"UZBEKFILM Production" "TENDERNESS (LOVERS)" "Screenplay:" "Odelsha Agishev" "Director:" "Elyer Ishmukhamedov" "Cinematography:" "Hasan Tutunov" "Production design:" "Magomet Chochiyev, Sadriddin Ziyamukhamedov" "Composer:" "B. Trotsyuk Sound:" "A. Kudryashov" "Costume Design:" "N. Valutskaya" "Set design:" "Melis Abzalov Camera operator:" "O. Yusupov" "Film editor:" "T. Yegorycheva Makeup artist:" "V. Belyakova Screenplay editor:" "K. Geldyyeva" "Special Effects:" "A. Shkarin, V. Myakotnykh" "State Symphony Orchestra of the USSR State Committee for Cinematography Conductor:" "E. Khachaturyan" "Production managers:" "Y. Ganiyev, M. Ishevsky" "Wow." "A new look!" " Be good, Zina, it's his bedtime." " Aren't you sick of these games?" "Move, or I'll stomp on your feet!" " Hi Sanya." " Hey Chizhik." " You are also refining your style!" " I try to keep up with fashion!" "Come on, come on." "He's on a bike." "We'll be looking for him until morning." " No stopping him now that he's riled up." " Quickly." "This way, guys." "We should look near the cinema." " Let's pick up the pace." " Edik!" "Why are you so far behind?" " Did you ask?" " Yes." "They didn't even see him." " Then let's try the cafe." " It's pointless." "Starring:" "Rodion Nahapetov" "Anastasia Vertinskaya Rustam Sagdullayev" "This won't end well." " Shall we dance, girls?" " No." "We should mingle while we're young." "We don't want to." "But we do." " Let's go for a chat." " Leave me alone, pal." " I'm warning you." " Now, that's interesting." " What's the problem?" " What's the commotion?" "Calm down." "Do we really need to step out?" "Can't we just chat here?" " Let's go!" " Let's do it!" " Yura, Kalgan, come out!" " Why?" "What's up?" " Some guy's talking tough." " Attaboy!" " He's strong!" " Yes." "Were you the one pestering Tanya?" " When?" " Yesterday!" "So what?" "Which Tanya?" "Jerk!" " Don't play the fool!" " Get your hands off me." " Who do you think you are?" " Okay, enough." "He's really giving it to us!" " Let's step aside and talk privately." " We'll talk later." "What, are you picking on Rodin?" "Step back!" "I see a familiar face." "The face of a friend!" "You're here?" "Looks like you haven't been punched recently." "We'll change that now!" "I am going to make a skeleton out of you for the museum!" "Got it?" "Maybe you'll start crying now?" " Don't be scum, Edik!" " Shush rookie!" "Hey, you know us, we know you, let's have a civil conversation." " There is nothing to talk about." " Who are you pointing fingers at?" " Fuck you!" " You've been smoking for too long, pretty boy." "Come on, let's get out of here!" "I warned you, Sanya." "Okay, guys, let's go." "Well, what are you waiting for?" "I said, "shoo!"" "First time I've see Sanya step down." "We showed them!" "Now they'll know better than to hit on our girls." " How is the clutch?" " It rumbles a bit." "I need to disassemble it to take a look." "I'm going to the river now." " With Tanya?" " Yes." "Do you have a cig?" "Let's see." "Here, take the whole pack, I have another one at home." " Have you seen Tasos?" " No, he won't show up for a while now." "He takes everything so seriously;" "he'll be saying his good-byes until morning." " Want a lift?" " I am hopping on, guys." " Bye Edik." "Good luck." " Be well." "Bye." "I'm taking off." "Got a morning shift tomorrow." " You are leaving?" " Yeah." " Until tomorrow, Rustam." " Take care." "Sit down." " Rustam, hey." " Hello." "All the normal people are out with girls." "You and I are the only lonely ones." "That's nonsense." "I could set my watch by your father." "I am sick of the same old, every day." "I can't even rest decently." "On the other hand, I can do whatever I want since mother isn't home." " Where is she?" " She's in the hospital." "You should go now, or you'll have problems at home." " Bye." " See you tomorrow." ""To The Best Goalkeeper in Orphanage No. 183"" "Yes." "Hello Tahir Mavlyanovich." "Yes, that's fine." "I got it." "It's clear." "I'm waiting." " Duty calls?" " Yeah." "Help me to get ready." " Let me prepare a quick breakfast." " There is no time for that." "A car is about to pick me up." " Was that Mavlyanov on the phone?" " Yes." "Pack more sheets." " I'll probably be sweating a lot." " So this is a big deal." "It's fine." "Everything will be okay." "It's not my first time after all." "Should I say anything to Tanya?" "Yes, listen, I was supposed to see her today." " Ask her not to wait for me." " Okay." "I'll leave the key in the usual spot." " That's it!" " Let's sit down while you wait." "Okay." "Why did you come back late last night?" "Were you walking someone home?" " Yes, I was." " You like her?" "You'll see for yourself when I introduce you." "I'm curious." "Actually, there is no point in introducing you to girls." " Why is that?" " For you, no one out there is better than Tanya." "Don't flunk the exams!" " So what have you decided?" " I don't know." "Father wants me get into medical school, but you need to know chemistry for that." "Me and chemistry don't get along with all those anhydrides and reactions." " You shouldn't listen to him." " Take my advice and go to a tech school." "Technology is crushing everything." "It's the Atomic Age!" "All those humanitarian sciences have little value now." "Listen, maybe we should go to the same school?" "I don't think so." "This year, I can't." " Why not?" " My finances won't allow it." "If all goes well, I'll switch jobs after the army." "I'll work with Rodin." "It's going to be better than transporting suitcases." " What about education?" " We'll see about that." "Headquarters." "It's 431." "It's 431." "I am approaching." "Mavlyanov's team is on board." "I am requesting a landing." "Land in square 7-13." "Roger that." "Mavlyanov on the line." "Talk." "This is Mavlyanov." "Greetings, Tahir-aka." "Hello, how is everything there?" "It's bad, right now." "There were incidents of oil and gas leaks during the night." "The situation is serious, we are waiting for you." "We'll be there at 5:20." "Did one of the guys bring asbestos suits along?" " Why do you need them?" " We keep forgetting to bring them with us." " They are a nuisance, you know." " But there is oil there." "Someone will have to bring them to us." "Look, here it is." "It's huge!" "120 meters." "Tashkent." "Headquarters here reporting on the situation." "Mavlyanov's brigade is now in control of the fire zone." "Routes to the blaze are blocked by scraps of drilling equipment." "We are beginning to clear the zone." "We need additional equipment." "Copy?" "Headquarters." "This is Tashkent." "Roger that." "You'll get more equipment tomorrow." "Request sent to Baku regarding turbine installations." "Prepare a site." "Guys!" "Haul faster!" "Tashkent!" "The situation is still serious." "We can't prepare a site for turbo-jets." "It's being flooded with burning oil." "We have casualties." "Mavlyanov would like to try stopping the fire with a two-directional blast." "Copy?" "Roger that." "Mavlyanov's request is granted." "Proceed with preparations for the explosion." "We were surrounded in the mountains of North Macedonia." "I was little." "I only remember that there were gunshots and bombings." "Everyone thought that my mother and brother were dead." "So when the squad was crossing the border, they took me with them." "Five years later, I found out that they survived." "Mother writes that she now lives in Thessaloniki." "The letters take a while to arrive." "Sometimes they even disappear." " Why?" " Well, they travel through 4 countries." "They probably get lost." "And your brother lives with your mom?" "He's a communist." "He's been in prison for the past 10 years." "Are you tired?" "Not at all." "Tell me more." "Then I ended up here, I was living in an orphanage." "I became friends with Rodin." "I'll definitely introduce you to him." " You'll see what a good guy he is." " And now you live together?" "Yes." "He is like my brother." "Girls don't have that kind of friendship." "They don't know how to." "Don't be jealous." "Things weren't easy." "Look." "Now we are in trouble." "Let's get a move on quickly, brothers." "Don't be a fool, Edik." "They can't make us run." "Let's go." "What's up, Sanya?" "There are more of you today, right?" " Want to lend me a ruble?" " S'il vous plait, Sanya." " Well, this is great." " Sure." "Welcome." "Hi Tolik." " Hey." " Hey friend." "How are you?" " I'm great, Sanya!" " They don't know me yet." " And we should know you?" " Yes, I could carry you as children." " Only I am not in the mood." " How you doing, Edik?" "Better before." "Admit that you got a little timid there earlier." "Did you or did you not?" "So what should we do now, guys?" "Listen, Bahadyr." "You can tell Rodin to calm down." "I didn't know it was him last time." "Hello." "Oh, it's you." "Hello." " Well, how is school?" " What school?" "Aren't you in high school?" " I've been working this whole year." " Really?" " Well, how is work?" " Nothing special." " How much do you earn?" " Sometimes 90, sometimes 100." " Let me help you." " No need." "I'll manage on my own." "Why are you dressing like this?" "Don't you have anything to wear?" "Why?" "I have clothes." "This is what I work in." "Don't embarrass me." "You have to dress better." " If you need money, I'll send it to you." " No, thanks, we have everything." " Why aren't you studying?" " I am looking for a college." "You must study." "Only fools walk around without diplomas." "Good boy, close the hood." "Step aside." "Bye!" "Who was that?" " Rustam?" "Who is that?" " My father." "Don't lie." "You told me you didn't have one." "So you thought I was an incubator baby?" "But you said yourself that you don't have one." "I said that because he doesn't live with us." " This is why my mother is ill." " What's wrong with her?" "Something with her heart." "He's had another wife and children for a long time." "He doesn't care for us." " Why not?" " He considers us an error of his youth." "I don't care, but I feel bad for my mother." "Tanya!" " Hello Shukhrat." " Hello." " Are you buying birds?" " No, just looking." " When did you arrive?" " This Friday." " So it was you that called?" " No, what's the matter?" "Someone called but didn't say anything." "All I heard was breathing." "I don't know why someone would do that." "Well, maybe he likes you." "Maybe." "Or maybe he more than likes you." "Maybe he dreams of you every day." " He is angry, but he still dreams of you." " This is confusing." "Anyway, it was me who called." "Look at that bird." "Hello!" "I thought you weren't coming." "Hi." "I was delayed in the bandage room." " You have burns again?" " Not a big deal." "Who is the guy you were talking to you?" "Just someone I know." "He is in our graduate program." "I'm envious." "Higher education, the key to a woman's success." "Postgraduate education, all the more." "Don't suffocate from envy." "Why did your friend slip away?" "We could have talked." "About what?" "Just in general terms." "You spoke in general terms in the park recently and almost got jailed." "Too bad." "Too bad indeed." "If I were jailed, you'd stop by with messages." "And I'd get to see you more often." "I'll be leaving for field work soon, for the entire summer." "I see." " Will you cry?" " Who, me?" " No." " Why not?" " It's not in my upbringing." " Too bad." "What are you looking at?" "Don't look!" " Are you freezing?" " Yes." "The water is ice cold." " You should get a tan, you are so pale." " I don't have time for that." " You are leaving again tomorrow?" " Yes, I've got a pile of work." " Rodin, have you ever dreamt of me?" " No." " So who do you dream of?" " I rarely dream." "I once dreamt that my father got torn to pieces by a mine." "It's like he was rushing with the detonator." "I was shouting, but he couldn't hear my warnings." "In the morning, I got up and couldn't speak." "I lost my voice." "That's my dream." " And you don't remember your mother at all?" " Barely." " Will you go for another swim?" " I don't know." "You look kind of quiet." "Has something happened?" " Nothing." " What is it then?" "Tell me if there is something you need." "I'll do anything for you." "You are a funny man." "Your eyebrows are scorched." "And eyelashes too." "You were probably putting out the fire with your head." "You know everything about me." "I know nothing." "Not of you... and not of myself." "Don't, Rodin." "Mom!" " Hi Mom." " Hello." " Thank you." " Shall we go?" " I think you gained weight, mom." " I don't know, maybe." "Haven't you weighed yourself?" "There are scales in the hallway." "I forgot about them." "You know, mom, I cleaned the house, washed the floors." "You'll see." "I did an exquisite job." "Did you shave?" "Are you growing out sideburns?" " You don't like it?" " No, it's all right." " Hello." " Hello." "Where are we going?" "We need the bus stop." " No, we are taking a taxi." " Oh, that's what you're doing!" " Did anyone ask about me?" " Yes, the neighbors." "One time Aunt Farida stopped by, and some people from work." " Has father called?" " No." "You know, I saw him recently." " Really?" " Yes." " Where?" " Outside." "I was going to work, and noticed his car." "His engine overheated." "I stopped to help him out." " He must have been happy." " Of course, he hugged me and wouldn't let go." "We took a ride around town and chatted in a cafe." "He asked me about my job." "Advised me to go to college." "To study engineering." "He says it's difficult to survive without a diploma now." "You see." "He is an intelligent man." "He wouldn't give you bad advice." "Yes." "And he asked about you." "Asked me to pass on his greetings." "Thank you." "When we were young, he also advised me to go to college." " I didn't listen to him." " Why not?" "Because I was in love." "I wanted to give birth to you." "Mom!" "Hello Tanya." "You probably already left for the expedition, and this letter will not find you home." "I found Khiva on the map." "It's apparently very far away." "As far as a thousand kilometers." "I wonder what you are doing at this very moment." "Of course, you are digging up soil or sitting in an archive." "I simply would not have the patience to spend my days under the sun digging up crockery." "It's so different from my work, which isn't at all dusty." "The firefighters set up showers for daily use." "Almost all of the guys here are family men." "They are often writing letters." "They take writing seriously." "I don't have anyone but you and Tasos to write to." "Every evening I sit with them, inventing all sorts of rubbish in my head." "To be honest, I really miss you." "It's been 2 weeks since the postal helicopter had anything for me." "Do write more often, Tanya." "Seriously!" "Maybe a thousand kilometers isn't much, but right now it feels so far away." "And there is no way to call." "They can't fix the lines." "Well, this is it." "When you write home, say hello to father." "I send you my hugs, Tanya." "Tashkent." "It's 431." "It's 431." "We are approaching." "Mavlyanov's crew is on board." "Requesting permission to land." "This is Tashkent." "Permission granted." "Well?" " There is nothing here for you." " That's impossible, please check again." "Come back later." "Maybe something will arrive with the evening post." "Please check for the name Gumburov." "What about this one?" " Does it look good?" " No, not really." "I think so too." "Maybe my mug won't fit a single hat." " No, we'll find a good fit." " You think?" "I'll take this one, what do you think?" " It's a bit large." " Too bad." "Now this one fits well." "Very very well." "Sure, I am satisfied." "Please write out the bill." ""You went away to Sangveri, and forgot about me in the mountains." "The least you can do is write, for I am alone in Tbilisi, like in a fire."" " Hello Uncle Sergei." " Hello, where have you been?" " I haven't seen you in a while." " I was on call of duty." "Just came back." "Well, how are you?" "I noticed that you haven't been around." "I thought you got married and were now drinking beer at home." "Whenever the wife allows!" "Sit down." "I've had enough standing for the day." "My legs are hurting." " Well, did you see your friend off?" " What friend?" "The Greek, I think." " Tasos?" " That's it." " See him off where?" " I thought he was returning to his homeland." "Didn't you know?" "What's wrong with you?" "Tasos!" "Tasos!" "Rodin!" "Tasos is here!" " Rodin!" " Tasos!" "You made it after all, Rodin." " How come you didn't tell me?" " I only found out yesterday myself." "I wasn't sure if I was leaving up until the last minute." "I was sure I wouldn't meet you." " This means that you will see your mother soon?" " Of course, certainly." "We have a new government." "Papandreou is a great man!" "Everything will be different!" "We will have a constitution, man!" "Mother wrote that my brother is out of jail - amnesty for all the partisans!" "The past is in the past, Rodin!" "Can you imagine, I'll be in Thessaloniki in 10 days." "My mother won't recognize me." "We'll need an interpreter to talk." " This is for her." " Thank you!" " By the way, did you read my note?" " I haven't been home yet." "Tanya called from Khiva." " When?" " 2 days ago." " Tell me truthfully, are you happy to be leaving?" " I am not sure." " Write to me, sometimes at least." " Of course." "All will be well." "Guys, fellows, brothers!" "In 10 days, I'll be in Thessaloniki!" "You have no idea what that means." "I'm going home!" "We have a new government!" "Guys, brothers, you will come visit us." "It will be allowed, you will see!" "Edik!" "Rustam!" "Cowboys!" "Brothers!" "Lyudochka!" "Luda!" "Lyudochka!" "I'll write you every day." "You most certainly visit me soon." "Don't cry!" "Now the letters will come quickly." "You'll see, they won't get lost anymore." "Tasos, get on now." " Say hello to your brother." " If we did anything wrong, don't chide us." " Come on, Tasos." " If you don't like it there, come back." "Be happy!" "Don't forget us." "Brothers!" "I will never forget you!" "I don't even know how I will live without you." "If it weren't for my mother, I would not never leave." "Write as often as you can." "I will always wait for your letters." "Don't cry, Tasos!" ""Glance at me just once, the spark in your eyes is brighter than a day in May."" "Miss!" "Please don't go, I really need you!" "I'm serious, no fooling around." "Honestly, I just need talk to you." "Miss, I will wait for you here, okay?" "Come back for just a moment." "Right here." "No, actually, meet me by the river." "You'll see a bench by the water." "Just for a minute." "And if you can't come today, will you come tomorrow?" "Good bye." "You are leaving?" "See you tomorrow." " Do you know where he is going?" " Where?" " On a date." " Yeah, right, that's impossible." "It's true!" "He is in love with some girl." "I would have expected that from anyone but Bahadyr." " Guys, have you see Rustam anywhere?" " Around here somewhere, why?" "His mother is very ill!" "My God, how strange, how strange." "I am leaving and nobody can hold me back." " Did you see my father at the funeral?" " I don't think so." "I didn't see him." "No, he wasn't there." "I would have recognized him." " Could he really not be here?" " Come on, Rustam." "Let's go to my place for a wake." " Stay strong, Rustam." "We'll have a drink." " That's a good plan, Rustamchik." "My soul is waning." "I can't drink right now." "I'd rather hear someone explain why he didn't come." "I sent him two telegrams." "I know, he is home." " Maybe he was busy." " But mother asked him to come to the funeral." "To say good bye." "But he didn't come." "Not like I ever asked him for money." "I never burdened him." "Is it my fault that she loved him?" " Calm down, he's not worth your stress." " But you don't know anything." "I lied all the time." "I lied about him loving me and helping me." "I lied endlessly and she believed me." "She believed everything." " And after all that, he didn't come." " It's all over, Rustam." "Where do such people come from?" "Don't leave him alone." "Edik, let's get a taxi." " What's happening there?" "A fight?" " Let's see." "How about we all go there and talk to him together." "Would you like that?" "If he didn't understand anything after all these years, it's too late now." "Guys, let go of me please!" "I don't need anything." "Let me go, please!" " Rustam, where are you going?" "Wait!" " Rustam, don't do anything stupid!" "Hold him." "Rustam, listen to me." "Listen to what I tell you." "Rustam, stop." "Take it easy!" "Rustam, you must understand!" " Will you just wait." " I'll take care of myself." " I'll explain everything." "You shouldn't touch him now." " Get your hands off." "I am asking you like a father!" "Look into my eyes." " Do you have a conscience or not?" " And?" " I am asking you from the depths of my heart." " And?" "You shouldn't touch him now." " Explain it to him!" " You should be drinking at home, not on the streets." "Let go of me!" "I don't want to see anyone!" " Let go!" " Rustam!" "It would have been better if I never existed!" "Why did you gather here?" "Don't have anything better to do?" "Why are you shouting?" "Calm down." "Come on, turn the light off!" "This isn't a circus." "Turn off the light!" "Pull yourself together, Rustam." "Hello!" "Do you recognize me?" "I was here on that day." "And I came yesterday as well." "You didn't expect me to come?" " I didn't." " And I thought you'd wait for me." "Yes, sir." "Yes, I know already." "We'll be building a tunnel." "Tahir Mavlyanovich, as I mentioned before, I need to ask you for a favor." "May I fly out on my own?" "Yes, just a small errand." "I'll be at work the day after tomorrow." "Don't worry, I'll get there just fine." "Well, thank you." "Bye." " How did you get here?" " I came just to take a look at you." " Hello." " Hello." " Is that a moustache?" " It grew out on its own." " Doesn't it suit me?" " It's hard to say." " Are you just passing by?" " Yes, we are building a tunnel." " Here, this is for you." " But why?" "The best melons in the world are here." " I didn't know." " Thank you." " This is an interesting place, only it's probably very hot." " Yes, it's hot." " How are the guys doing?" " It's different for everyone." "Tasos went to Greece." "Edik is being drafted into army." " And Rustam?" " He isn't well, his mother died." " From what?" " If you remember, she was sick all the time." "Then she was feeling better, and then she had a heart attack." " And now he is all alone?" " Yes." "He actually has many relatives, but he is alone anyway." "I feel bad for him." " He'll be fine if you stay near him." " It's got nothing to do with me." "He needs a kindred soul by his side." "Like you are to me." "It'd be nice if such a person existed." "Now I am feeling better." "It's nice." "One could live here." " How about we eat this melon, Tanya?" " Let me go wash up and get changed." " Don't take too long." " It's nearby." "You know, you've gotten prettier." "Don't you think?" " I don't know." " If I say so, then it's a yes." " Well, I am going." " I'll wait here." " I'll be quick." "It's nearby." " Go ahead." "Young man?" " Young man, have you been photographed?" " Not yet." "Welcome." "I'm master of portraits, Zununov." "Very nice." "Please stand here." "To the right please." "Hat to the side." "Right." "Smile, no blinking." "Attention." "Done." "Now stand right there please." "Go ahead, everyone gets a photo here." "A memory for you and plan for me." "That's it." "Good." "A manlier posture." "No squinting." "Ready, done." "That's good." "You'll have a nice portrait." "Could you photograph me with a girl?" " Most certainly." " But no shoddiness!" "Of course not, young man." "I even have a special film." "I'll go get it now." "You'll have import quality." "I've been working in the arts for 30 years, so I know who needs what." "Everyone has been satisfied and you will be too." "What's happened?" "What's happened?" "Who pushed down the showcase?" "A hooligan, right?" "I may be an artistic man, but I can still call the police." "I am sorry, friend." "It's OK, things happen." "I'll assume it was an accident." "Hey, what about the photos?" " Sorry for being late." " It's fine, I didn't miss you." "Let's go to the museum, we can sit in the shade there." " You are probably expected somewhere?" " No, I made arrangements." " Shall we?" " I'm coming." " Tanya?" " Yes?" " Do you like it here?" " Tashkent is better." " Why do you write so rarely?" " Nothing new happens, nothing to write about." "And then, you already know that I don't like writing letters." "Look, a scorpion!" " Give me my hat." " No way." " Stop it, Tanya." " I'll give it back when you catch me." " Come here." " Catch me!" "Come on." "Rodin!" "Tanya!" "I shouldn't have come here." "I know you are seeing someone else." "I felt it from your letters." "From your silence, from everything." "Today I found out for sure." "I wanted to crush his skull, if it only it would make things better." "But that won't help." "I don't blame you." "I guess it couldn't be any other way." "When real substance is missing, sooner or later, we end up living a lie." "But I don't want that." "We must live like humans." "Otherwise, life isn't worth living!" "Do you understand?" " May I have this dance?" " Yes." " You're a tourist, right?" " No, why?" "It's you I saw today in the city, with a girl." "You also had a mustache." "You are right." "I had the girl and the mustache." "Now I have nothing." "She's gone?" "Yes?" "No, she stays." "I am the one going away." "Interesting." "That's it!" "Come on, mister." "Blow that horn!" " Well?" " You can't dance well." " Impossible, I always dance correctly." " You are fun!" "I am like this just for you, so that you aren't in a bad mood." " I am never in a bad mood." " That's what I thought." "Dancing is my passion." "Cha-cha-cha!" "Come on, lads!" "More energy!" "Pick up the pace!" "Assa!" "Even more!" "More drums!" "Bang!" "Burn!" "Bomb!" "Yeah, friends, keep up the fun." "Madame, please." "Again and good!" "Yeah, burn, burn, burn, burn!" "Come on, guys, more energy!" "Yeah, Assa!" "Assa!" "Assa!" "Assa!" "Burn!" "I warn you that that we'll need to keep talking all the way, my friend." "That's how my body is, as soon as it gets dark, my eyes close on their own." "I even wanted to get medical treatment." "Do you sing well?" " Yes." " That's good, we'll be singing by the morning." "Why are you building the tunnel?" "To divert the river, right?" "Well, that's a load of work." "That's not a river, that's a crazed jackal." "The way it can grab a man and then start spinning and throwing him around." "Then you decide whether to struggle or sink to the bottom." " Sure." " It's better to go with the flow." "No resistance, let it take you wherever it wants." "Then maybe you'll carry on." "They tried to do so many things with the river." "They even tried to build a dam." " And what happened?" " All in vain." "Cut it like a razor." " What, you don't believe me?" " I believe you." "Be careful." "Last year, a friend came to visit me." "Sasha Kravtsov." "So we went for a swim." "Understand?" "And he got into the water." "He didn't know how swim." "The river dragged him over rocks, and then he got a leg cramp." "He was swearing and screaming." "We jumped to save him." "We pulled him out and put him down, and he just kept sneezing and asking," ""Where am I, comrades?"" "A year later, he drowned anyway." "He was a good guy." "I told you, the melons are floating away." "Can you work faster?" "Look, someone drowned!" "Where?" "What are are you blathering about?" "People, come here, quickly!" " He is alive." " How did he get here?" " Come on, get the nets." " Probably a city boy who decided to take a dip." "What dip?" "Don't you see he is in his clothes." "He probably fell." "It's good that his head didn't slam into the rocks." "You saw him just in time." " He could have drowned!" " Shukhrat, they'll manage without you." "Come quick!" "The car is here." "We need to load." " How is he?" " He'll be fine." "He's intact and healthy." " He must be freezing." " He's got the hiccups." "Hey, man, you've got to be careful." "There is still much more life to live." "Swallowed too much water?" "It's not so terrible." "Our spring water is good for you." "I wanted to cross to the other side and I fell." "The net ripped at the channel." "The melons are floating away." "I'll take you to my house now, else you'll catch a cold." " Lazbek, come faster." " Here, put this on." "We won't make it, the water is rising." "It will flow buckets all night long." " I hope it doesn't flood the village." " It won't reach the village." "You'll see, it will subside by the morning." "So many crushed melons." "Don't take them." "It's our tradition." "Let the river take them." "Earth gives life, the river takes it away." "That's what elders say." "Our earth is kind, she'll give birth again." "It's a shame." "If not for the rain, we'd have a great harvest." "At least everything is washed." "The mountains, the gardens, the fields." "Can you smell that?" " She is breathing." " Who?" " The earth!" "FIVE MONTHS AFTER THE COUP" "MIKIS THEODORAKIS IS AT THE THRESHOLD OF DEATH" "DARK DAYS OF GREECE"