2010
In 1910, idealist Valentin Bulgakov becomes secretary to Leo Tolstoy, who is embroiled in a bitter conflict between his disciple Vladimir Chertkov and his wife Sofya Andreyevna over his will and literary rights. As Chertkov pressures Tolstoy to bequeath his works to the Russian people, Sofya fiercely defends her family's inheritance, while Valentin navigates the household's emotional turmoil and begins a romance with Masha. The conflict escalates with Sofya's suicide attempt and public confrontations, leading Tolstoy to secretly leave home with Valentin and his daughter Sasha, only to fall gravely ill. At Astapovo station, Sofya is initially barred from seeing the dying Tolstoy but is finally granted a brief, emotional farewell just before his passing, after which Valentin and Masha leave the movement, and Sofya prepares to return home, forever changed.
Save the Cat beat sheet
The story follows the final days of Leo Tolstoy as he grapples with family conflict, ideological schisms, and his own mortality.
Open full beat sheetValentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov is listed as Protagonist/Secretary. Young, idealistic, and naive secretary to Tolstoy, torn between the Countess and Chertkov. In the parsed data, Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov is connected to 87 scenes, 131 dialogue lines, 131 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
87 scenes / 131 dialogue linesSofya Andreyevna Tolstoy is listed as Antagonist/Wife. Tolstoy's much younger wife, deeply concerned with family inheritance and social standing. In the parsed data, Sofya Andreyevna Tolstoy is connected to 65 scenes, 139 dialogue lines, 139 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
65 scenes / 139 dialogue linesLeo Tolstoy is listed as Protagonist. 80-year-old world-renowned writer and philosopher, advocate of pacifism and simple living. In the parsed data, Leo Tolstoy is connected to 47 scenes, 107 dialogue lines, 108 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
47 scenes / 107 dialogue linesSasha Tolstoy is listed as Supporting. Tolstoy's favorite daughter and loyal assistant. In the parsed data, Sasha Tolstoy is connected to 45 scenes, 66 dialogue lines, 66 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
45 scenes / 66 dialogue linesVladimir Grigorevich Chertkov is listed as Antagonist/Disciple. Tolstoy's most dedicated and manipulative disciple, leader of the Tolstoyans. In the parsed data, Vladimir Grigorevich Chertkov is connected to 34 scenes, 81 dialogue lines, 81 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.
34 scenes / 81 dialogue linesDushan Makovitsky is listed as Supporting. Tolstoy's personal physician and devoted diarist. In the parsed data, Dushan Makovitsky is connected to 30 scenes, 36 dialogue lines, 36 text mentions, first appearing around scene 11.
30 scenes / 36 dialogue linesSergeyenko is listed as Supporting. Chertkov's joyless secretary. In the parsed data, Sergeyenko is connected to 16 scenes, 22 dialogue lines, 23 text mentions, first appearing around scene 16.
16 scenes / 22 dialogue linesMasha is listed as Supporting. A young, free-spirited Tolstoyan at Telyatinki who becomes Valentin's love interest. In the parsed data, Masha is connected to 14 scenes, 26 dialogue lines, 39 text mentions, first appearing around scene 20.
14 scenes / 26 dialogue linesAndrey Tolstoy is listed as Supporting. Tolstoy's son, aligned with his mother. In the parsed data, Andrey Tolstoy is connected to 8 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 28.
8 scenes / 5 dialogue linesA steam train travels through a river valley.
Tolstoy and his family are on a train that is stopped by a crowd of admirers.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna Tolstoy, Sasha Tolstoy, Dushan MakovitskyValentin watches the train depart, expressing his admiration for Tolstoy.
Valentin Fedorovitch BulgakovMorning routine at the Tolstoy estate.
Sofya says her morning prayers.
Sofya Andreyevna TolstoySofya walks through the house.
Sofya Andreyevna TolstoySofya visits a sleeping Tolstoy.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna TolstoyChertkov interviews Valentin for the secretary position.
Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Vladimir Grigorevich ChertkovChertkov sends Valentin off to Yasnaya Polyana.
Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Vladimir Grigorevich ChertkovSofya is filmed by a camera crew.
Sofya Andreyevna TolstoySofya confronts Tolstoy about press gossip.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna Tolstoy, Dushan MakovitskyTolstoy faces the press and meets Sasha for a ride.
Leo Tolstoy, Sasha Tolstoy, Dushan MakovitskySofya watches them leave.
Sofya Andreyevna TolstoyA train travels through the valley.
Valentin travels to Telyatinki.
Valentin Fedorovitch BulgakovValentin arrives at the Tolstoyan commune.
Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, SergeyenkoSergeyenko explains the rules of the commune.
Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, SergeyenkoSergeyenko reminds Valentin about the secret diary.
Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, SergeyenkoDisciples work in the gardens.
Masha brings Valentin tea.
Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, MashaValentin travels to the Tolstoy estate.
Valentin Fedorovitch BulgakovValentin arrives at the estate.
Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Sasha TolstoyValentin meets Tolstoy.
Leo Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch BulgakovThe family has tea and argues.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Sasha Tolstoy, Dushan Makovitsky, Andrey TolstoySasha warns Valentin about her mother.
Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Sasha TolstoySofya invites Valentin to talk.
Sofya Andreyevna Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch BulgakovSofya attempts to charm and manipulate Valentin into becoming her ally against Chertkov.
Sofya Andreyevna Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Sasha TolstoyValentin visits Masha at the compound; they discuss their relationship and Tolstoy.
Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Masha, SergeyenkoA message arrives via cable machine.
Sasha rushes to find her father.
Sofya Andreyevna Tolstoy, Sasha TolstoyTolstoy and Valentin walk in the woods and discuss Tolstoy's past.
Leo Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Sasha TolstoyA train passes.
Chertkov returns and is greeted by Tolstoy.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Vladimir Grigorevich ChertkovSofya and Andrey watch the reunion with disdain.
Sofya Andreyevna Tolstoy, Vladimir Grigorevich Chertkov, Andrey TolstoySofya greets Chertkov.
Sofya Andreyevna Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Vladimir Grigorevich ChertkovChertkov pressures Valentin to spy on Sofya.
Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Vladimir Grigorevich ChertkovMasha visits Valentin in his room and they have sex.
Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, MashaPreparations for a Tolstoyan event.
Valentin and Masha wake up together.
Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Masha, SergeyenkoSergeyenko confronts Valentin.
Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, SergeyenkoValentin prepares to leave.
Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, MashaTolstoy greets children and disciples.
Leo Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Vladimir Grigorevich Chertkov, Sasha Tolstoy, Dushan Makovitsky, MashaTolstoy decides to return home.
Leo Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Vladimir Grigorevich Chertkov, Sasha Tolstoy, Dushan MakovitskyTolstoy returns home to Sofya.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna TolstoyLaughter is heard from the house.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna TolstoyValentin and Masha have a final conversation.
Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, MashaSofya wakes up alone.
Sofya Andreyevna TolstoySofya and Tolstoy argue.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna TolstoySofya confronts Tolstoy about his relationship with Chertkov and the new will.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna TolstoySofya questions Tolstoy about his love for her and the existence of a new will.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna TolstoySofya continues to press Tolstoy about the will as they move through the house.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna TolstoyTolstoy tries to work while Sofya demands a promise regarding the will.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna TolstoySofya threatens to commit suicide at the train station; Tolstoy expresses his frustration.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna TolstoySofya travels to Telyatinki in her droshky.
Sofya Andreyevna TolstoyChertkov and Valentin discuss Sofya's arrival and the will.
Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Vladimir Grigorevich Chertkov, SergeyenkoSofya confronts Chertkov about the will.
Sofya Andreyevna Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Vladimir Grigorevich Chertkov, SergeyenkoSofya and Valentin discuss his relationship with Masha.
Sofya Andreyevna Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch BulgakovValentin confronts Masha about their relationship.
Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Masha, SergeyenkoSofya wakes up and notices the presence of Chertkov and others.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Vladimir Grigorevich Chertkov, Sasha TolstoySofya eavesdrops on the conspirators.
Sofya Andreyevna TolstoyChertkov and others pressure Tolstoy regarding the will.
Leo Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Vladimir Grigorevich Chertkov, Sasha Tolstoy, Dushan MakovitskySofya climbs out her window.
Sofya Andreyevna TolstoySofya moves along the ledge.
Sofya Andreyevna TolstoyThe group continues to discuss the will.
Leo Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Vladimir Grigorevich Chertkov, Sasha Tolstoy, Dushan MakovitskySofya moves along the ledge.
Sofya Andreyevna TolstoyValentin spots Sofya at the window.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Vladimir Grigorevich Chertkov, Sasha Tolstoy, Dushan MakovitskySofya listens at the french doors.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna TolstoySofya confronts the group.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Vladimir Grigorevich Chertkov, Sasha Tolstoy, Dushan MakovitskyA tense dinner leads to Sofya's collapse.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Dushan MakovitskyValentin sits by the bonfire.
Valentin Fedorovitch BulgakovMasha tells Valentin she is leaving.
Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, MashaDoctors examine Sofya.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Dushan MakovitskyTolstoy signs the new will.
Leo Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Vladimir Grigorevich Chertkov, SergeyenkoTolstoy reflects on his marriage to Valentin.
Leo Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch BulgakovValentin tells Chertkov he is leaving.
Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Vladimir Grigorevich ChertkovValentin and Chertkov discuss Valentin's departure and the nature of love.
Valentin Fedorovitch Bulgakov, Vladimir Grigorevich ChertkovSofya confronts Tolstoy about selling his work and discovers his secret diary.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna TolstoyTolstoy meets Valentin, but is interrupted by a gunshot.
Leo Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch BulgakovSofya fires at Chertkov's photo; Tolstoy asks Valentin to stay.
Leo Tolstoy, Sofya Andreyevna Tolstoy, Valentin Fedorovitch BulgakovA lamp moves up the stairs.
The Czar's police...You'll be followed when you leave here...and the church will stop at nothing to bring him back into the fold. His children can't be trusted... only Sasha... and then of course there is the Countess... Well, one doesn't like to come between married people whatever the circumstances, but her dogged attachment to private property, her public criticism of our movement... The point is, he needs a man of your intellectual gifts around him. Someone who can help him with the new work. Someone who understands his goals.
" Your youth and your desire for happiness reminds me cruelly of my age and the impossibility of happiness for me." When I was courting Sofya, she was so young and pure, it seemed impossible that I'd ever have her. I didn't want to tell her how I felt and I wanted to tell her nothing else. So I wrote down a string of letters and asked her if she could decipher them. She looked completely confused, thinking it was a game or...
Give everything you've got to him, your fat little catamite. "What will it be, my dearest dear, my Vladimir Grigorivich? My wife's heart on a platter? Her kidneys? With salt? But of course, my dear Chertkov, whatever pleases you. The china. The estate. Permanent copyright on everything I've ever written? Anything for you, my love."
I am not. Look, when I read his Confession, it moved me, Valya. He was searching for freedom. Freedom from anger. Freedom from attachment. Freedom from all the superstition and nonsense of the church. It moved me so much. I thought that's what it would be about. Isn't that what it's about? Freedom and love? But they mix it all up.
No, you want an icon. You want to take photographs and give out postcards..You want people to kneel in front of an image you've created. But he doesn't want that. He never wanted that, and it will give him no peace. He wants to see her...let her come.
You'll keep a diary for me. I need to know everything that goes on at Yasnaya Polyana. Let me know who visits the house, any talk of the copyright to his work, any contact with the church, what letters come and go. Anything Sofya Andreyevna says.
Each man is alone with his conscience and his God. The kitchen is below. You'll be expected to assist with meals at least twice a week ...and to give a hand in the garden. We're all equals here, you know...as Tolstoy teaches us.
Vladimir Grigorevich has already written about you at length. I need your help badly. The manifesto against the government is hard work. They commit their idiotic abuses faster than I can catalogue them...and the new book...
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