KIROV

The Right Reverend Hewlett Johnston (a cameo appearance by Stonesky himself) makes an Alistair-Cooke-style introductory talk, holding his book, "The Soviet Power." This film will show how a diligent investigator, backed by sound progressive leadership, saved the Soviet people from catastrophe.

2. Adolf Hitler's conference room, Berlin (Germany), 1934--

Nazi military and economic officials confer with anti-Soviet traitors: Trotsky, Zinoviev, Kamenev, Bukharin, Radek, Rykov, and others. Purpose-- destruction of Soviet power and betrayal of workers and peasants to capitalist slavery.

• Sabotage and wrecking--

  Throughout the USSR, Trotskyite and Zinovievite agents will cause "accidents" in factories and construction sites. Stooges in the reactionary press will blame these "accidents" on overworked, underfed, undertrained workers and shoddy, makeshift equipment.

• Terrorism--

  Bukharinite engineers will poison workers at factory and residential sites, to undermine the survivors' confidence in Soviet rule.

  Elimination of proletarian leadership? First target would naturally be the Organizer and Inspirer of the Gigantic Historic Victories of the Soviet People, I.V. Stalin (5 minutes of fervent applause, against background strains of "Internationale"). Unfortunately for them, no reactionary hireling has the courage to face the Great Leader and Teacher. On 4 separate occasions in the last year, assassins came within range of Him, and, dazzled by His radiance, immediately broke down and confessed their evil intentions.

  This question is put aside for the moment.

• Payoffs--

  The traitors haggle about their pay with the Nazis. Finally they settle for 1 million American dollars in gold each, plus a 1% payoff from each Soviet province occupied by Nazi or Japanese fascist armies. They seal the agreement by kissing Adolf Hitler's ring, one after the other.

• Terrorism (again)--

  It is not yet possible to touch the Brilliant Genius of Humanity, I.V. Stalin (5 minutes stormy applause). Instead the traitors will eliminate lesser leaders, hoping to build up their own confidence and experience. First target will be "the favorite of the whole party," Sergei Mironovich Kirov, beloved protege of the Wise Helmsman Himself!

  
  

• Kirov gives speech praising the Grand Strategist of the Revolution before a wildly enthusiastic audience of workers and peasants.

• A shadowy figure plunges a detonator, blowing up a railroad bridge over a river. A train falls into the water, amid loud screams of the passengers.

• Zinoviev pays British currency to L.V. Nikolaev, and orders him to assassinate Kirov.

• A caldron of molten metal crumbles, spattering death on several steel workers.

• Nikolaev shoots Kirov in the Party Headquarters (former Smolny Institute), Leningrad (now misnamed "Peterburg"), 1 Dec 1934.

  
  

The Father, Leader, Friend, and Teacher of the Soviet People, I.V. Stalin (5 minutes of stormy applause) summons Nikolai Ivanovich Yezhov (Kevin Kostnerov), a leading Chekist (NKVD man), to find all those responsible for the murder of His devoted follower and cherished friend.

5. Short scenes, Moscow--

• Yezhov comforts a peasant woman weeping before Kirov's bier. She turns her tear-stained face to him: "Avenge us, Nikolai Ivanovich!"

• Yezhov seeks clues from three workers burned in a dreadful industrial accident. "Save us, Nikolai Ivanovich!"

• Yezhov finds Zinoviev's British currency in the assassin Nikolaev's apartment.

• Witnesses reveal Nikolaev's covert meetings with Zinoviev.

• Other witnesses testify about Zinoviev's appearance outside various factories soon before serious "accidents." This is more than one Chekist can investigate unaided!

• Yezhov summons Leningrad Chekists with an inspiring call to battle-- the Land of the Soviets is in danger!

• Scattered hideouts of Zinoviev are discovered. Among the contraband revealed: poison gas; British, American, and Swiss banknotes; treasonable correspondence with Trotsky, Kamenev, and Bukharin; an autographed portrait of Hitler.

  Yezhov orders his investigators to keep silent about Kamenev and Bukharin. If the traitors feel secure, they might incautiously lead him to other enemies of the Soviet people.

  
  

• Yezhov stalks Kamenev to a secret depot.

  After Kamenev leaves, the NKVD find more contraband: Nazi uniforms; numerous explosive devices; blueprints of Soviet factories; Czarist railroad bonds; Nazi propaganda leaflets; lists of saboteurs and their payments; a chart of the Soviet Union, divided up into "spheres of influence" for occupying armies of fascist and capitalist powers; treasonable correspondence between Soviet marshal Tukhachevsky and the German Wehrmacht.

  Yezhov finally has the evidence needed to raise a national alarm ...

• Another shadowy figure starts to plunge a detonator as a train approaches a bridge. But this time he is interrupted by a fist to the jaw! Two enraged peasants kick him to the ground before a Chekist grabs him and handcuffs him.

• Led by two Chekists, a squad of workers kicks down the door of a factory storeroom. Inside they find two scientists in Nazi uniforms, rigging up a bomb to destroy the factory. On the wall is a poster of Trotsky. Along the wall are bookcases full of Trotskyite publications.

• The game is up! Trotsky, crudely disguised as a woman, slips into the German embassy. He hides in a trunk, which is taken aboard a German transport plane as "diplomatic pouch."

  
  

Zinoviev and Kamenev confess their guilt to the Soviet people.

9. Reich Chancellery, Berlin--

Trotsky demands his payoff from the Nazis. They throw him out of the office and kick him down the front stairs-- he failed!

10. Moscow, overlooking the May Day parade--

Chekist N.I. Yezhov stands in a place of honor, while the marchers below shout their homage to the Greatest Genius of All Times and Peoples, I.V. Stalin! (5 minutes of fervent applause)

Words flash on screen--
4 years later, Hitlerite Germany treacherously attacked the Soviet Union. Thanks to the vigilance of N.I. Yezhov and thousands of other Chekists, there was no Fifth Column to abet the fascists' bloody deeds. Sergei M. Kirov did not die in vain!
[music of "Internationale"]