Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes (2022) Movie Script
1
(TICKING)
(APPLAUSE ON TV)
Swan Lake Op.20, Act II:
Dance of the Cygnets
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
It does now seem like that sometime
in the last couple of days
there's been perhaps the worst
accident in the short history
of the world's nuclear
power industry.
In Moscow, Western diplomats have
spent the day trying to get
In Moscow, Western diplomats have
spent the day trying to get
more information about
the accident with no success.
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
NEWS READER: A zone with a 19 mile
radius around Chernobyl remains
NEWS READER: A zone with a 19 mile
radius around Chernobyl remains
a poisoned no man's land.
Soviet television tonight
accused the western media
Soviet television tonight
accused the western media
of spreading slanderous inventions
about the Chernobyl accident.
(CROWD APPLAUDING)
(TENSE MUSIC)
(MARCHING BAND PLAYS)
(WOMAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(WOMAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN ON FILM)
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN ON FILM)
(SOFT VIOLIN MUSIC)
(SOFT VIOLIN MUSIC)
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(MAN IN MARKETING VIDEO)
OLEKSIY:
OLEKSIY:
LYUDMILA:
LYUDMILA:
MAN ON MARKETING VIDEO:
MAN ON MARKETING VIDEO:
(BABIES CRYING)
(BABIES CRYING)
OLEKSIY:
(CHUCKLES)
(CHUCKLES)
MAN IN MARKETING VIDEO:
OLEKSIY:
LYUDMILA:
(TICKING GROWING LOUDER)
(SILENCE)
(KLAXON BLASTS)
(KLAXON BLASTS)
(PHONELINE RINGING)
(WOMAN SPEAKING TO MALE FIREFIGHTER)
LYUDMILA:
(BUILDING STATIC)
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN) OLEKSIY:
MAN IN HELICOPTER:
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
OLEKSIY:
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
(BUZZING INTENSIFIES)
(BUZZING INTENSIFIES)
(CONSTANT STATIC)
(CONSTANT STATIC)
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(FAINT SIRENS)
(FAINT SIRENS)
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING FAINTLY)
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING FAINTLY)
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
LYUDMILA:
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
OLEKSANDR:
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
(BUZZING INTENSIFIES)
(CLOCK TICKING)
(PROPELLERS)
(WOMAN SPEAKING OVER PA)
(WOMAN SPEAKING OVER PA)
OLEKSANDR:
(WOMAN ON PA)
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
GENERAL NIKOLAI:
(DOGS BARKING)
(DOGS BARKING)
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
MAN SPEAKING IN VIDEO:
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
ARCHIVE VIDEO:
ARCHIVE VIDEO:
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZES, INTENSIFIES)
It's now clear that the Soviet Union
has suffered one of the worst
It's now clear that the Soviet Union
has suffered one of the worst
disasters in the history
of nuclear power.
Massive quantities of radiation have
apparently been released
in an accident at the Chernobyl
Power Station in the Ukraine.
In an accident at the Chernobyl
Power Station in the Ukraine.
The Soviet version is this, one of
the atomic reactors
at the Chernobyl Atomic Power Plant
in the city of Kyiv was damaged
at the Chernobyl Atomic Power Plant
in the city of Kyiv was damaged
and there is speculation in Moscow
that people were injured
and may have died.
The Soviets may have been fairly
quick to acknowledge the accident
The Soviets may have been fairly
quick to acknowledge the accident
because evidence in the form of
mild and nuclear radiation
have already reached beyond
the Soviet borders to Scandinavia.
Have already reached beyond
the Soviet borders to Scandinavia.
There are indications the accident
could have happened
several days ago,
it would take that long for
radiation to drift to Scandinavia
and to make the political decision
to announce it.
And to make the political decision
to announce it.
You can be sure that the decision
to, to disclose was made at
the very highest level,
undoubtedly by Gorbachev himself.
The very highest level,
undoubtedly by Gorbachev himself.
The Soviet press is paying
significantly little attention
to the disaster,
newspapers carry only
the brief official announcement
inconspicuously placed.
The brief official announcement
inconspicuously placed.
People have noticed a small
paragraph but seemed unaware
of the potential dangers.
People in the cities,
towns and villages of the Ukraine
People in the cities,
towns and villages of the Ukraine
just haven't been told
what dangers they may face.
MAN ON ARCHIVE VIDEO:
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
TRANSLATION:
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
MINER:
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZES INTENSELY)
On the eve of the 7 Nation Summit in
Tokyo both Mrs Thatcher and
On the eve of the 7 Nation Summit in
Tokyo both Mrs Thatcher and
President Reagan have urged the
Russians to say more about Chernobyl.
Meeting with Italy's Premier Craxi
Mr Reagan was demanding answers
Meeting with Italy's Premier Craxi
Mr Reagan was demanding answers
from the Russians.
Come forward and tell everybody
exactly what happened.
You can hardly call this kind of
an accident internal affair
You can hardly call this kind of
an accident internal affair
when other countries are threatened
with the fall out of ra-
when other countries are threatened
with the fall out of ra-
dangerous radioactivity.
A report in this morning's
community party newspaper Pravda
indicates that the fire at the power
station still may not have been
indicates that the fire at the power
station still may not have been
put out 10 days after it started.
The newspaper says there was
an explosion followed by two fires
at the plant.
At the plant.
The Pravda pays tribute to
the firemen whose efforts it says
limited the scale of
the damage considerably.
Brave bold men it calls them,
fighting courageously, hardly
Brave bold men it calls them,
fighting courageously, hardly
able to breath for soot and smoke,
their boots sticking in the asphalt
melted by the high temperatures.
LYUDMILA:
TRANSLATION:
TRANSLATION:
LYUDMILA:
(HEARTBEAT ON ULTRASOUND)
(HEARTBEAT ON ULTRASOUND)
As an American I'm very privileged
to be able to represent
As an American I'm very privileged
to be able to represent
in the Soviet Union
the concern of Americans.
In the Soviet Union
the concern of Americans.
LYUDMILA:
We have agreed to a joint Soviet
American effort in this regard.
OLEKSIY BREUS:
LYUDMILA:
GORBACHEV:
TRANSLATION:
TRANSLATION:
(GEIGER COUNTERS BUZZING)
(GEIGER COUNTERS BUZZING)
Until the accident there were 50
nuclear reactors operating in
the Soviet Union generating 11% of
that nations electricity.
The Soviet Union generating 11% of
that nations electricity.
Most of the larger Soviet plants
differ in design to US reactors,
the major difference is most Soviet
nuclear plants do not have
containment buildings,
the thick concrete dome structures
Americans are used to
seeing built around US reactors.
When the worst American nuclear
accident occurred at
When the worst American nuclear
accident occurred at
Three Mile Island most leaking
radiation was kept inside
the containment building.
If as seems to be the case
there was no containment
If as seems to be the case
there was no containment
around the reactor as is
the general-
Can we be sure of that? What do you-
I do not, I do not know.
Do you think there's
a containment building?
I don't think that there is a
containment building because
the policy of Soviet atomic er,
constructors was that
the reactor's absolutely safe and so
there is no need to have
the reactor's absolutely safe and so
there is no need to have
this kind of precaution because it
indicate possibility of disaster
which Russian always can, considered
er, absolutely impossible.
Which Russian always can, considered
er, absolutely impossible.
So going to be clear about this,
you're, you're going as far
as to say you think it almost
certain or just probable
as to say you think it almost
certain or just probable
there was no protective shield
around this reactor
which appears to have melted down?
No I think that there is no
protection, protection shield
No I think that there is no
protection, protection shield
around this reactor's certainly
the case because the building
as such indicate
that there is no shield.
Walter Pattison, if that is so
what is the danger to life?
Walter Pattison, if that is so
what is the danger to life?
Well obviously if radioactivity got
as far as Scandinavia how long,
however long it took to get there,
a great deal must have escaped
however long it took to get there,
a great deal must have escaped
close to the site.
(MARCHING BAND MUSIC PLAYS)
What has been remarkable is how much
the Soviet people
in spite of all the evidence
still seem to be believing
the fairy stories the government is
still telling them.
The fairy stories the government is
still telling them.
It could be argued Martin that only
the Soviet Union could have
kept a lid on what might have been
a situation of public panic,
kept a lid on what might have been
a situation of public panic,
only a totalitarian state
could have got away with it.
I'm not sure they have
got away with it.
I'm not sure they have
got away with it.
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
YURI:
ARCHIVE:
ARCHIVE:
YURI:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
YURI:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
MAN ON SPEAKER:
MAN ON SPEAKER:
IHOR YATSKIV:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
IHOR:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
NIKOLAI:
NIKOLAI:
(KLAXON SOUNDING)
NIKOLAI:
(KLAXON SOUNDING)
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
(PROLONGED ALARM TONE)
GORBACHEV:
GORBACHEV:
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
(BABIES CRYING)
(BABIES CRYING)
WOMAN IN FOOTAGE:
WOMAN IN FOOTAGE:
OLEKSIY BREUS:
YEVGENIY CHAZOV:
WOMAN IN FOOTAGE:
OLEKSIY:
OLEKSIY:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
LEONID ILYIN:
OLEKSIY:
WOMAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
OLEKSIY:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
OLEKSIY:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
OLEKSIY:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
The Russians say the Chernobyl
accident was caused by no fewer
than 6 violations of safety
procedures by staff,
than 6 violations of safety
procedures by staff,
that they say won't happen again.
(GUNFIRE)
Sunday's outbreak of fighting is
only the latest in four months
of violence in the tiny
Caucasian republic of Georgia.
Spasms of unrest in the Soviet Union
were felt in the southern republics
of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The rebellion against communist
authority has now spread
and there's almost certainly more
trouble to come.
The decision to send in troops was
taken by President Gorbachev.
The decision to send in troops was
taken by President Gorbachev.
Swan Lake Op.20, Act II:
Dance of the Cygnets
AccessibleCustomerService@sky.uk
(TICKING)
(APPLAUSE ON TV)
Swan Lake Op.20, Act II:
Dance of the Cygnets
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
It does now seem like that sometime
in the last couple of days
there's been perhaps the worst
accident in the short history
of the world's nuclear
power industry.
In Moscow, Western diplomats have
spent the day trying to get
In Moscow, Western diplomats have
spent the day trying to get
more information about
the accident with no success.
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
NEWS READER: A zone with a 19 mile
radius around Chernobyl remains
NEWS READER: A zone with a 19 mile
radius around Chernobyl remains
a poisoned no man's land.
Soviet television tonight
accused the western media
Soviet television tonight
accused the western media
of spreading slanderous inventions
about the Chernobyl accident.
(CROWD APPLAUDING)
(TENSE MUSIC)
(MARCHING BAND PLAYS)
(WOMAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(WOMAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN ON FILM)
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN ON FILM)
(SOFT VIOLIN MUSIC)
(SOFT VIOLIN MUSIC)
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(MAN IN MARKETING VIDEO)
OLEKSIY:
OLEKSIY:
LYUDMILA:
LYUDMILA:
MAN ON MARKETING VIDEO:
MAN ON MARKETING VIDEO:
(BABIES CRYING)
(BABIES CRYING)
OLEKSIY:
(CHUCKLES)
(CHUCKLES)
MAN IN MARKETING VIDEO:
OLEKSIY:
LYUDMILA:
(TICKING GROWING LOUDER)
(SILENCE)
(KLAXON BLASTS)
(KLAXON BLASTS)
(PHONELINE RINGING)
(WOMAN SPEAKING TO MALE FIREFIGHTER)
LYUDMILA:
(BUILDING STATIC)
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN) OLEKSIY:
MAN IN HELICOPTER:
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
OLEKSIY:
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
(BUZZING INTENSIFIES)
(BUZZING INTENSIFIES)
(CONSTANT STATIC)
(CONSTANT STATIC)
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(FAINT SIRENS)
(FAINT SIRENS)
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING FAINTLY)
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING FAINTLY)
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
LYUDMILA:
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
OLEKSANDR:
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
(BUZZING INTENSIFIES)
(CLOCK TICKING)
(PROPELLERS)
(WOMAN SPEAKING OVER PA)
(WOMAN SPEAKING OVER PA)
OLEKSANDR:
(WOMAN ON PA)
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
GENERAL NIKOLAI:
(DOGS BARKING)
(DOGS BARKING)
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
MAN SPEAKING IN VIDEO:
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
ARCHIVE VIDEO:
ARCHIVE VIDEO:
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZES, INTENSIFIES)
It's now clear that the Soviet Union
has suffered one of the worst
It's now clear that the Soviet Union
has suffered one of the worst
disasters in the history
of nuclear power.
Massive quantities of radiation have
apparently been released
in an accident at the Chernobyl
Power Station in the Ukraine.
In an accident at the Chernobyl
Power Station in the Ukraine.
The Soviet version is this, one of
the atomic reactors
at the Chernobyl Atomic Power Plant
in the city of Kyiv was damaged
at the Chernobyl Atomic Power Plant
in the city of Kyiv was damaged
and there is speculation in Moscow
that people were injured
and may have died.
The Soviets may have been fairly
quick to acknowledge the accident
The Soviets may have been fairly
quick to acknowledge the accident
because evidence in the form of
mild and nuclear radiation
have already reached beyond
the Soviet borders to Scandinavia.
Have already reached beyond
the Soviet borders to Scandinavia.
There are indications the accident
could have happened
several days ago,
it would take that long for
radiation to drift to Scandinavia
and to make the political decision
to announce it.
And to make the political decision
to announce it.
You can be sure that the decision
to, to disclose was made at
the very highest level,
undoubtedly by Gorbachev himself.
The very highest level,
undoubtedly by Gorbachev himself.
The Soviet press is paying
significantly little attention
to the disaster,
newspapers carry only
the brief official announcement
inconspicuously placed.
The brief official announcement
inconspicuously placed.
People have noticed a small
paragraph but seemed unaware
of the potential dangers.
People in the cities,
towns and villages of the Ukraine
People in the cities,
towns and villages of the Ukraine
just haven't been told
what dangers they may face.
MAN ON ARCHIVE VIDEO:
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZING)
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
TRANSLATION:
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
MINER:
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
(GEIGER COUNTER BUZZES INTENSELY)
On the eve of the 7 Nation Summit in
Tokyo both Mrs Thatcher and
On the eve of the 7 Nation Summit in
Tokyo both Mrs Thatcher and
President Reagan have urged the
Russians to say more about Chernobyl.
Meeting with Italy's Premier Craxi
Mr Reagan was demanding answers
Meeting with Italy's Premier Craxi
Mr Reagan was demanding answers
from the Russians.
Come forward and tell everybody
exactly what happened.
You can hardly call this kind of
an accident internal affair
You can hardly call this kind of
an accident internal affair
when other countries are threatened
with the fall out of ra-
when other countries are threatened
with the fall out of ra-
dangerous radioactivity.
A report in this morning's
community party newspaper Pravda
indicates that the fire at the power
station still may not have been
indicates that the fire at the power
station still may not have been
put out 10 days after it started.
The newspaper says there was
an explosion followed by two fires
at the plant.
At the plant.
The Pravda pays tribute to
the firemen whose efforts it says
limited the scale of
the damage considerably.
Brave bold men it calls them,
fighting courageously, hardly
Brave bold men it calls them,
fighting courageously, hardly
able to breath for soot and smoke,
their boots sticking in the asphalt
melted by the high temperatures.
LYUDMILA:
TRANSLATION:
TRANSLATION:
LYUDMILA:
(HEARTBEAT ON ULTRASOUND)
(HEARTBEAT ON ULTRASOUND)
As an American I'm very privileged
to be able to represent
As an American I'm very privileged
to be able to represent
in the Soviet Union
the concern of Americans.
In the Soviet Union
the concern of Americans.
LYUDMILA:
We have agreed to a joint Soviet
American effort in this regard.
OLEKSIY BREUS:
LYUDMILA:
GORBACHEV:
TRANSLATION:
TRANSLATION:
(GEIGER COUNTERS BUZZING)
(GEIGER COUNTERS BUZZING)
Until the accident there were 50
nuclear reactors operating in
the Soviet Union generating 11% of
that nations electricity.
The Soviet Union generating 11% of
that nations electricity.
Most of the larger Soviet plants
differ in design to US reactors,
the major difference is most Soviet
nuclear plants do not have
containment buildings,
the thick concrete dome structures
Americans are used to
seeing built around US reactors.
When the worst American nuclear
accident occurred at
When the worst American nuclear
accident occurred at
Three Mile Island most leaking
radiation was kept inside
the containment building.
If as seems to be the case
there was no containment
If as seems to be the case
there was no containment
around the reactor as is
the general-
Can we be sure of that? What do you-
I do not, I do not know.
Do you think there's
a containment building?
I don't think that there is a
containment building because
the policy of Soviet atomic er,
constructors was that
the reactor's absolutely safe and so
there is no need to have
the reactor's absolutely safe and so
there is no need to have
this kind of precaution because it
indicate possibility of disaster
which Russian always can, considered
er, absolutely impossible.
Which Russian always can, considered
er, absolutely impossible.
So going to be clear about this,
you're, you're going as far
as to say you think it almost
certain or just probable
as to say you think it almost
certain or just probable
there was no protective shield
around this reactor
which appears to have melted down?
No I think that there is no
protection, protection shield
No I think that there is no
protection, protection shield
around this reactor's certainly
the case because the building
as such indicate
that there is no shield.
Walter Pattison, if that is so
what is the danger to life?
Walter Pattison, if that is so
what is the danger to life?
Well obviously if radioactivity got
as far as Scandinavia how long,
however long it took to get there,
a great deal must have escaped
however long it took to get there,
a great deal must have escaped
close to the site.
(MARCHING BAND MUSIC PLAYS)
What has been remarkable is how much
the Soviet people
in spite of all the evidence
still seem to be believing
the fairy stories the government is
still telling them.
The fairy stories the government is
still telling them.
It could be argued Martin that only
the Soviet Union could have
kept a lid on what might have been
a situation of public panic,
kept a lid on what might have been
a situation of public panic,
only a totalitarian state
could have got away with it.
I'm not sure they have
got away with it.
I'm not sure they have
got away with it.
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
YURI:
ARCHIVE:
ARCHIVE:
YURI:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
YURI:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
MAN ON SPEAKER:
MAN ON SPEAKER:
IHOR YATSKIV:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
IHOR:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
NIKOLAI:
NIKOLAI:
(KLAXON SOUNDING)
NIKOLAI:
(KLAXON SOUNDING)
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
(PROLONGED ALARM TONE)
GORBACHEV:
GORBACHEV:
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
(BABIES CRYING)
(BABIES CRYING)
WOMAN IN FOOTAGE:
WOMAN IN FOOTAGE:
OLEKSIY BREUS:
YEVGENIY CHAZOV:
WOMAN IN FOOTAGE:
OLEKSIY:
OLEKSIY:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
LEONID ILYIN:
OLEKSIY:
WOMAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN:
OLEKSIY:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
OLEKSIY:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
OLEKSIY:
MAN IN FOOTAGE:
The Russians say the Chernobyl
accident was caused by no fewer
than 6 violations of safety
procedures by staff,
than 6 violations of safety
procedures by staff,
that they say won't happen again.
(GUNFIRE)
Sunday's outbreak of fighting is
only the latest in four months
of violence in the tiny
Caucasian republic of Georgia.
Spasms of unrest in the Soviet Union
were felt in the southern republics
of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The rebellion against communist
authority has now spread
and there's almost certainly more
trouble to come.
The decision to send in troops was
taken by President Gorbachev.
The decision to send in troops was
taken by President Gorbachev.
Swan Lake Op.20, Act II:
Dance of the Cygnets
AccessibleCustomerService@sky.uk