WEBVTT 1 00:00:11,015 --> 00:00:12,973 (footsteps walking) 2 00:00:13,056 --> 00:00:16,640 (door opens, closes) 3 00:00:16,724 --> 00:00:18,807 (walking footsteps) 4 00:00:23,390 --> 00:00:25,973 -(glass clinking) -(liquid pouring) 5 00:00:27,265 --> 00:00:29,890 (tape rewinding) 6 00:00:32,015 --> 00:00:33,807 (tape recorder clicks off) 7 00:00:36,515 --> 00:00:40,056 Man (recorded voice): What is the cost of lies? 8 00:00:40,140 --> 00:00:43,015 It's not that we'll mistake them for the truth. 9 00:00:43,098 --> 00:00:46,973 The real danger is that if we hear enough lies, 10 00:00:47,056 --> 00:00:50,098 then we no longer recognize the truth at all. 11 00:00:51,599 --> 00:00:53,265 What can we do then? 12 00:00:53,348 --> 00:00:56,015 What else is left but to abandon even the hope of truth 13 00:00:56,098 --> 00:01:00,682 and content ourselves instead with stories? 14 00:01:00,765 --> 00:01:04,890 In these stories, it doesn't matter who the heroes are. 15 00:01:04,973 --> 00:01:08,515 All we want to know is: who is to blame? 16 00:01:08,599 --> 00:01:11,181 In this story, it was Anatoly Dyatlov. 17 00:01:11,265 --> 00:01:12,973 He was the best choice. 18 00:01:13,056 --> 00:01:15,056 An arrogant, unpleasant man, 19 00:01:15,140 --> 00:01:18,348 he ran the room that night, he gave the orders... 20 00:01:18,432 --> 00:01:20,348 and no friends. 21 00:01:20,432 --> 00:01:24,098 Or, at least, not important ones. 22 00:01:25,557 --> 00:01:29,432 And now Dyatlov will spend the next ten years 23 00:01:29,515 --> 00:01:31,557 in a prison labor camp. 24 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:35,015 Of course, that sentence is doubly unfair. 25 00:01:36,473 --> 00:01:40,181 There were far greater criminals than him at work. 26 00:01:41,973 --> 00:01:44,890 And as for what Dyatlov did do, 27 00:01:44,973 --> 00:01:47,348 the man doesn't deserve prison. 28 00:01:48,515 --> 00:01:51,348 He deserves death. 29 00:01:52,807 --> 00:01:54,140 (recorder clicks) 30 00:01:54,223 --> 00:01:55,682 (clears throat) 31 00:02:04,181 --> 00:02:09,098 But instead, ten years for "criminal mismanagement." 32 00:02:09,181 --> 00:02:11,181 What does that mean? 33 00:02:11,265 --> 00:02:15,015 No one knows. It doesn't matter. 34 00:02:17,140 --> 00:02:20,682 What does matter is that, to them, 35 00:02:20,765 --> 00:02:22,973 justice was done. 36 00:02:23,056 --> 00:02:26,640 Because, you see, to them 37 00:02:26,724 --> 00:02:30,432 a just world is a sane world. 38 00:02:32,890 --> 00:02:35,890 There was nothing sane about Chernobyl. 39 00:02:37,599 --> 00:02:39,765 What happened there, what happened after, 40 00:02:39,849 --> 00:02:43,181 even the good we did, all of it... 41 00:02:44,640 --> 00:02:49,181 all of it... madness. 42 00:02:53,640 --> 00:02:57,724 Well, I've given you everything I know. 43 00:02:59,724 --> 00:03:02,265 They'll deny it, of course. 44 00:03:02,348 --> 00:03:04,098 They always do. 45 00:03:09,515 --> 00:03:11,931 I know you'll try your best. 46 00:03:20,265 --> 00:03:22,390 (tape rewinding) 47 00:04:06,473 --> 00:04:09,807 ♪ ♪ 48 00:04:45,223 --> 00:04:47,348 ♪ ♪ 49 00:05:07,181 --> 00:05:08,931 (sighs) 50 00:05:15,515 --> 00:05:19,056 (door opens, closes) 51 00:05:32,515 --> 00:05:34,849 (ticking) 52 00:05:39,390 --> 00:05:42,931 ♪ ♪ 53 00:05:47,599 --> 00:05:49,765 (ticking) 54 00:05:57,931 --> 00:06:02,015 (furniture scraping floor) 55 00:06:02,098 --> 00:06:04,181 (ticking) 56 00:06:04,265 --> 00:06:07,181 (furniture clatters) 57 00:06:07,265 --> 00:06:09,931 (rope creaking) 58 00:06:36,807 --> 00:06:40,265 (woman vomits, coughs) 59 00:06:41,348 --> 00:06:43,473 (woman groans, pants) 60 00:06:46,724 --> 00:06:48,973 (toilet flushing) 61 00:06:58,223 --> 00:07:02,181 (snoring softly) 62 00:07:31,265 --> 00:07:34,473 -(distant explosion) -(gasps) 63 00:07:35,140 --> 00:07:36,640 Man: Lyudmilla? 64 00:07:36,724 --> 00:07:40,223 (dogs barking outside) 65 00:07:51,015 --> 00:07:54,348 ♪ ♪ 66 00:07:54,432 --> 00:07:56,557 (barking continuing) 67 00:07:58,807 --> 00:08:00,931 (debris swishing) 68 00:08:01,557 --> 00:08:03,849 Man (distant, muffled voice): Comrade Dyatlov! 69 00:08:07,265 --> 00:08:11,390 Comrade Dyatlov! Comrade Dyatlov! 70 00:08:13,348 --> 00:08:15,682 ♪ ♪ 71 00:08:15,765 --> 00:08:18,640 (shouting): Comrade Dyatlov! Comrade Dyatlov! 72 00:08:18,724 --> 00:08:21,432 -(alarms blaring) -What just happened? 73 00:08:21,515 --> 00:08:24,599 -I don't know. -(alarms blaring, buzzing) 74 00:08:24,682 --> 00:08:26,890 There's a fire in the turbine hall. 75 00:08:28,348 --> 00:08:29,765 The turbine hall. 76 00:08:30,849 --> 00:08:33,890 The control system tank. Hydrogen. 77 00:08:33,973 --> 00:08:35,931 You and Toptunov, you morons blew the tank! 78 00:08:36,015 --> 00:08:38,265 -No, that's not-- -This is an emergency. 79 00:08:38,348 --> 00:08:40,307 Everyone stay calm. Our first priority is-- 80 00:08:40,390 --> 00:08:41,849 -It's exploded! -We know. 81 00:08:41,931 --> 00:08:43,390 Akimov, are we cooling the reactor core? 82 00:08:43,473 --> 00:08:45,307 We shut it down, but the control rods are still active. 83 00:08:45,390 --> 00:08:47,181 They're not all the way in, I disengaged the clutch. 84 00:08:47,265 --> 00:08:49,849 Try and disconnect the servos from the standby console. 85 00:08:49,931 --> 00:08:51,348 You two, get the backup pumps running. 86 00:08:51,432 --> 00:08:53,140 We need water moving through the core. 87 00:08:53,223 --> 00:08:56,181 -That is all that matters. -There is no core. 88 00:08:56,265 --> 00:08:58,599 It exploded, the core exploded. 89 00:08:58,682 --> 00:09:00,807 (alarms blaring, buzzing) 90 00:09:02,098 --> 00:09:04,265 He's in shock. Get him out of here. 91 00:09:04,348 --> 00:09:05,599 The lid is off! 92 00:09:05,682 --> 00:09:07,473 The stack is burning. I saw it. 93 00:09:07,557 --> 00:09:10,432 You're confused. RBMK reactor cores don't explode. 94 00:09:10,515 --> 00:09:11,849 -Akimov... -(whispers): Sasha. 95 00:09:11,931 --> 00:09:13,140 Don't worry, we did everything right. 96 00:09:13,223 --> 00:09:15,181 Something... something strange has happened. 97 00:09:15,265 --> 00:09:17,390 -Do you taste metal? -Akimov! 98 00:09:17,473 --> 00:09:20,390 Comrade Perevozschenko, what you're saying is physically impossible. 99 00:09:20,473 --> 00:09:23,807 The core can't explode. It has to be the tank. 100 00:09:24,473 --> 00:09:26,181 We're wasting time. Let's go. 101 00:09:26,265 --> 00:09:29,056 Get the hydrogen out of the generators and pump water into the core. 102 00:09:29,140 --> 00:09:33,307 -What about the fire? -Call the fire brigade. 103 00:09:33,390 --> 00:09:36,348 (alarms blaring, buzzing) 104 00:09:41,724 --> 00:09:44,390 (distant alarm blaring) 105 00:09:44,473 --> 00:09:47,140 (footsteps crunching glass) 106 00:09:55,973 --> 00:10:00,140 (wind whistling) 107 00:10:00,223 --> 00:10:02,348 ♪ ♪ 108 00:10:08,515 --> 00:10:11,515 (distant alarms continue blaring) 109 00:10:15,473 --> 00:10:17,223 ♪ ♪ 110 00:10:23,682 --> 00:10:25,807 ♪ ♪ 111 00:10:33,682 --> 00:10:35,265 (loud tone drones) 112 00:10:35,348 --> 00:10:37,515 (voices over phone speaking Russian) 113 00:10:55,473 --> 00:10:57,557 (loud tone drones) 114 00:11:08,223 --> 00:11:09,473 (loud tone drones) 115 00:11:09,557 --> 00:11:11,348 You're not on call tonight. 116 00:11:11,432 --> 00:11:13,515 Man: They're bringing everybody in, military and civil. 117 00:11:13,599 --> 00:11:17,640 Pripyat, Polesskoe, Kiev. 118 00:11:17,724 --> 00:11:19,599 This is a big one. 119 00:11:20,557 --> 00:11:23,223 But it doesn't look right, the color. 120 00:11:23,307 --> 00:11:26,849 Pravik says he thinks they're shining floodlights or something. 121 00:11:26,931 --> 00:11:28,307 And what if there are chemicals? 122 00:11:28,390 --> 00:11:30,724 (chuckles): Chemicals? 123 00:11:31,765 --> 00:11:33,307 The problem's the roof. 124 00:11:33,390 --> 00:11:36,181 It's covered in tar, so it's gonna burn all night, 125 00:11:36,265 --> 00:11:38,849 and it'll stink like hell. That's it. 126 00:11:38,931 --> 00:11:40,765 That's the worst of it. 127 00:11:42,724 --> 00:11:44,015 Go back to bed. 128 00:11:44,098 --> 00:11:47,432 (door opens, closes) 129 00:11:50,557 --> 00:11:52,807 (alarms blaring) 130 00:12:12,765 --> 00:12:15,265 (muffled clattering above) 131 00:12:19,931 --> 00:12:22,849 -Is it war? -Where's the dosimeter? 132 00:12:22,931 --> 00:12:26,015 Here... Here. 133 00:12:27,181 --> 00:12:29,931 (debris clattering) 134 00:12:31,807 --> 00:12:33,473 Are they bombing? 135 00:12:34,140 --> 00:12:36,015 (dosimeter beeps) 136 00:12:36,098 --> 00:12:39,056 What the fuck is this? It's 3.6 roentgen. 137 00:12:39,140 --> 00:12:41,682 That's as high as it goes. The good one's locked in a safe. 138 00:12:41,765 --> 00:12:43,181 I don't have a key. 139 00:12:43,265 --> 00:12:47,515 Valera... your face. 140 00:12:49,015 --> 00:12:50,390 Come on. 141 00:12:50,473 --> 00:12:53,348 I'm going to find Khodemchuk in the pump room. 142 00:12:53,432 --> 00:12:55,390 You... here. 143 00:12:55,473 --> 00:12:59,098 Get Shashenok. He's in 604. Go. 144 00:12:59,181 --> 00:13:00,849 We need to get everyone out! 145 00:13:00,931 --> 00:13:03,015 (alarm blaring) 146 00:13:09,432 --> 00:13:11,515 (vomits, coughing) 147 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:15,390 (whimpers) Shit. 148 00:13:15,473 --> 00:13:17,849 Hey! We need to get to the reactor hall. 149 00:13:17,931 --> 00:13:20,931 -The lift's destroyed. -Up two flights and across. 150 00:13:21,015 --> 00:13:24,432 -Right. -Why are you going there? 151 00:13:24,515 --> 00:13:26,640 (distant alarm blaring) 152 00:13:32,931 --> 00:13:37,181 (clangs echoing) 153 00:13:39,015 --> 00:13:41,765 -(clangs) -(grunts) 154 00:13:43,682 --> 00:13:45,724 Have you seen Khodemchuk? 155 00:13:45,807 --> 00:13:48,265 -No. Where's Viktor? -Still in the pump room. 156 00:13:49,849 --> 00:13:52,682 -(Perevozschenko vomits) -Stay here. I'll come back. 157 00:13:55,557 --> 00:13:57,265 Viktor! 158 00:14:11,724 --> 00:14:13,807 (man coughing) 159 00:14:15,557 --> 00:14:16,599 Viktor. 160 00:14:16,682 --> 00:14:19,807 -(coughing) -Viktor. 161 00:14:21,056 --> 00:14:23,724 Viktor. I'm gonna get you out of here. 162 00:14:23,807 --> 00:14:25,682 -Can you stand? -(coughs) 163 00:14:25,765 --> 00:14:27,973 (weakly): Khodemchuk... 164 00:14:28,056 --> 00:14:29,724 Where? 165 00:14:32,098 --> 00:14:34,307 Viktor (gasping): Get Khodemchuk. 166 00:14:37,973 --> 00:14:40,973 (fluttering) 167 00:14:51,599 --> 00:14:54,015 (metal groaning) 168 00:14:56,807 --> 00:14:58,973 (gasping) 169 00:15:07,098 --> 00:15:10,973 (distant sirens approaching) 170 00:15:16,056 --> 00:15:17,307 (alarms blaring, buzzing) 171 00:15:17,390 --> 00:15:19,432 I dropped the control rods from the other panel. 172 00:15:19,515 --> 00:15:21,223 -Akimov: They're still up. -Dyatlov: What? 173 00:15:21,307 --> 00:15:23,724 They're still only a third of the way in, I don't know why. 174 00:15:23,807 --> 00:15:26,265 I already sent the trainees down to the reactor hall to lower them by hand. 175 00:15:26,348 --> 00:15:28,307 -What about the pumps? -Toptunov: I can't get through to Khodemchuk. 176 00:15:28,390 --> 00:15:31,015 -The lines are down. -Fuck the phones and fuck Khodemchuk. 177 00:15:31,098 --> 00:15:32,515 -Are the pumps on or not? -Stolyarchuk? 178 00:15:32,599 --> 00:15:34,098 My control panel's not working. 179 00:15:34,181 --> 00:15:35,599 I tried calling for the electricians. 180 00:15:35,682 --> 00:15:37,307 I don't give a shit about the panel! 181 00:15:37,390 --> 00:15:39,931 I need water in my reactor core! 182 00:15:40,015 --> 00:15:42,557 Get down there and make sure those pumps are on. 183 00:15:43,724 --> 00:15:45,307 Now! 184 00:15:52,724 --> 00:15:56,390 -What does the dosimeter say? -3.6 roentgen, but that's as high as the meter-- 185 00:15:56,473 --> 00:15:59,223 3.6-- not great, not terrible. 186 00:16:07,140 --> 00:16:09,348 (in undertone): We did everything right. 187 00:16:13,015 --> 00:16:16,265 (sirens wailing) 188 00:16:27,931 --> 00:16:30,056 (sirens wailing) 189 00:16:39,890 --> 00:16:43,890 (indistinct radio transmissions) 190 00:16:46,432 --> 00:16:48,223 (indistinct shouting) 191 00:16:53,724 --> 00:16:56,015 Commander: You, connect those hooks! 192 00:16:59,515 --> 00:17:01,015 (men shouting) 193 00:17:01,098 --> 00:17:02,473 Commander: Get the pumps going! 194 00:17:02,557 --> 00:17:04,807 Man: Yeah, over here! 195 00:17:08,473 --> 00:17:11,557 -(alarms blaring) -Man: We're working bottom to top. Go in fast. 196 00:17:15,098 --> 00:17:18,599 ♪ ♪ 197 00:17:32,473 --> 00:17:34,056 Vasily... 198 00:17:35,432 --> 00:17:38,098 -Hey, Vasily, what's this? -I don't know, Misha. 199 00:17:38,181 --> 00:17:40,682 Don't fuck around with it. Hook these up, come on. 200 00:17:46,265 --> 00:17:47,724 Do you taste metal? 201 00:17:47,807 --> 00:17:51,015 -Yeah, what is that? -I don't know. 202 00:17:52,765 --> 00:17:54,307 The valves, Misha! The valves, let's go! 203 00:17:54,390 --> 00:17:56,015 The valves! Come on! 204 00:17:59,849 --> 00:18:01,973 (sirens wailing) 205 00:18:10,973 --> 00:18:12,890 (footsteps echoing) 206 00:18:12,973 --> 00:18:15,140 (distant siren wailing) 207 00:18:28,473 --> 00:18:29,557 What do you need? 208 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:31,890 We need to get into the reactor hall 209 00:18:31,973 --> 00:18:34,390 to lower the control rods, but the door is jammed. 210 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:37,599 I don't think there are control rods. 211 00:18:37,682 --> 00:18:39,348 I don't think there's a core. 212 00:18:41,515 --> 00:18:43,390 No, you're-- you're mistaken. 213 00:18:44,348 --> 00:18:45,640 Akimov said. 214 00:19:03,056 --> 00:19:04,390 Let's go. 215 00:19:17,348 --> 00:19:18,973 (Misha wailing): No! 216 00:19:19,056 --> 00:19:22,807 -(Misha screaming) -Ignatenko, get on his hose! 217 00:19:22,890 --> 00:19:24,724 It's all right. Breathe. 218 00:19:24,807 --> 00:19:26,473 -(Misha whimpering) -Misha. 219 00:19:26,557 --> 00:19:28,557 All right, all right. Easy, Misha. 220 00:19:31,849 --> 00:19:34,181 (grunts) 221 00:19:34,265 --> 00:19:36,390 (groaning) 222 00:19:51,265 --> 00:19:53,599 ♪ ♪ 223 00:19:56,599 --> 00:19:59,640 (alarms buzzing) 224 00:20:05,432 --> 00:20:07,265 Are you sure? 225 00:20:08,724 --> 00:20:10,056 Akimov... 226 00:20:14,432 --> 00:20:16,724 -(men grunting) -(metal scraping) 227 00:20:23,432 --> 00:20:24,973 Move. 228 00:20:32,015 --> 00:20:34,015 (grunting) 229 00:20:35,307 --> 00:20:36,973 Come on, go! 230 00:20:40,307 --> 00:20:42,140 (grunts, speaks indistinctly) 231 00:20:42,807 --> 00:20:44,931 (grunts, panting) 232 00:20:47,849 --> 00:20:50,640 (door creaking) 233 00:21:01,432 --> 00:21:04,432 ♪ ♪ 234 00:21:13,849 --> 00:21:15,931 (grunts) 235 00:21:16,015 --> 00:21:17,599 Let's go! 236 00:21:17,682 --> 00:21:19,015 Let's go! 237 00:21:20,515 --> 00:21:21,890 Hey! 238 00:21:21,973 --> 00:21:23,557 (gasps) 239 00:21:26,515 --> 00:21:28,557 (groans) 240 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:29,807 Hey! 241 00:21:29,890 --> 00:21:32,015 (alarm buzzing) 242 00:21:34,890 --> 00:21:37,348 (panting) 243 00:21:41,348 --> 00:21:43,473 (people chattering) 244 00:21:45,515 --> 00:21:48,348 (distant sirens wailing) 245 00:21:50,348 --> 00:21:52,640 Woman: Lyudmilla! Do you want to come with us? 246 00:21:52,724 --> 00:21:54,015 Come where? 247 00:21:54,098 --> 00:21:56,181 We're going to the railroad bridge to get a better look. 248 00:21:56,265 --> 00:21:58,640 It's not like anyone can sleep with all the sirens. 249 00:21:58,724 --> 00:22:00,890 I don't think you should go. It could be dangerous. 250 00:22:00,973 --> 00:22:04,140 What do you mean dangerous? It's a fire. It's over there, we're over here. 251 00:22:04,223 --> 00:22:05,849 -Mikhail. -What? 252 00:22:07,390 --> 00:22:09,348 Oh, sorry. 253 00:22:09,432 --> 00:22:11,015 Oh. 254 00:22:13,724 --> 00:22:16,307 -Oksana: Is Vasily...? -Yeah. 255 00:22:16,390 --> 00:22:17,973 Did he say it was bad? 256 00:22:18,056 --> 00:22:19,973 No. No, he said it was just the roof. 257 00:22:20,056 --> 00:22:21,390 Well, he's never gotten hurt before. 258 00:22:21,473 --> 00:22:23,098 None of the boys have. 259 00:22:24,181 --> 00:22:25,849 He'll be fine. 260 00:22:27,181 --> 00:22:28,557 Get some rest. 261 00:22:32,223 --> 00:22:34,390 (distant sirens continuing) 262 00:22:40,056 --> 00:22:42,015 Dyatlov: The tank, it's big enough. 263 00:22:42,098 --> 00:22:46,348 This kind of explosion, the control tank on 71, it's 100 cubic meters. 264 00:22:46,432 --> 00:22:47,765 One hundred and ten. 265 00:22:47,849 --> 00:22:50,599 Hundred and ten. It could do this, definitely. 266 00:22:50,682 --> 00:22:54,015 (panting): It's gone. 267 00:22:54,098 --> 00:22:56,181 I looked right into it. 268 00:22:56,265 --> 00:22:57,973 I looked into the core. 269 00:22:59,098 --> 00:23:01,849 Did you lower the control rods or not? 270 00:23:01,931 --> 00:23:04,307 (retching) 271 00:23:04,390 --> 00:23:06,765 Take him to the infirmary. 272 00:23:08,265 --> 00:23:09,973 Toptunov, take him! 273 00:23:13,390 --> 00:23:17,098 -Where's Kudryavstev? -He fell. 274 00:23:17,181 --> 00:23:20,223 -Toptunov: I need a medic! Anyone! -He's delusional. 275 00:23:20,307 --> 00:23:22,724 -His face... -Ruptured condenser lines. 276 00:23:22,807 --> 00:23:24,724 The feedwater is mildly contaminated. 277 00:23:24,807 --> 00:23:26,473 He'll be fine. I've seen worse. 278 00:23:26,557 --> 00:23:28,973 Do we still have a phone line to the outside? 279 00:23:30,807 --> 00:23:33,515 -Akimov? -(grunts) 280 00:23:33,599 --> 00:23:35,640 Call in the day shift. 281 00:23:36,849 --> 00:23:39,223 -But if the-- -We have to keep water flowing into the core. 282 00:23:39,307 --> 00:23:42,640 We need electricians, mechanics, we need bodies. 283 00:23:43,432 --> 00:23:46,015 How many times do I have to say it? 284 00:23:53,931 --> 00:23:56,098 I'm going to the Administration Building now 285 00:23:56,181 --> 00:23:58,724 to call Bryukhanov and Fomin. 286 00:23:58,807 --> 00:24:01,223 They're gonna want a full report. 287 00:24:02,265 --> 00:24:06,098 Now, I don't know if I can make things better for you, 288 00:24:06,181 --> 00:24:09,015 but I can certainly make them worse. 289 00:24:11,015 --> 00:24:13,640 Call in the day shift, Comrade Akimov. 290 00:24:17,181 --> 00:24:18,849 Yes, Comrade Dyatlov. 291 00:24:27,348 --> 00:24:29,307 (sighs) 292 00:24:31,973 --> 00:24:33,307 (door closes) 293 00:24:51,557 --> 00:24:54,557 -(woman moans softly) -You're doing fine. 294 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:56,557 Raise her up. 295 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:01,307 That one, maybe an hour. 296 00:25:01,390 --> 00:25:03,557 This one, not until morning. 297 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:09,599 -How's it downstairs, doctor? -Quiet. 298 00:25:09,682 --> 00:25:11,390 Always is. 299 00:25:11,473 --> 00:25:14,223 Nothing at this hour but babies. 300 00:25:15,098 --> 00:25:17,973 You know, I once went two days without sleep? 301 00:25:18,056 --> 00:25:20,682 Ten women went into labor at the same time. 302 00:25:20,765 --> 00:25:23,140 -Did I ever tell you that story? -Yes. 303 00:25:25,265 --> 00:25:27,015 Well, I won't need you in here for a while. 304 00:25:27,098 --> 00:25:29,890 If you want, get some rest in the break room. 305 00:25:30,765 --> 00:25:32,931 They haven't brought anyone in from the fire. 306 00:25:33,015 --> 00:25:36,098 -What fire? -The power plant. 307 00:25:36,765 --> 00:25:39,765 Oh. Then it mustn't be too bad. 308 00:25:41,015 --> 00:25:42,765 Do we stock iodine? 309 00:25:42,849 --> 00:25:44,765 -Hmm? -Iodine. 310 00:25:45,931 --> 00:25:50,056 -You mean disinfectant? -No, pills. Does the hospital stock iodine pills? 311 00:25:50,140 --> 00:25:53,098 Iodine pills? Why would we have iodine pills? 312 00:25:53,807 --> 00:25:55,931 (phone rings) 313 00:25:58,765 --> 00:26:00,807 (phone rings) 314 00:26:03,890 --> 00:26:05,223 (phone rings) 315 00:26:05,307 --> 00:26:07,599 Hello? (coughing) 316 00:26:08,682 --> 00:26:10,098 Hello? 317 00:26:17,265 --> 00:26:19,140 Who else knows this? 318 00:26:21,015 --> 00:26:22,682 Have you called Fomin? 319 00:26:23,973 --> 00:26:25,890 Of course I want you to call him. 320 00:26:25,973 --> 00:26:28,181 If I'm up, he's up. 321 00:26:30,807 --> 00:26:33,599 ♪ ♪ 322 00:26:51,223 --> 00:26:53,640 (sirens wailing) 323 00:27:06,515 --> 00:27:08,432 Fomin: Whatever the cause, the important thing is 324 00:27:08,515 --> 00:27:10,223 that neither you nor I-- 325 00:27:30,890 --> 00:27:32,931 ♪ ♪ 326 00:27:44,599 --> 00:27:47,098 (heavy door thudding) 327 00:27:51,348 --> 00:27:53,348 I take it the safety test was a failure? 328 00:27:53,432 --> 00:27:56,682 -We have the situation under control. -Fomin: Under control? 329 00:27:56,765 --> 00:27:59,557 -It doesn't look like it's under control. -Shut up, Fomin. 330 00:28:00,890 --> 00:28:03,515 I have to tell the Central Committee about this. Do you realize that? 331 00:28:03,599 --> 00:28:05,890 I have to get on the phone and tell Maryin, 332 00:28:05,973 --> 00:28:07,432 or God forbid Frolyshev, 333 00:28:07,515 --> 00:28:09,223 that my power plant is on fire. 334 00:28:09,307 --> 00:28:11,724 No one can blame you for this, Director Bryukhanov. 335 00:28:11,807 --> 00:28:13,515 Of course no one can blame me for this. 336 00:28:13,599 --> 00:28:16,765 How can I be responsible? I was sleeping. 337 00:28:17,599 --> 00:28:19,931 Tell me what happened, quickly. 338 00:28:21,390 --> 00:28:25,098 We ran the test exactly as Chief Engineer Fomin approved. 339 00:28:25,181 --> 00:28:27,807 Unit Shift Chief Akimov and Engineer Toptunov 340 00:28:27,890 --> 00:28:30,348 encountered technical difficulties leading 341 00:28:30,432 --> 00:28:33,765 to an accumulation of hydrogen in the control system tank. 342 00:28:33,849 --> 00:28:35,390 It regrettably ignited, 343 00:28:35,473 --> 00:28:38,098 damaging the plant, setting the roof on fire. 344 00:28:40,348 --> 00:28:42,223 The tank is quite large. 345 00:28:42,307 --> 00:28:44,348 It's the only logical explanation. 346 00:28:44,432 --> 00:28:47,890 Of course, Deputy Chief Engineer Dyatlov 347 00:28:47,973 --> 00:28:50,599 was directly supervising the test, 348 00:28:50,682 --> 00:28:52,098 so he would know best. 349 00:28:52,181 --> 00:28:54,473 -Bryukhanov: A hydrogen tank, fire... -(pen scribbling) 350 00:28:56,515 --> 00:28:58,557 -Reactor? -We're taking measures to ensure 351 00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:01,056 a steady flow of water through the core. 352 00:29:01,140 --> 00:29:04,098 -What about radiation? -Obviously, down here it's nothing. 353 00:29:04,181 --> 00:29:06,890 But in the reactor building, I'm being told 354 00:29:06,973 --> 00:29:09,015 3.6 roentgen per hour. 355 00:29:09,098 --> 00:29:11,265 Well, that's not great, but it's not horrifying. 356 00:29:11,348 --> 00:29:12,931 Not at all. 357 00:29:13,015 --> 00:29:16,056 -From the feedwater, I assume? -Mm-hmm. 358 00:29:16,140 --> 00:29:18,432 We'll have to limit shifts 359 00:29:18,515 --> 00:29:20,599 to six hours at a time, but otherwise... 360 00:29:20,682 --> 00:29:23,265 The dosimetrists should be checking regularly. 361 00:29:24,140 --> 00:29:28,056 Have them use the good meter from the safe. 362 00:29:29,140 --> 00:29:32,307 Right. I'll call Maryin. 363 00:29:33,265 --> 00:29:35,515 Have them wake up the local executive committee. 364 00:29:35,599 --> 00:29:37,765 There'll be orders coming down. 365 00:29:37,849 --> 00:29:40,890 (crowd murmuring) 366 00:29:43,515 --> 00:29:44,973 -Here. -(whispers): No. 367 00:29:45,056 --> 00:29:47,682 You sure? Okay. 368 00:29:50,682 --> 00:29:53,348 -What do you think makes the colors? -Oh... 369 00:29:54,015 --> 00:29:57,390 -It's the fuel for sure. -"Oh. It's the fuel for sure"? 370 00:29:57,473 --> 00:30:00,890 What do you know about it? You clean floors at a train station. 371 00:30:00,973 --> 00:30:02,682 My friend, Yuri, works at the power plant. 372 00:30:02,765 --> 00:30:04,348 He says it runs cold. 373 00:30:04,432 --> 00:30:06,223 No gas, no fire. Just atoms. 374 00:30:07,015 --> 00:30:09,473 Yuri says the only thing is, you can't walk right up to the fuel. 375 00:30:09,557 --> 00:30:12,432 If you do, a glass of vodka an hour for four hours. 376 00:30:12,515 --> 00:30:15,432 (laughs) Isn't Yuri a plumber? 377 00:30:15,515 --> 00:30:17,931 At the nuclear power plant, yeah. 378 00:30:24,473 --> 00:30:26,056 It is beautiful. 379 00:30:27,098 --> 00:30:28,724 Yeah. 380 00:30:30,890 --> 00:30:32,931 ♪ ♪ 381 00:30:35,973 --> 00:30:39,348 (wind blowing softly) 382 00:30:53,599 --> 00:30:55,973 ♪ ♪ 383 00:31:26,765 --> 00:31:28,807 ♪ ♪ 384 00:31:39,348 --> 00:31:41,473 (distant alarm wailing) 385 00:31:44,973 --> 00:31:46,931 (coughing) 386 00:32:20,348 --> 00:32:22,348 Do you have a cigarette? 387 00:32:47,640 --> 00:32:49,640 Do you need help? 388 00:32:55,640 --> 00:32:57,724 It's over. 389 00:32:59,890 --> 00:33:02,056 (distant sirens continuing) 390 00:33:17,223 --> 00:33:20,390 (trickling, pattering) 391 00:33:35,223 --> 00:33:37,724 ♪ ♪ 392 00:33:49,473 --> 00:33:51,724 (indistinct shouting) 393 00:34:01,807 --> 00:34:03,515 We've done all we can from the perimeter. 394 00:34:03,599 --> 00:34:06,432 We need to start making our way to the roof. 395 00:34:12,432 --> 00:34:15,765 Vasily! You've gotta put it out. 396 00:34:19,140 --> 00:34:22,181 Pravik: That's enough, comrades. We're pushing ahead. 397 00:34:28,307 --> 00:34:29,931 Pravik: Come on, boys. 398 00:34:35,599 --> 00:34:37,473 Vasily, it's just past, straight up. 399 00:34:37,557 --> 00:34:39,473 All the way up, all the way in. 400 00:34:41,515 --> 00:34:43,015 Come on! 401 00:34:46,640 --> 00:34:48,682 ♪ ♪ 402 00:34:55,140 --> 00:34:57,307 Fireman: Yeah. Going in now. 403 00:35:15,890 --> 00:35:19,181 ♪ ♪ 404 00:35:38,098 --> 00:35:40,307 (distant alarms blaring, buzzing) 405 00:35:44,473 --> 00:35:46,724 What about the auxiliary? 406 00:35:46,807 --> 00:35:50,223 The pumps are gone, electrical's gone. 407 00:35:50,307 --> 00:35:54,223 -The core? -I didn't go in there, and I won't. 408 00:35:56,223 --> 00:35:58,473 -I think it's time we faced-- -No, we have to get water into the core. 409 00:35:58,557 --> 00:36:00,307 Otherwise, there'll be a meltdown. 410 00:36:00,390 --> 00:36:02,307 We have to open the valves. 411 00:36:02,390 --> 00:36:04,599 -Sasha... -What do you want, Boris? 412 00:36:04,682 --> 00:36:06,473 If it's true, then we're dead, a million people are dead. 413 00:36:06,557 --> 00:36:08,724 Is that what you need to hear? 414 00:36:10,181 --> 00:36:12,140 We have to open the valves. 415 00:36:12,223 --> 00:36:14,348 -By hand. -By hand? 416 00:36:14,432 --> 00:36:16,973 You know, the number of valves, the amount of time to turn them, 417 00:36:17,056 --> 00:36:18,682 you're talking about hours in there! 418 00:36:18,765 --> 00:36:20,307 -Then help us. -Help you do what? 419 00:36:20,390 --> 00:36:23,724 Pump water into a ditch? There's nothing there! 420 00:36:32,931 --> 00:36:34,890 Leonid, I'm begging you. 421 00:36:48,265 --> 00:36:49,931 Watch the panel while we're gone. 422 00:36:50,015 --> 00:36:51,473 It's not working. 423 00:36:52,557 --> 00:36:54,390 Just watch it. 424 00:36:59,265 --> 00:37:00,890 (door closes) 425 00:37:11,849 --> 00:37:13,223 (crying) 426 00:37:13,307 --> 00:37:15,973 (distant sirens wailing) 427 00:37:16,056 --> 00:37:17,807 Worker: I guess we know why they called us in early. 428 00:37:17,890 --> 00:37:20,557 Sitnikov: Is anyone saying what happened? 429 00:37:20,640 --> 00:37:22,890 Worker: They were running the safety test on the turbines, 430 00:37:22,973 --> 00:37:25,098 blew the control system tank. 431 00:37:26,223 --> 00:37:27,640 It doesn't make sense to me either. 432 00:37:29,390 --> 00:37:31,515 What about sabotage? 433 00:37:31,599 --> 00:37:33,140 A bomb? 434 00:37:34,015 --> 00:37:37,473 Sitnikov! Bryukhanov wants us to use the good dosimeter, 435 00:37:37,557 --> 00:37:40,348 but it's in the safe, and we can't find the key. 436 00:37:40,432 --> 00:37:43,765 It's in Building 2. Hasn't--? 437 00:37:43,849 --> 00:37:45,515 Follow me. 438 00:37:47,557 --> 00:37:49,515 (door opens) 439 00:37:56,931 --> 00:37:58,432 Gentlemen, welcome. 440 00:37:58,515 --> 00:38:01,682 Please, uh, find a seat. Plenty of room. 441 00:38:01,765 --> 00:38:05,265 I apologize for the lateness of the hour. 442 00:38:05,348 --> 00:38:09,432 Rest assured, we are all very safe down here. 443 00:38:09,515 --> 00:38:12,181 We built this shelter to withstand a nuclear attack 444 00:38:12,265 --> 00:38:15,557 by the Americans, so I think we'll be fine. 445 00:38:17,265 --> 00:38:19,599 As you can see, we have experienced an accident. 446 00:38:19,682 --> 00:38:22,265 A large control tank malfunctioned, 447 00:38:22,348 --> 00:38:26,223 damaging reactor Building 4 and starting a fire. 448 00:38:26,307 --> 00:38:29,973 Now, I have spoken directly to Deputy Secretary Maryin. 449 00:38:30,056 --> 00:38:32,307 Maryin spoke to Deputy Chief Frolyshev, 450 00:38:32,390 --> 00:38:35,599 Frolyshev to Central Committee member Dolgikh, 451 00:38:35,682 --> 00:38:38,973 and Dolgikh to General Secretary Gorbachev. 452 00:38:39,056 --> 00:38:40,890 Now... 453 00:38:40,973 --> 00:38:46,223 Because the Central Committee has the greatest respect 454 00:38:46,307 --> 00:38:50,265 for the work of the Pripyat Executive Committee, 455 00:38:50,348 --> 00:38:54,348 they have asked me to brief you on matters as they stand, so... 456 00:38:55,890 --> 00:38:59,640 First, the accident... (stammers) is well under control. 457 00:38:59,724 --> 00:39:04,973 And second, because the efforts of the Soviet nuclear industry 458 00:39:05,056 --> 00:39:08,765 are considered key state secrets, it is important 459 00:39:08,849 --> 00:39:12,181 that we ensure that this incident 460 00:39:12,265 --> 00:39:14,348 has no adverse consequences. 461 00:39:14,432 --> 00:39:18,557 Now, to prevent a panic, the Central Committee have ordered 462 00:39:18,640 --> 00:39:21,515 a detachment of military police to Pripyat. 463 00:39:21,599 --> 00:39:23,432 How large of a detachment? 464 00:39:24,849 --> 00:39:26,890 Between two and four thousand men. 465 00:39:26,973 --> 00:39:29,015 (murmuring) 466 00:39:29,098 --> 00:39:32,931 What's really going on here? How dangerous is this? 467 00:39:33,015 --> 00:39:37,015 There's mild radiation, but it's limited to the plant itself. 468 00:39:37,098 --> 00:39:40,181 -Petrov: No, it isn't. -Excuse me? 469 00:39:40,265 --> 00:39:44,181 You saw men outside vomiting. 470 00:39:44,265 --> 00:39:46,098 You saw men with burns. 471 00:39:47,181 --> 00:39:49,557 There's more radiation than they're saying. 472 00:39:49,640 --> 00:39:51,931 We have wives here, we have children. 473 00:39:52,015 --> 00:39:54,724 I say we evacuate the town. 474 00:39:54,807 --> 00:39:56,557 Bryukhanov: Gentlemen-- 475 00:39:56,640 --> 00:40:00,849 Please, please. My wife is here. 476 00:40:00,931 --> 00:40:02,973 Do you think I would keep her in Pripyat 477 00:40:03,056 --> 00:40:04,390 if it wasn't safe? 478 00:40:04,473 --> 00:40:08,098 Bryukhanov, the air is glowing. 479 00:40:08,181 --> 00:40:11,223 The Cherenkov effect. Completely normal phenomenon. 480 00:40:11,307 --> 00:40:13,181 It can happen with minimal radiation. 481 00:40:13,265 --> 00:40:17,724 -(murmuring) -(loud tapping) 482 00:40:17,807 --> 00:40:19,973 (murmuring stops) 483 00:40:23,599 --> 00:40:27,640 I wonder how many of you know the name of this place. 484 00:40:29,807 --> 00:40:33,390 We all call it "Chernobyl," of course. 485 00:40:33,473 --> 00:40:35,807 What is its real name? 486 00:40:37,265 --> 00:40:40,724 The Vladimir I. Lenin Nuclear Power Station. 487 00:40:40,807 --> 00:40:42,849 Exactly. 488 00:40:44,973 --> 00:40:48,849 Vladimir I. Lenin. 489 00:40:55,973 --> 00:40:59,682 And how proud he would be of you all tonight. 490 00:41:00,724 --> 00:41:03,015 Especially you, young man, 491 00:41:04,015 --> 00:41:06,890 and the passion you have for the people. 492 00:41:07,682 --> 00:41:11,890 For is that not the sole purpose of the apparatus of the State? 493 00:41:13,557 --> 00:41:15,640 Sometimes, we forget. 494 00:41:16,849 --> 00:41:19,515 Sometimes, we fall prey to fear. 495 00:41:21,390 --> 00:41:25,181 But our faith in Soviet socialism 496 00:41:25,265 --> 00:41:28,181 will always be rewarded. 497 00:41:30,348 --> 00:41:34,599 Now, the State tells us the situation here is not dangerous. 498 00:41:34,682 --> 00:41:37,223 Have faith, comrades. 499 00:41:38,849 --> 00:41:42,307 The State tells us it wants to prevent a panic. 500 00:41:42,390 --> 00:41:44,599 Listen well. 501 00:41:47,056 --> 00:41:51,265 It's true, when the people see the police, they will be afraid. 502 00:41:52,599 --> 00:41:54,724 But it is my experience 503 00:41:55,890 --> 00:41:57,973 that when the people ask questions 504 00:41:58,056 --> 00:42:01,348 that are not in their own best interest, 505 00:42:01,432 --> 00:42:03,348 they should simply be told 506 00:42:03,432 --> 00:42:05,599 to keep their minds on their labor 507 00:42:06,599 --> 00:42:11,473 and leave matters of the State to the State. 508 00:42:13,140 --> 00:42:15,223 We seal off the city. 509 00:42:16,390 --> 00:42:18,056 No one leaves. 510 00:42:18,765 --> 00:42:20,890 And cut the phone lines. 511 00:42:20,973 --> 00:42:23,765 Contain the spread of misinformation. 512 00:42:26,432 --> 00:42:29,223 That is how we keep the people 513 00:42:29,307 --> 00:42:32,473 from undermining the fruits of their own labor. 514 00:42:35,515 --> 00:42:37,307 Yes, comrades... 515 00:42:38,599 --> 00:42:42,640 we will all be rewarded for what we do here tonight. 516 00:42:44,973 --> 00:42:49,473 This is our moment to shine. 517 00:42:54,265 --> 00:42:56,599 (applause continues within) 518 00:43:01,640 --> 00:43:02,849 Thank you. 519 00:43:15,307 --> 00:43:18,307 Comrade Sitnikov to see the Chief Engineer. 520 00:43:31,181 --> 00:43:32,348 Well? 521 00:43:34,307 --> 00:43:35,849 (clears throat) 522 00:43:38,973 --> 00:43:42,181 I sent my dosimetrists into the reactor building. 523 00:43:43,515 --> 00:43:44,973 The large dosimeter from the safe, 524 00:43:45,056 --> 00:43:46,890 the one with the 1,000-roentgen capacity-- 525 00:43:46,973 --> 00:43:48,307 What was the number? 526 00:43:51,557 --> 00:43:52,765 There was none. 527 00:43:52,849 --> 00:43:55,724 The meter burned out the second it was turned on. 528 00:43:56,557 --> 00:43:58,432 -It's typical. -See? This is what Moscow does. 529 00:43:58,515 --> 00:44:01,640 Sends us shit equipment, then wonders why things go wrong. 530 00:44:01,724 --> 00:44:03,931 We found another dosimeter 531 00:44:04,015 --> 00:44:05,973 from the military fire department. 532 00:44:06,056 --> 00:44:09,015 It only goes to 200 roentgen, but it's better than the small ones. 533 00:44:09,098 --> 00:44:10,223 And? 534 00:44:11,473 --> 00:44:13,348 It maxed out. 535 00:44:13,432 --> 00:44:15,015 Two hundred roentgen. 536 00:44:17,515 --> 00:44:19,599 What game are you playing? 537 00:44:19,682 --> 00:44:21,098 No, I--I-- 538 00:44:21,181 --> 00:44:24,807 I asked him, he took multiple measurements, he's my best man. 539 00:44:24,890 --> 00:44:27,557 It's another faulty meter. You're wasting our time. 540 00:44:27,640 --> 00:44:29,390 I checked the meter against the control. 541 00:44:29,473 --> 00:44:31,724 What's wrong with you? How'd you get that number 542 00:44:31,807 --> 00:44:34,056 from feedwater leaking from a blown tank? 543 00:44:37,557 --> 00:44:41,098 -You don't. -Then what the fuck are you talking about? 544 00:44:45,223 --> 00:44:47,098 I, um... (clears throat) 545 00:44:48,931 --> 00:44:52,432 I walked around the exterior of Building 4. 546 00:44:53,473 --> 00:44:56,931 I think there's graphite on the ground in the rubble. 547 00:44:57,931 --> 00:44:59,724 You didn't see graphite. 548 00:45:00,640 --> 00:45:02,557 -I did. -You didn't. 549 00:45:03,473 --> 00:45:07,265 You didn't! Because it's not there! 550 00:45:08,140 --> 00:45:09,765 What? 551 00:45:09,849 --> 00:45:13,348 Are you suggesting the core... what? 552 00:45:13,432 --> 00:45:15,599 Exploded? 553 00:45:17,265 --> 00:45:18,599 Yes. 554 00:45:27,015 --> 00:45:28,307 Sitnikov. 555 00:45:29,557 --> 00:45:32,098 You're a nuclear engineer, so am I. 556 00:45:32,181 --> 00:45:38,390 Please tell me how an RBMK reactor core explodes. 557 00:45:38,473 --> 00:45:42,140 Not a meltdown, an explosion. 558 00:45:42,223 --> 00:45:43,973 I'd love to know. 559 00:45:45,140 --> 00:45:46,473 I can't. 560 00:45:47,348 --> 00:45:48,849 Are you stupid? 561 00:45:49,973 --> 00:45:52,765 -No. -Then why can't you? 562 00:45:54,098 --> 00:45:55,682 I... (stammers) 563 00:45:57,640 --> 00:46:00,265 I don't see how it could explode. 564 00:46:02,640 --> 00:46:04,390 -But it did. -Dyatlov: Enough! 565 00:46:04,473 --> 00:46:06,265 I'll go up to the vent block roof. 566 00:46:06,348 --> 00:46:09,724 From there you can look right down into reactor Building 4. 567 00:46:09,807 --> 00:46:13,473 I'll see it with my own... my own eyes. 568 00:46:13,557 --> 00:46:16,181 (vomiting) 569 00:46:19,724 --> 00:46:21,307 I apologize. 570 00:46:22,807 --> 00:46:24,557 Guards! Guards! 571 00:46:25,515 --> 00:46:28,849 Get him to the medic or the hospital! Whatever he needs! 572 00:46:36,181 --> 00:46:38,307 (groaning) 573 00:46:44,931 --> 00:46:48,181 It's the feedwater. Been around it all night. 574 00:46:50,557 --> 00:46:51,890 You go then. 575 00:46:54,890 --> 00:46:56,390 What? 576 00:46:56,473 --> 00:47:00,849 -Go to the vent block roof and report back what you see. -No. 577 00:47:04,432 --> 00:47:08,265 -No, I won't do that. -Of course you will. 578 00:47:13,390 --> 00:47:16,724 You'll be fine. You'll see. 579 00:47:18,056 --> 00:47:19,557 Come on. 580 00:47:35,098 --> 00:47:37,140 (sloshing) 581 00:48:00,890 --> 00:48:02,265 Okay. 582 00:48:03,931 --> 00:48:05,432 Let's begin. 583 00:48:09,265 --> 00:48:11,765 (creaking) 584 00:48:13,473 --> 00:48:15,015 Leonid. 585 00:48:18,640 --> 00:48:20,015 Leonid. 586 00:48:21,140 --> 00:48:22,473 Oh... 587 00:48:26,473 --> 00:48:28,348 (grunts) 588 00:48:28,432 --> 00:48:30,557 Akimov: It's all the way, okay? 589 00:48:30,640 --> 00:48:32,765 All the way open. 590 00:48:34,973 --> 00:48:37,098 (creaking) 591 00:48:41,473 --> 00:48:42,807 I'm sorry. 592 00:48:43,931 --> 00:48:45,807 (crying) 593 00:48:46,807 --> 00:48:48,724 There's nothing to be sorry for. 594 00:48:48,807 --> 00:48:52,140 I told you, we did nothing wrong. 595 00:48:54,682 --> 00:48:56,181 But we did. 596 00:49:02,265 --> 00:49:05,181 -(creaking) -(sobbing) 597 00:49:09,473 --> 00:49:11,515 ♪ ♪ 598 00:49:12,931 --> 00:49:15,015 (door creaks open) 599 00:49:43,348 --> 00:49:45,890 ♪ ♪ 600 00:50:09,557 --> 00:50:12,015 ♪ ♪ 601 00:50:26,056 --> 00:50:28,140 ♪ ♪ 602 00:50:48,390 --> 00:50:50,557 ♪ ♪ 603 00:51:28,849 --> 00:51:34,640 ♪ ♪ 604 00:51:38,849 --> 00:51:43,015 -(running footsteps) -(distant shouting) 605 00:51:50,348 --> 00:51:52,223 (indistinct shouting) 606 00:52:06,599 --> 00:52:10,557 (sirens wailing) 607 00:52:20,931 --> 00:52:23,890 (phone ringing) 608 00:52:29,223 --> 00:52:32,557 -(grunting) -(phone continuing) 609 00:52:44,265 --> 00:52:45,390 Hello? 610 00:52:45,473 --> 00:52:47,181 - Valery Legasov? -Yes. 611 00:52:47,265 --> 00:52:49,807 You are the Legasov who is the First Deputy Director 612 00:52:49,890 --> 00:52:52,390 of the Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy? 613 00:52:52,473 --> 00:52:54,973 -I am. Who am I--? - This is Boris Shcherbina, 614 00:52:55,056 --> 00:52:57,056 Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers 615 00:52:57,140 --> 00:52:59,765 and head of the Bureau for Fuel and Energy. 616 00:52:59,849 --> 00:53:04,599 There's been an accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. 617 00:53:04,682 --> 00:53:05,849 How bad is it? 618 00:53:05,931 --> 00:53:08,098 No. No need to panic. There was a fire. 619 00:53:08,181 --> 00:53:11,140 It's mostly put out. The system control tank exploded. 620 00:53:11,223 --> 00:53:14,765 Control system tank. And the core? 621 00:53:14,849 --> 00:53:18,015 We've ordered them to continuously pump water. 622 00:53:18,098 --> 00:53:20,765 Yes, I see. Any contamination? 623 00:53:20,849 --> 00:53:23,682 It's mild. The plant manager, Bryukhanov, is reporting 624 00:53:23,765 --> 00:53:25,265 3.6 roentgen per hour. 625 00:53:25,348 --> 00:53:27,515 That's actually significant. You should evacuate the sur-- 626 00:53:27,599 --> 00:53:32,015 You're an expert on RBMK reactors, correct? 627 00:53:32,098 --> 00:53:36,307 -Yes, I've studied-- -General Secretary Gorbachev has appointed a committee 628 00:53:36,390 --> 00:53:40,015 to manage the accident. You're on it. 629 00:53:40,098 --> 00:53:42,265 We'll convene at two this afternoon. 630 00:53:42,348 --> 00:53:45,432 That late? Forgive me, but don't you think 631 00:53:45,515 --> 00:53:47,265 given the amount of radiation that it would be-- 632 00:53:47,348 --> 00:53:50,140 Legasov, you're on this committee to answer direct questions 633 00:53:50,223 --> 00:53:53,056 about the function of an RBMK reactor 634 00:53:53,140 --> 00:53:56,098 if they should happen to arise. Nothing else. 635 00:53:56,181 --> 00:53:58,890 Certainly not policy. Do you understand? 636 00:53:58,973 --> 00:54:01,890 -Yes, of course. I didn't mean to-- -(line clicks) 637 00:54:01,973 --> 00:54:04,098 (sighs) 638 00:54:08,931 --> 00:54:10,390 (sighs) 639 00:54:10,473 --> 00:54:12,599 ♪ ♪ 640 00:54:24,640 --> 00:54:26,807 (valves creaking) 641 00:54:49,724 --> 00:54:52,181 ♪ ♪ 642 00:55:10,682 --> 00:55:12,849 ♪ ♪ 643 00:55:26,056 --> 00:55:28,265 ♪ ♪ 644 00:55:34,931 --> 00:55:37,515 (children chattering, shouting playfully) 645 00:55:48,599 --> 00:55:50,724 ♪ ♪ 646 00:56:17,265 --> 00:56:19,390 ♪ ♪ 647 00:56:45,473 --> 00:56:47,599 ♪ ♪ 648 00:57:16,724 --> 00:57:18,849 ♪ ♪ 649 00:57:52,181 --> 00:57:54,473 ♪ ♪ 650 00:58:30,724 --> 00:58:31,765 ♪ ♪ 651 00:58:52,348 --> 00:58:53,849 BORIS SHCHERBINA: I'm pleased to report that 652 00:58:53,931 --> 00:58:55,931 the situation in Chernobyl is stable. 653 00:58:58,265 --> 00:58:59,473 In terms of radiation, 654 00:58:59,557 --> 00:59:02,140 I'm told it's the equivalent of a chest X-ray. 655 00:59:05,432 --> 00:59:06,307 No! 656 00:59:06,765 --> 00:59:09,098 The fire is giving off nearly twice the radiation 657 00:59:09,181 --> 00:59:10,973 released by the bomb in Hiroshima. 658 00:59:12,056 --> 00:59:13,557 It will burn and spread its poison 659 00:59:13,640 --> 00:59:15,849 until the entire continent is dead. 660 00:59:16,265 --> 00:59:18,765 ♪ (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS) ♪ 661 00:59:18,849 --> 00:59:19,931 (PSA IN RUSSIAN) 662 00:59:20,265 --> 00:59:21,515 MAN: Tell our soldiers, 663 00:59:22,807 --> 00:59:23,890 "You will need to move quickly, 664 00:59:23,973 --> 00:59:26,015 and you will need to move carefully. 665 00:59:27,599 --> 00:59:30,682 These are the most important 90 seconds of your lives. 666 00:59:32,473 --> 00:59:34,682 I wish you good health and long life." 667 00:59:35,890 --> 00:59:37,473 WORKER: I serve the Soviet Union. 668 00:59:38,056 --> 00:59:39,724 WORKER 2: I serve the Soviet Union. 669 00:59:40,432 --> 00:59:42,098 WORKER 3: I serve the Soviet Union. 670 00:59:42,973 --> 00:59:44,807 ♪ (MUSIC INTENSIFIES) ♪ 671 00:59:47,931 --> 00:59:49,599 (RADIO CLATTERS) 672 00:59:50,849 --> 00:59:52,931 The official position of the state 673 00:59:53,557 --> 00:59:55,682 is that a global nuclear catastrophe 674 00:59:55,765 --> 00:59:57,765 is not possible in the Soviet Union. 675 01:00:09,849 --> 01:00:11,724 VALERY LEGASOV: What is the cost of lies? 676 01:00:12,056 --> 01:00:14,682 -(RECORDER CLICKS) -♪ (TENSE MUSIC PLAYS) ♪ 677 01:00:16,348 --> 01:00:18,307 CRAIG MAZIN: One of the big choices we had to make was 678 01:00:18,390 --> 01:00:20,432 how to deal with the fact that our hero 679 01:00:20,515 --> 01:00:22,307 ultimately ends up taking his own life. 680 01:00:22,390 --> 01:00:23,348 (CHAIR FALLS) 681 01:00:23,807 --> 01:00:26,181 We felt from the very start that we should begin with it. 682 01:00:26,515 --> 01:00:29,473 JARED HARRIS: Right away, you know what the cost of it was. 683 01:00:29,557 --> 01:00:31,432 That also signals to you 684 01:00:31,515 --> 01:00:33,890 as to that isn't what the story is about. 685 01:00:34,307 --> 01:00:36,931 MAZIN: The story of Chernobyl is shocking enough. 686 01:00:37,015 --> 01:00:39,473 We didn't feel like we should be building up to that moment 687 01:00:39,557 --> 01:00:42,015 and then shocking people in the final episode. 688 01:00:42,098 --> 01:00:44,473 We wanted them to know right up front. 689 01:00:44,557 --> 01:00:45,724 This is what happens. 690 01:00:45,890 --> 01:00:47,265 This man is going to die, 691 01:00:47,765 --> 01:00:50,931 and this nuclear reactor is exploding. 692 01:00:51,890 --> 01:00:53,849 That, in a sense, isn't the interesting part. 693 01:00:53,931 --> 01:00:56,599 The interesting part is why, and what now? 694 01:00:59,098 --> 01:01:02,473 JOHAN RENCK: That whole episode takes place over five, six hours 695 01:01:02,557 --> 01:01:03,807 immediately after the accident. 696 01:01:03,890 --> 01:01:06,265 You're spending one night with the firefighters 697 01:01:06,348 --> 01:01:09,348 and this massive, massive beast that they're wrestling with, 698 01:01:09,432 --> 01:01:11,223 getting pummeled by radiation and fire 699 01:01:11,307 --> 01:01:13,223 and dying in front of the power plant. 700 01:01:15,557 --> 01:01:19,015 HARRIS: How insidious the idea of radioactive contamination was 701 01:01:19,098 --> 01:01:21,640 because you can't see it, and you can't feel it. 702 01:01:21,973 --> 01:01:23,807 There's an existential threat to them. 703 01:01:24,056 --> 01:01:26,890 DANIEL PARKER: The research I did for this production was horrible. 704 01:01:27,098 --> 01:01:29,432 Possibly the most gruesome way to die 705 01:01:29,515 --> 01:01:31,682 is by severe radiation poisoning. 706 01:01:32,265 --> 01:01:34,265 The body melts from the inside out 707 01:01:34,599 --> 01:01:35,890 and the outside in. 708 01:01:36,849 --> 01:01:38,682 RENCK: On the other side of that fire, 709 01:01:38,765 --> 01:01:42,056 you have the state refusing to accept what happened 710 01:01:42,140 --> 01:01:44,432 and suppressing the truth completely. 711 01:01:44,765 --> 01:01:47,931 MAZIN: Their first instinct was the most Soviet instinct. 712 01:01:48,348 --> 01:01:49,390 Tell no one. 713 01:01:50,265 --> 01:01:51,724 Cut the phone lines. 714 01:01:52,682 --> 01:01:54,765 Contain the spread of misinformation. 715 01:01:55,098 --> 01:01:58,557 MAZIN: That character represent a certain philosophy 716 01:01:58,640 --> 01:02:00,390 that was being brought to bear that night, 717 01:02:00,473 --> 01:02:02,098 a philosophy that goes all the way back 718 01:02:02,181 --> 01:02:04,015 to the Russian Revolution. I wanted somebody 719 01:02:04,098 --> 01:02:06,307 who represented that true belief 720 01:02:06,390 --> 01:02:08,473 in a dream of a utopia that 721 01:02:08,557 --> 01:02:10,307 never was going to be and never was, 722 01:02:10,390 --> 01:02:11,640 but who was still clinging to it. 723 01:02:12,265 --> 01:02:15,473 In moments of terror, people turn to their delusions, 724 01:02:15,557 --> 01:02:18,640 and in that moment, you see the triumph of delusion. 725 01:02:20,640 --> 01:02:22,599 You can contain information. 726 01:02:22,682 --> 01:02:25,307 You can't contain nuclear isotopes. 727 01:02:25,390 --> 01:02:26,973 The truth was no longer... 728 01:02:27,056 --> 01:02:28,973 something that could be hidden away. 729 01:02:32,265 --> 01:02:34,640 ♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ 730 01:02:37,640 --> 01:02:38,765 (CREAKING) 731 01:02:39,181 --> 01:02:42,724 CRAIG MAZIN: What's fascinating to me is not that Chernobyl exploded. 732 01:02:42,807 --> 01:02:44,140 It's the cost of lies. 733 01:02:44,599 --> 01:02:48,390 When people choose to lie, and when everyone engages 734 01:02:48,473 --> 01:02:52,265 in a very passive conspiracy to promote the lie, 735 01:02:52,348 --> 01:02:55,056 we can get away with it for a very long time. 736 01:02:55,432 --> 01:02:57,181 But the truth just doesn't care. 737 01:02:58,015 --> 01:02:59,140 And it will get you. 738 01:02:59,807 --> 01:03:01,098 PETER SAGAL: Hi, it's Peter Sagal. 739 01:03:01,181 --> 01:03:02,682 I'm hosting a very different podcast. 740 01:03:02,765 --> 01:03:05,849 It is about the extraordinary series Chernobyl. 741 01:03:06,390 --> 01:03:08,765 You can subscribe now so you don't miss an episode. 742 01:03:08,849 --> 01:03:12,724 Believe me, you will want to talk about this TV show.