Hello.
Can I make a call if I may?
To the United States,
America?
Lines...
- no calls.
- I was thinking...
possibly if there's any way to...
- hook that up?
- First cabin.
How do you do? You've reached
the office of George Gorton.
Tell me everything.
Hi, this is me,
George Gorton.
I'm here in Moscow,
Russia.
It's June 16th 1996...
about 4PM my time.
The reason I'm calling is...
I may be killed today,
or disappear...
in which case I want the police
to know what happened.
We start where we always start.
What we're looking for
is a magic number...
one tiny positive digit that
we can spin in our favor...
and make this funeral
look like a birthday party.
Trust me, it's gonna take a little
bit of creative analysis.
But, in the immortal words
of George Herbert Bush...
- nobody said it was gonna be easy...
- Nobody was right.
Very good!
We don't want the goddamn
poll tomorrow...
we want it yesterday, which means
we better get it today...
or else I'm gonna fly up there
and rip your goddamn windpipe!
- Dick.
- Listen, Dwayne.
Dwayne, I know it's
a mock election.
I don't care. We gotta win, place
or at least show, okay?
What do you mean you don't have
any voters?
Round up some hicks
in Nebraska, bring them to Iowa...
and pay them
to vote for Wilson!
They're pig farmers.
Doesn't have to be kosher.
Oh my gosh. Look who it is.
To what do I owe?
We must be doing
something right, uh?
I don't think so, George.
Your guys got no votes...
no funds and zero party support.
Off the record...
do you really think
you can turn it around?
Off the record?
Okay, here's how we do it.
Pay attention now.
Secrets of the trade.
Put your right hand in,
put your right hand out...
put your right hand in,
shake it all about...
Next part is crucial.
Do the...
No. That's what it's all about.
We're gonna turn it around.
You're never off the record,
are you?
Like you are?
Hey, dinner tonight at eight?
How does that sound?
We can talk.
What do you think?
Really. Hello.
Governor!
Yeah, hang on a second.
Let me go someplace quiet.
Of course, as long as it's
for the good of the campaign.
No.
I'm sure you're making
the right decision.
Let me guess.
Good news.
He wants me to bend over
to Fuller.
"I feel I have to have
national presence, George.
Fuller's better positioned
for it than you are. "
Better positioned?
You've given him 20 years
of your life.
I mean, he'd be the governor
of Bumfuck without you.
This is my early
Christmas bonus.
He doesn't trust me to run
a presidential campaign.
Look, George, we're a team.
You go, we go.
No, you guys stay here.
'Cause a paycheck's a paycheck.
You know, it's a Titanic. Wilson
doesn't stand a rat's chance.
So in a couple more weeks you guys
are gonna be unemployed too.
Our sixth challenge...
is to maintain America's
leadership in the fight...
for freedom and peace
throughout the world.
"Because of
American leadership...
more people than ever before
will live free and at peace. "
and at peace.
And Americans...
Honey, that's amazing.
No, it's not. Dick Morris
wrote that damn speech.
I know Dick's voice
better than I know my own.
- You're sounding jealous.
- Why?
Just because he's whispering
into the president's...
ear while I'm sitting
on my hands...
during a major election year?
Consultant without a campaign.
There it is.
Joe Shumate.
Mr. Shumate, big pleasure.
My name is Felix Braynin.
I'm a Russian-American businessman
and I live in Sausalito.
My references are good
and long.
I faxed as we speak.
You don't sound you're calling
from Sausalito, Mr. Braynin.
Felix, please.
No, you're correct.
I'm in Moscow...
and I'm calling to proposition you,
Mr. Shumate.
Really? Well,
I'm flattered but...
But please, please read the fax
then give me a "but".
Says here you wanna hire
my partners and me...
for a campaign.
Not quite. It says
"The Campaign".
Yes, it does, but it doesn't mention
here who the candidate is.
No. That's correct.
It's not secure.
Not secure?
Mr. Braynin, do you ever intend
to tell us who the candidate is?
You're a smart man.
You can figure it out yourself.
Okay.
Let's see. The Russian
presidential election...
is in five months and...
When you say "The Campaign",
you don't mean the...
No! No names.
Not now.
But yes, your
assumption is correct.
Heaven!
George, it's Joe.
We have to talk.
Joe? You sound tense.
Man, you gotta find
your equilibrium like I did.
I got a guy on the line...
who wants us for a gig.
Wrong number, Joe.
I'm now a full time
spiritual rejuvenator.
The gig is in Russia and I think
it's for Yeltsin.
You think it's for Yeltsin?
- What does the client think?
- He didn't say.
He wouldn't say, not on the phone.
Let me get him on the phone.
You can judge for yourself.
Hang on one second.
Mr. Braynin, you are now on
with my partner George Gorton.
Mr. Gorton, big pleasure.
Name is Felix Braynin.
I'm a Russian-American
businessman.
His references
are good and long, George.
Congratulations, Mr. Braynin.
You make America proud,
I'm sure.
Now, whose campaign do you
want us to work on?
Mr. Gorton, I can't possibly divulge
any more information at this time.
Thanks for your interest, Let us send
you some literature on what we do...
and then you can make
an informed choice.
No, wait.
We know all about you.
You were highly recommended.
Mr. Braynin, could I just put you
on hold for one more second?
We'll be right back with you.
Hang on there.
George, I know
what you're thinking.
And you're about
to fuck yourself?
No, now listen, George.
Okay, he is probably nuts. That
would make a lot of sense...
but did you ever think for a second,
just one second here...
that he actually
may be for real?
I mean, you know,
what if this is Yeltsin?
If?
If my grandmother had balls...
she'd be my grandfather.
George, I need you
to concentrate, okay?
George, listen to me. This is
the first free election in Russia!
The expected voter turnout
is sixty-three percent.
George, that is
ninety million people.
No consultant has ever moved
those kinds of number before.
I mean, for Christ's sake, George,
this could be the Mount Everest...
of consulting.
George?
- Hello.
- Are you listening to me?
Yeah.
No, I'm multitasking.
Let me just get
Dick on the line, okay?
- He's good at cutting the bullshit.
- He's gonna need a big knife.
Hello.
Dick, this is George
and Joe here.
We have a Yakov Smirnoff
on hold.
Says he wants us
for a big gig in Russia...
- maybe for Yeltsin.
F- Y-I...
the biggest election
in the history of democracy.
I'm in. Why not?
I have nothing to do.
Okay, now we're talking.
Hang on.
Mr. Braynin, Dick Dresner
has joined us here.
Mr. Braynin, it's Dick Dresner.
How much money do you have
to spend on this campaign?
Unlimited. Whatever it takes
to win.
For something like this, you're gonna
need state-of-the-art everything.
Offices, telephones,
computers, Internet...
Production facilities
for television and radio.
Do you have all that
in Russia?
Well, if we don't have something,
we'll buy it for you, Mr. Dresner.
- Anything else?
- Yeah, our fee...
is a quarter of a million dollars
plus expenses...
and first class
airline tickets.
Done.
Our only request...
is that this arrangement
be top secret.
Congratulations, my friends.
You're hired.
I'll let the client know
we got the Americans.
- I can't believe how stupid we are.
- What are you talking about, George?
This could be the gig
of all gigs.
Yeah, come on, George!
This is the world stage.
We get Yeltsin re-elected, we're
gonna be hotter than wildfire.
We should have asked
for a million.
I think this was all
a Russian conspiracy...
to get me out of Bali.
I wanna go back and I'm not
giving them a damn refund.
Come on. Keep your pantyhose on.
So, they're a little late.
Russians aren't exactly known
for their punctuality.
Gentlemen,
I'm Felix Braynin.
Welcome to Moscow!
- Good to meet you.
- Nice to...
You look a little cold there.
Welcome, welcome.
Good to see you.
Mr. Braynin, are we or are we not
working for Boris Yeltsin?
Yes, of course we are.
But please...
no names.
Felix, you travel with a lot
of security, yeah?
Just part of doing business
in Russia, my friend.
The homicide rate here...
is twice as high
as in America.
And murders there
are mostly related...
to drugs or gangs.
Here, most of the victims
are businessmen and politicians.
You can take any empty box.
Yeah, any empty space is fine.
Please, do take off your clothes.
What for?
- For banya, of course.
- Who the hell's Banya?
So sorry. This is banya.
Bathhouse.
You want us to take a bath
with you?
Don't worry.
It's a Russian tradition.
Your host insists.
Yeah, but I thought
you were our host.
Me? Oh, no.
I just work for him.
Really? Can I ask you a little
question, Felix, about this bath?
Is it necessary?
We don't want to offend
our host or anything.
- And offended he will be.
- Really?
It's just that we do so much better
in meetings when we're clothed.
- Yeah.
- Correct.
Gentlemen...
you'll be just fine.
George Gorton, Dick Dresner,
Joe Shumate...
meet Andrei Lugov.
They are very nice, yes?
The girls.
They are friends of mine.
You can have them for the night...
or they can live with you.
I'll pay for either.
Thank you, thank you.
That's a very kind offer.
Unfortunately, I'm married,
practically a newlywed.
So, bad timing.
Yeah well, me too.
I'm married...
and my wife is very familiar
with sharp objects.
It's pity, pity!
But, George, you are
a free man.
Yeah, but I make a point
never to pay for it...
even with somebody else's money.
It's a matter of principle.
Principle?
Interesting!
Interesting that you have them.
Goodbye.
Gentlemen, you like
fish eggs?
There was a time when I sold
eggs on the street.
Chicken eggs.
And now...
I own one of the largest
businesses in Russia.
Thank God for democracy.
And for Yeltsin.
Without him I would have nothing.
Sometimes not even the eggs.
The president is behind
in the polls.
Yes, we're aware of that,
Mr. Lugov and we're ready...
to rise the challenge.
We have a system. It's called...
You don't understand.
Yeltsin is the only candidate...
who represents true democracy.
And our democracy is young
and fragile, like a baby.
It's a pant load of shit.
The country is in chaos,
you know?
It's suffering starvation, crime,
organized, not so much.
Look at me.
I have 200 bodyguards...
and do you think I can sleep
at night? Do you?
No. No, I can't.
I'm worrying about the future...
because imagine if
the communists win...
Then we're all screwed, and the
whole world is screwed with us.
It's a catastrophe
of cosmic proportions.
Excuse me, Mr. Lugov.
What line of business
are you in?
Mr. Shumate...
my business is my business.
Okay, gentlemen,
you're hired.
I'll let the president know
that we have Americans.
When can we see Mr. Yeltsin?
Tomorrow or some other day.
Who is to know?
"Who is to know"?
Gentlemen, it went very well...
Andrei is impressed,
I can tell.
What exactly is his role
in the campaign, Mr. Braynin?
Technically, he's not really
a part of the campaign.
He just handles certain monies.
Certain monies.
Is he mafia?
Mafia?
Oh God, no.
He'd have you killed if he
heard you say that.
Welcome to the President Hotel,
gentlemen.
Here in Moscow
it's like the Ritz.
Looks more like The Rock to me.
Where is everybody? Is there
something wrong with this place?
Oh, no. It's top shelf.
It was built
for the Soviet bigwigs.
Hi.
If only these walls could talk.
Friends, please turn in
your passports.
They'll hold them for now.
- I'm sorry?
- For the whole time?
- For while you're here.
- Is this customary?
It's safe. Go ahead.
George, hope you like.
Joe and Dick, your suites
are exactly like this one.
It's nice. This looks nice.
Thanks, Felix. What is this?
Look at this, Dick. Take a look
here isn't that the Kremlin? Is it?
Hey, how's the coffee?
I've had cold piss
that tastes better.
Slight exaggeration.
Dick's in a foul mood.
We've been looking
at the Yeltsin polls.
- So tell me.
- I wanna go back.
Come on, you know...
We knew Yeltsin was trailing...
that's why they brought us here.
He's not trailing. Trailing would
imply some kind of forward movement.
Only six percent
would vote for him.
The commie, Zyuganov,
gets thirty
That is terrible.
What about other candidates?
All ahead.
Reformists, nationalists...
There is even a so-called liberal
democrat called Zhirinovsky.
Apparently he walks around Moscow
in his underwear...
planning an invasion
of Alaska.
- What is that?
- I don't know. We ordered eggs.
Try the sausage.
The eggs are horrible!
Day two...
Yeltsin at six percent,
eggs inedible...
which maybe explains
why he's at six percent
What?
It's notes for a book.
American political consultants
behind the scenes...
in Russia struggling
young democracy.
You don't think
there's a book in this?
A very short one, maybe.
You haven't heard the best part.
If the election were held today...
- apparently Stalin would get 8%
- That's more than Boris.
Joe, Stalin is dead.
Not as dead as Yeltsin.
Good morning, gentlemen.
- Hello.
- Very good news.
I got you a meeting with
Oleg Soskovets right away.
Soskovets?
That is good news!
You wait here a minute.
Okay. Thank you.
Andrei Lugov.
All right, very quickly.
Who in the hell is Soskovets?
I think he's the First
Deputy Prime Minister.
The Russian press have so far ID'd
seven different people...
as Yeltsin's campaign managers.
Soskovets is one of them.
What the heck are they doing
in there? We've been here for 1 hour.
Killing themselves because
they just saw the numbers.
Obviously they're gonna be
concerned about the numbers.
We just have to be blas.
"The numbers are bad but we can
and we will turn it around. "
Are you suggesting that we lie to
the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia?
- Do you have a problem with that?
- No. Just asking.
Please, gentlemen,
do come in.
Please.
- So?
- So...
George Gorton.
Dick Dresner.
How are you?
Joe Shumate.
How is our friend Bill?
Think he will beat Bob Dole?
- Probably.
- Probably.
As Khrushchev said, the only
problem with election...
you never know
who will win.
Clinton won the first time because
Bush refused to believe...
he could lose.
Yeltsin is much the same.
He doesn't trust numbers.
Speaking of which, we've seen
the numbers. Not ideal.
But a lot can change in 4 months.
Especially for the incumbent.
We just gotta get cracking
A- S-A-P.
We have a system. It's called
Election Gaming.
It's basically like...
Here are the rules...
You don't talk to the press...
No leaks at all.
You are never to reveal
who your client is.
It will be a terrible blow
to our national pride.
Your main job is...
to let us know if you determine
that Yeltsin will lose...
- A-S-A-P.
- As soon as possible.
Then we'll take the steps...
Wait, steps?
What do you mean, steps?
What kind of steps?
That's it!
You are hired.
I'll let the president know
we have Americans.
I was gonna take a walk,
maybe you can tell me where...
But you don't speak English.
I'm sorry.
When in Rome, speak Russian.
Me, I'm gonna, how do you say,
promenade-ski...
- I speak.
- You speak!
Walk not advised.
That was a short walk.
- Wasn't advised.
- Told you.
What would happen if I didn't
take their so-called advice?
They'd probably shoot you
in the back...
or say, "Have a nice day. "
Geez, Louise. What a country!
How about those stupid hats
they all wear?
I mean, I know it's cold but,
you know, have a little dignity.
Is anyone else curious about why no
one seems to want to hear our pitch?
I'll tell you why. Because
this whole thing is bullshit.
We've been here one week,
no Yeltsin...
no meeting, no offices.
Nothing.
Maybe A-S-A-P in Russian means...
- when hell freezes over.
- Look outside. It already has.
Let's reach out and touch
somebody, shall we?
Andrei Lugov, please.
George Gorton here.
He what?
He is?
Okay. Thank you.
They said he's too drunk to talk.
- They did not!
- Direct quote.
You know, I don't wanna be
a party poop or anything...
but this whole thing is starting
to smell bad.
- There's an understandment.
- Well, let's not panic, okay?
I mean, look at this rationally.
One, they forked over an awful
lot of money to bring us here.
Two, so far they've given us
VIP treatment.
I mean for Christ's sakes,
they even offered us free sex.
- Which we refuse.
- That was your choice.
And three, they take
our passports...
and lock us up
in a five-star prison...
and apparently no one wants us
to provide the service...
they paid us for.
How am I doing so far?
If I wasn't panicked before,
I'm panicking now.
It all sounds very
Kafka-esque, doesn't it?
Come on, there's gotta be
a logical explanation.
- I mean, why would they do that?
- You want an explanation?
How about this for a scenario?
How about this?
One, Lugov gets this great idea.
"Let's hire in Americans
to save democracy... "
and of course, his money.
Two, he finds Braynin in
Sausalito and says, "Jump".
Three, Braynin says,
"How high", and reaches...
for the Who's Who
of political consulting.
Four, we jump even higher than
Felix because the check clears.
And finally five, Boris
and his seven managers...
they don't like
Lugov's idea anymore...
and so they're trying to figure out
a way they can fuck us up the ass.
How's that?
Know what this whole thing
is starting to remind me of?
- Dallas.
-94.
That's right.
That's right.
Tell you what, there's a Lufthansa
at 10PM through Frankfurt.
All those for getting out
of Dodge, say aye.
No, I think we ought to ride
this out and see where it goes.
Why don't you stay here and ride
it out to see where it goes...
and send me a flipping postcard
when you find out?
Hope I'm not waking you.
Follow me. You got a meeting.
Thanks for the advance notice.
But unless it's with Yeltsin...
- I'm not interested.
- It is with Yeltsin.
Let me get the guys here.
One American is enough for now.
Mr. Gorton, please meet
Tatiana Dyachenko.
Hello. Charmed!
Tatiana's our
president's daughter.
Please, sit down.
Sure. Of course.
My Papa...
he really believes
in the democratic process...
and he truly wants to win...
but democracy is so new here...
nobody really knows
how to do it.
There are so many factions
in my Papa's staff...
they all give him so much
contradictory advice.
And he asked me
to sort things out.
But me, I'm just a mom,
I'm just a wife.
I really don't understand
the politics.
I don't know why he asked me.
Well, maybe he doesn't trust
anybody else.
Do you think that Papa
can win, truthfully?
Truthfully...
Yes, absolutely.
Just gotta give us a chance
to do our job.
Who will tell you what to do?
You and your leadership committee.
- And will tell us what to do?
- We will.
Look, we have a system.
It's called Election Gaming.
I'm sorry but I have to go.
I have kids and...
I'm a wife
and I have to go.
Great. I know you're busy.
Everybody here's busy.
I mean, you bring us here,
you need our help...
but then nobody wants to listen
to what we have to say.
You're right.
It really is important.
- Do go on.
- Really?
Okay. Well, the system...
is called Election Gaming.
It's basically like
War Games...
only we use polls
and focus groups...
to simulate an election.
We test everything, every idea
that the campaign is using...
and thinking of using.
In a nutshell, we find out
what voters want...
and we give it to them.
I can say much more,
but that's essentially it.
It's kind of delicious but that's
the short of it. That's it.
Mr. Gorton...
Uh?
You seem like a truthful man.
I would like you...
and your team...
to consult me
and my family personally.
You're hired.
Good!
When can we meet your father?
Money. Money, right?
How much is a passport worth
on the open market these days?
Sorry, I'm not authorized
to do that.
Not authorized to do. They're not
letting us check out!
Good. We're not leaving.
We got hired.
I'll be so lonely
Baby
I'll be so lonely
I'll be so lonely
I could die
You're telling me we're staying
because you met Chelsea Clinton?
No, no...
Tatiana Dyachenko,
ne Yeltsin.
Graduated from Moscow University...
math and computers,
married, two sons.
We know she can breed, so what?
I'm telling you.
Tatiana is the real deal.
She's gonna be running
the campaign...
and she's gonna be running it
the way we tell her to run it.
Did she let you give her
the Election Gaming spiel?
Yes. Finally.
And she's into it.
I'm telling you.
Okay. So when do we meet Yeltsin?
I want my passport
and I want it now!
- Just a second, Dick.
- No seconds!
You can't run a campaign...
without a candidate, okay?
It's like having
a dog and pony show...
without the pony.
Without the freaking dog!
Dick, Yeltsin can't meet with us.
He's the Russian fucking
president, for Christ's sake.
Imagine DC if it broke that Chinese
were sitting in the Oval Office...
telling our president what to do.
He'd be out of the White House before
saying, "I like fries with that. "
That's right. And think of us.
This is the mother of all gigs.
'Cause if Boris tanks
nobody knows...
we steered the sunken ship.
But if he wins, we make sure
we get the credit...
from bringing him back
from the abyss.
It's a thing of beauty. And besides,
we don't need Boris.
We've got Tatiana,
and she's got his ear.
That's great.
Let's hope we can make
a purse out of it.
Look who's got an office!
We did, that's who.
We're back in the game.
Sixteen weeks left
'til June sixteen.
Lot of candidates to overtake.
And we're getting a late start.
The campaign, I'm sorry to say,
is not perfectly organized.
Now, we haven't done
any polling yet...
but from the 1st look of it, the main
problem with the campaign itself...
is that we are
too many cooks...
and only one pot of borscht.
Meaning to say, no one to take
responsibility for screw-ups.
What screw-ups?
Be specific.
Apparently this is one in a series
of Yeltsin campaign ads.
What he's actually saying is...
how much his life has improved
under Yeltsin.
Well, the man is obviously a liar
and a drunk.
I mean, how has his life improved?
What, is he even drunker now?
What Dick's trying to say
is that...
not too many people
are gonna believe a guy...
who's obviously been paid
to praise the current regime.
Not really as effective
as the candidate himself...
addressing the public.
No.
Papa will never appear
in a television ad.
He will never sell himself
like this.
Well...
apparently he doesn't have
any problem doing this.
He didn't pose for that.
They just used this photograph.
Is it bad?
No, it's not bad if you want
a poster for a horror movie.
He's kidding Again.
No, it's just the shot is...
It's grim. Fierce.
Stop waltzing around the tree.
Are you saying this is hopeless?
That we won't win?
No, certainly not. That's not
what we're saying at all.
What we're saying is...
Let's hold our horses.
No more TV spots, no more
posters, no more mailings.
None of that is working...
so we gotta find out what would.
It is impossible to target
campaign resources...
without analyzing all the moods
and trends in this country.
We need hard facts.
We can't change opinions if we
don't know what they are.
- Just gonna keep burning cash.
- That's right. Exactly.
Let's find the best pollster
in the country...
and start testing.
Soskovets is concerned...
Tatiana has no experience
running the campaign.
Really? Well, no experience
compared to whom?
Seven campaign managers...
apparently they're doing
a bang-up job.
I am to be in all your meetings.
I also want to be briefed
on the agenda in advance.
Is that clear?
No exceptions.
These two will be
your bodyguards, okay?
So, that means whenever
you need to leave the hotel...
call downstairs, they will
come and get you.
You are not supposed to go
anywhere unescorted.
You have to stay inconspicuous.
No big crowds,
no public places...
no campaign functions.
You also cannot
run around Moscow...
saying, "We work
for Yeltsin, blah, blah, blah. "
Okay?
These guys are good
at inconspicuous.
Right, and who exactly
are they protecting us from?
So far, the scariest thing
I've seen around here is them.
Hey, Vasso.
Vasso, my name is
George Gorton.
We talked on the phone.
You watch "Montecito" at home?
Not as often as I'd like.
It's the most popular show here.
Most Russians never saw
a bikini.
I did a poll that confirms this.
Fascinating.
So, how much would it cost us
to do a sample poll?
Who are you?
What is your business?
"Intervista International".
We're bringing thin screen TVs
to Russia.
Obviously it's a pretty
big investment...
so we thought we'd do some general
polling and market R and D.
Sixty thousand per poll.
American dollars.
What, are you nuts?
There's three places here
that will do it for 40 thousand.
But you want the best.
I'm sixty thousand.
It's a deal.
You have a list of questions
you want me to ask?
There you go.
"What do you think of Yeltsin?"
"Is the president
doing a good job?"
"Does Yeltsin care
for a person like you?"
Thin screen TVs, huh?
It's a big investment.
I'm sure you've met
the new Russians.
Young men who drive
fast cars...
wear labels on their underwear...
drink French champagne.
These...
these are the real Russians...
the kind work for a living.
The kind don't get paid.
We always feed them first.
Russians hate to talk
on empty stomach.
That's good to know.
My first question is...
if Yeltsin were a tree...
what kind of a tree would he be?
What the hell's he talking about?
What happened to our questions?
I can't ask your questions.
They're too leading.
Not scientific.
You're asking what kind of tree
Yeltsin would be...
and our questions
are not scientific?
Vasso, no offense,
but we'd really appreciate it...
if you stuck to our questionnaire.
I would not feel comfortable.
I tell you. We paid you a shitload
of money, so get comfortable.
I doubt you sell many TVs,
Dick.
Right.
He does have a point
about the TVs.
Let me rephrase the question.
What do you think about Yeltsin?
Is he doing a good job?
There must be some mistake.
No, no mistake.
The margin for error
is two percent tops.
"Do you approve of the job
Yeltsin is doing?"
Eight percent approve,
fifty-nine percent disapprove.
"Does he care about
a person like you?"
Ten yes, eighty-five no.
Seventy-five percent hold him
responsible for the bad economy...
and sixty-nine percent
think he's corrupt.
Seventy percent blame him
for the war in Chechnya.
And sixty-one percent think
he's too incompetent to lead.
- Fifty-nine percent feel...
- Joe, Joe...
But there's more.
So, you say we can't win.
No. Who said that?
We didn't say that.
Yes, those numbers
are sheer agony.
But there are a few positives.
There's a big block of undecided.
They don't like Yeltsin,
but they might vote for him...
if the only alternative
is a communist.
Many people think
Yeltsin was good once.
See, that's important because
it means they can think it again.
He is good now...
He is trying.
He is a good man.
Your father is a great man...
but, you know, that's a little
less relevant right now.
Who he is isn't as important...
as who people think he is.
Which is why we have
to change his image.
Repackage him.
Repackage?
Papa's not a bar of soap.
No.
I didn't say he was.
But that's what you meant.
I'm not sure I like
your Western politics.
Well, you'll like it if we win,
you'll hate it if we lose.
So, we're gonna have to win
at all costs.
I'll talk to Papa about it.
Dick, rise and shine.
Joe, drop your cock, grab your
socks, we got developments.
What, what, what?
It must have gone well with Poppy.
They want us back at the table
at two AM...
to work on his campaign
kickoff speech.
They want what?
No, wait.
We can't do that.
That's not our job.
We don't know enough about the
issues to write a kickoff speech.
- That never stopped us before.
- I can't bullshit in Russian.
- Joe, where you going?
- I'm going back to bed.
- No, we have an hour.
- An hour?
That's different. I thought
we were in trouble.
Okay.
We give them six bullet points.
The good old bullet point standby.
Enlighten us, professor.
The speech is a kickoff,
so it needs to be kickass.
Yeltsin's gotta come off
as energetic. Vigorous.
Popular, and he needs
a message...
that's topnotch.
Tatiana wants to know
why her father...
needs a massage. To look
more vigorous and energetic?
No, no.
Not massage. Message.
What he actually says.
"Message" doesn't exist
in Russian.
It's really hard to translate.
Well, that explains a lot.
Forget the word.
Word isn't important.
Let me show you what I mean. Look
at Zyuganov's nomination speech.
That's fiery, it's contagious,
and he's got things to say.
Slow down reform,
quash the Chechens...
The guy may be a commie,
but he's got a message.
That's what we need.
You see, unlike most incumbents,
your father can't run...
on his past record because
the majority of voters...
view him as a corrupt bumbler.
So, he has to... Instead run
on promises...
and the shortcomings
of the other candidates.
The president is spending too much
time bickering with democrats...
essentially
giving them credibility.
He should start
attacking Zyuganov...
and present himself
as the main alternative...
to the communists.
Attack Zyuganov?
What do you mean, attack?
Not physically. He's gotta
negative campaign him...
with truth squads and
TV spots and sound bites.
Truth squads?
Please explain.
Truth squads are hecklers sent
to your opponent's rallies...
to challenge and boo,
disrupt...
Did you guys watch
the first Clinton campaign?
Anyway, they dressed this guy up
in a chicken outfit...
Chicken George they called him...
and basically Chicken George would
follow Bush around and heckle him...
because he wouldn't debate.
But that's unfair.
What?
Tatiana, it works.
You call this truth squads?
Yes.
Papa will not use
this kind of tactics.
We may stop arguing
with the democrats.
We won't have negative campaign.
What will we have?
A positive campaign.
You said something
about running on promises.
So just give us the six
bullet points...
so we can all go to bed.
What six bullet points?
Six or seven or whatever.
Some points he could address
in the speech.
I think we need to take
a quick bathroom break.
Two minutes, okay?
Ladies and gentlemen,
also, if I may.
Joe.
- I don't have to go.
- Now.
Better safe than sorry.
- What the heck was that?
- Okay, let's recap.
One, we were alone when we
talked about the six bullet points.
Two, nobody was taking
any notes.
And three, the only
possible explanation...
is that we're being bugged.
As usual, I've enjoyed
the statistical analysis, Joe.
- Now I'm gonna go back and pack.
- No. Why?
So they're bugging? So what?
What've we got to hide?
Exactly.
Why spy on us, right?
They're paying us for our ideas.
Dick, they bug everyone here.
It's tradition.
Consider yourself
culturally enriched.
That's right.
Except I'm trying to remember...
Did they overhear anything? Did we
say anything bad about Yeltsin?
You know, I think...
I think I called him a putz.
- You did?
- I think so.
Maybe they don't know
what "putz" means.
Maybe we can tell them in America
it means "great president".
All right. We're back.
Now, this kickoff speech...
has to be different than anything
that he's done.
Let's bring him in through
the back of the auditorium...
where he parts the crowd
like it's the Red Sea.
And the crowd's going nuts.
You station your people
throughout to lead the crowd...
cheering, jumping up,
applauding.
That's right and he's moving
along, and he's shaking hands.
Like Kennedy, he's reaching out,
he's squeezing hard.
And babies.
He's gotta kiss babies.
If it's under three,
he's gotta kiss it.
Yeah. On the forehead.
For some reason foreheads
test better than cheeks.
Then he hits the stage and he's
surrounded by friends and family.
- Lots of love, lots of support.
- And he's smiling.
Smiling for him is going to be
very important.
Now the speech. Short.
Maximum twenty minutes.
And he needs to be sober.
Sixty-six percent think
he drinks too much, so.
Perhaps we should schedule
the speech early in the day.
- Great!
- Good idea!
They look fucking comatose.
- It's like watching a corpse.
- They could be listening.
Clearly they're not.
Clearly they haven't heard
a fucking word we said.
Look at this...
it looks like they're applauding
for letting them be corrupt.
They're applauding
'cause it's over.
Three hours and forty-six minutes.
Can you believe that?
How does someone talk
for 3 hours and 46 minutes?
Gotta be some kind of world
record for talking.
What happened? For God's sake
what happened?
We are so screwed.
Papa's advisors were against...
using phony American tricks.
Phony tricks?
Like what kind of phony trick?
Like smiling is a phony trick?
They advised him that smiling
would seem weak, make him seem...
Russian people want him to be...
more czar-like.
According to our polls, Russian
people don't want him at all.
But the speech was a success, no?
He stressed the six points
you suggested.
No, Tatiana, he didn't make
a single point.
I can prove it to you.
This graph corresponds to the dials
in front of each of the participants.
They turn it to the right,
and the wave goes up. See?
They see something they don't like,
they turn the dial to the left...
then the graph goes down.
All right, let's give it a whirl.
Sports is good.
All this activity. Everybody
likes sportsmen. See that?
But look at this, when
he looks mean. They don't like it.
They like it when he smiles.
They like it when he smiles.
I know.
Now here, watch this. The speech.
See that?
Negative.
It's negative entirely.
All the way through, negative.
You're right.
They hated it.
They hated it. I know.
- This is amazing!
- Isn't it? I know.
What do you call this machine?
This is the Perception Analyzer.
Perception Analyzer.
It's like you put their feelings
on screen.
I'll tell Papa to smile more.
What do you want first?
A shower or a cigarette?
Did it occur to you that she is the
daughter of the Russian president?
Really. Thanks for the info.
You're something. Both of you.
Tatiana...
It's not just the smiling.
He's got to totally drop
the whole czar character.
No more speeches.
More walk, less talk.
What he needs is photo ops.
Like maybe he should
plant some trees.
- Trees?
- Yeah.
But why trees?
Russian people like trees,
don't they?
It shows he can roll his sleeves up
and dig in and, you know...
he cares about the environment...
not afraid to get dirty...
and he likes being out
amongst the people.
Papa doesn't like to be out
among people.
He's afraid of being booed.
Afraid of being booed?
Well, that's fine.
You just get advance men
to make sure...
there are more people
cheering than booing.
- They drown out those boos.
- Advance men?
Please, explain "advance men".
Advance men...
Okay.
Advance men go everywhere
your father goes...
but they go there first.
Like, let's say he goes out
to a public place...
like a park or,
you know, a factory.
Advance men make sure
the locals get a paid day off...
and a Yeltsin poster in their hands,
something written.
Wherever he shows up,
they gather a crowd...
and they show them
where to stand...
and teach them how to spontaneously,
so to speak, cheer and wave and all.
They get some local kids or if
they're lucky, a school band.
Make it exciting, you know?
As for the tree, advance men
pick the right tree for him...
not too big that he can't lift...
and not too many branched
that cover his face...
they dig the right hole for him,
pick that perfect tree, etc.
Their main job, of course, is to be
completely inconspicuous...
to make it look as unrehearsed
and unplanned.
They have to make it look
as if they're not there.
Advance men!
All my love
All my love
Darling
I'll give to you
Love me sweet and tender
Darling I love you
Here we go.
You did it.
The Yankees say, "Plant a tree"
and bingo...
the ruler of the Russian Empire
plants a tree.
This particular Bronx Bomber
is tickled pink.
Congrats, comrades.
- Comrade.
- Congrats.
What do you think, Dick?
Does this make up for not writing
the State of the Union?
No. Not really
But it's pretty damn close.
Up three points overnight.
He should plant more trees.
More trees?
You want for him to plant
a tree every day?
Yes, more than one
if he can.
If it's not planted, plant it.
Many top campaign people
are moving here...
to the tenth floor below us.
They're turning them into
campaign offices.
Don't they trust us?
As we say.
Success is contagious.
Everyone wants to be
close to us.
As we say, set a meeting.
No. No meetings.
It's too risky.
The more people you meet
close to the president...
the more we increase
the risk of leaks.
From now on...
all your ideas must be
in writing...
for the people downstairs.
But the memos...
have to be sent addressed
from "us" to "you".
No names.
Security.
Felix.
From "us" to "you".
Basically, the overwhelming
majority don't wanna see...
your mother out campaigning.
Raisa Gorbachev, a PR disaster.
Hillary, no great
shakes there either.
What the numbers do suggest
is they'd like to see her...
involved in charity work.
Do you believe in God?
Depends.
Why?
You better start.
Church is testing super high.
Higher than show biz
or intelligentsia.
Let's recommend the endorsement.
From "him" to "them".
What's holding us up?
What's the delay?
It's a mafia hit.
Head of a big television station...
shot in the head,
middle of the street.
The body's just lying there.
Blood all over.
Really?
Joe, yeah.
When was the last time...
we did a from "us" to "you"
on the mafia?
Yes, we're still against it.
Boris should take the strongest
possible stand.
By the way, tell Tatiana
there's a big job opening...
at a TV station.
Maybe she can pull some strings
and get somebody who supports Boris.
Okay.
Tragic isn't it,
these people?
They fought in World War Two.
They worked so hard
all their lives...
and now look at them.
They're forced to sell
their war medals to survive.
That's tragic.
Yeltsin's gotta do
something for these people.
Yeah, he should.
There's so much he can do.
The sixty-plus have every reason
to go commie.
Life savings have been wiped out
by inflation...
their pensions are worthless,
if they get them.
To tell you the truth, they're not
equipped to cope with capitalism.
There's not a lot we can say
to change any of that.
Yeah, I know.
Except that...
Yeltsin's reforms may be good
for the future of the children?
That's good.
We should test that.
Vote Yeltsin for the sake
of your children.
I'm gonna call Vasso.
Brother Joe, brother Dick...
we're in double digits, baby.
I guess that puts us on top
of the democrat pile.
Poor of Zyuganovsky's gonna have
to put off his invasion to Alaska.
Doesn't occur that the Russky
press did a complete U-turn.
First got here we couldn't find
a positive story on Boris...
now we can't find a negative one.
They can see the numbers.
Yeltsin's the only one who can
beat Zyuganov...
and believe me, they know which
side their bread's buttered on.
If the commies win their little tryst
with freedom of the press is kaput.
What a way to run a campaign!
With the press in our pocket!
Are we good or are we good?
I say we are very good.
Plus it doesn't hurt to have the
unlimited resources of Don Lugov.
Here's the deal. I've been tracking
this Russian company Lukoil.
On Wall Street,
it's twenty-four a share...
which is way, way undervalued...
because everybody's jittery
about the election.
You see, if Boris loses,
the communists deprivatize...
the oil industry,
and Lukoil is dead.
But if he wins...
How much?
Modest estimate...
the stock quadruples
in the first week.
- Oh, baby!
- No shit!
No shit!
So, anybody's calling
their brokers?
- Are you nuts? Fuck no.
- Just thought I'd mention it.
Well, this is fun.
We are staring at the virtual
corpse or communism.
I wish.
Communism's alive and well,
kicking our butts at the poll.
Papa's topped out.
The commies haven't given up
any ground. Fucking none
It would help if Tatiana
would let us go negative, George.
If she could convince that putz
to do some TV ads.
Not gonna happen,
I've talked to her a bazillion times.
I've met 12 year-old children
less naive than her.
She's not naive.
She's an idealist.
Touching.
Whatever she is,
I just hope we can change it.
You know what I'm thinking?
This might be a good time
for you to call your pal Morris.
Are you nuts?
What for?
Tatiana's never
gonna convince Papa.
We gotta get to him somehow.
Who's the most influential guy
you know?
That's a great idea, Joe.
I see where you're going.
I'm not calling Morris
for any favors.
You'd be doing him a big favor.
If Russia suddenly goes Red
in June...
his guy's dead in the water
come November.
- Why?
- No.
Come on, Dick, you know Morris
owes you.
Mr. Morris, Dick Dresner
on line two.
Dick, good to hear from you, buddy.
How's the weather in Moscow?
You know where I am?
Yeah, got me a magic mirror.
Bill thinks it's extra bitching
you're there doing what you're doing!
He does?
How would he feel about making
a long-distance call to lend...
a gentle guiding hand to Boris as
he takes his 1st steps to democracy?
I think he'd be tickled pink.
I'll tell him whatever you want.
You give me the laundry list
and I'll fluff and fold.
They knew we were there.
How the hell did they know?
Sure they knew. We were dumb
to think they wouldn't.
When Felix said we were
highly recommended...
how high do you think he meant?
Please, sit.
Papa said yes.
He will do the television ads.
I don't know why
he changed his mind.
He was so against it.
Let's film Yeltsin for a couple
of hours of time over...
the course of like seven days.
Make sure he's well rested,
lots of rehearsal.
We just need five-second
sound bites.
He should be walking,
walking, you know...
through a crowd...
through the woods
or dancing...
Maybe he's dancing on a stage.
Hello?
Hey, you guys are good!
Really good!
Who's this?
My name's Dilon,
and I'm calling from Virginia.
Got a minute
we could talk?
- Won't take long.
- Geez, I'm sorry!
This isn't the best time
to talk, or place.
Understood. We just wanna let you
know everyone at the company...
is rooting for you
and your team.
We are, however, concerned about
the loss scenario.
Per our sources Zyuganov has come up
with a secret maximum plan...
he'll implement if he wins.
We don't know what it is exactly,
but it can't be good for us.
So, good luck and keep
up the good work.
We'll be watching.
Thank you very much,
ladies and gentlemen.
I'll see you later.
Thank you very much.
C- I-fucking-A.
Is there anybody who
doesn't know we're here?
When I realized who it was,
you know I had a heart attack
They overhear that,
they think we're spies.
"We'll be watching you"?
What does that mean?
How?
Watching what?
Just the way spooks talk.
What I wanna know is, what's
this secret maximum plan deal?
And how come we never heard
about that?
Wouldn't be a secret
if we heard about it.
I hear about it.
Give me a drink,
I tell you.
Help yourself.
A drunk Elvis impersonator
told us...
about Zyuganov's secret
maximum plan.
In a nutshell...
the Pinklos wanna take the country
back to the Dark Ages.
Old USSR borders...
re-nationalized economy...
and a vigorous prosecution
of the reformists.
Of course it's just a rumor
but Russians are pretty paranoid.
If it leaks, Zyuganov may lose
a vote or two.
So, we gotta leak it
like crazy, of course.
Mr. Morris,
it's Dick Dresner.
Hey, Dick.
My guy's headed your way.
We have an opportunity here.
He can give your guy a few pointers.
Nobody ever accused him
of being Slick Boris.
Whatever you want my guy
to say...
he'll say it.
Send a memo.
First, let me thank
President Yeltsin...
for initiating and then hosting
yesterday's Nuclear Summit.
It is fitting that this summit
was held in Moscow.
For three years the President and I
have worked together...
in trying to make the world
a safer place...
by reducing the nuclear threat...
that all our citizens face.
We've worked hard to take down
the old barriers...
to trade and to investment.
Thanks to the President
Yeltsin's leadership...
sixty percent of Russia's economy
is now in the hands of its people...
not the State.
Inflation has been cut.
Democracy is taking hold.
Since 1993...
trade between the USA
and Russia is up 65%.
And the US is now the largest
foreign investor...
- In this great nation.
- In this great nation.
How'd he do?
Well, let's see.
Ask to be patient with reforms...
Check.
Congratulate on the beginning of
the pullout from Chechnya... Check.
Compliment on the privatization
of the economy... Check.
Warn about Zyuganov's
maximum plan... Check.
I mean bull's eye, boys.
He covered practically everything
in our memo.
Note for another book.
Two presidents sell out...
the interests
of their own countries...
in order to get
each other re-elected.
I want a piece of that book.
- Hello.
- Vasso.
- Yeah?
- They loved the summit.
- The numbers are way up.
- Really?
- Get back to you on the details.
- That's great!
All right, bye.
What's going on?
Prelims are starting to come in.
The Russians loved the summit.
Papa's numbers are up big.
He and Zyuganov are almost
neck-in-neck.
Call me crazy, guys, but...
we can actually win this thing.
- Hi, Frank, George Gorton...
- Stan, Dick Dresner...
Nothing ever changes
here in Sacramento...
I've been on vacation. I wanted
to talk to you about a stock...
- It's called Lukoil.
- That's right. Like Skywalker.
- How much?
-500.
- I'm a little short of cash.
- Everything I got in the account.
Okay.
Great! Thanks.
Look at this! Soskovets
finally making an appearance?
Who are the other two wise men?
The guy with the comb over
is Alexander Korzhakov...
former KGB general and Papa's
new head of security.
He's also his main confidante,
tennis partner, drinking buddy.
- The other guy is Mikhail Barsukov.
- Chief of secret police.
You're a scary man, Joe
Not as scary as those guys.
What do they want with us?
I don't think
they're coming to see you.
I just think they're going
to the tenth floor.
To see the campaign managers?
Why?
Who is to know?
Bullshit, Felix.
You is to know.
- Me? I don't know anything.
- Oh, yeah, you know something.
And you're gonna tell us, or I'll
march over to Tatiana's office...
and tell her that you're plotting
something behind her back.
Enough of this baloney, okay?
I want the truth.
What's going on?
Okay.
Soskovets, Korzhakov e
Barsukov they are known as...
The Party of War.
I hope that's a loose translation.
Those are the guys that pushed
Yeltsin into Chechnya.
If they all came here, that means
they're very worried.
What about? We're doing good.
We're kicking butt.
That's why they are worried.
- They want to cancel the election.
- What?
They think it's too risky
to have one.
But see, but Yetsin's probably
gonna win.
They don't want him to win?
They would love it if he won.
It's the "probably" part
they can't afford...
because if the communists win
they lose everything.
Their power,
their stolen fortunes...
maybe their lives. That's why
they want to cancel.
You don't cancel elections.
It's not a dentist appointment.
Soskovets hired you. Why would he
spend that money...
if he just wanted to cancel?
Yeltsin worships
all things American.
The Party of War assumed that you'd
take one look at the numbers...
and convince him
he has no chance.
Pretty good assumption.
They didn't count on us
turning it around.
They didn't count on Tatiana,
or on the numbers going on.
And they still think
we can do it, do they?
You, my friends, have become
major nuisance for them.
And Lugov's involved too, right?
Thank you, Felix.
Thanks for warning us.
I'm sorry, my friends,
but those people...
you know, the KGB never went away.
Just changed the name on the door.
I would really watch my back
if I were you.
Who's gonna watch yours?
You're the one who brought us here.
It wasn't me.
I'm just a middleman.
Tonight I'm getting on the plane,
back to Sausalito.
Got some business to attend to.
I'll bet.
Such bullshit. We were hired
to dump the election?
It's like Oliver Stone.
Soskovets said himself.
If you think he'll lose...
let us know so we can take steps.
It makes perfect sense.
But we're professionals.
We're American citizens.
They wanna take steps. Let them.
That's great, George.
In case you hadn't noticed...
they're called
The Party of War...
not "The Party of Peace" or
"Friendship", or "Brotherhood"...
- The Party of War!
- I think that's a nickname.
Like son of... Sam's a nickname.
I say we get the fuck outta here.
This is history in the making. We're
right smack in the middle of it.
It's our big comeback. As long
as the numbers are climbing...
the Party of War has no cards.
- What if the numbers stop climbing?
- If they stop, we dump Lukoil...
and run as fast as we can.
He's right. As long as we keep
showing Yeltsin good numbers...
they have no choice but
to stay behind us.
Which is where they're gonna have
to be to do what they'll do to us.
Look at this.
The Wall Street Journal.
Moscow Mystery.
"GOP circles swirl with the rumor
that California Governor Wilson's...
former campaign manager
George Gorton...
is helping Yeltsin's presidential
campaign in Russia. "
That's what rumors do.
They swirl.
Call them...
and say it's not true.
No, I can't do that.
Never lie to the press.
- You mislead them.
- Do you understand that...
if this breaks in Moscow, then
you'll be gone in three seconds...
and Yeltsin will deny
your existence.
- What do you mean deny?
- Gone. Gone how?
Gone, gone.
Unless you find a way
to control American press.
Control the American press?
Sure! Piece of cake, Andrei.
Dick, that you?
Who's this?
I'll be damned, it's you.
What you doing
in Moscow, Dick?
Call me back on my cell.
Come here.
What's up?
Okay. Here's the bad news first.
Michael Kramer
has tracked us down.
What?
Time Magazine?
I've known Kramer for a long time.
He must've read that piece...
and figured I was in Moscow too.
But here's the good news...
Here's the good news...
he may be willing to make
a deal with us.
That's the good news?
We can't talk to him.
Lugov finds out...
and it's goodbye, gone,
we're denied our existence.
He never did say how we'd be gone.
By land, by sea or by bullet.
If we don't deal with him, he's
gonna dig around on his own...
he's gonna tell the story anyway
and we're really gonna be screwed.
I guess this is it, then.
We get out now...
we get our passports somehow...
and that's it.
Flee.
Kramer didn't mention the cover.
The cover of the Time Magazine.
- Set a meeting.
- Absolutely.
So...
We're gonna do a little walk.
Alone?
Not advised.
No. We'll be okay.
Thank you.
Don't hear any gunfire.
Could've been going out
every night!
- All right, there he is!
- Jesus!
Be casual.
Don't stand up.
- Hey, guys.
- Why is he standing up?
Demonstrating casual.
- Am I California dreaming?
- Listen, we got five minutes.
We're under strict orders
not to talk to the media.
That must be painful
for you, George.
- No!
- What?
- What are you doing?
- What?
We're being watched.
By who?
The CIA, the KGB,
the secret police, the mafia...
the communists, the capitalists,
Party of War...
even our own bodyguards.
Everyone.
- They're all watching you?
- Yeah.
It's a theory.
- Give it back.
- Under the table.
Okay, look...
I'll need everything: the dates, the
whos, the hows, the how often...
Sure, but first you gotta
guarantee us...
that you're not gonna run
anything till after the election.
Are you sure there's gonna be
an election?
- Sure. Hell, yeah.
- And we're gonna win.
And if we don't, we'll give you six
bullet points as to why we didn't.
You are aware that the universe spins
without your input, aren't you?
Dick said you mentioned
the cover?
- That depends.
- On what?
I want an exclusive.
- Okay. Done.
- What else?
And I need verification.
I mean no offense...
but I can't run the story
on just your say-so.
What kind of verification?
I wanna see your offices
at The President Hotel.
Remind me to laugh
at that one later.
Michael, we're scared
to be there ourselves.
You know what they'd do to us if they
caught us sneaking in a reporter?
- No, what?
- Actually we don't know either.
It's not good.
Look guys, I believe you.
I really do.
But it's very simple.
No proof, no pudding.
Can we...?
- This guy's a friend of ours.
- Hi.
If you can just...
You know "friend"?
- How do you say friend in Russian?
- "Droog".
I think that's what they said
in "Clockwork Orange".
- Droog.
- Kubrick?
Yeah, Kubrick.
Good, good.
Very nice.
He speaks and you speak
a little English.
- Hello?
- Come up. The coast is clear.
Here we come.
Shit, mayday. Mayday.
Abort! Abort!.
Stay down there!
What?
Tatiana.
Say hi to the world, guys.
We're great in the city.
It's five or six solid
over Zyuganov.
In the countryside,
he's holding ground.
We're not gaining any.
It's okay. I can understand.
Ideas?
Tatiana, your English,
so good!
Give ideas, please.
Well, the peasants
are unhappy.
We should give them something.
We already gave them democracy.
Well, now we gotta give them
something with fewer syllables.
We were thinking land.
Here we are in a supposedly
free-market economy...
and the land still belongs
to the state?
That's gotta piss
the peasants off.
Papa tried many times
to give off land...
but Duma, our congress,
doesn't want to pass it.
Find a way to get it passed.
Whatever's stalling it,
get it unstalled.
I'm outside the service area.
No wonder the people are unhappy.
Maybe we should go
to the focus group over there.
That's the only building
that's big enough.
No, it's perfect.
A barn.
Where else you're gonna focus
a twenty-house...
one-water-pump village?
We're breaking new ground, boys.
What the hell do I need this land?
I need a tractor and seeds.
Then maybe
I would want the land.
Why? Why would you
want the land?
You can't even fix your chimney.
No one needs this land.
We need money.
We need our salaries back.
They don't want the land.
But it's not as hard as before,
as during the war.
At least no one's
trying to kill us.
Yes, they are...
In Chechnya...
getting our boys killed
in Chechnya.
So much for swinging
the rural vote!
You know what?
Get Vasso in here.
There's one more question
I'd like to ask.
The last question.
If Zyuganov wins...
will there be bloodshed
or a civil war?
No.
No war, no bloodshed.
And why not?
The communists always brought war.
They'll kill everyone.
Except us.
We don't have anything.
They'll kill the rich...
then the rich will hire people
to kill communists.
God forbid the communists win.
The last thing we need
is another war.
Bingo.
That's it
It's civil unrest, stupid
Tatiana,
we have five weeks left
We gotta go negative. Not only
negative, double negative.
We have to hit hard.
Create a drumbeat.
War is an overwhelming fear
in this country.
We gotta let them know that's
exactly what they have to expect...
if the communists win.
Civil unrest, bloodshed,
millions will die.
That's the message.
But we don't know
if it's true.
In this business true
is sometimes not.
But right here right now
the only true is...
we gotta scare the crap
out of everybody...
or we're probably
gonna lose.
Our only hope is in the battle
between somebody they hate...
and somebody they fear. Voters will
hopefully choose somebody they hate.
Your father.
No! No!
My father still has dignity.
And we cannot stoop...
To that level.
We cannot stoop
to that level.
Clinton, Bush, Reagan they all
stooped to that level.
That's the name
of the game, Tatiana.
Everybody knows it, everybody
plays it, everybody stoops.
Mr. Gorton, in this group,
you do suggestions...
and I do decisions.
And my decision is no
Love me sweet and tender
Darling
She's not stooping?
That's her answer. She actually
said that, "I will not stoop"?
That's right.
No stooping for that girl.
Maybe it's a good thing.
How's that, George?
What do we do, spin it?
"Vote Yeltsin for he will
not stoop"?
They have a culture here,
you know, history...
a way of doing things.
Maybe not stooping is part of it.
Who are we to come in
and tell them what to do?
It's not our country.
Why are we messing with it?
What are you talking about,
not our country?
It's not like you know.
Russia's Snow White...
and we're the evil stepmother.
No, we're Uncle Sam.
Damn straight. Sam I am
and I'm proud of it.
I mean, democracy
is our biggest export.
But that doesn't give us
the right to manipulate...
and corrupt
their political process.
Corrupt? When did you turn
into Ralph Nader?
These people don't need any help
corrupting their process.
As far as I can see, they've
managed that all by themselves.
- Am I right, Elvis?
- That's right. Very right.
Boris marches around, says
the back wages...
got repaid.
And I say, bullshit!
Bullshit, Boris!
Me, I don't remember last time
I got paycheck.
And most people I know,
the same.
Zero.
What about that foreign relief
money, where did that go?
I'll tell you where.
I was stolen.
Neatly divided between Yeltsin's
drinking buddies. Come on.
Watergate was preschool
compared to this place.
Guys, forget about Russia.
We have a much bigger problem.
If we do not go negative, there is
no way in hell we'll catch Zyuganov.
What are you suggesting?
That we ix-nay
on the Lukoil-lay?
I think that would be
the prudent thing to do.
We doubled our oney-may.
Let's not get reedy-gay
- Dump all of it.
- The Russian stock...
If it's not too much of a loss,
we should let it go.
- I gotta call you back.
- All right. I gotta go.
What's going on?
This is bad.
This is very bad.
What's the matter?
What's very bad?
Boris Nikolayevich
is missing.
What do you mean missing?
Is he dead?
Who is to know?
All his meetings are cancelled.
Tatiana doesn't return my calls.
- Nobody's talking.
- Give us a minute...
we'll find out
what's going on, Lisa.
Thank you.
Lugov is unavailable.
Braynin's number in Sausalito
has been disconnected.
The net is flooded with rumors.
Nothing confirmed.
Hang on one second.
One sec.
What?
This is the CIA. They wanna know
if Yeltsin's alive.
What kind of freaking spies are they?
That's their job to know.
I can't tell them I don't know.
We're Yeltsin's personal consultants.
They'll think
I'm hiding something.
They're gonna think we're idiots.
I don't want these guys
on our ass.
It's nice to hear your voice too.
Could you just give me a second?
Richard Morris wants to know
where Yeltsin is.
What do I tell him?
- Not that we don't know.
- Gotta tell him something.
Hi, Mike. We were actually
just talking about that.
Mike, could you hold on
a second, please?
It's Kramer.
He wants to know about Yeltsin.
- What are we gonna do?
- There's only one thing we can do.
Remember that thing we did
in Iowa that time?
No, George, no.
One, two, three...
- Yeah, Dick...
- Hi, Mike, I'm back.
Look, you know apparently
everybody down here. Hello?
I'm sorry? We're breaking up.
I can't hear you. What?
Oh for God sakes,
this damn battery.
Damn battery, Mike?
Hello?
I can't hear. I think
we got a dead battery or something.
- I' sorry. I'm gonna lose you.
- I'll call you.
Okay. I'll call you back.
Papa had infarct.
Papa had what?
Heart attack.
Infarct.
- I'm so sorry. Is he...
- It was mild.
He will maybe live.
Probably.
But we don't know
if he can campaign anymore.
So, what do we do?
How we spin this?
I think the first thing we do is
we kill the rumors.
And we kill them fast.
We say that...
Papa's been campaigning
very hard and he needs rest.
Yeah. Stay away from the flu
and cold stuff.
Everyone knows that's
Russian code for deathbed.
It might not be enough...
There's five weeks to go and
Zyuganov and his goons are...
on every corner
waving a red flag.
His lead is tiny
but it's holding.
Can't afford to have
empty airwaves.
They will not be empty.
We are going negative.
Ads, slogans,
truth squads...
I want everything.
Let's make the drum beat.
When did that happen?
What?
- She's become...
- A politician.
Don't blame me.
Blame capitalism.
- What does that mean?
- It's Russian for bullshit.
Dick, wait a minute.
Vasso, why don't you give us
the latest poll?
Did you sell it
to somebody else?
I neither confirm or deny.
Who is to know?
I've had enough of this shit!
Give us our fucking poll.
If you don't give us the poll,
we don't give you the money.
You think you know so much,
do you gentlemen?
You think you can come here and
play us like some baseball?
Pardon my English, but
you don't know shit.
That's where you're wrong.
We do know shit. You're full of it.
The Yankee arrogance.
This is precisely why
you're so despised everywhere.
Now step aside.
You're blocking the show.
It's the commies, it's the bottom
and they're getting desperate?
Vasso'd never sell out to them.
He may be greedy, but not insane.
What about the Chechens? They'd
do anything to sabotage Boris.
Doubt it. He's too patriotic
to deal with the enemy.
You figure he's out
fifteen grand for the polls...
now he's walking away from our 60.
He's gotta be dealing with somebody.
It's obvious. It's got fingerprints
of the Party of War all over it.
Front page.
Vasso's poll.
Yeltsin is behind Zyuganov
by twenty points.
What? Ridiculous.
Yeltsin's ahead.
Mr. Shumate, how can you
be so sure?
Because it's science. Yeltsin's
ahead by three points.
Not according to Vasso's poll.
We know that the Party of War
paid Vasso...
not to give us that poll.
Then they print this
twenty points crap. It's bullshit.
What if three points
is not enough?
What if margin of error
jumps up...
and bites us in the ass?
Then what?
Then nothing. Up or down,
Zyuganov and Yeltsin...
are only a few points apart.
No one's going over fifty.
There's gonna be a runoff.
You think,
but you can't guarantee it?
That's democracy,
No guarantees.
- It's kind of the whole idea.
- George, that's your country.
Because in your country it doesn't
matter who wins or loses.
Next morning, they find each other
on the same talk show.
The election, it will be canceled.
Do you understand that?
The Party of War will convince
Papa to cancel.
Twenty points behind,
he will listen.
We'll just have to convince him
otherwise through Tatiana.
I don't think so.
You will do just opposite.
You will tell her
her father cannot win.
No, we don't lie
to the employer.
George, I'm not asking you.
I'm telling you.
Are you threatening us?
If Yeltsin loses, whose balls
will be cut first?
Mine!
It was my stupid idea
to bring you here to Russia.
Russia doesn't need to import
all American political tricks.
All this hand-shaking,
baby-kissing stuff.
It's better to kiss the babies
than to shoot the fathers.
Gentlemen, gentlemen...
do you think you can just
lose the election for us...
and then go back to Sacramento?
Think one more time.
I know where to find you.
This is great. "American consultants
come to Russia...
and destroy democracy. "
This is gonna look like shit
on the Nightline.
I think I hear a very fat woman
singing...
somewhere in the distance.
I'm glad you got a sense of humor
about this, Joe...
- since this is your fault.
- My fault?
How do you get it's my fault?
I'm sorry. Explain that to me.
You said this will be
the biggest election...
- in the history of democracy.
- I answered the phone...
I picked up the phone.
I seem to remember the words...
"hotter than wildfire, world stage".
Any of that ring a bell to you?
I was bored.
I wanted to get out of here
since the minute we landed.
But you, Mr. Big Mouth,
you talked me out of it.
'Cause you got book deaf fairies
running around in your head.
This isn't the time to bicker and
argue about who killed who.
We'll have plenty of time
to do that on the way home.
We have a Tatiana meeting
in ten minutes.
Great, why don't you go
and kiss her goodbye...
- slip the tongue if you want.
- What are we gonna tell her?
Nothing! We tell her
absolutely nothing.
Good luck canceling the election.
That's it.
There's a plane leaving
in two hours.
I say we're on it.
Come on, guys. We gotta be
unanimous on this.
It's the safe thing to do.
George?
I'm unanimous.
You have seen the poll.
Twenty points.
What do you advise we do?
There's only one thing to do.
We cancel election, right?
No.
Fire General Korzhakov,
fire Barsukov. Fire Soskovets.
Get rid of the whole
Party of War.
They bought the real poll
from Vasso...
and released a fake instead.
What? Are you accusing
our generals...
They don't want this election.
They never did
Tell your father
he's gonna win.
It's in the bag.
I guarantee it.
A memo to that effect
is gonna be on your desk tomorrow.
Excuse us.
Excuse me.
When was it?
When did you lose your mind?
Did you realize that you just
pitted us against...
some of the most powerful
criminals in Russia?
Tell me this is not happening.
Tell me you didn't guarantee a win.
Why not? He's gonna win by three.
That's what you said.
I don't know shit, George!
I said it.
I don't wanna die for it.
A guarantee?
God are you out of your mind?
That's the biggest fucking
of consulting and you just...
give it to them without
even asking us first!
Pinch me, George, before I throw
you off this fucking balcony!
I didn't ask you first 'cause
I couldn't believe I was doing it.
But it's either that
or that's it. It's over.
So what?
It's just a gig.
For us, yeah, but for Russia... They
get the election canceled. Who knows?
Zyuganov, can you blame him,
retaliates.
Half the army supports him already.
Civil war here
ain't gonna be civil.
Everything we've been scaring them
about in the ads...
that's gonna be reality. The US...
You don't think we'll get screwed?
These A-holes
have no clue where they keep...
their A-bombs. Can you imagine
if anarchy suddenly rules?
Jesus. Talk about
the new world order.
We can't allow it.
Somebody has to stand up and throw
the tea in the harbor and say no.
- George...
- We won't go gently into that.
George, George. We are political
consultants. That's it.
We are paid by the client
to predict polls. That's it
We are always backstage,
under the table, in the shadows...
We're never gonna get elected
or impeached...
or sacked in the end zone.
We're not thoroughbred enough.
We're behind the scenes,
We're the Making Of.
- Let's face it.
- Is that it, George?
You wanna get sacked
in the end zone. Is that it?
Just once. That'd be beautiful.
You know that if Yeltsin loses
Lugov's gonna have us killed.
- You realize that, right?
- I know.
That's why you guys have
to take off on outta here.
- You're really something, George.
- I'm sorry.
I had to do it.
No, Dick and I do all the work...
and now you wanna stick around
by yourself to take all credit.
In your wet dreams, pal.
Have I ever told you
you're both assholes?
- Has he?
- Yeah.
Many times. And it's starting
to hurt
We came as a team.
We're gonna leave as a team.
You're the quarterback.
Make the call.
From "us" to "you".
The Party of War is trying
to cancel the election.
We strongly disagree
with that position.
We believe Boris Yeltsin
will win by three...
the election is in the bag.
The memo was a big hit,
or a big miss.
We're not sure.
The election isn't canceled.
At least not yet.
But Tatiana has disappeared...
So have all her cronies.
Everybody's playing possum.
Elvis is spreading rumors
about a military coup.
He thinks it's gonna happen
whether Yeltsin wins or loses.
Is he right?
It's hard to tell.
Snipers on rooftops.
Somebody's getting ready
for something.
- Are any numbers in yet?
- No, just frigging soaps.
They won't announce anything
until the polls are closed.
My hands are shaking.
Why are my hands shaking?
We'll know sooner
at the Election Central.
Yeah, but we can't go in there.
We're sitting ducks here.
We gotta get out of the hotel.
No, no. If they were gonna kill us
here, they would've done it already.
Maybe, maybe not.
Who is to know?
Don't start with the
"who is to know".
It's better if we split up.
They can't kill one of us
without killing all of us.
Wouldn't make sense.
No way to damage control.
George?
Hello.
Can I make a call
if I may?
To the United States?
America?
Lines...
No calls.
Hi, this is me,
George Gorton.
I'm calling from Moscow, Russia.
It's June 16th, 1996...
it's about 4PM my time.
The reason I'm calling is...
I may be killed today...
Hello? Hello?
- What?
- We're dead.
- Tell me something I don't know.
- I was leaving a message...
on my office machine.
It got cut off.
Operator said
all lines are out.
Can't get international
on my cell.
Somebody's gearing up
for major bloodshed.
They're cutting off the connection
to the outside...
- They're dusting off the...
- You gotta get a hold of yourself...
- Your paranoia's getting better.
- You know what? Screw it.
- Screw what?
- Everything.
I'm heading down to the Election
Central. I'll see the returns.
You can't go down there.
Lugov's down there.
Here I go, Dick, before you
change my mind.
Shit!
He's gone down
to the Election Central.
Joe, he's gone down to the Election
Central. What are we gonna do?
Okay. All right.
- I'm going too.
- You are?
Think about it, Dick.
One, George goes down there all
alone and catches all the action.
Two, knowing George, we never
hear the end of it.
And three, when he writes
the book...
we're gonna look like a couple
of chicken shits.
How can he write a book
if he's fucking dead?
You don't know George.
Help me move this stuff.
If anything happens to us, I'm
gonna make sure they kill you first.
- Wimp.
- Chicken.
Let's get in there.
Remember, guys, it's a science.
He's gonna win by three.
Numbers are down
in the Far East.
He's gonna win by three.
Don't worry.
Look at Moscow neck-in-neck.
We should be sweeping there.
Polls are still open.
Win by three.
- We're losing the election.
- We aren't wining by three, Joe.
Look at wheres not whys. Most of
the early are rural. We'll move up.
The shit's about to hit
the ceiling fan. Look who's here.
Did he see us?
- We're still alive, aren't we?
- Yes, we are.
And we are going to win by three.
Who's this?
What'd she say?
Excuse me.
Do you speak English?
What's going on?
Can you tell us what she's saying?
She's predicting Yeltsin
winning by three.
- By three?
- Yes.
She said that?
What else? Anything else?
She's also saying
based on the exit polls...
the only thing Russians
like less than Yeltsin...
is the prospect of upheaval.
What did I tell you?
We scared the shit out of them!
See? Trust science.
Just trust science
Tell him we do want the gig,
We'll be just a little late.
I'm great.
We won, didn't we?
- Tell them to keep their pants on.
- Okay. Bye.
Look at this traffic!
We'll never make our flight.
We'll make it.
With twenty to spare.
We should never
have dropped Lukoil.
Stocks quadrupled
since we bought it.
The last time I listen to you,
George.
Hey, what are you doing?
It's June, George.