Cilka's Journey

When Cilka returns to the ward, a nurse tells Cilka that Mikhail made it through the night and that he’s in a bed near the nurse’s station so she can easily observe him. Cilka and the other nurse get to work with their regular duties and Cilka is soon told to report to the ambulance. On the drive, Kirill says they’re going to a collapsed crane that has trapped the driver inside. At the scene, Cilka, Pavel, and Kirill wait for two hours as prisoners work to untangle the wreckage. Cilka periodically checks the driver’s vital signs, which are declining. The driver dies, so Cilka and the men return to the hospital. On the drive, Cilka sees the first flowers of spring and realizes she’s served almost a third of her sentence.

Back on the ward, Cilka visits Mikhail, who has been asking for her. She tries to comfort him about losing his leg, as he has no hope for his future. This conversation upsets Cilka, who also questions what kind of life she’ll return to when she is released. Yelena reassures her and promises to help in any way she can. When Cilka asks what will happen to Mikhail, Yelena has no reassurance.

Summer returns, and the women resume their Sunday walks around camp. Josie and Natia visit, and the women often enter Hut 29 for privacy. On one of the last summer nights, Josie talks to Cilka privately about how to prevent the administrators from taking Natia away. Cilka promises to help and speaks to Yelena about Josie’s situation. Yelena is sympathetic but has no power to help.

Suddenly, Cilka leaves with the ambulance, which has been called to the commandant’s house. Cilka enters the house when the ambulance arrives, and Maria recognizes her. Maria says Katya is in pain and has complained of an upset stomach. Cilka calms the little girl as she did before, and Katya allows her to examine her stomach. Maria allows Cilka to take her daughter to the hospital in the ambulance and requests Yelena as Katya’s doctor. At the hospital, Yelena and Cilka take Katya immediately into surgery to remove her appendix.

After Katya’s surgery, Maria and Cilka stay with her overnight. Maria shows her gratitude for saving her daughter’s life a second time and offers to speak to her husband about getting Cilka released. Cilka asks Maria to help Josie and Natia instead. Maria promises to take care of Josie, and Katya, Maria, and the commandant return home.

When Cilka returns to work the following day, Yelena takes her immediately to the administration building. They go through a back entrance into a reception area, where Cilka speaks with Alexandr while Yelena goes to fetch Josie. Meanwhile, Maria appears with Natia, hands her to Josie, and explains that Cilka chose to save Josie instead of herself. She then says Josie will take the train to Moscow, where one of Maria’s friends will take Josie in and pay her to work around the house. Josie is overcome with the news and embraces Cilka before entering a car that will take her to the train station.

Later that day, Cilka tells her hut-mates about Josie’s departure. The women discuss their lives before Vorkuta and why the Soviet Union sent them here, and Cilka feels ashamed that her friends know so little about her after five years. Olga reminds the women to focus on happy memories, so Cilka remembers when her Aunt Helena asked her and Magda to be bridesmaids at her wedding. Cilka and her sister were thrilled to wear flowers in their hair and beautiful dresses, and Cilka longs for her turn to be in love.