"MOSFILM" "1913" "Oh, gracious God, what for?" "Why this injustice?" "Our beautiful "Fyodor ZheIeznov" had only one sailing season." "And there she goes, burning down." "C'est Ia vie." " Who was on duty?" " sailor ShaIamov." " ShaIamov?" " Yes, him." "He had his brother-in-Iaw visiting, they drank a quarter of vodka on board." "And caught fire." "Yes, and caught fire." "Wasn't I telling you, Vassa Borisovna?" "You ought to have discharged ShaIamov." "He's got a weakness for vodka." "But you wouldn't listen to me." "And there you go." "That's them being brought in." "AII because of that kindness of yours." "No, I'm not kind at all." "He rescued my boy, Fedya, from the water." "Are they both burned to coals?" "I don't know." "Let's see." "Yes." "Both down to coals." "You may drink, but must know your business." "They can't drink." "Better still, not to drink and know your business." "I'm not talking about myself." "About them, those coals." "Three hundred thousand, to the kopeck..." "Oh, come on, Gury Lvovich." "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away." "Let's go." "Three hundred thousand, three hundred thousand..." "Stop it, Gury Lvovich, I hate idle talk." "As if the ship were yours, and not mine." "My heart aches for business, Vassa Borisovna." "If it aches for business, Iet's talk business." "I'm all attention, Vassa Borisovna." "I've read your note before going to sleep." " You have?" " Yes." " well, and what?" " That's what." "3.5 for a thousand poods, a third of a kopeck per pood, is not enough." " Sure it's not enough." " Don't interrupt." "Not enough for stevedores on the freight and passenger lines." "They have to hump their loads forty yards and more." " absolutely." " That means a ruble a day." "It's not enough to buy meat." "And stevedores can't work without meat." "That's true." "Who would argue with it?" "You are arguing." "Why not put an article in the paper, find someone to talk to the men, instead of writing notes." "I'm sorry." " Can you find such a man?" " Of course." "Good." "These big shipping lines deserve to be squeezed." "It's easier to say than do it, Vassa Borisovna." "They have to be squeezed." "Mine is a small company." "please don't be so modest." "It's no Ionger a small, and not even middIe-sized, but a very big business." " And you know it." " I don't know, and I don't want to." "We don't carry much freight." "My crews just drop it over the side onto the wharf." "We don't have to use stevedores too often." "That's why 2 rubIes a thousand poods is not enough for the crews." " Why give them more?" " What do you mean, why?" "Now, see to it that "Caucasus" and "Mercury" and the Sirotkin Company put their price up to five rubles a thousand." "Do it, Gury Lvovich." "Then people will be more willing to ship their stuff on our little boats." "Then we shall be able to give our crews more." "So, sorry, but I cannot accept this little memorandum of yours." " But..." " Don't but me." "AIexei." "Where's he?" " AIexei!" " I'm here, Vassa Borisovna." "What are you doing there?" " Come out of there." "Une minute." "Come on, Iet's move!" "There's one too many tube in their motor." "Let me unscrew it, and we'II go." "He's ruined your Peugeot, that scoundrel." "You sent him to Paris, got him dressed spick and span, and he screwed it." "well, Gury Lvovich, take care." "I'm off." "Time is money." "My business is waiting for me." "Wait, Vassa Borisovna!" "He'II fix it in a moment." "VASSA" "Based upon the play by M. Gorky "Vassa ZheIeznova"" "Written and Directed by gleb PANFILOV" "Director of Photography Leonid KALASHNIKOV" "Production Designer NikoIai DVIGUBSKY" "Music by Vadim BIBERGAN" "?" "... ." "Starring Inna CHURIKOVA" "also starring" "Sergey Petrovich, Vassa's husband Vadim MEDVEDEV" "Prokhor Borisovich, Vassa's brother NikoIai SKOROBOGATOV" "Vassa's daughters:" "NataIya" " OIga MASHNAYA LudmiIa" " Yana POPLAVSKAYA" "rachel, Vassa's daughter-in-Iaw VaIentina YAKUNINA" "KoIia, Vassa's grandson Vanya PANFILOV" "Anna Onoshenkova VaIentina TELICHKINA" "Pyatyorkin VyachesIav BOGACHYOV" "MeInikov albert FILOZOV" "Gury Lvovich Krotkikh VsevoIod SOBOLEV" "Liza, housemaid Tatiana KRAVCHENKO" "PoIina, housemaid Tatiana KALISTRATOVA" "Goodbye." "Just look at him rolling!" "Some chauffeur!" "You should drive a cart, not a Peugeot!" "Vassa Borisovna, the auto's running faster without that tube, see?" "Listen, park the auto in the yard, and do it right away." "Got you." "If you give rides to girls again, I'II fire you." "Yes, ma'am!" "Don't get angry, but it runs faster without that tube." "And put the tube back in its place." "And still it runs faster." "I'm going to write about this strange case to Mr. Peugeot in Paris." "Do you mind, Vassa Borisovna?" " Go ahead, write." " Merci." "And I'II make a drawing of it." "Anyuta, be quick and make a copy of this." "And send it to Gury right away, or he will grumble again." "Yes, ma'am." "Someone is taking rides in the elevator again." "He must be riding on business." "Remember sailor ShaIamov?" "Of course I do." "He saved your Fedya from the drifting ice." "Right." "And now there's neither the sailor nor the ship any more." " How come?" "!" " It's true." "I pitied him and didn't discharge, and he has burned my steamship." "Was he drunk?" "Yes, drunk." "Oh, my goodness." "What for?" "For pitying him." "So never pity a man, it does him only harm." "And harm to me, too." " Bon jour, Vassa Borisovna." " hello." "What did Gury talk to you about?" "I didn't quite understand." "Something about conservatism." "What's the matter with him?" " hello?" "Motor room?" " Motor room listening." "Are you sleeping or what, VassiIy?" "I got choked." "Porridge went the wrong way." "I'm sorry." "Just a second." "well, move it!" "actually, we're way behind the foreigners in technology." "But as for warm-heartedness, we're ahead of all other peoples." "You're quite right." "What did you discuss with him the other day?" "He was telling me about the German socialists and their king." "Mind he doesn't give you a fat belly with that socialism of his." "Oh, no!" "I've learnt my lesson." "He's courting NataIya Sergeyevna." "I know." "But Nata's no fool." "He's after LudmiIa too." "versatile, isn't he?" "Vassa Borisovna, where did you walk?" "Your feet are all dirty." "Where could I walk?" "In a garbage dump." "Let me take your shoes off." "Listen, dear." "What is it you've added up here?" "Why?" "Look." "97,385 rubIes and 57 kopecks." " Right." " It's a ruble and a half wrong." "This way you're going to send me out begging." "Vassa Borisovna, forgive me for Christ's sake." " I had a headache yesterday." " Headache!" "Don't do calculations when having a headache." "Or take a medicine." "Headache!" "She has a headache, and I'II go on the dole." "Headache!" "What are you thrusting them on me for?" "You might as well put them on the table!" "Forgive me for Christ's sake, Vassa Borisovna." "Take the document back and rewrite it anew." "Yes, ma'am." "Yes, speaking." "Yes." "Where are you?" "Downstairs?" "Go up." "I'm waiting." "Yes." "It's MeInikov from the District Court." "Don't let anyone in while I'm talking with him." " Yes, ma'am." " Move it." "Vassa Borisovna, you'd better undress, or you'II sweat." "Headache." "And I'II go out begging." " Good afternoon, Madam." " Good afternoon, Yuri VasiIyevich." "Come in and have a seat." "You can go, Anyuta." "And close the door tightly." "Yes, ma'am." "well?" "Not very cheerful news, I'm afraid." "The preliminary investigation's closed." "The case has gone to the prosecutor." "The inspector assures me he toned it down as much as he could." "For three thousand he could have toned it down altogether." "Quite impossible." "I read the testimony of that woman, the procuress." "She poured her heart out as though she were at confession." "So there'II be a trial?" "That is inevitable." " What is the penalty?" " It could be hard labor." "What is this?" "Photographs of the victims, as you asked." "What do you call this thing?" "What thing exactly?" "This messing about with children?" "child molesting." "Even the word sounds gIuey." "Oh God, what a shame!" "Who is this?" "Anikina, a laundress's daughter, 1 1 years old, with your husband." " Who took the pictures?" " police, in the hotel." "Aren't they ashamed of taking pictures of this?" " I'm buying them." " It's impossible." " I'm giving one thousand." " impossible." " Two thousand." " No." "No." "The police have the negatives, they can print as many of them as they wish." "please." "I'II withdraw them from the case." "What will happen now?" "well..." "The prosecutor will draw up an indictment." "Then hand it to the defender and arrest him." " AII 3 of them?" "And the procuress?" " AII three." "And the procuress." "Can the prosecutor do more toning down?" "Yes, he can." "But ours..." "Quiet, not so loud." "What?" "Ours is bent on making a career for himself." "I doubt he would risk it." "Though there's a rumor that those implicated are trying to settle it." "really?" "Then let us try as well." "Make the prosecutor an offer." "I've got to hush up this business." "Hush it up completely." "I have daughters, you know." "I understand you." "I myself have a son." "With all my respect for you and deep gratitude for your generosity..." "We'II discuss gratitude later, when this affair is disposed of." "Do it." "I'm absolutely..." "Yuri VasiIyevich." "Money is no object in this case." "If you bring it off," "I return your IOUs." "And I can add something." "Yes, but, you see..." "would that be enough?" "You see, I..." "Vassa Borisovna, it wouId be better if you yourself..." "That's asking too much, me bowing down to the prosecutor." "I'm willing to pay him, but not bow down." "Act at once, Yuri VasiIyevich, today, please!" "Then tell me how much." " allow me to take my leave." " Good luck to you." " I'm in a hurry to get to court." " Yes, hurry!" "And remember, Yuri VasiIyevich, I won't spare my money on that." "Mommy, I've had such a wonderful dream!" "Just amazing!" " What do you want?" " Are you working?" "Yes, I am." "Be off now." "And tell Liza to come right away." "My brother is complaining." "You didn't oil his locks." "You're disobedient." "I can't do everything, Vassa Borisovna." "I have to look after the whole house." "It's too hard." "Give me a girl to help out." "Don't expect that." "I can't bear having useless people about the house." "The young ladies help you." "You're paid good wages." "Make an effort." "Don't sleep so much." "I haven't slept yet." "tell Sergey Petrovich I want to see him." "Yes, ma'am." "well, what did you call me for?" "You just got up or about to go to bed?" "Just got up." "What do you want?" "Don't shout." "You won't frighten anyone." " I'm not shouting." " So don't." " I'm not." " So don't." "Sit down." "I'm sitting." "So sit." "Speak up." "What do you want?" "The prosecutor has confirmed the charge against you." "You're lying!" "I don't believe you." "He has confirmed it." "That scoundrel!" "That thief!" "I lost 9 thousand to him at cards, and promised another eleven!" "And he has confirmed it!" "The thief!" "Some prosecutor!" "How can one believe people after that?" "In a few days you'II get the indictment." "Then they'II arrest you." "And lock you up in prison." "So you grudged the money!" "tell me how much you gave." " Stop shouting!" "You'II be overheard." " How much?" "tell me!" "Thirty thousand." "Don't I know you!" "You hang onto every ruble." "You merchantress!" "Petty peddIer!" "You Iecher!" "Look." " What do I need it for?" " He wouldn't take it." "MeInikov refused to take it, the bastard." "Nonentity." "He got scared to death and didn't take it." "The case has gone too far." "We can't stop it." "For child molesting the penalty is hard labor." "You're glad, aren't you?" "glad?" "Yes, I'm glad." "I'm so glad, so glad that I don't want living." "glad..." "You have two daughters who are to get married one day." "What will it be like for them with you a convict?" "What decent man will marry them?" "You have a grandson." "He'II soon be five." "I would rather, Sergey... you had murdered someone, God forgive me," "than got mixed up in this filthy business." "I ought to have murdered you." "Torn out your cruel heart and thrown it to the dogs." "It was you who corrupted me, you vile woman!" "Don't lie to yourself." "It makes me sick to listen to you." "You debaucher!" "please, Sergey, don't let this get into court, don't disgrace the family." "I'm asking not for myself but for the children." "Sergey." "Seryozha." "please." "I have a powder you can take." "No, I'II take a schema." "I'II become a monk." "I'II live underground - but I'II live!" "You're just blathering." "BIathering." "Do you want me to kneel before you?" "Me before you?" "Go away!" "Think..." "you'II go to prison." "Then the whole town will come to stare at you." "And after that you will die a Iong, slow death as a convict doing hard labor, in disgrace, in misery." "But this way there's no misery and no shame." "You just take it and like fall asleep." " Let them try me." "I don't care." " And the children, the disgrace?" "I'II live doing hard labor." "Stop bIathering." "Take the powder." "I'm not taking anything from you." " Take it voluntarily." " Or else you'II poison me, eh?" "Sergey, where are you going?" "Wait." "Wait, Sergey." "Think about your daughters." "children shouIdn't pay for their fathers' filth." " I shan't keep quiet in court." " What about their mothers'?" " Their mothers, who..." " Don't shout!" "I'II tell everything in court." "About the whores you brought to my house, how you Iechered with them!" "You frightened LudmiIa so much she's not quite right in the head now." " It frightens me just to look at you!" " Take the powder, you hear me?" "Wait, Sergey!" "Do you hear, Sergey?" "What was the row about?" "I don't know." "Vassa Borisovna was persuading him to take some powder." "What powder?" "Medicine, I think." "What medicine?" " How should I know?" " You fool!" "Sergey doesn't need any medicines." "He's as fit as a fiddle." "We were playing cards all night in the elevator, and swigging cognac all the time." "Perhaps she meant bicarbonate?" "You're a fool again." "After cognac you don't need bicarbonate." "You don't see anything, you don't know anything." "What do I give you presents for?" "Some present you've given me!" "Everybody will soon be able to see it." " Better from me than Pyatyorkin." " Sure, better." "Pyatyorkin gives girls rides in his auto." " And you?" " I'II give you a ride!" "I'II give you such a ride you won't recognize your own folks." "AII right, enough of that." "You've already given me a ride." "Quick as the wind." "Have you oiled the locks?" "Then do it!" "If I don't come tonight to make your bed, then you'II know." "Come on, move it!" "You know the news?" "What news?" "Why are you running about like a weasel, with your hair undone?" ""Fyodor ZheIeznov" has burned down." "What Fyodor?" "What are you taking about?" "Our new steamship, she sailed only one season." "Have you forgotten?" " Damn it!" " And they've decided to try Father." " You're lying!" " No, I'm not." " Who said so?" " Yevgeny, MeInikov's son." "Damn and blast!" "So he didn't get away with it." "The ZheIeznovs!" "The Khrapovs - once an old and honored name!" "troubles never come singly." "Poor man, such a bad luck." "We're in for a Iot of shame now." " Perhaps he'II be acquitted?" " It's not that." "It's the trial, the public disgrace." "And they'II find him guilty anyway." "That's how it is nowadays - the rich are always in the wrong." "It's a misfortune to be rich." "It's not so much Captain ZheIeznov they'II be trying as us, the Khrapovs." "Can't anything be done?" "If only run away to America, where all the crooks hide." " What about bribing the court?" " That's been done already." "Your mother has spent thousands to hush up this scandal." "She's given to the prosecutor, the inspector, the police, even to me." " Why to you?" " To keep my mouth shut." " And you've taken it?" " I have." "So it hasn't worked." "Now I shan't stand a chance of being mayor." "And you'II never find husbands of your own class, even with your dowry." "Your dad has tarred you." "Son of a bitch!" "The upstart bastard!" "Ah, what an idiot she is!" "Who?" " Your mother, of course." " She's not an idiot." "Why did she have to marry that captain, 20 years older than herself?" "Didn't you talk her into it?" "He was your friend." "So what?" "She ought not to have listened to me if she's so smart." "I've talked her into it!" "I'm... not of this world." "I'm the easy-going type." "I'm an artist by nature, I don't count." "I know, when young you wanted to be the funny man in musical comedy." "Yes, I did!" "I did." "But he was sailing the seven seas." "So what?" "There's a Iot of shit floating on the sea." " She was in love with him." " Oh, go to hell!" "You again poke your nose in what doesn't concern you." " There was a lemon there." " It's not for you." "I've talked her into it." "Maybe you need something else?" "No, nothing." "Go." "Go away." "Why are you standing?" "Go." " How is Sergey?" " Not bad." "complaining of his heart." "Nata, tell them to bring me some tea." "Why don't you just say I'm in the way?" "Yes, you're in the way." "And I want some tea, too." "And dress up, you sIovenIy." " So you say it's his heart?" " Yes, his heart." " And what's the matter with you?" " Why?" "It's morning, and you're sober." "There's enough to make you sober!" "You haven't been able to prevent the trial." "Don't talk to the girls about that yet." "I'II tell them myself." "NataIya knows already." "She told me about it." " Who told her?" " melnikov's son." " Yevgeny?" " Yes." "The girls shouIdn't receive him." "He's interesting." "Our girlfriends are ill and don't come to see us." "Luda, go and help Liza tidy up the rooms." "Why do you keep pushing and sending me away?" " How do you talk to your mother?" " Just like that." "I have business to attend to, Luda." "Business!" "And for your daughter you haven't a minute to spare!" "We'II have a talk at teatime." "Now go and help Liza." "I'm not going anywhere!" "I know you're going to tell uncle off for calling dad wayward." "Wayward isn't a bad word." "It means finding the way." "Someone's lost the way and he finds it for them." "I've been finding the way out of muddIes all my Iife." "It's not true." "I know what wayward means." "uncle Prokhor is wayward, he's made Liza pregnant." "He doesn't like daddy, keeps cursing him." "And you don't love daddy, either." "Why don't you love him?" "uncle is a drunkard too, but you love him." "The samovar is on." "I fell in love with your father, Luda, when I wasn't yet 15." "One year younger than you're now." "When I was 16, we got married." "Are you listening to me?" "And at 1 7... when I was expecting Fyodor, at tea on Trinity Sunday, our religious holiday," "I happened to spill some cream on my husband's boot." "well, it happens sometimes." "He forced me to lick it off with my tongue." "And I did it." "What else could I do?" "In front of strangers." "Our family - the Khrapovs - wasn't very popular, you know." "Mom, why did you tell us about it?" "Nata." "Remember how you bored a hole in the wall?" "How you spied on the way your father amused himself?" "Yes, I do." "And then came running to me in tears and shouted, "Mommy, turn them out!"" "I remember." "Is this a family trial you're holding?" "Oh, you viper!" " So you do remember, Nata?" " Yes, I do." "That's good." "people shouldn't live without memories." "I had 9 children by him." "There're only you three left." "Luda, come here, daughter, sit by me." "Don't be angry with your mother." "One was stillborn." "Two girls didn't live a year." "Two boys died before they were five, and another at the age of seven." "That's how it was, daughters." "I'm telling you this so that you won't be in a hurry to get married." "Mom, why did they all die and we're still alive?" "You were lucky, daughter." "The others died because they were born weak." "And they were born weak because your father drank too much and beat me too often." "uncle Prokhor knows that." "Yes, he used to thrash her all right." "He learned how to thrash people at sea, so he did the job thoroughly, skillfully." "Did you beat your wife, uncle Prokhor?" "Of course I did." "What for?" "There's a song in a musical comedy:" "We find it so easy to marry, But living with two women is hard." "I lived with my wife 4 years." "CouIdn't take it any more." "It's more peaceful living alone." "Why keep horses when there're plenty of cabmen?" "What's the matter with you, Liza?" "What happened?" "Vassa Borisovna, it's..." "Sergey Petrovich seems to be dead." "You're mad, you fool!" "Oh, my God, she's mad." "Prokhor Borisovich, what is it?" "What?" "Even my legs are trembling." "Go, NataIya." "Go." "If he's dead, there won't be anyone to try, will there?" "He took bicarbonate." "653, please, Miss." "Yes, thank you." "Is that you, Yakov Semyonovich?" "Yes." "please come at once." "Yes, at once." "Yes." "Yes." "Sergey Petrovich has died." "No, he was quite well." "planned to go to church." "Yes." "What?" "No, he complained of heartburn and took bicarbonate." "No, no one saw how it happened." "Yes, all of a sudden." "Thank you." "Did anyone see how it happened?" " Liza, perhaps you saw?" " No, I didn't." "Why do you say that?" "I didn't see anything, I didn't hear anything, cross my heart." "No, I didn't see it!" "What's the matter with you, Liza?" "calm down." "Anyuta, calm her down." "But why?" "I haven't seen anything!" "Anna VasiIyevna, I didn't hear anything, I didn't see anything!" "Prokhor Borisovich, tell them!" "Go on, you log." "Giving us this spectacle..." "Everyone go downstairs." "I want to be alone with Seryozha." "Come on, get out of here." "Go." "Prosha..." "Oh God, what is it?" "Oh, my God, Prosha..." "You're a giant, Vassa." "You really are!" "You take after our grandfather." "What do you mean?" "What are you burbIing about?" "Come to your senses, you fool." "I'm mum." "My little sis..." "I'm mum." "We bless and consecrate this ship in the name of the Father, the Son and the holy Ghost." "Amen." "glory to You, our Lord and Benefactor, now and forever!" "We bless and consecrate this sip in the name of the Father, the Son and the holy Ghost." "Amen." "We bless and consecrate this ship in the name of the Father, the Son and the holy Ghost." "Amen." "Good boy." "Thank you." "Put it down." "congratulations, Missis Owner." "congratulations." "Come here." "Behave yourself." "Kiss the cross." "Good boy." "congratulations." "You'II play soon." "congratulations." "congratulations." "well!" " Pyotr Ivanovich, weigh anchor." " Yes, ma'am." "Godspeed!" "And now, ladies and gentlemen, honored guests, having given to God what is God's," "let's give to Czar what is Czar's." "Music, play "glory"!" "Go!" "You see the river, KoIia?" "Yes." "Look how beautiful she is." "This is the volga." " Mother VoIga!" " Right." "Good boy." "Love her." "She feeds us." "And love this ship too." "Do you Iike her?" " I do!" " Good for you." "Take care of her." "You know whose ship she is?" " Whose?" " Think well." "Ours." "No, KoIia." "Ours means no one's." "You should say "mine"!" " Mine!" " Good boy." " Give him a candy." " Here, KoIia, have a candy." "Thank you." "Remember, KoIia:" "save your property and increase it." "When you grow up, build your own ships." "build them well, for them to serve long and with profit." "And remember another thing." "Time will pass and I will be gone, you will get old, your children and grandchildren and great-grandchiIdren will grow up, and this ship will still be sailing and benefit you all." " Understand?" " Understand!" " Good for you." "Here." " Take another candy." "Good boy!" "And now, ladies and gentlemen, dear guests, please come to the table to dine at whatever there is." "Music!" "Dear guests, please take your seats." "Sergey VasiIyevich, please sit down." "YevIampy SiIych, take your seat at the head of the table, please." "Dear guests, please don't feel shy." "There's enough room for everybody." "please, take your seats." "Luda dear, at the middle of the table." "What is it?" "A sailor's been killed downstairs." "What?" "What are you blabbering about?" "Yes, they killed him." " Who?" " I don't know." "please, dear guests." "Why are you standing like dummies?" "He's still breathing, don't you see?" "help him." "Are you deaf or what?" "help him." "Don't touch him, Vassa Borisovna." "You'II dirty your hands." "Let him die." "Yuri VasiIyevich?" "You?" "How do you happen to be here?" "Who did it to him?" "We did." " With a pipe." " What for?" "The RSDRP." "Down with the czar." "He was an agitator, the dog." "We got tired of catching them." "Have run our feet off." "CouIdn't you find another place to do it?" "No, ma'am." "We caught up with him here." "What's the name?" "Chizov, Anany VasiIyevich." "Secret agent." "His documents are in order." "I checked it." "I mean the sailor's name." "ZavyaIov, Stepan Ivanovich." "25 years old." "Son of a Sormov Works metaIworker." "His first year in the crew." "Draw up a report at once and send it to colonel Popov." "AIexei Ivanovich has been informed." "Take him away, he's dead." "And clean up everything." "Don't worry, we'II do everything." "We'II scrub everything clean." "well, Anna, did you see today" "what our MeInikov is like?" " That prig." " Yes, I did." "killed a man and didn't even wince." "It wasn't him who killed but the one in a hat." "Doesn't make much difference." "The other one killed, but he didn't even wince." "He joined the League of the Russian people." "I know." "He did it, the fool, because of his son." "They wanted to kick the lad out of the Cadet Corps." "That's why he joined the League." "I heard they arrested a teacher, too, today." "And a stoker, and someone else." "Are they all those who are for "down with the czar"?" "It's different with them: some say the czar, others - all the rich ones." "They want the workers to run the state." "They'II squander the state in drink." "That's the whole point, they don't drink, Vassa Borisovna." "Don't drink." "The revolutionaries, my ass." "They sing their own song." "Their song will only bring misfortune." "I have a feeling it's going to end badly." "NataIya Sergeyevna is singing their songs too." "Nata?" "Has she gone mad?" "I think she's doing it out of spite, just to tease." "What she needs is a good thrashing." "She's gown very gloomy since Sergey Petrovich's death." "And those rumors..." "Are they still going around?" "Yes, they are." "Do you believe them?" "No." "The only thing that upset me was Liza's suicide." "I can't understand why she did it." "That was Prokhor's doing." "He must have scared her in some way." "Had she been living with him?" "As if you don't know it." "Don't try to be cunning with me." "Yes, she got pregnant from him." "Do people not believe that Liza was overcome by fumes in the bathhouse?" "Very few believe it." "What is it now?" "What do you want?" "There's a woman at the door." "What woman?" "At this time of night?" "I can't pronounce the name." "Moiseyevna." "Oh, my God!" "rachel is here." "Turn on the lights." "Don't say anything to the girls." "I'II surprise them myself." "You keep mum too." "boil up a samovar and put it in the dining room." "Yes, ma'am." "And tidy it up here." "Oh God, you've come out of the blue." "How are you?" "You didn't expect me, did you, Vassa Borisovna?" "No, I didn't." "And I have come." "I can see you've come." "Out of nowhere." "And you have everything here as it had been before." "Yes, as it had been before." "You better tell me where you've come from." "From abroad." "It's clear you didn't come from Tambov." "Did they let you in?" "No." "I came with a woman musician, as her companion." " Using someone else's passport?" " Yes." "Good for you." "You're a brave woman." "And you're more beautiful than ever." "A beautiful creature like you and..." "Oh well, it doesn't matter." "How's Fyodor?" "tell me the truth." "There's no hope for Fyodor, Vassa Borisovna." "His strength is waning." "The doctors say he has no more than 2 or 3 months to live." "Why did you leave him alone and come here then?" "He himself insisted on it." "You ought not to have listened to him." "You're his wife." "I had to do it, Vassa Borisovna." "So this is the end of our Fyodor." "The son of Captain ZheIeznov." "Yes, he's so thin, almost transparent." "He knows he's doomed, but he's still as witty and strange as ever." "So he's finished." "Fedya." "My son." "Is KoIia in bed?" "What?" "Is KoIia asleep?" "KoIia?" "I don't know." "I expect so." " May I just have a peep at him?" " No, you may not." " Why not?" " He's not here." " Where's he?" " He's living in the country." "In a pine grove." "It's healthy there, dry and sandy." "Pines." "It's not good for him to live in town." "He has bad tonsils." "His parents bestowed on him the gift of poor health." "Is the place far away?" "About sixty miles." " How can I get there?" " You needn't go there." "You needn't." "Why not?" "Has something happened to him?" "Nothing has happened to him." "He's alive and well, a nice, clever boy." "What do you want him for?" "What do you mean, what for?" "I miss him." "And I have decided to send him abroad." "I have there... a sister married to a professor of chemistry." "They have no children." "Just what I thought - you will drag him into your circle." "No, rachel." "I won't give you KoIia!" "I won't." "What do you mean?" " I'm his mother!" " And I'm his grandmother!" "Your mother-in-Iaw." "You know what "mother-in-Iaw" is?" "Everybody's mother." "My children are my hands, my grandchildren are my fingers." "Understand?" "No, I don't understand you." "Are you serious?" "I'm in no mood forjokes." "It sounds almost prehistoric." "You can't think so, you're an intelligent woman." "AII right, all right." "To save us wasting words, you just keep quiet and listen." "I won't give you KoIia." "But this is impossible!" "I won't give him to you." "Think, what can you do against me?" "Nothing." "As far as the Iaw is concerned, you just don't exist." "You are an outlaw, a runaway revolutionary." "You show up, and you'II be thrown into prison." " You'II take advantage of my situation?" " I will." " You wouldn't do that." " I would." " You will give me KoIia!" " I won't!" "You will give me KoIia!" "Don't shout." "You're not at a mass meeting." "I won't give you KoIia." "There's a different life in store for him." "You're an animal, Vassa Borisovna." "How can you?" "I'm his mother." "animal." "Why animal?" "I'm no animal." "Do you have cigarettes?" "I don't smoke." "And I don't advise you to." "animal!" "I know you, you're obstinate." "You only look fragile." "You won't part with your little dream." "You want to stir up another revolution." "I won't give the boy to strangers, to live in a strange land." "ParIez Francais." "L'amour." "As an orphan." "No, rachel, I won't give you KoIia." "Never!" "Yes, you're capable of that, I know." "Yes, I am." "You could even give me up to the police." "Yes, even that." "I can do anything for my grandson." "So humble yourself." "Leave my grandson to me." "You're a clever woman." "Think, why do you need him?" "He'II be a nuisance." "You know, I even regretted you weren't my daughter." "I know." "Can I spend the night here?" "Why not?" "Of course you can." "I won't give you away to the police." "My girls will be very glad to see you." "They're fond of you." "But I won't give you KoIia!" "You should know it." "We'II see about that." "Going to try and steal him?" "Rubbish!" "No." "I don't want to discuss this any more." "I'm tired." "And you have given me quite a shock." "What an incredible person you are, Vassa Borisovna!" "I fear you and I pity you." "And I don't fear you, rachel." "Just pity." "Oh, rachel, rachel..." "When that husband of mine gambIed away all our houses, our ships, our wharves, the whole business at cards in one night I was actually glad." "You won't believe it, but I was." "And he staked his last emerald ring" "and won it all back." "And a Iot more besides." "And after that he started drinking." "And doing other ugly things." "That's when my gladness had ended." "For 15 years now I've been carrying this house, this huge business." "Doing it for the sake of the children." "And the children..." "You know, the children..." "How much energy have I spent!" "I remember myself as a girl." "So cheerful and happy." "And now my justification, all my hope is in KoIia, my grandson." "Can you imagine, Vassa Borisovna, how pleasant it is for me to hear that KoIia, my son, is yourjustification?" "You don't like it?" "Never mind." "I've heard from you some sour things too." "well, all right." "Let's have some tea." "In front of the girls we'II keep up appearances, shall we?" "There's no need to tell them I entered the country illegally." "And they needn't know about our quarrel either." "No need whatever!" "End of Part One" "VASSA Part Two" "Oh, look who's here!" "rachel!" "I've missed you so much!" "Why didn't you send a telegram?" "Nata loves asking questions." "If you say hello to her, she'II ask you why." "You haven't changed, Luda." "Though you've grown up, you're just as sweet." " Is that bad?" " Why bad?" "It's good." " But Nata..." " Have I aged?" "well, "seasoned" isn't the right word for a girl, but that's the impression." " people usually say "matured"." " That's not the same thing." "Over-ripened, I would say." "How's Fyodor?" "Is he getting better?" "No." "Fyodor is very poorly." "Then why did you leave him?" "I came to fetch my son, KoIia." "And I won't let him go abroad." "KoIia is such a lovely, brave boy now." "He was here today, when we had a ship consecrated." " KoIia was here?" " Yes." "Why didn't you tell me?" "He was here, but not anymore." "So there was no use telling." "Where's he now?" "They took him to the country." "He lives in the woods at Khomutovo." " I thought he was in Bogokhudovo." " Maybe in Bogokhudovo." "There's a Iime-tree grove and beehives there." "So you don't know where he is." "Stop questioning the girls, rachel." "Remember what we agreed upon." "What did you agree upon?" "We agreed to have tea at once." "You're hiding it from us." "Don't be angry." "You better tell me how you're getting on." "We haven't seen each other for 2 years." "Everything's wonderful with me." "Mamma, the telephone." "I'II be right back." " So you're happy, aren't you?" " Yes, I am." "I'm almost ashamed to say it." "It's so wonderful!" "What about you, Nata?" "Me?" "I'm also in a constant state of wonder." "well, well!" "If it isn't rachel!" "My little birdie!" "Whence comest thou, o lovely child!" "And more beautiful than ever!" "Let me give you a big kiss!" "Prokhor Borisovich!" "Prokhor Borisovich!" "You're just the same." "No better, no worse." "still got trumps in my hand." " Having plenty of fun?" " I have the right." " We're celebrating today." " What?" "We had a new ship consecrated." "Worth 300,000." "Quite an occasion to make merry." "Making merry is my trade." "My great quality is a simple love of fun." "It's part of my nature." "Captain ZheIeznov is dead, so I'm keeping up the family's honor by making merry for the two of us." "Was he ill for a Iong time?" "Right, it was high time." "I meant, had he been very ill?" "He wasn't iII at all." "He died all of a sudden." "Pop!" "And..." "With the saints may he rest in peace." "Stop it, uncle!" "It's disgusting!" "Disgusting to be with the saints?" "Don't try to teach me, girl." "You're too young for that." "And where did you spring from?" "Destroyer of Iife." "From switzerland, right?" "Is Fyodor still alive?" "Yes." "Very ill?" "Very." "Right." "Not a very sturdy race, the ZheIeznovs." "Wimps." "Anchovies." "We, Khrapovs, will last longer!" "What happened at the club?" " How do you know about it?" " Someone telephoned." "There has been a brawl over politics." "Just that." "Your name will be in the papers again." "What did you beat MeInikov for?" "I only hit him once." " Just once?" " Yes." "He started snarling at the Duma, the dog, so I socked him on the jaw." "Are you tired of living?" "He's joined the League of the Russian people." "So what?" "No big deal." "I'm in the telephone book, and I don't make any fuss about it." "You've completely ruined your brains with drink, idiot." " You're offending me, sis." " Listen to me, Prokhor." "I'II be back in a moment and listen to your lecture." "Right, anchovies?" "I'II treat you to some wine." "An excellent port!" "Finer than any Portuguese ever tasted." "Isn't he funny?" "He's been drinking even more lately." "And he's teaching Nata to." "He has taught me already." "Is that true, Nata?" "Yes." "I Iike wine very much." "And I Iike the feeling of being drunk." "You might as well add that there's no one to lash you for it." "There's no one to lash me for it." "Oh, NataIya!" "Take care!" "You told me to add it, so I added it." "You're lucky I have no time to knock the devil out of you." "Nata got very impudent to Mother." "I think it's a bad thing, isn't it, rachel?" "You claim to be so noble and intellectual, but you act like a pig." "Thoroughbred pigs are considered very valuable." "That's the kind of Iife we live here, rachel." "Why don't you say something?" "rachel." "What can I say, Vassa Borisovna?" "I'd better keep quiet." "Or we'II quarrel again." "AII right, keep quiet." "Keep quiet." "Or maybe you'II sing for us?" "You're such a good singer." "please, sing, rachel dear." "I Iove it when you sing!" "will you?" "Yes, rachel, sing for us." " please sing." " Come on, sing, don't be obstinate." "AII right." "play for us something touching and heartwarming." "Chopin." "Good." "We'II renounce the world of yesterday," "We'II shake off its dust from our feet!" "You've gone mad, rachel!" "Stop it now!" "You asked me yourself." "I asked for something touching." "It's great, rachel!" "Sing some more." "Stop it, or you won't know what's hit you!" "Another revolutionary!" "Do you know something touching?" "That's it." "It's quite another matter." "Whitish and colorless, so tenderly redoIent," "flowers at night sunk in dreams." "The moon overhead, as a silent endearment," "Is sending to them silver beams." "magical powers, wondrous and marvelous," "Made those flowers bloom." "Mixed up in them a heavenly happiness" "With the earthly enchantment of doom." "Breathing is hard for its maddening powers," "The night's full of feverish Ianguor." "Having imbibed the sweet breath of the flowers," "It stirs and excites with its splendor." "Whispering soundIess speeches, the flowers" "Wait for some mystery awesome." "Joined with the moon till the early dawn hours," "They dream and they blossom." "Good girl, rachel!" "rachel, come and live with us." "You miss your son, you said so yourself." "Stay here, rachel." "You can bring up your son." "My girls are fond of you, you know it." "Luda, NataIya, try to persuade her." "Live with us, rachel, please." "Stay with us, rachel." "I can't." " Why not?" " Because." "Why because?" "Because there's something..." "What can be more important than home and family?" "No, Vassa Borisovna, there's something immeasurably... higher than our personal ties and affections." "Where're you going, rachel?" "play some more, please!" "Let's take the matter seriously." "Some for you, Vassa?" "It's rare stuff." "You won't regret it." "They corked it tight, those port-makers!" "rachel, come over here." "Move over, don't be shy." "rachel, come here." "Stop pouting." "Come on, girls." "I've never tasted something like this." "They've impounded our barge." " Who loaded it?" " Terentyev." "I'II sack the fool." "well, you people stay here and be good." " Where are you going, mom?" " I'II be right back." " My purse." " Here, please." "One of our barges has been impounded." "The idiot of an agent loaded hides without a sanitary inspection." "And the barge was also carrying sheepskins, bast, and bast fibre." "I'm going to try to rescue it." "Behave yourselves without me." " will you be back soon, mom?" " Yes, soon, daughter." "Off she goes!" "She's going to give the river police a bribe." "The river police here are a Iot of bandits." "So are those on dry land." "well, shall we drink?" "This will be a little better than your favorite, Nata." "fill it up, lad, fill it up, drink it up, leave never a drop." "Cheers!" "Luda, Luda." "That's how we live, rachel." "The police give us no peace." " Are you mayor now?" " I was." "In my dreams." "Then I asked myself:" "what do I need that headache for?" "I'd rather be free as a bird." "That's not true." "You're not free." "And you stood down from the elections out of cowardice." "It's terrible the way NataIya loves to bully me." "So young and such a witch." "She looks just like..." "Yes." "Though she's right." "After the captain's death I became very cautious." "After father's death there were rumors that he'd poisoned himself." "And even that we had poisoned him to avoid the scandal of a trial." "What nonsense!" "Of course, it's nonsense." "The whole wretched case was closed." "For lack of evidence." "But uncle was scared of the rumors and thought he wouldn't be elected." "That's enough, Nata!" "She's always like that." "A real pain in the neck!" "And you're a pain in the ass, uncle." "If a charge isn't proved, it doesn't necessarily mean that the accused wasn't guilty, does it?" "No, it doesn't." "But is it right, rachel, to be against everyone?" "Can't a person just be..." "A fool, Iike LudmiIa ZheIeznova." "You needn't be rude, you won't make me angry." "I'm not angry, though my heart aches in my breast." "Finita." "girls." "clear up the piano's top." "I need to raise it for a minute." "Why?" "It's a surprise." "B-fIat." "Liqueur." "And I couldn't understand why F-sharp in 2nd octave sank down." " Citron!" " What do you know!" " would you care for caviar?" " No, thank you." " How about some smoked sturgeon?" " No, thanks." "As you wish." "I'm closing it." "Why are we standing, anchovies?" "There's no truth in your feet." "There's no truth anywhere." "Smart girl!" "Chairs!" "Good..." "Oh, how good it is, anchovies..." "Prokhor Borisovich." "tell me, where's my KoIia?" "only tell me the truth." "Is he far away?" "KoIia?" "No." "About 20-25 versts away." "A nice little fellow you've got." "Not very strong, but a fine boy!" "Grandmother doesn't want me to have him." "And she's right." "A son is no use to you with your runaway life." "What do you think, Nata?" "Insist on having him." "If she won't give him up, steal him." "That's an idea!" "That's a great idea!" "Yes, kidnap him, carry him off and hide him." "You see what degenerates we are all here." "No." "Kidnap him and carry him off - I couldn't do a thing like that." "Why not?" "Because I have other, more serious things to do." "More serious than your own son?" "Then why did you have him?" "I guess that was my mistake." "A mistake?" "Are you serious?" "It shocks you because you don't understand." "But for me - I can't live without the cause." "And even if I lose him and never see KoIia again..." "May your tongue fall off!" "How can you say that, rachel?" "exactly." "We can kidnap him, your KoIia, that rascal." "That's just great!" "What a knock it wouId be at my sister!" "I would rather kill my son than leave him here." "Right, Nata, precious words." "I can't take him away without Vassa Borisovna's help." "Nonsense." "uncle will arrange it." "He's glad of any chance to hurt Mother." "We'II carry him off and hide him." "Then send him on to you." "But where?" "I don't know where I shall be living." "If I manage to get back to switzerland, I shall stay there only a few days." "I must live here, in Russia." "But I have no facilities for bringing up KoIia." "And in Zurich, at my sister's, that would be very good." "I don't know what to do." "I don't know what to do." "Get on with it, rachel." "Nata and I will help you." "I've got Pyatyorkin, he can do anything." "Oh, leave off, Prokhor Borisovich." "AIyoshka Pyatyorkin could kidnap an archbishop, Iet alone a little boy." "Let's call him, and he will dance for us." "That's a good idea!" "Go and call him, Luda." "And tell him to bring gypsies Abrashka and VassiIy." "The whole company!" "That Iout, Pyatyorkin, filled the auto with moonshine instead of petrol." "He says petrol burns and moonshine burns." "Therefore, they are compatible and interchangeable." "Some KuIibin!" "And his mistress had to take a cabman." "Look who is here!" "Haven't seen you since morning!" "Come on in, guys!" "Let's have a ball!" "Here they are!" "Coming!" "Gypsies!" "Do a gypsy song for the West, do it for Europe!" "So it's got to be perfect, boys!" "rachel, look at AIyoshka Pyatyorkin!" "Stop this outrage, Prokhor Borisovich!" "Prokhor Borisovich, I..." "Stop this orgy!" "Stop it now!" "Pyatyorkin, whirl me!" "Faster!" "Faster!" " Come on, come here quick!" " No, I won't!" " Don't go!" " We won't!" "Vaska, the tambourine!" "Take it!" "Here." "Take it." "Vasya, come again, we'II wait for you!" "Abrashka!" "Abrashka!" "You scoundrel!" "You bastard!" "rachel!" "Don't come near me!" "Or I'II do something terrible!" "Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" "You're a middIe-aged man." "What are you doing, you corrupter?" "You have no feeling for art." "And Czarevich Ivan came and saw a sleeping Czarevna in a crystal coffin." "He didn't lose his head, opened the coffin's cover and gave her a big kiss right on her lips." "And her lips were as cold as ice." "Why are you sitting in dark here?" "Waiting for you." "You have had a feast at the piano again." "Aren't there enough tables?" "Prokhor has been smoking his cigars." "How many times have I asked him not to smoke cigars in the house." "Seven hundred rubles." "I might as well have thrown it into the fire." "AII on the lookout for bribes." "Corruption everywhere!" "well?" "What have you been doing?" "We had tea." "I see." "I believe you've had too much to drink." "I can still stand." "Thank God for that." "Mom, uncle Prokhor was talking rachel into kidnapping KoIia." "What a joker he is, isn't he?" "What did she say?" "She didn't agree." "She's grown awfully disagreeable." "Boring." "AII clever people are disagreeable." "I see." "And what am I in your opinion - a fool?" "No, you're a human woman." "Luda, I don't even know what you mean." "Worse than a fool?" "Better." "AII right, Iet's leave it your way." "A human woman." "Go, daughter, and tell them to heat the samovar up for me." "I want tea so much." "NataIya." "Can you lift your ass from the sofa and talk to your mother?" "well, I've lifted it." "Do you want to go abroad?" "Yes, I do." "Everyone wants to travel." "And you know that." "You can go." "Thank you." "Take Anna with you." " I won't go with Anna." " Why not?" " I've had enough of her here." " I won't let you go alone." "Oh, girl..." "I haven't time to talk to you." "Have you time to bring up KoIia?" " He doesn't need much of my time." " He'II need more than I do." " You'II go abroad with Anna." " No." "You will." "You'II see Fyodor." "He's very poorly, Nata." "He's dying." "That doesn't attract me at all." "Be silent, you devil!" "Very well, I shall be silent." "What was all that about?" "Nothing." "We're just talking." "Sit down." "They've made me so upset." "It's given me a pain in the heart." "Seven hundred rubles down the drain." "Bribe-takers everywhere." "Everyone is corrupted." "well, rachel?" "So Prokhor has been suggesting you kidnap KoIia?" "He's drunk." "He can do it when he's sober, too." "Daughters." "Why don't you go to bed?" "It's rather late." "What about supper, mom?" "I had forgotten about supper." "I'm thirsty." "I want some hot tea." "And the tea is cold." "The wine is warm." "Go and tell them to lay the table." "What are you doing?" "!" "You teIItaIe." "What have you got to say, rachel?" "Vassa Borisovna, give me my KoIia." "I'II send him abroad." "So you want another argument, do you?" "No, I won't give him to you." "What are you going to do with him?" "How will you bring him up?" "Don't worry, we'II manage." "We're well established here." "We have money." "We'II hire the best governesses, the best professors." "He'II be educated." "You won't teach him the things a decent person ought to know." "What can a child learn in this house with gypsies and guitars, with that drunk brother of yours?" "If you only could see what was going on here in your absence!" "What was going on here?" "An orgy with Gypsies, with your tipsy brother, obscene kisses." "If you could only see your daughters!" "Vassa Borisovna, they're dissoIute." "They were deranged." "And Luda, too." "I think Prokhor Borisovich should be isolated." "He's a corrupter." "He ought to be tried." "That's it." "Tomorrow I'II send him to Syzran, to the pitchstone works." "Enough." "I'm fed up with it." "And you'II do the right thing." "Let him booze there." "But this won't help." "ScoundreI!" "I have a fair knowledge of your class both here, in Russia, and abroad." "It is a hopelessly sick class." "You just live like robots, enslaved to your businesses, obeying the power of things that you did not create." "You live in contempt and hatred of one another without ever asking yourselves what you are living for, what use you are to anyone." "Even the best and most intelligent people of your circle go on living only because they are repelled and frightened by death." "Vassa Borisovna, give me KoIia, please." "Oh, rachel, rachel..." "And I thought you were a clever girl" "But you..." "especially when it comes to talking about life." "class, class, revolution..." "class..." "My dear girl, Gury Lvovich Krotkikh, the manager of my shipping company, knows a Iot more about class than you do." "revolutions are legitimate when they benefit that class." "But you keep talking about some illegitimate revolution." "About something out of this world." "revolution..." "revolution..." "Your revolution burst into flame and burned down." "only ashes are left." "socialists must unite the workers for the sake of industry and trade." "That's what he proposes, and he's right." "He's no fool." "You said his name is Krotkikh?" "Yes, Krotkikh." "So, in keeping with the meaning of his name, he... advocates training the proletarians to be meek and humble." "He's not the only one, there're plenty of his kind about." "And since they're your loyal slaves, you allow them to climb high." "Try to understand, rachel." "I, Vassa ZheIeznova, am not at all concerned with this class." "I don't care a damn about it!" "I'm a merchantress." "I'm a pragmatic woman." "I don't like empty words." "I'm fed up with them." "I'm my own boss." "And no one can interfere with me or frighten me." "There's enough here to last me my lifetime." "And I'II leave a huge fortune for my grandson, that's all there is to it!" "It's time for supper." "What a Iong day it has been." "I've been up since 4 a.m." "I'm tired." "Tired." "I don't want any supper, Vassa Borisovna." "Your food is hateful to me." "Where can I rest?" "Go and rest." "NataIya will show you." "No, wait a minute." "Come here, I'II tell you something." " What is it?" " Nothing special." "When you were singing for us," "I took your pistol from your purse and threw it away." "So that you don't do something foolish." "So don't hold a grudge against me." "A grudge against you?" "Why?" "This is just like you." "But mind you, I got another one, to say nothing of the bombs." "You're kidding, aren't you?" " Yes, kidding." " well, keep on kidding." "till you get in trouble." "My food is hateful to her!" "Who else would dare to say such a thing to me?" "Where's Anna?" "I don't know, Vassa Borisovna." "She disappeared." "Her door is locked." " Find her." " Yes, ma'am." "See?" "feel it." "feel it there." " Where?" " Over there, lower." "She's not here." "I Iooked everywhere." "shall I ask the neighbors?" "No." "She's in her room." "I knocked and she won't open." "Knock harder and shout:" ""The mistress calls you."" "Perhaps I'd better ask the neighbors?" "Do as I say." "Yes, ma'am." "Did you call me, Vassa Borisovna?" "What happened here while I was away?" "Prokhor Borisovich suggested kidnapping KoIia." "Did he suggest it himself?" "Yes." "At first he said: "She's right." "A son is no use to you."" "Then the idea suddenly appealed to him." ""That'II be a knock at my sister," he said." "And what about NataIya?" "It was she who suggested it." "You're lying!" "You're muddling things." "No, Vassa Borisovna, I'm not muddIing." "Here." "Right." "When rachel Moiseyevna said you were keeping KoIia here," "Prokhor Borisovich said, "She's right."" "And when NataIya suggested kidnapping, he was all for that too." "I'm not muddIing it, that's how it was." "AII right, come here." "Sit down." " Sit." " Thank you." "I can stand." "Sit down." "Were there Gypsies too?" "Yes." "Why didn't you tell me?" "I'm telling you all in good order, Vassa Borisovna, how it was." "And how was it?" "As it is always when you're away." "BacchanaIia." "Some brother I've got!" "He's just longing to put his teeth into me." "Even if he can only do it from behind." "That's it." "He'II go to Syzran, to the pitchstone works." "Tomorrow!" "Right." ""I have Pyatyorkin here," he said." ""He could kidnap an archbishop," "let alone a little boy."" "well, AIyoshka Pyatyorkin is no fool." "Besides, he'II go to Paris." "Why?" "Why such a favor for him?" "He's ruined your auto today with moonshine." "Removed a tube from the motor last spring." "I was going to kill him for that tube then." "And you should have done it." "No, I shouldn't have." "The auto started running faster without that tube." "And it eats up less petrol." " So what?" " That's the point." "He's a vile slave." "That's called economical business." "AIyoshka wrote about that case to Mr. Peugeot in Paris." "And enclosed a drawing." "I know." "Peugeot awarded him a fee." "One thousand francs." "And an invitation to come to his works." "You don't say!" "Yes." "There's Pyatyorkin for you." "If things go this way, our Pyatyorkin will be a millionaire." "Are you letting him go?" "Sure I am." "And I'II give him money for the road." "He's a valuable worker." "When he comes back, he'II be promoted." "He'II never come back!" "Why do you think so?" "He's a goat." "well, you know better." "I don't want to meddle in your affairs." "But AIyoshka Pyatyorkin is a talent." "He may be of much use to our business." "Remember it." "Use!" "French girls will sweep him off his feet!" "They'II seduce him, you'II see." "He's weak." "What are you suggesting?" "Send me with him." "I'II be shepherding him." "Shepherding." "And I'II be left here alone, Iike a fool." "For heaven's sake, Vassa Borisovna!" "That's the Iast thing that I'd ever have in mind!" "It's only thanks to you that I Iive and that I have anything." "Yes, thanks to me." "AII right, don't pout." "Why this sour face?" "I have something else in mind for you." "You shall go to switzerland, to Zurich." "To Fyodor." "You'II go with NataIya." "Or perhaps alone." "Vassa Borisovna!" "I can't find words to thank you!" " There's no need for any." " Thank you!" "Why, you're sweating, you silly thing." "I'm sorry." "It's dripping off your face." "Forgive me, Vassa Borisovna." "Listen to me." "Are you listening?" "If Fyodor is very bad, wait till it's all over." "You understand?" "Yes, I understand, Vassa Borisovna." "I'II wait till the end." "Though..." "We'II discuss all this later." "Now listen to me!" "You will now go to the police." " Ask for colonel Popov." " AIexei Ivanovich?" "Yes, you must find him." "Say it's a matter of great urgency." "Yes." "tell him that rachel Topaz, the émigré, has come to visit me from abroad." "He knows who she is." " He has arrested her before." " Yes, I remember." "So, if she is to be arrested now," "let them do it in the street, not in this house." "Because there will be rumors going round the town that you betrayed her." "Or that I did." "Right." "There will be rumors." "only, Vassa Borisovna..." "What?" "Maybe not today?" "What do you mean, "not today"?" "Do you... refuse to do me a favor?" "Are you sorry for her, and not sorry for KoIia?" "No, for goodness sake!" "I'd give my Iife for you!" "Why should I be sorry for that Jewess?" "She has always despised me, you know." "Why are you mumbling then?" "I'm afraid to go to the police at night." "That's nonsense!" "Do you think they'II eat you?" "Worse." "Have you forgotten about the Iast time?" "They all fell upon me at night." "I had a narrow escape." "Damned Iechers!" "Perhaps you're right - it is late." "Popov will be playing cards somewhere by now." "AII right, do it tomorrow morning." "But early." "Right after you have your coffee, go to Popov." "Yes, ma'am." "rachel keeps trying to frighten me - class, class..." "What class?" "I am a class!" "It's me she hates." "Yes, me!" "She stole my son, Iike a gypsy stealing a horse." "But she won't steal KoIia from me, Iike hell she will!" "Right, Vassa Borisovna, Iike hell she will!" "Right." "She'II never get KoIia!" "Are you unwell, Vassa Borisovna?" "Why?" "Your face looks somewhat pale." "Anna." " What, Vassa Borisovna?" " Make me a hot drink of raspberries." "And be quick." "I'm thirsty." "Hurry, Anna." "In a jiffy, Vassa Borisovna." "shall I call the doctor?" "Yes." "I'd better do." "Yes." "What was it..." "Ah, yes." "Sorry, Vassa Borisovna, for taking so long." "There was no water in the house." "I had to run to the well." "Are you all right, Vassa Borisovna?" "Vassa Borisovna..." "Vassa Borisovna..." "What is it?" "Miss?" "252." "AIexei?" "Is that you, Pyatyorkin?" "Yes, it's me, Anna." "Listen." "Vassa Borisovna has died." "Just a few minutes ago." "Yes, just like that!" "I don't know, I haven't seen it!" "AII of a sudden!" "Go to the notary right now." "Grab the will and run." "Understand?" "Don't forget to take money." "What do you mean, where?" "In my lilac corseIet, as if you don't know." "Take it all." "Give them as much as they ask." "If it's not enough, promise to give more." "tell them that if it's done right we won't begrudge anything." "Understand?" "Then come right back, to the office." "I mean, to the study." "I'II be here." "Everybody will be here." "Yes, she's here." "Be off, then." "Good luck." "She is dead." "well, what do you know!" "ZheIeznov went out like a light." "Now she!" " There'II be tittIe-tattIe again." " Shut up!" "We've got to watch Anna." "We need to find the keys." "The key to the safe." "She knows everything." "Anna does." "We have to close her eyes." "close them." "I'm scared." "You do." "Look for the key in her pocket." "No, I don't want to." "Go away." "Not likely!" "No." "There's no key." "Anna must have taken it." "NataIya Sergeyevna, Luda has fainted." " Did you call the doctor?" " Where are the keys?" "I've telephoned." "Oh dear, what shall we do now?" "Where's the key to the safe, bitch?" "Has rachel been told?" "Need she be, NataIya Sergeyevna?" "You're a swine, Anna." "None of that, no sIobbering!" "The key to the safe!" "Where is it?" "Here it is!" "Get it out, you thief!" "Come on!" "Come on!" "Don't forget about me." "I've served you loyally for 13 years..." "You'II get what you are worth." "I gave you my whole youth..." "Lyoshka, don't let anyone in." "Wait." "Just a minute..." "What a fool I am!" "They're still minors and I'II be their guardian, right?" "Right." "I'II be damned!" "Get out of here, Anna!" "You're finished, you old cat!" "Go to the devil!" "Tomorrow!" "No, today." "I'm fed up with you, you eavesdropper!" "You slut!" "Prokhor Borisovich, you'II be sorry!" "You're making a big mistake." "Go!" "Go!" "You've had your due." "You've stolen enough." "Get out now!" "Get out?" "certainly not!" "I have something." "AIexei." "The will." "What will?" "The will of the deceased." "Vassa Borisovna ZheIeznova's, née Khrapova, about the guardianship." "The guardian of the minors, the sole guardian, is I," "Anna VasiIyevna Onoshenkova." "And not you, the alcoholic." "Here, read it." "Go on, read." "But only from my hands." "AIexei, watch him, or he may tear the document." "It's forgery." " A fake." " A fake?" "Don't you recognize your own sister's hand, Prokhor Borisovich?" "It's forgery!" "Forgery!" "Forgery!" "No, it's not forgery." "Everything's authentic." "The notary's seal, his signature." "Everything's authentic." "See?" "police!" "police!" "police!" "help!" "Robbers!" "help!" "police!" "police!" "What for?" "!" "I'II kill you!" "Get him!" "I'II strangle you!" "Anna!" "Get a rug!" "Anna, a rug!" " Bastards!" " Hurry!" "Put everything on the table." "Let's make an inventory." " So now you are stealing?" " Why?" "Taking what belongs to us." "What belongs to you?" "What does belong to you here?" "Look, Nata, how big predators eat up small ones." "You'd better go, rachel Moiseyevna." "Don't be in the way." "Don't try to scare me." "I'm not afraid." "There's no sense for you to give me away to the police." "Then my KoIia will be a burden to you." "Another mouth to feed." "Where's he?" "Give me the address, quick." "village of KoteInikovo, 35 versts away." "will you find it?" "I will." "Are you crazy or what?" "Try to be more careful." "You can go crazy here!" "He bit my hand, the alcoholic!" "It won't bend now." "Mommy..." "Mommy dear..." "Mommy..." "Luda, we carried your mommy away." "She's in her room." "Go and stay with her for a while." "Luda..." "VASSA" "Based upon M. Gorky's play "Vassa ZheIeznova"." "Written and Directed by gleb PANFILOV" "Director of Photography Leonid KALASHNIKOV" "Production Designer NikoIai DVIGUBSKY" "Music by Vadim BIBERGAN" "Starring Inna CHURIKOVA" "Cast:" "Sergey Petrovich, Vassa's husband - Vadim MEDVEDEV" "Prokhor Borisovich, Vassa's brother - NikoIai SKOROBOGATOV" "Vassa's daughters:" "NataIya" " OIga MASHNAYA LudmiIa" " Yana POPLAVSKAYA" "rachel, Vassa's daughter-in-Iaw - VaIentina YAKUNINA" "KoIia, Vassa's grandson - Vanya PANFILOV" "Anna Onoshenkova - VaIentina TELICHKINA" "Pyatyorkin - VyachesIav BOGACHYOV" "MeInikov - albert FILOZOV" "Gury Lvovich Krotkikh - VsevoIod SOBOLEV" "Liza, housemaid - Tatiana KRAVCHENKO" "PoIina, housemaid - Tatiana KALISTRATOVA" "The End"