "open-end", the closed kind is called a "box wrench" Digitante 22:14, 11 February 2010 (UTC)]

["Open-end" one meant here. --KonstantinDmitriev 15:38, 12 February 2010 (UTC)]

Then it is PRIESTESS-SISTER's turn. She takes a cross and begins to read an incantation from a magic book. The other sisters help her by sprinkling Water of Life all around. A glow comes from the book.

A beam of light emerges from the wreckage. After tossing fragments out of the way, it becomes brighter.

The HUSBANDS, who are standing away from the wreckage, put on dark sunglasses -- except of course for the BUSINESSMAN, because he's always wearing dark sunglasses.

A dark figure, resembling IVAN appears in the light. His left eye reflects an image of red flame. It becomes clear that this is IVAN, but his head is surrounded by a metal hoop [with a stone]. His left eye is artificial. His right hand and left leg are mechanical.

[I'm not sure I understand the "stone" -- like a gemstone in a ring? Digitante 22:14, 11 February 2010 (UTC)]

[Yeah! ^___^ --KonstantinDmitriev 15:38, 12 February 2010 (UTC)]

The HUSBANDS are shocked.

IVAN opens his eyes. He rocks, while supported by his sisters. He looks with horror at his own hands, looks up into the sky, and lets out a howl.

The sky grows dark and cloudy. It begins to drizzle.

IVAN is depressed. He sits on the stone, near what's left of the car. Nearby wait the SISTERS' cars.

MECHANIC-SISTER sits in the car. Next her is ROCKER. They remain silent, looking at the figure of IVAN. Windshield wipers scroops. MECHANIC-SISTER sighs and she gets out of her car again.

She approaches IVAN, but is hesitant to talk to him. The other SISTERS come up from behind.

MECHANIC-SISTER

Let's get into the car. We're worried about you.

IVAN clenches and unclenches his metal hand. It creaks in the rain.

IVAN

(without raising his head)

Why is this happening?

[In other words, is "this" the whole plot, or just the revival? Digitante 22:14, 11 February 2010 (UTC)]

[The whole plot. "What all this for?" --KonstantinDmitriev 15:38, 12 February 2010 (UTC)]

MECHANIC-SISTER

I... I don't know.

(pause)

But if you're still here...

(breathes shakily)

Surely it's meant to be.

(pause)

What do you plan to do?

IVAN

To do...? What can I do?

Flashback to the shot of MOREVNA saying "His death is...", but without sound. In the same sequence, KOSHCHEI, saying "Give me a drink...."

IVAN

I, myself. I totally destroyed everything with my own hands. How can that be 'meant to be'?

[Thumbs up for the last sentence! --KonstantinDmitriev]

DOCTOR-SISTER

(sorrowfully)

But you have to save Marya Morevna!!!

IVAN

(jumps up)

Must?!

I MUST? How?

Why, why did you bring me back? I'm meant to be there, dead!

(breathes heavily)

Even if I could, just look at me...

(raises his metal hand)

Now I'm just like...

[..just like him - Koshchei. (unsaid words) --KonstantinDmitriev 15:38, 12 February 2010 (UTC)]

IVAN brings down the metal hand against the stone nearby. A stone breaks into pieces.

IVAN lies on the debris, quietly sobbing.

IVAN

(whispered)

A monster...

DOCTOR-SISTER

(approaching)

Listen, Ivan...

DOCTOR-SISTER tries to put her hand on his arm, but with a wild look, he pushes her away.

IVAN

Don't touch me! Leave me alone!

DOCTOR-SISTER falls down to the ground. IVAN himself jumps aside as if scalded. With horror, he looks at his sister lying on the ground. He looks at his mechnical arm.

Waving his arms in a shunning motion, he steps back, then again. He stumbles, then runs away into the rain. DOCTOR-SISTER takes a step after him, but MECHANIC-SISTER stops her.

MECHANIC-SISTER

We've done all that we can.

She looks after the departing IVAN.

Despair

EXT. DAY - BUYAN ISLAND, STONY WASTELAND

IVAN runs. Then slow downs. He walking on the stony earth, not paying attention to the road. His head is down, not looking where he is going. Drops of water drip from his wet hair.

EXT. DAY - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS, KEEP

The BelAZ is parked in the keep. KOSHCHEI pulls a completely unresisting MOREVNA out of it.

EXT. DAY - BUYAN ISLAND BRIDGE

Soldiers set mines on the bridge and on the island landing. [i.e. "where the bridge meets the island" Digitante 01:57, 19 February 2010 (UTC)]

EXT. DAY - BUYAN ISLAND, HIGHWAY, WRECKAGE WHERE IVAN DIED

The SISTERS are still standing in the rain. In the foreground, ROCKER-HUSBAND dials his cell phone.

EXT. DAY - BUYAN ISLAND, STONY WASTELAND

IVAN'S cell phone shows an incoming call. IVAN looks, then throws the cell phone down on the ground. He continues walking.

EXT. DAY - BUYAN ISLAND, HIGHWAY, WRECKAGE WHERE IVAN DIED

ROCKER-HUSBAND looks at his phone, then dials another number.

ROCKER-HUSBAND

Hi...

Yes, it's me.

Yes, but not entirely.

[I gather we're hearing half of the conversation. But are there 3 lines as shown or 2? I can't guess what was said between the last two, so I'm not sure how to translate the last Digitante 01:57, 19 February 2010 (UTC)]

[He is calling MAN IN BLACK. After "Yes, it's me. " MAN IN BLACK asking: "Is he back?", meaning "to this world, to life". I think "Yes, but not entirely." fits well, as the meaning that IVAN is back to life mentally not completely. --KonstantinDmitriev 04:12, 19 February 2010 (UTC)]

EXT. DAY - BUYAN ISLAND, STONY WASTELAND

IVAN continues. On the horizon, shrouded by rain is the silhouette of a dark building -- ruins.

INT. EVENING - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS, CENTRAL TOWER, TOP ROOM

MOREVNA is in the armchair, not even tied up. She stares listlessly out the window. A grate is closed over the window. Behind MOREVNA, KOSHCHEI'S back can be seen as he leaves.

INT. EVENING - BUYAN ISLAND

IVAN goes into a building in the ruins. The sun is setting as the clouds disperse.

INT. NIGHT - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS, CENTRAL TOWER, TOP ROOM

MOREVNA looks out the window at the moon.

INT. NIGHT - BUYAN ISLAND, RUINS

IVAN looks out at the moon through a window. He falls down onto his knees, shuts his eyes, and bows his head down onto the floor in despair.

The clouds disperse, revealing the moon.

IVAN falls asleep, curled up on the rock floor. A beam of moonlight through a hole in the ceiling illuminates him.

The Man in Black

INT. MORNING - BUYAN ISLAND, RUINS

IVAN opens his eyes.

Nearby, MAN-IN-BLACK sits on a boulder. He is hammering something together from boards, ignoring IVAN as if he weren't there.

IVAN rises and sits up without consideration. He is indifferent. MAN-IN-BLACK continues to work, not paying him any attention too.

There is a pause. IVAN tries to get up to leave, but only waves his hands and shifts his body. There is a light rustle. The MAN-IN-BLACK notices this motion and turns to look at him (his hair is partially blocking his eyes).

MAN-IN-BLACK

Are you just being rude, or are your eyes really so dim?

IVAN freezes, looking at him (MAN-IN-BLACK).

MAN-IN-BLACK

How do you do, Ivan.

IVAN

(sheepishly)

How do you do.

IVAN sits on the floor, not knowing how to act. The MAN-IN-BLACK continues his work.

MAN-IN-BLACK

What's bothering you? ... Maybe you should go home.

Pause.

IVAN

Home?

(to himself at first, then to MAN-IN-BLACK)

I don't have a home anymore... I'm all... Now I'm just like him. I can't let Marya Morevna see me this way... Like some undead thing...

As IVAN speaks, he looks at his mechanical arm. There is a flashback to the shot of the DOCTOR-SISTER thrown to the ground.

MAN-IN-BLACK

You see this hammer?

It's possible to drive nails with it and build a house. But it can also break a man's head. This is a tool. The tool is only an extension of the body and soul. Not evil; not good. It all depends on the man using it.

As the MAN-IN-BLACK speaks, he puts down the hammer and begins to sharpen a wooden stake with a knife. IVAN involuntarily follows his motions, but he's having weird and scary hallucinations -- for example, of MAN-IN-BLACK shaving down pieces of his own fingers together with the wood without reacting to it.

IVAN stares in horrified fascination, but manages to blink away the hallucination.

IVAN

(still in shock from what he's seeing, unable to look away from MAN-IN-BLACK's hands)

How do you know my name? I suppose my sisters must've sent you?

MAN-IN-BLACK

(amused)

Ha-Ha. Your sisters are pure gold. But no, I was simply passing by and decided to visit you. It's not yet time for your sisters to see me.

IVAN

But it turns out to be my time to see you?

MAN-IN-BLACK

Didn't you come here to die?

IVAN

(dazed)

What?

MAN-IN-BLACK

I came to help.

IVAN jumps to his feet, but nails are already flying into him like like darts. IVAN ducks out of the way only to see nails fly by his face. As IVAN follows them, they shoot into the rock wall.

IVAN turns back to the MAN-IN-BLACK. Already he's charging with the hammer in one hand and the stake in the other.

IVAN ducks one hit, then another. He manages to grab the MAN-IN-BLACK by the hand, knocking away the stake first, and then the hammer. The MAN-IN-BLACK jumps to the side, and in the next instant, IVAN sees that he holds in his hand an amulet -- very similar to the one that MOREVNA had, but shaped differently. The MAN-IN-BLACK sneers.

IVAN, not knowing what to expect, steps back. The man tightens his grip on the amulet and it flashes with gleaming light from inside.

IVAN experiences flashes igniting in his mind. His eyes widen, his pupils constrict, he grits his teeth. Another flash, and IVAN's mechanical leg bends at the knee by itself and IVAN falls down to the ground. He hears a crack, hissing -- the sounds are like howls.

Now IVAN's mechanical arm begins to choke him. IVAN chokes and attempts to resist, but his eyes are already clouded. Above him looms the figure of the MAN-IN-BLACK.

MAN-IN-BLACK

Well, just look at you! Die now, you evil, filthy thing!

Suddenly, the figure of the MAN-IN-BLACK is replaced by MOREVNA, exactly as she appeared when they first met.

MOREVNA

What's your name?

IVAN

I'm Ivan. Ivan Tsarevich.

[Presumeably this should be matched to the exact dialog in that scene Digitante 17:02, 5 March 2010 (UTC)]

[Yes. --KonstantinDmitriev 09:05, 6 March 2010 (UTC)]

There is a montage of abbreviated flashs of IVAN and MOREVNA's life together, sped up.

IVAN

I am Ivan Tsarevich!

Flashes sped up even more to a flicker.

IVAN

I AM IVAN TSAREVICH!

IVAN yells, beside himself. The scene freezes -- all sounds and flashes of light stop. Silence. IVAN stands face-to-face with the MAN-IN-BLACK. He grips MAN-IN-BLACK's hand with the amulet in his hand -- the mechanical one. The MAN-IN-BLACK looks somewhat surprised, but satisfied. He easily shoves IVAN in the stomach with his free hand, sending him flying into the opposite wall, making a large dent.

IVAN jumps up immediately. The MAN-IN-BLACK is already running up the ruined stairs to the roof. IVAN rushes to follow.

INT. MORNING - BUYAN ISLAND, RUINS - ROOF

IVAN stops in the rooftop doorway. Before him spreads out distant spaces: fields, blue sky, and golden sun rising on the horizon. IVAN stands there bewitched by the view. Above and behind IVAN, the MAN-IN-BLACK's dangling leg lowers into view -- he is sitting on the lintel above the doorway IVAN came through.

MAN-IN-BLACK

(admiring the sunrise)

With a spirit as strong as steel -- nothing else matters.

IVAN

(inhales deeply)

Now I know what it is -- to remain standing, when all the foundations have fallen.

MAN-IN-BLACK

(leaving)

Keep this strength with you. You both took the best from each other. Did you really think you get away from THERE for no reason?

IVAN turns around, but the man is gone already -- there's just two black feathers spinning in the air. Where the MAN-IN-BLACK was sitting on the stone, is IVAN's CELL PHONE.

Where the sun is rising on the horizon, the figures of IVAN's walking SISTERS are silhouetted against the golden sky.

IVAN looks at the cell phone. The number is already on it, he has only to push the button to call.

EXT. EVENING - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS - CENTRAL TOWER - UPPER ROOM

MOREVNA sits in the tower in complete despair. There is a rustle at the window, but she does not react. Then there is a ring. The cell phone on the window-sill is ringing. MOREVNA turns in consternation, she see the telephone and the figure of SPARROW flying away from window. The phone continues to ring. MOREVNA picks it up.

INT. MORNING - BUYAN ISLAND RUINS ROOF

IVAN

Hello! Marya Morevna?

EXT. EVENING - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS - CENTRAL TOWER - UPPER ROOM

MOREVNA coughs in suprise and falls back onto the floor. She looks sightlessly to the ceiling.

MOREVNA

(exhaling almost in a whisper)

You're... you're alive!

INT. MORNING - BUYAN ISLAND RUINS - ROOF

IVAN

You wouldn't happen to know where Koshchei got that truck of his, would you?

Baba Yaga's automobile workshop

EXT. DAY - BRIDGE TO THE BUYAN ISLAND

Ivan's car crashes through the barricades and crosses the bridge. None of the soldiers manages even to react.

EXT. DAY - BABA YAGA'S AUTOMOBILE WORKSHOP

On a building, which resembles both a carwash and a garage, hangs a signboard:

"Baba Yaga's Auto Shop"

[Very nearly literal and sounds right to me. Digitante 06:34, 14 March 2010 (UTC)]

(postscript: no humans! cars and trucks only) ~ off script :)

["Off script"? Are we re-writing? I guess you mean this is hand-written on the sign? I like it. Digitante 06:34, 14 March 2010 (UTC)]

[Someone just joking here... ^___^ --KonstantinDmitriev]

IVAN drives up, leaves his car, and approaches the door.

THE DOOR

Password?

IVAN pushes his bangs away from his eyes and shuts them. A peaceful expression crosses his face.

IVAN

Cabin, cabin, turn your back to the trees and your door to me!

[Obviously a formula from the original story. My best poetic translation -- it almost rhymes. :-) Digitante 06:34, 14 March 2010 (UTC)]

Door opens.

INT. DAY - BABA YAGA'S AUTOMOBILE WORKSHOP

BABA YAGA -- a skinny elderly woman with gray hair, hooked nose, and black eyebrows -- sits at the table with a laptop computer. In the corner near the door hangs a black raincoat -- the one she wore in the laboratory ruins. IVAN enters the room. The raincoat hangs behind his back, so he does not notice it.

IVAN

Good day, Baba Yaga aka "The Bone Leg". I need you to give me a ride that will leave Koshchei's BelAZ in the dust.

[Do you want him to actually say "A.K.A."="AY-KAY-AY"? Also, this is a very abrupt request. Can Ivan really address Baba-Yaga this way? The word "overtake", BTW, always means "to catch up with from behind", not just "go faster than", so it'd be confusing here, since we know Ivan wants to run _away_ from Koshchei, not catch him. Digitante 06:34, 14 March 2010 (UTC)]

[In Russian "aka" sounds well, maybe replace it with "known as" in English version? --KonstantinDmitriev 07:46, 19 March 2010 (UTC)]

BABA YAGA

To outrun Koshchei the Immortal, you say? Come with me.

The door is opening, showing a dark corridor. BABA-YAGA goes inward, IVAN makes several steps and freezes: ROBOTS, similar to KOSHCHEI, stand all along the corridor.

BABA YAGA

Don't be afraid, follow me.

IVAN

For a moment... it seemed like... like they were alive.

He goes after BABA YAGA.

BABA YAGA

(chuckles/grins)

What you are saying, sweetie, a machine can't be alive...

(she coughs and adds quietly after a pause)

...without a human.

[Options for what she calls Ivan "honey"/"sweetie"/"dearie": "honey" is more like she's being fresh with an attractive young man; "sweetie" sounds like she's talking affectionately to a child (more genuine); "dearie" is what witches usually say in fairytales when they're pretending to be nice (but is rarely used in life) -- which makes it a little threatening or insincere. I don't know which feeling you want. Digitante 06:34, 14 March 2010 (UTC)]

[Then "sweetie" is fine. --KonstantinDmitriev 07:46, 19 March 2010 (UTC)]

IVAN

(looks around)

But... how did all these come to be here?

BABA YAGA, ignoring the question, approaches a door.

BABA YAGA

You're surely going to need a fast ride for that, aren't you?

[This is strays a bit from the literal, but I think it conveys the feeling better than literally saying "the fastest ride". Using "surely" instead of "sure" is grammatically more correct, but less common. It sounds a little bit "Southern" or "hick" to me, but it's exactly like I expect an old lady to talk. Digitante 06:34, 14 March 2010 (UTC)]

IVAN

The car and myself -- that's all I can count on.

Dark screen. The garage door rises up, the silhouettes of BABA YAGA and IVAN are visible against the bright light of the background. IVAN's eyes grow wide.

IVAN

(shocked)

Oh my God...

Final escape

EXT. DAY - HIGHWAY

IVAN drives a ZAPOROZHETS along the road.

[It matters little what we call it -- it's a virtual prop and we need to note it. Let's just be consistent Digitante 18:53, 26 April 2010 (UTC)]

EXT. DAY - BRIDGE TO THE BUYAN ISLAND

A luxurious car drives up. The GENERAL and his security guys step out of it. A COMMANDER approaches and reports something to them.

IVAN approaches in the ZAPOROZHETS, crashes through the barricades, and continues driving across the bridge. Everyone watches silently, mouths hanging open.

GENERAL

(astonished)

What was that?

COMMANDER

I… I…

GENERAL

It was him! Blow it now! Don't let anyone off that island!

EXT. DAY - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS

IVAN drives up to KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS. He says something over the telephone, then gets out of the car.

INT. DAY - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS, CENTRAL TOWER, UPPER ROOM

MOREVNA hides herself behind an improvised barricade of furniture.

EXT. DAY - KOSHCHEI'S FORTRESS

IVAN throws with all his might a grenade into the window of the upper room of the central tower. There's an explosion.

KOSHCHEI passes by the window, the ceiling collapses directly onto his head, burying him. Only his feet remain visible, dangling in the air.

Tousled but contented, MOREVNA appears in the breach. Using a raincoat as parachute, she jumps out from the tower to the ground.

MOREVNA hugs IVAN.

MOREVNA

My God, how has this all happened?

IVAN

We should go now!

He takes her hand, they get into the car. IVAN presses the accelerator, and they leave.

KOSHCHEI gets out from under the heap of debris, shakes his fists, and rushes into the garage.

The Last Chase

EXT. DAY - BUYAN ISLAND HIGHWAY

IVAN and MOREVNA'S ZAPOROSHETS rushes along the road. KOSHCHEI'S BELAZ overtakes them.

IVAN presses down on the accelerator, and the ZAPOROZHETS shoots ahead of KOSHCHEI'S BELAZ moving twice as fast as before.

KOSHCHEI

What???

KOSHCHEI activates nitro starting-lever and also increases speed.

[Gearheads just say "nitro". I thought it stood for "nitro-glycerin", not "nitrogen", but I admit I don't know much about it. Digitante 19:11, 26 April 2010 (UTC)]

The bridge can be discerned in the distance.

EXT. DAY - BRIDGE TO BUYAN ISLAND

GENERAL: Blow it now!

The explosive detonates. The bridge explodes first, then the explosions start to disperse from the both sides of the bridge to the island landing.

EXT. DAY - BUYAN ISLAND HIGHWAY

IVAN

(frightened)

My God! The bridge...

MOREVNA raises her head.

IVAN

We should brake! Pull up!

MOREVNA

Let me drive!

She attempts to reach the steering wheel.

IVAN

(in panic)

No!

MOREVNA

Trust me! Give me the wheel!

IVAN

I trust you but...

(cringing with shame and effort)

I need to tell you… It's all my fault! It was me who let Koshchei out! Me! It's me who has to fix this!

MOREVNA looks at him in surprise, then a soft smile appears on her face.

MOREVNA

I know. It's all your fault.

IVAN cringes even more and squeezes his teeth tighter. MOREVNA embraces his shoulders.

MOREVNA

But I am still with you. And I'm not going back. Not for anything!

[ She means that she don't want to return back to Koshchei. --KonstantinDmitriev 06:44, 1 May 2010 (UTC) ]

IVAN opens his eyes

MOREVNA

(continuing)

I'm with you, because I want to be with all my heart.

IVAN raises his head.

IVAN

(quietly, through the tears)

I want it so much too.

["I want it so much" would've been okay too. "With all my heart!" might be corny, but it's appropriate here. Digitante 19:11, 26 April 2010 (UTC)]

[I recombined replicas a bit, because "with all my heart" suits Morevna better. What do you think? --KonstantinDmitriev 06:44, 1 May 2010 (UTC)]

MOREVNA

Then, together...

IVAN lets her and they together take the steering wheel. The car jumps off the edge of the broken bridge and falls into the abyss.

IVAN and MOREVNA

No-oooooo!!!!

Darkness.

Flashback

INT. DAY FLASHBACK - BABA-YAGA'S AUTO-SHOP

BABA-YAGA

You're certainly going to need a fast car.

IVAN

Me and my car -- such is my only hope.

BABA-YAGA

That's where... you are totally wrong!

Battle

EXT. DAY - BRIDGE TO BUYAN ISLAND

The ZAPOROZHETS falls from the bridge. Suddenly, two white wings, like the wings of a bird, slide out from it. The ZAPOROZHETS rockets upwards and flies to the other end of the bridge. When the car is about to land, its lower part transforms into legs. The ZAPOROZHETS lands on its feet. In the passenger compartment, we see the legs and arms of IVAN and MOREVNA, sticking up -- they fell out of their seats during the landing. The car stands motionlessly, for a couple of seconds, then it continues the transformation -- one by one, two hands appear from the upper part of the car, the cabin moves back to the horizontal position and transforms into the control cab.

KOSHCHEI brakes sharply. His BELAZ is slightly swerved to the side and the car stops on the opposite end of the bridge. Explosions start all over Buyan Island, and it starts to sink into the sea. A shroud of fire hides the BELAZ from sight.

All of the soldiers, including the General, goggle in a deep amazement at the robot towering above them.

IVAN

(looks around rejoicing)

Holy mare! How... how could this all...

[No one says "holy mare". Digitante 21:07, 26 April 2010 (UTC)] ["Святая кобыла" is exactly the phrase no one says in real world. It's an artificial idiom of a person from an artificial/alternative world, the world which combines the traits of ancient/fairy-tale Russia (mare) and modern days. AFAICT.Liv] [Okay, if it's supposed to be strange, then it's fine. :-) Digitante 01:34, 29 April 2010 (UTC)]

MOREVNA throws her arms around IVAN's neck.

MOREVNA

We did it!

The hoop round IVAN's head cracks and breaks into pieces. Now it's just a normal head. MOREVNA caresses IVAN's cheek.

[Should note for artwork -- is he completely back to normal, or did the hoop just go away? (e.g. what about the prosthetic eye?) Digitante 21:07, 26 April 2010 (UTC)]

[Yes, eye goes back to normal too. But not his arm and leg unfortunately. --KonstantinDmitriev 08:05, 1 May 2010 (UTC)]

GENERAL

(shocked)

This… is our number one target!

(he shouts)

Fire! Destroy them!

[Other choices for "number one target": "primary target", "prime target"? Digitante 21:07, 26 April 2010 (UTC)]

[Looks like "number one" fits perfectly. --KonstantinDmitriev 08:05, 1 May 2010 (UTC)]

Soldiers start shooting at the robot. IVAN tries pulling different levers, but nothing happens -- the machine remains motionless.

IVAN

What? What's going on?

Suddenly the shooting stops, because through the shroud fire on the island appears KOSHCHEI, frightfully burnt and terribly infuriated. He approaches quickly. A glow appears around the robot containing IVAN and MOREVNA, and the robot rockets into the sky, its transformation continuing -- the seat beneath IVAN lifts up towards the head (of the robot), MOREVNA finds herself in the center part of the robot's body -- she spreads her arms, two bracelets clasp her thin wrists and she becomes the source of energy for the robot.

In the cab, the control panel in front of IVAN turns on by itself (starts glowing), IVAN grabs the levers and rushes towards KOSHCHEI. The battle begins.

Simultaneously, as IVAN fights KOSHCHEI, MOREVNA is having a conversation inside herself.

INT. BLACKNESS

In the complete darkness hangs the illuminated figure of MOREVNA in the same pose she was in the center of the robot's body.

MAN-IN-BLACK

(off-camera)

Finally. You did call me?

MOREVNA

Yes.

EXT. DAY - NEAR THE EXPLODED BRIDGE

The fierce battle between KOSHCHEI and IVAN continues. The soldiers are watching, not daring to interfere.

INT. BLACKNESS

MAN-IN-BLACK

(off-camera)

What do you want?

MOREVNA

I am guilty.

MAN-IN-BLACK

(off-camera, slightly sarcastically)

Oh, really?

MOREVNA

So many people were seriously injured and even killed. How many more are to suffer? And... is one single life worth this sacrifice?

Flashbacks of IVAN's smashed car, flashbacks of Koshchei's battle with the helicopters.

MAN-IN-BLACK

(off-camera)

Is it that bad to want to live?

MOREVNA

I simply did not want to die.

The MAN-IN-BLACK appears from the darkness.

MAN-IN-BLACK

You do know the cost of our encounter?

["encounter" could be "meeting" if you prefer. "Encounter" is a little more formal, "meeting" more colloquial. Either makes sense. Digitante 21:07, 26 April 2010 (UTC)]

MOREVNA

Yes.

MAN-IN-BLACK

You do not want to live anymore?

EXT. DAY - NEAR THE EXPLODED BRIDGE

KOSHCHEI fights with more confidence than IVAN. His strokes are more sharp and he hits perfectly, but IVAN fights back with unrelaxing energy.

INT. BLACKNESS

MOREVNA

There are mistakes, that, once you make them, stay with you your whole life.

They can't be forgiven, because you can't ever forgive yourself.

But at some point you stop regretting them, because they made you who you are now. One day you realize those mistakes and realizing that there's no way to fix them and you have to live with them for the whole rest of your life... it makes you a different person.

[Liv: Still, Morevna DO regret she have _done_ (because she feeling guilty), but DON'T regret she _have_them_ (because she accepted herself as she is). --KonstantinDmitriev]

[Yeah, that was tough. Translated somewhat liberally. Digitante 21:07, 26 April 2010 (UTC)]

[I did few edits. Probably they are not correct English, but is closer to original idea. This phrase is very important for the whole movie. --KonstantinDmitriev 08:05, 1 May 2010 (UTC) ]

EXT. DAY - NEAR THE EXPLODED BRIDGE

KOSHCHEI is standing at the edge, IVAN rushes towards him, ready to strike. At the last moment, KOSHCHEI dodges and stabs IVAN's robot in the back.

INT. BLACKNESS

MOREVNA

I have no right to ask for forgiveness -- I hardly can be forgiven. But I've got a chance.

The way it came out, I saw enough bright moments in my life not to consider it useless or senseless. Even more -- I was happy. Happy in the way I wanted to be. Not everyone has that kind of luck. I can't understand how I earned that, I probably don't deserve it at all. I am so grateful for this life.

MAN-IN-BLACK listens attentively.

[ I've liked FELLOW-IN-BLACK much more--Liv ]

[ No matter how we mention him in screenplay - he's never called by name in dialog. --KonstantinDmitriev ]

["Fellow" just isn't in common use anymore. It's becoming archaic. People in the 1950s used it, but today people would probably say "guy" (this was "человек" in Russian?) The phrase "Man in black" has some history. It conjures up a picture of a government agent in a black suit or of a preacher in a black suit with a roman collar (or no collar). Johnny Cash (a singer) was called "the Man in Black" because he always used to dress that way. The alien-fighting organization in a popular comic sci-fi film were the "men in black". But in the end, I mostly just want it to be consistent throughout the script. Digitante 21:07, 26 April 2010 (UTC)]

MOREVNA

(tosses her head looking right at the MAN-IN-BLACK)

Now I madly want to live. But I'm ready to die.

MAN-IN-BLACK

For him?

EXT. NEAR THE EXPLODED BRIDGE THE DAY

KOSHCHEI puts his foot on the body of the devastated robot, preventing it from rising, and lifts his hand for the final stroke.

INT. BLACKNESS

MOREVNA

For him.

MAN-IN-BLACK

Then let it be.

The MAN-IN-BLACK stretches his hand into MOREVNA's body and takes out a needle. MOREVNA yells as if being pricked, but in the next moment, a peaceful expression appears on her face.

EXT. DAY - NEAR THE EXPLODED BRIDGE

At that very moment an enormous sword, remarkably resembling the needle, appears in the hands of IVAN's robot. IVAN pierces KOSHCHEI's body with this sword. For a couple of seconds, KOSHCHEI stands still not getting what has just happened, then the light of his eyes dies out and he falls from the edge into the water.

He drowns and his eyes are now closed forever.

Everyone looks down in astonishment.

IVAN'S ROBOT freezes motionless as there is no vital energy feeding him. IVAN gets out from the robot.

IVAN

Yes! We've won! Do you hear me? We've done it!

IVAN sees the lifeless body of MOREVNA, he stands dead in his tracks, the words stick in his throat. Abruptly he rushes to the robot and drags out MOREVNA's body. He puts her on the ground and presses his ear against her breast. People start gathering around him. Among them is PAYLAT.

[I assume you've noticed that "PAYLAT" sounds almost exactly like "pilot" in English. Digitante 21:07, 26 April 2010 (UTC)]

IVAN

(finally forcing himself to speak)

How?

Again he presses his ear against MOREVNA's breast, and he takes her hand, attempting to palp the pulse. He looks into her face.

IVAN

But you've... We've...

(he gushes in tears pressing his head against MOREVNA's body)

The soldiers have surrounded IVAN. They stand feeling uncomfortable, exchanging glances and a mixed expression of confusion, guilt, and regret appears on their faces. Some of them look around awkwardly, some cast their eyes into the ground. IVAN's howl of desperation is heard from the center of the crowd.

IVAN lies cuddling up to MOREVNA's breast, he cries and he cannot stop crying.

MOREVNA's eyes open. She sees the sky high above -- exactly the same view seen previously by IVAN. She hears, as if from a distance, IVAN's crying. She puts her hand on IVAN's head and caresses his hair.

IVAN ceases sobbing. He raises himself (on his elbow?). And abruptly gets to his feet screaming and springs aside either in horror or in surprise.

IVAN

Aaaa-ah!

MOREVNA raises up on her elbow and looks around rubbing her head.

MOREVNA

(puzzled)

But why?

IVAN, having finally gotten a grip on himself after the repeated shock, rushes to MOREVNA, clasps her, turns her, and finally sinks together with her to the ground, embracing her tenderly.

The MAN-IN-BLACK passes by behind people's back.

MAN-IN-BLACK

Who do they think they are? Self-important people.

(with a light grin)

They think it's up to them to decide when it's time and when it's not.

MAN-IN-BLACK leaves.

MOREVNA:

Dear me, I am so happy!

And... I do not understand.

(she smiles)

IVAN

(he caresses her cheek)

Neither do I. But it's not important anymore.

They rises to their feet, watching as the remains of BUYAN ISLAND sinks into the water.

[I simply note in passing that actual islands do not, in fact, sink, no matter how much you bomb them. Digitante 21:07, 26 April 2010 (UTC)]

Then they turn around and pass through the crowd of people which parts to let them pass. They go to the car parked nearby, in which the GENERAL arrived earlier.

GENERAL

Stop them! These people are enemies of the state!

The soldiers do not move. Then they start breaking up slowly in various directions.

PAYLAT

Ivan!

IVAN turns around. PAYLAT throws him the keys.

GENERAL

(in impotent rage, spitting mad)

You have just betrayed your Motherland!

IVAN and MOREVNA get into the car.

PAYLAT

(turns around)

"I so love my country, but I hate the state."

When the Motherland betrays a human life, it deserves to be betrayed.

[ It's far from literal translations, but gives the right idea very good. This is a quote "Я так люблю свою страну, и ненавижу государство". --KonstantinDmitriev 15:36, 24 April 2010 (UTC) ]

[There's nothing wrong with your "so much" version, but I put this back to something a little closer to the literal translation. "so + verb" occurs in English poetry. The best example is probably from the Bible: "For God so loved the world that he sent his only Son..." It's also used in colloquial expressions (California dialect) as in "I am _so_ loving this". Digitante 21:07, 26 April 2010 (UTC)]

IVAN

(looks attentively into General's eyes)

General...

(pause)

Go home to your children.

General stands motionless moving his lower jaw silently, unable to force a word. A strange lost expression appears in his eyes. Behind his back, his soldiers are leaving in various directions.

MOREVNA

It's time for us to go, too.

They exchange glances.

IVAN

(starts the engine and leans back into the driver's seat)

Time to go home.

IVAN pushes the throttle and they take off.

THE END