Ballerina

Oh, that's beautiful.

It was terrible. I can't do it.

Hmm, not yet.

But you will.

You're growing up so fast.

You say that all the time.

Yeah, it's because you are.

You look so much like your sister.

I wish I could remember her.

If I come back and you're a foot taller...

gonna ground you.

Shh.

Remember what we learned, okay?

Eve, come with me.

Stay quiet.

We opened our hearts to you.

We embraced you.

We let you, an outsider,

marry a daughter of our clan.

And how did you repay this kindness?

You took what was not rightfully yours.

And now, your wife is dead,

to atone for your transgressions.

Did you think that you could just walk away?

Hmm?

Where is she?

Where is Eve?

Charming.

You're a fucking coward.

You're trying to convince yourself

that fate absolves you of your actions.

- There are no choices. - Yeah.

Does that make what you do any easier?

It makes what I do...

necessary.

One bullet...

well placed...

can be a magical thing.

It's neither good...

nor evil.

But how a man uses it

reveals his true character.

You wanted choices.

Well, here they are.

You kill yourself,

and your daughter lives.

Or kill me,

and you and your daughter die together.

Choice is yours.

You've got your choice.

Now, do you have the balls to do it?

Papa!

Hey, baby, look at me.

It's okay.

Come on.

Come on.

Papa.

I'm sorry, honey.

- I never wanted this for you. - Papa.

I'm sorry.

Papa!

Papa...

Tchaikovsky. How lovely.

At a time of loss,

there's nothing easier than pity

and nothing more difficult than the truth,

as there are no easy answers for grief.

I'd like to be honest with you.

Would that be all right?

Your father was a good man.

He wanted a free and open life for you.

Not like the one that he had to endure.

But we all live with the decisions we make.

Now he's been taken from you.

I can do nothing about that.

But what I can do...

is offer to take you to his family.

They will look after you

and, hopefully...

one day become your family, too.

The Director will see you now.

Does she know who her parents really were?

Come here. Sit.

You dance, yes?

Mmm-hmm.

I run this theater,

and I am always looking for new recruits.

I know you.

I know your pain.

What boils inside of you under the surface.

I can give you somewhere to put that anger.

Those men took your past.

Don't let them steal your future.

Well?

She says my path is now here

with the Ruska Roma.

Very well...

Eve.

Thank you, Mr. Winston.

You are most welcome, Miss MaCarro.

And know that I will always be at your service.

My name is Nogi.

Did you know my father?

I did.

Your father was Ruska Roma, like me.

Like you will be, too.

He was what we call Kikimora.

What is that?

In Slavic mythology,

the Kikimora is a kind of spirit

to those with darkness in their hearts.

She can be vengeful and destructive.

Like the boogeyman?

Yes.

But to the innocent...

she can be a protector.

It is...

two sides...

to the one coin.

To kill...

To save.

But, ultimately...

it is up to you to choose.

Are you finished?

No.

Good.

That will be all for today.

Tend to your wounds before you get sepsis,

and we have to cut off your feet.

Tell Tatiana she's next.

"Her Majesty" says you're up.

That woman hates me.

She hates everybody.

Christ, Eve.

Why do you push yourself like this?

I want to be ready.

Ready for what?

You know what's funny?

When I was a little girl,

I actually did want to be a real ballerina.

You are a real ballerina.

You're the best dancer here.

That other shit, you'll learn with training.

Fire!

One bullet,

well placed,

can change the world.

The Kikimora's purpose is to stop that bullet.

Time's up!

To become Kikimora you must become the assassin.

You must learn to move like him

and think like him.

For this next exercise,

we will be using simulated rounds.

What are the rules?

Protect your ward at all costs.

That is the only rule.

Why did you fail?

He's too strong.

Do you really believe

that strength has anything to do

with whether you win or lose?

You will always be weaker.

You will always be smaller and at a disadvantage.

He is beating you

because you are allowing him

to define the terms of the contest.

You want to win?

Change the terms.

Improvise, adapt, cheat.

Lean into your strengths,

not his.

Fight like a girl.

Begin.

Good.

Where is she?

Tatiana's things are gone. Did something happen to her?

Sit.

Tatiana did not have the qualities required

to continue with the Ruska Roma.

What are you talking about?

She lacked the killer instinct I see in you.

Your childhood was taken.

This pain is what drives you.

Tatiana...

there is sadness, not pain.

There's a difference.

You two are now on different paths.

Then why are you holding me back?

I'm ready.

Perhaps you are right.

It is time.

This is the final stage of your training.

Oh, my God.

Are you fucking kidding me?

I'm a fucking test?

How the mighty have fallen.

Do you know who I am?

No.

I'm you...