Annotated Script of Episode Five, ‘Vichnaya Pamyat’ — Part 3
INT. CONTROL ROOM — REACTOR #4 — NIGHT
THE LED DISPLAY: 1600. And then… it begins lowering. 1590. 1570. 1510…
Akimov and Toptunov stare up from the panel — still shoulder to shoulder, hands on buttons.
THE DISPLAY — 1450… 1395…
AKIMOV
Easy now. Slow it down.
Toptunov nods. Wipes sweat from his head. Makes an adjustment.
AKIMOV
Good. Like that.
In the B.G. — Dyatlov PACES. Shaking his head.
DYATLOV
You should have been finished by now.
Sredmash: Specifically, it is recorded that Akimov sat down at his desk to study the test program, but Dyatlov snapped at him to get up and get on with the test already.[i]
AKIMOV
We’re following protocol for reduction rate.
DYATLOV
You’re procrastinating. There are ten other men in this plant who would have done it already.
Toptunov glances at Akimov, but Akimov doesn’t look back.
Just keeps his eyes on the panel.
AKIMOV
(to Toptunov)
Keep working. You’re doing fine.
Dyatlov takes a cigarette from his pack. Tosses the pack on to the table. Annoyed.
DYATLOV
Kirschenbaum. Come get me when these old women are ready.
KIRSCHENBAUM
Yes, Comrade Dyatlov.
Sredmash: “Anatoly Stepanovich” would have been the form of address used at the plant, although Dyatlov was apparently on a first name basis with Akimov, and referred to younger personnel by their given names.[ii]
Dyatlov EXITS. Slams the door behind him.
Sredmash: Dyatlov himself reports exiting the room at this point, in order to walk around the plant inspecting the machinery and visiting the hot zones of the reactor hall. He remembers coming back to find the reactor stalled.[iii]
Dyatlov steps into the corridor. Lights his cigarette. Checks his watch. Then looks through the window by the landing, which faces out toward:
Sredmash: However, other eyewitnesses recalled him being in the control room at this point,[iv] and it is possible — albeit disputed — that Dyatlov gave the order to reduce power to 200 MW even before the unexpected drop in power.[v] His reasoning was possibly that 200 MW would allow the operators to perform two tests that shift: the turbine vibration test, followed by the turbine rundown test. 700 MW was too high for the former, and the Kiev dispatcher had created a scheduling conflict. In any event, the vibration test would eventually be carried out successfully.
THE LIGHTS OF PRIPYAT — just a few on at this late hour.
INT. CONTROL ROOM — REACTOR #4 — MINUTES LATER
Kirschenbaum and Stolyarchuk wait quietly. Stolyarchuk checks a meter… makes an adjustment to his panel.
Toptunov and Akimov continue to work their panel.
THE DISPLAY: 775… 765… 755…
AKIMOV
Okay. Very slow now. Let’s coast down to 700.
THE DISPLAY: 745… 725… 715…
Sredmash: Whether ordered by Dyatlov or for some other reason, power was gradually reduced below the 760 MT prescribed by the rundown test program, before suddenly dropping precipitously. Dyatlov speculates that Station Shift Supervisor Rogozhkin ordered this. Akimov’s testimony apparently did not include any statement that Dyatlov ordered reduction below 760 MW, but Yuri Tregub’s testimony did. We will likely never know for sure.
AKIMOV
Whoa whoa whoa… slow!
TOPTUNOV
(confused)
I didn’t move any rods there…
THE DISPLAY: 700… 680… 640… 590…
Akimov looks at the display. Utterly bewildered.
AKIMOV
What is this?
Toptunov puts his hands up.
TOPTUNOV
I’m not even touching it.
THE DISPLAY: 570… 550… 540…
Sredmash: The drop in power is where things really begin to go wrong. Most eyewitnesses attribute it to an error by Toptunov when switching off LAC (Local Automatic Control of the rods), although Dyatlov blamed a glitch in the system, and the IAEA appears undecided. Other computer glitches were observed that night as well.[vi]
INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE CONTROL ROOM 4 — CONTINUOUS 533
As Dyatlov finishes his cigarette, Akimov emerges from the control room. Dyatlov turns to him and can immediately see from Akimov’s face that something’s gone wrong. Again.
All he wanted was one fucking moment of quiet, and now…?
Sredmash: Dyatlov recalls entering the room as Akimov was already preparing to recover from the drop in power. This was a common enough occurrence, albeit not in these circumstances. But other eyewitnesses put him in the room at the time, so we will never know if Dyatlov was trying to cover himself at the trial, or the discrepancy is a result of unreliable memory and self-rationalization after a sustained period of trauma.[vii]
INT. CONTROL ROOM — REACTOR #4 — CONTINUOUS 534
Dyatlov storms in, followed by Akimov. And the first thing Dyatlov sees is:
THE DISPLAY: 520… 515… 510…
AKIMOV
We did everything right. I think maybe the core is poisoned…
Sredmash: The xenon poisoning perpetuates the drop in the coefficient of reactivity, even if it was not the cause. Now they are caught in the so-called iodine pit.
DYATLOV
If you thought the core was poisoned then you DIDN’T do everything right, because you’re CHOKING MY REACTOR!
Get it back up!
AKIMOV
If we switch off LAC, it’s possible we could get more control…
Sredmash: The LAC switch would have already happened.
DYATLOV
Do it. Go!
Akimov rushes back to Toptunov.
AKIMOV
Disable local automatic control, go to global…
Toptunov hesitates, nervous —
AKIMOV
Leonid.
Right. Okay. Toptunov turns a series of switches. Presses some buttons.
TOPTUNOV
LAC disabled. Global control activated.
Everyone raises their head to:
THE DISPLAY: 500… 440… 260… 220…
Toptunov backs away from the panel in disbelief.
DYATLOV
What did you do?
TOPTUNOV
I did what you said! I switched —
DYATLOV
LOOK AT IT!
THE DISPLAY: 110… 75… 55…
AKIMOV
I don’t understand….
THE DISPLAY: 35… 32… 30… and then holds.
Sredmash: 30 MW was the thermal power level reported by Akimov at the time.[viii] At the trial, it was claimed that the reactor stalled and fell to zero entirely, because then the subsequent power increase would constitute a violation of procedures.[ix]
DYATLOV
You fucking amateurs. You stalled the reactor. HOW THE FUCK DID YOU GET THIS JOB?
Toptunov puts his head in his hands. He looks like he’s about to cry. Akimov turns back to Dyatlov.
AKIMOV
Comrade —
DYATLOV
You’re going to tell me you did everything right again, you incompetent arsehole?
Sredmash: Dyatlov later wrote that similar drops in power were a frequent occurrence as operators like Toptunov attempted to govern the capricious RMBK.[x] At low power various diagnostic systems are inaccurate, and different sensors begin to disagree. Several of the automated control systems did not function at this power level, so operators were flying by the seat of their pants.
Akimov slumps. It’s over.
AKIMOV
I apologize for this unsatisfactory result.
“Unsatisfactory result?” The phrase only serves to disgust Dyatlov even further.
Akimov turns back to the panel.
DYATLOV
What are you doing?
Akimov look at Dyatlov. Isn’t it obvious?
AKIMOV
We have to shut it all the way down.
Dyatlov is staring intently at him, but he’s now strangely calm, which is somehow worse.
DYATLOV
No.
AKIMOV
(what?)
But… we’re in a xenon pit. We have to shut down, wait 24 hours —
Sredmash: This is the requirement if the drop in power constitutes a ‘short-term shutdown’, but not if it is only a ‘partial drop in power’.[xi][xii]
DYATLOV
No. We’re doing the test tonight. Raise the power to 700.
AKIMOV
We can’t increase power from here. The rules…!
DYATLOV
Don’t talk to me about rules.
AKIMOV
If we fall from 80% of power, we can’t increase —
DYATLOV
No, no — we fell from 50% of power.
AKIMOV
From fifty percent is worse!
DYATLOV
The rules don’t say 50. There is no rule.
Sredmash: Eyewitnesses Tregub and Gazin reported that there were no raised voices or protests about raising the power at this point.[xiii]
AKIMOV
Comrade Dyatlov, I apologize, but what you’re saying makes no sense.
Sredmash: Akimov’s testimony apparently did not record any protests or disagreements, and the prosecutor did not accuse Dyatlov of bullying the other staff into compliance. On the contrary, Metlenko (the test representative) testified that the operators obeyed Dyatlov’s commands “without question”.[xiv]
DYATLOV
Raise the power.
Akimov looks down. Nerves rising. Dyatlov has gone too far.
AKIMOV
No.
Sredmash: Akimov’s safety concerns are a major focus of Grigori Medvdev’s dramatized (not to say fictionalized) book Chernobyl Notebook. His work served as a vital source for the miniseries, not to mention several Western books and documentaries. Even well-researched titles, such as Midnight in Chernobyl, continue to repeat parts of this mythological narrative.
Dyatlov can’t believe it. He almost admires Akimov’s gall.
AKIMOV
I won’t do it. It isn’t safe.
Sredmash: In point of fact it is not unsafe, so long as enough control rods are left in place (the ORM parameter mentioned earlier). The operators also do not know about ORM’s relationship with the magnitude of the void coefficient or the control rods’ graphite ‘tips’. They know only what the manual says, and the manual does not treat ORM as an important parameter, or one that is relevant to safety.[xv]
Toptunov straightens next to Akimov. Backing him up.
Dyatlov walks slowly toward them. Calm. Nodding, as if considering their words. The other men watch in fear.
DYATLOV
Safety first. Always. I’ve been saying that for 25 years. That’s how long I’ve done this job. 25 years. Is that longer than you, Akimov?
AKIMOV
Yes.
Sredmash: At this point Tregub, with rather more experience than Akimov, was also standing by, not particularly concerned by the current situation. But with the benefit of hindsight, Akimov makes a good Cassandra for the audience.
DYATLOV
Is it much longer?
AKIMOV
Yes.
Dyatlov turns to Toptunov.
DYATLOV
And you? With your mother’s tit barely out of your mouth?
Dyatlov shifts his granite gaze between them as he speaks.
DYATLOV
If I say it’s safe, it’s safe. If the two of you disagree… you don’t have to work here. And you won’t. But not just here. You won’t work at Kursk. Or Ignalina. Or Leningrad, or Novo-Voronezh. You won’t work anywhere ever again. I’ll see to it. I think you know — I will see to it.
(beat)
Raise the power.
The room is silent. The display still reads 30. No one says a word. Then… Akimov picks up a LOG BOOK from the panel.
Hands it to Dyatlov.
AKIMOV
I would like you to record your command into the —
Sredmash: Here is an odd case of art imitating life. Dyatlov writes in his book that “it isn’t so simple to force an operator to violate regulations or instructions. Either he will refuse to do so, or he will say ‘record your command in the journal, then I’ll comply.’”[xvi]
Dyatlov SLAPS it from Akimov’s hand. It falls to the floor.
Sredmash: The log ended up in the Unit 3 safe and then went missing.
DYATLOV
Raise the power.
Dyatlov returns to his desk in the center of the room.
Akimov takes a long, slow breath, then turns to Toptunov.
They’ve lost. What other choice remains?
AKIMOV
Together, then.
Sredmash: At this point Tregub approached to assist Toptunov, giving him advice on which control rods to raise. Tregub was unclear on the point of who gave the command to raise the power. He did state that he “did not like these 200 MW,” as “it is not the best regime for an RBMK reactor.”[xvii] At low power, operators needed to use intuition and experience to manage the reactor.
Toptunov nods. All right. Together. They move their hands toward the controls, and:
DYATLOV (O.S.)
I wasn’t even there.
Sredmash: As stated above, Dyatlov reported that he was inspecting equipment elsewhere. However, he also stated that had Akimov not raised the power on his own initiative, he would have ordered him to do so.[xviii]
INT. TRIAL ROOM — DAY
CLOSE ON: Dyatlov. Hair thinner, moustache weaker… but in his eyes, the same burning anger.
Legasov looks back from his board. Did he hear that right?
LEGASOV
What?
DYATLOV
I wasn’t in the room when they raised the power.
LEGASOV
If you weren’t in the room, then where were you?
Stepashin rises. Annoyed. At Legasov.
STEPASHIN
Comrade Legasov, you are a witness, not a prosecutor. I will ask the questions here.
Legasov backs off. Chastened. Of course. This is a show. Play your role and no other.
Stepashin turns to Dyatlov.
STEPASHIN
If you weren’t in the room, then where were you?
Dyatlov shifts his eyes away from his interrogator. Shrugs.
DYATLOV
The toilet.
Sredmash: The miniseries’ stand-in for ‘inspecting the equipment’.
STEPASHIN
The toilet. Comrade Khomyuk interviewed everyone who was in the control room that night. They all told the same story.
Sredmash: Of course, the stories told are very different from what we see in the miniseries.
Stepashin picks up a packet of typed transcripts. Flips through the pages, then reads:
STEPASHIN
“I knew what Dyatlov ordered was wrong, but if I didn’t do what he said, I would be fired.” Leonid Toptunov, one day before he died.
Sredmash: No unclassified testimony from Toptunov or Akimov exists, unfortunately. We only have accounts from survivors such as Tregub, Stolyarchuk and Palamarchuk, who reported feeling no kind of ‘pre-accident’ foreboding.[xix] [xx]
No, Comrade Dyatlov, you were in the room. You ordered them to raise the power. This is a fact.
Scherbina suddenly starts COUGHING. He gets up, and moves swiftly to the back of the room. Can’t make it stop.
And as if that reminded Stepashin they’ve been at this for hours — he checks his watch, then nods to the Judge. Fine. Call a recess. It’s clear who’s really in charge here.
JUDGE KADNIKOV
Court is now in recess. Thirty minutes.
Kadnikov RISES, everyone else rises in turn, and we cut to:
EXT. CITY OF CHERNOBYL — PARK — LATER
An inept imitation statue of MICKEY MOUSE smiles grotesquely through peeling paint.
Sredmash: The USSR had its own Mickey Mouse, a big-eared monkey called Cheburashka, with his friend Zhenya the Crocodile.[xxi]
The small park is just dust and dead grass now. A rusty swing set. A jungle gym.
ON LEGASOV — across the street. Behind him in the near distance, a small gathering of trialgoers on recess are clustered. Smoking.
He sees ahead of him… the back of a man sitting on a bench, alone, in the park. Another cough.
SHCHERBINA — sits on the bench, staring out at the late afternoon sun. Legasov takes a seat next to him.
SHCHERBINA
Do you know anything about this town? Chernobyl?
LEGASOV
Not really. No.
SHCHERBINA
It was mostly Jews and Poles. The Jews were killed in pogroms, Stalin forced out the Poles, then the Nazis came and murdered whoever was left.
Sredmash: In 1896 the city was 70% Jewish, and the last pogrom took place under Soviet rule, which was unusual. The Polish population was deported to Kazakhstan in 1936.[xxii]
(looks around)
But after the war, people came here to live anyway. They knew the ground beneath their feet was soaked in blood, but they didn’t care. Dead Jews, dead Poles, but not them. No one ever thinks it will happen to them. But here we are.
Shcherbina shows Legasov his handkerchief. It’s mottled with blood.
LEGASOV
How much time?
Sredmash: Before his death (from unspecified causes) three years later, Scherbina would manage the response to the horrendous earthquake in Armenia.
SHCHERBINA
Maybe a year. They’re calling it a “long illness.” That doesn’t seem very long to me. I know — you told me. I believed you. At first. But — time passed, and I didn’t think it would happen to me.
(beat)
I wasted it. I wasted it all. For nothing.
LEGASOV
For nothing?
Shcherbina puts his hand up. Don’t.
SHCHERBINA
Do you remember the morning I first called you? Do you remember how unconcerned I was? I don’t believe much that comes out of the Kremlin, but when they told me they were putting me in charge of the cleanup, and they said it wasn’t serious, I believed them. Do you know why?
Legasov doesn’t want to answer. But:
LEGASOV
Because they put you in charge.
Shcherbina nods. Of course Legasov knows. Everyone knows.
SHCHERBINA
I am an inconsequential man, Valera. That’s all I’ve ever been. I hoped one day that I would matter. But I didn’t.
(turns to Legasov)
I just stood next to people who did.
Legasov stares back in disbelief.
LEGASOV
There are other scientists like me. Any one of them could have done what I did. But you —
Sredmash: A huge revolving team of them, who will be working furiously in the Zone for some time to come.
(beat)
Everything we asked for, everything we needed. Men. Material. Lunar rovers? Who else could have done these things? They heard me, but they listened to you. Of all the ministers and all the deputies — the entire congregation of obedient fools — they mistakenly sent us the one good man.
(beat)
For god’s sake, Boris — you were the one who mattered the most.
Sredmash: As stated in the podcast, the protagonists’ on-screen friendship is predicated on a single photo depicting them together. From Legasov’s tapes we can at least infer that they were on a first name basis, which is more significant in Russian than in English.
Shcherbina is overwhelmed. And here and now, in a forgotten park, in a dead city… absolution.
He looks back through tears at the land. The sky. His country. The air fills his lungs.
SHCHERBINA
It is beautiful…
INT. TRIAL ROOM — LATER
The crowd filters back in, including Legasov and Shcherbina. They return to the expert witness table, where Khomyuk is waiting.
Khomyuk sees the change on Legasov’s face. Something has moved in him. She sees him look back once again to make sure that The Six are still there in the audience.
Then EVERYONE RISES as the JUDGES return and take their seats. Kadnikov nods to Stepashin, who turns to Legasov.
STEPASHIN
Comrade Legasov.
Legasov walks back to the whiteboard. There’s purpose in his step now. His voice is stronger.
LEGASOV
The time is 38 past midnight. The reactor is nearly shut down, but the operators of Reactor 4 are locked on a path that leads directly to disaster. There is no way to turn back. They do not yet know it, but the die is cast.
Legasov picks up a BLUE PLACARD. A second “Xenon Poisoning” (B5) card. He adds it to the board.
LEGASOV
At 30 megawatts, xenon is still being created, but none of it is burning away. The reactor is drowning in poison. To make matters worse —
Sredmash: Xenon is being created at a very slow rate, but much xenon is left over from the operation at a higher power level.
— he REMOVES the bottom two red placards, “Positive Void Coefficent” (R2) and “Nuclear Fission” (R3).
LEGASOV
— the reactor isn’t hot enough to produce sufficient steam.
THE BOARD: One red placard, five large blue ones.
LEGASOV
The only way to safely raise power from this state is to do it very, very slowly over the course of 24 hours. But Dyatlov wants it done now. Akimov and Toptunov have only one course of action. They begin pulling control rods out. Dozens at a time. Halfway out, three quarters of the way out, and the power still does not budge. So they begin to pull them all the way out.
Sredmash: Not for the last time, the show repeats an inaccurate claim found in G. Medvedev’s book. Control rods cannot be completely withdrawn from an RMBK reactor. The graphite portion of the rods (which is several meters long) remains in the vicinity of the central portion of the core, which on April 26th was the area most heavily poisoned by xenon. The lower portion of the core no longer contains any manual rods, just channels full of water and a much lower amount of xenon.[xxiii]
(beat)
There were 211 control rods in Reactor 4. Akimov and Toptunov completely withdrew 205.
Sredmash: In doing so, they inadvertently violated a metric called Operating Reactivity Margin (ORM). This is a reserve of 15 control rod equivalents which must remain in the reactor. The operators withdrew all but the equivalent of 18 rods manually, at which point the computer system informed them that they were still within parameters. However, over the next 20 minutes, unbeknownst to them, ORM would fall to 7 rods on its own, due to changes in coolant flow and other core parameters. [xxiv]
Legasov REMOVES the first blue placard — “Control Rods” B1).
Sredmash: Therefore the violation of ORM was not a deliberate choice. Counting rods was not enough to know the true ORM value; it had to be calculated by a 1980s supercomputer. The computer was located in another room, and it took around 10 minutes to receive a readout. The operators were due to receive a report on ORM in a few minutes, but the explosion happened first. More importantly, violating ORM did not trigger any alarms or automated protection systems, as was legally required for all critical safety parameters.[xxv]
LEGASOV
Remember… control rods are the brakes of this car. Of 211 rods, only six now remain in the reactor.
Sredmash: Of course, the more controls rods you raise, the more powerful your brakes are. Unless those brakes suddenly turn into accelerators…
As for the fuel —
Legasov REMOVES another blue placard — “Negative Temperature Coefficient” (B3).
LEGASOV
— it’s gone cold, so the negative temperature coefficient is no longer weighing down the reactivity.
(beat)
And even still — the xenon poisoning is so strong, the best they can do is raise the power to 200 megawatts.
Sredmash: The Soviets would claim that operation below 700 MW was forbidden, but this was false.[xxvi]
Turns back to the room once more.
LEGASOV
The control rods are out. The emergency system is disconnected. The reactor is now a grenade without a pin, and the only thing keeping it in check is water… and xenon. It is 1 in the morning. The test is minutes away.
Sredmash: Legasov’s reference to an emergency system is another dishonest accusation made at the trial. The emergency cooling system was not only disabled in accordance with regulations, but it could not have prevented the accident. Remember that this is a show trial.[xxvii]
INT. CONTROL ROOM — REACTOR #4 — NIGHT
AKIMOV — punches buttons. Flips some switches. Constantly moving his eyes back and forth between the console and the LED POWER OUTPUT display, which holds at 200.
He slumps. Turns back to Dyatlov, who sits at the desk in the center of the room, casually smoking.
AKIMOV
I’m sorry, but this is all we can get. 200 megawatts. We’ve pulled almost everything out.
Sredmash: Historically, the drama is now done for the night, at least until the explosion. Tregub reported that once the power was stabilized at 200 MW, everything calmed down.[xxviii]
Dyatlov exhales slowly. Thinks. Then:
DYATLOV
Well, if that’s what we have, that’s what we have.
AKIMOV
But the test requires 700 —
Sredmash: Dyatlov was the one who set the 700 MW figure in the first place, so he feels entitled to change it. 700 MW was a maximum value, not related to safety. The test program is also ambiguous, stating that the reactor power should be at the level of self-sufficiency (i.e., around 200 MW).
DYATLOV
(ignores Akimov)
Stolyarchuk, let’s get ready. Switch on pump four.
Sredmash: At this point Stolyarchuk should be switching on pumps five through eight.
AKIMOV
Wait a second —
DYATLOV
Stolyarchuk!
Stolyarchuk hesitates.
AKIMOV
We barely have any steam as it is. The turbine is going too slow for the test to deliver valid —
Sredmash: By definition, if the turbine is going fast enough to cool the reactor, then the test results are valid. Also remember that 200 MW is a perfect power level for the vibration tests that were to be carried out that night. Specialists had travelled from Eastern Ukraine to supervise them, and were watching over Dyatlov’s shoulder.
DYATLOV
It’s enough.
AKIMOV
— and if we add more water, there
will be even less steam —
DYATLOV
I SAID IT’S ENOUGH. I know what I’m doing. Stolyarchuk.
Stolyarchuk relents, and hits switches while Kirschenbaum watches — utterly confused by this course of action.
STOLYARCHUK
Main Pump 4 is connected. We should warn Khodemchuk… the pipes are going to be jumping.
DYATLOV
Never mind him. Kirschenbaum —
But he’s cut off by: AN ALARM — bleating from the panel.
Dyatlov puts his hands up. What now?
STOLYARCHUK
The steam in the separator drum is too low — five atmospheres…
Sredmash: Here is another inadvertent violation of the regulations, unrelated to the test and possibly due to an error by Stolyarchuk.
DYATLOV
All right, let’s all help him. Get it up as best you can.
Sredmash: Over the next few minutes, pressure will gradually be restored to appropriate levels. When it has risen again, it will make a small contribution to the positive coefficient of reactivity. But in general, as the test began, “the reactor parameters were closer to being stable than at any other time.”[xxix]
Stolyarchuk mutters to himself.
STOLYARCHUK
We should stop.
DYATLOV
(yells)
And turn that fucking thing off!
Akimov moves to another panel. Flips some override switches. The alarm CEASES. Dyatlov checks the display. Still 200. Now he looks at the clock. 1:07.
DYATLOV
You have fifteen minutes.
Akimov, Toptunov, Kirschenbaum and Stolyarchuk work on the panels, trying to get the steam back in balance.
LEGASOV (V.O.)
Fifteen minutes.
INT. TRIAL ROOM — NOW
Legasov stands by the board.
LEGASOV
They might as well have had fifteen days. The problem they were facing was not solvable. The power was too low. The water was too high. The test was already ruined. The results would have been useless. But Dyatlov didn’t care. All he wanted to do was report a completed test.
Sredmash: In fact, the test is on track to be completed successfully — based on salvaged data — it will be. But the reactor has been turned into a powder keg, where any downward movement of a control rod will rapidly increase reactivity. Triggering of a shutdown for any reason can now cause an explosion.[xxx] Only clairvoyance on the part of the operators (through carefully lowering a few rods at a time) now has any hope of averting disaster.
(beat)
1:22. Less than two minutes remain.
INT. REACTOR #4 FACILITY — VARIOUS — 1:22 AM
— OFFICE — YUVCHENKO sits at his desk flipping through a technical manual.
LEGASOV (V.O.)
Yuvchenko, mechanical engineer, is in his office.
Sredmash: Actually he is walking towards the pump room, along with Perevozchenko. But he will reach his office by the time of the explosion.[xxxi]
— REACTOR HALL OBSERVATION ROOM — PEREVOZCHENKO looks out over the HUGE REACTOR LID, 15m in diameter. The lid is made up of 2,000 cubes of individual steel-capped channels.
LEGASOV (V.O.)
Perevozchenko, reactor section foreman, is in the refueling hall, high above the 1,000 ton steel reactor cover.
Sredmash: The steel containment lid is nicknamed ‘Elena.’
— ROOM 604 — SHASHENOK is inspecting equipment. Taking notes on his clipboard.
LEGASOV (V.O.)
Shashenok, automatic systems adjuster, is in room 604.
— THE PUMP ROOM — where VIKTOR (Degtaryenko) stands by a rats’ nest of pipes and gauges. They’re SHUDDERING.
LEGASOV (V.O.)
Degtaryenko…
Viktor looks across the room at:
LEGASOV (V.O.)
…and Khodemchuk, circulation operators, are in the pump room.
Khodemchuk gives Viktor a baffled look. What is this?
LEGASOV (V.O.)
None of them have been told about the test. None of them know what is about to happen.
INT. CONTROL ROOM — REACTOR #4–1:22:30
Toptunov stands by a large DOT-MATRIX PRINTER as it slowly ejects a sheet of data.
LEGASOV (V.O.)
1:22 and 30 seconds. Toptunov sees a report from the reactor’s SKALA computer system. Based on the absence of sufficient control rods, the computer is recommending the reactor be shut down.
Sredmash: The operators never saw any printout of this kind, although an ORM readout was produced after the explosion. G. Medvedev’s book is the source for the fictionalized version depicted above.
Toptunov hands the printout to Akimov, who reads it, frets, then hands it to Dyatlov. Dyatlov doesn’t take it. Just looks at it. Barely.
DYATLOV
Of course it’s saying that. It doesn’t know we’re running a test.
(oddly cheerful)
All right boys. Another few minutes, and it will all be over. Kirschenbaum, when you’re ready?
Kirschenbaum turns back to his panel. Deep breath. Akimov and Toptunov walk back to their panels. Toptunov looks over at Akimov. Akimov doesn’t look back. Just:
AKIMOV
We did everything right.
Kirschenbaum reaches for a switch. Then:
KIRSCHENBAUM
Oscillograph on. Closing Number 8 throttle valve.
STOLYARCHUK
Generator rotor beginning rundown.
Sredmash: The test begins. AZ-5 will be pressed 36 seconds from now. In fact, the reactor should have been shut down at this point, but Akimov evidently forgot.[xxxii] An alternate explanation is that an automated AZ-5 signal should have shut down the reactor, but Akimov disabled it in order to facilitate the turbine vibration test. In any case, this oversight did not contribute to the accident.
INT. TRIAL ROOM — NOW
Legasov is staring at the room. It’s dead quiet.
LEGASOV
1:23 and four seconds. With every decision, they have pulled his reactor back like a slingshot… further than anyone has ever pulled.
Sredmash: In point of fact, before 1975 it was considered perfectly fine to withdraw all the control rods for the purposes of overcoming xenon poisoning.
(beat)
The test begins. The pumps are shut down.
(opens his fist)
And they let go.
Legasov moves to the board. On the right, the single red “Nuclear Fission” card (R1). On the left, blue “Water” (B2) and “Xenon Poisoning” (B4, B5). He removes the “Water” (B2) placard.
LEGASOV
The pumps stop moving water through the reactor. The uranium fuel is now unchecked by fresh coolant. Unchecked by control rods. The balance immediately swings in the opposite direction. In less than a second, reactivity increases.
Sredmash: Coolant output decreases, but does not stop, of course. Water begins to boil earlier in the coolant loop, creating additional steam. The positive void coefficient is making itself felt. The coefficient of reactivity rises modestly, but power output does not, because it is compensated for by eight automatic control rods which stabilize the fluctuations of the ever-squirrely RMBK.[xxxiii]
INT. CONTROL ROOM — REACTOR #4–1:23:05
The operators watch their panels. None of them notice the power output display. 205… 210… 220…
Sredmash: Power increases were not recorded by the equipment, although more recent research suggests that a very small rise (15–30 MW) may have occurred at this point.
INT. TRIAL ROOM — NOW
LEGASOV
Inside the core, the remaining water is quickly converting to steam. A void is being created. There is no fresh water to replace it.
Sredmash: Fresh water replaces it, but at a reduced rate. Subsequent analysis will reveal that the rundown test was on track to provide adequate coolant for the reactor.
As he speaks, he adds multiple RED PLACARDS to the right column. “Positive Void Coefficient” (R2), “Nuclear Fission” (R3), “Positive Void Coefficient” (R4), “Nuclear Fission” (R5).
LEGASOV
Steam increases reactivity increases heat increases steam increases reactivity. The fuel is too cold to counter the vicious cycle. The remaining xenon decays away.
Sredmash: Xenon is burned away in proportion with the reactor’s power. At 200 MW it cannot remove over 10 hours’ worth of xenon. In fact, xenon will remain present, damping the reactivity even after the reactor has actually exploded and sprayed lumps of fuel into the upper hall.[xxxiv] But there is much less xenon in the lower reactor, which contains only columns of boiling water, and no control rods.
Legasov removes both blue “Xenon Poisoning” placards (B4,B5). There are NONE on the left side now. And five RED ones on the right.
LEGASOV
The power is rising. And nothing left to stop it. 1:23 and 35 seconds…
Sredmash: Again, any rise power in power is modest. The automatic control rods are still compensating…
INT. CONTROL ROOM — REACTOR #4–1:23:35
Akimov and Toptunov watch the panel. Then Toptunov notices: LIGHTS blinking on, one after another in quick succession on the large CIRCULAR FUEL CHANNEL display.
Sredmash: A light flicks on, informing the operators that the coefficient of reactivity is positive.[xxxv]
Oh god. He looks up at the power output display.
320… 360… 400…
Sredmash: Akimov never saw any number higher than 230 MW, and probably not even that. What he did notice was that the automatic control rods had reached the bottom of the core, their ability to regulate the reaction expended. When this happened, at least four eyewitnesses remember Akimov calmly telling Toptunov to ‘smother’ the reactor.[xxxvi] AZ-5 is not just for emergencies, and was the best choice for effecting a shutdown at the time.[xxxvii]
TOPTUNOV
We have a power surge! Sasha!
Everyone turns at once to look at the power output.
440… 500…
Sredmash: For the inaccuracy of this sequence we must blame not only Medvedev, but the Soviet prosecutor who dearly wanted to accuse the operators of putting the reactor in dire straits without any help from the flawed control rods.
DYATLOV
(in shock)
What did you — ?
INT. TRIAL ROOM — NOW
CLOSE ON LEGASOV.
LEGASOV
1:23 and 40 seconds. The power is surging. The men in Control Room 4 have only one option left. In every control room of every nuclear reactor in the world, there is a button with one single purpose — to “scram” or instantly shut down the reaction. In Soviet reactors, that button is called “AZ-5”. You press AZ-5, all of the control rods insert at once, and the reaction is stopped dead.
(beat)
But.
He stops. Glances over at Khomyuk, who knows that the moment is almost upon them. Then the SIX SCIENTISTS.
And Khomyuk realizes — he’s going to do it. He’s finally going to tell the truth. But before he can say a word:
DYATLOV
What are you waiting for Legasov? Tell your lies.
Sredmash: Dyatlov never spoke out of turn, but did get testy with one of the expert witnesses, scoffing: “What is this, a physics exam?” Members of the audience observed that he would smile sarcastically at several points.[xxxviii]
A hushed gasp from the room. Legasov turns in disbelief to the defendant BOX, where Dyatlov glares back at him.
JUDGE KADNIKOV
Comrade Dyatlov, you will not be warned again.
DYATLOV
Or what?
BRYUKHANOV
(shut up!)
For god’s sake, Dyatlov —
DYATLOV
Legasov’s already given it away. He said before there was no way to avoid what was coming. He knows something.
(points to Khomyuk)
She knows something.
Sredmash: The judge shut down most of his attempts to steer the proceedings towards the reactors’ flaws, of which he was perfectly aware. Dyatlov was reprimanded for his behavior, and also for telling his story in excessive detail.
JUDGE KADNIKOV
Strike that from the record.
Dyatlov rises, jabbing his finger toward a stunned Legasov.
DYATLOV
I know what you are, Valery Alexeyevich. You’re a liar. You’re a liar and a coward.
Sredmash: Dyatlov would never forgive Legasov for his performance in Vienna, where operator error was blamed and the design flaws concealed.
The soldiers grab Dyatlov’s arms to pull him away, but:
JUDGE KADNIKOV
We’ve heard enough for today. The defendants will be remanded to custody. Court will —
Legasov finds his voice.
LEGASOV
I haven’t finished.
Stepashin turns his dark gaze on Legasov. How dare he?
LEGASOV
I have more evidence to give.
Shcherbina leans forward. Impossible for us to tell what he’s thinking…
STEPASHIN
It is not necessary. Your testimony is concluded.
(to Kadnikov)
Your honor.
Sredmash: Notice how the prosecutor — not the judge — is calling the shots.
Legasov deflates. Turns back to Khomyuk. He tried. He tried to do the right thing.
To be continued in Part 4.
Sourced Cited in Part 3
[i] Причины Чернобыльской аварии известны, Accidont.ru, 13 May 2006., <http://accidont.ru/evid01.html>.
[ii] Дятлов А.С., Чернобыль. Как это было, 2004., pp. 50.
[iii] Dyatlov, 30.
[iv] Карпан Н.В., Чернобыль. Месть мирного атома, IKK Balans-Klub, 2006., pp. 496.
[v] Karpan, 346.
[vi] INSAG Series №7; The Chernobyl Accident: Updating of INSAG-1, International Atomic Energy Agency, 1993, Link., pp. 11.
[vii] Karpan, 349.
[viii] Dyatlov, 30.
[ix] Dyatlov, 111.
[x] Dyatlov, 31.
[xi] INSAG-7, 106.
[xii] Dyatlov, 111.
[xiii] Accidont.ru, http://accidont.ru/evid02.html.
[xiv] Karpan, 486.
[xv] INSAG-7, 70.
[xvi] Dyatlov, 69.
[xvii] Accidont.ru, http://accidont.ru/evid02.html.
[xviii] Dyatlov, 107.
[xix] Выживший на ЧАЭС — о роковом эксперименте и допросах КГБ, KiskiNa, 14 September 2018, Interview with Boris Stolyarchuk, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPRyciXh07k>.
[xx] Чернобыль: стоит ли бередить раны?, Эхо Москвы, 3 June 2019, Interview with Petr Palamarchuk, <https://echo.msk.ru/programs/exit/2437665-echo/>.
[xxi] For more information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3Ix0k2JD90
[xxii] For more information: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/chernobyls-jewish-history/
[xxiii] INSAG-7, 64.
[xxiv] INSAG-7, 11.
[xxv] INSAG-7, 38.
[xxvi] INSAG-7, 18.
[xxvii] INSAG-7, 18, 72–3.
[xxviii] Accidont.ru, http://accidont.ru/evid02.html.
[xxix] INSAG-7, 61.
[xxx] Dyatlov, 60.
[xxxi] Dyatlov, 105.
[xxxii] Dyatlov, 40.
[xxxiii] INSAG-7, 65.
[xxxiv] Karpan, 503.
[xxxv] Karpan, 335.
[xxxvi] Accidont.ru, http://accidont.ru/evid02.html.
[xxxvii] Dyatlov, 128.
[xxxviii] Karpan, 448, 467.
