"In the conditions of socialism, every person who left the rails of employment can return to useful work." "Choir of former prisoners will perform a mellow song Evening Bells." "Participants of the ensemble Bom-bom are nearing the completion of their sentence." "Such is the tradition and we keep it." "Red snowball-tree" "Screenwriter and director Vassili SHUKSHIN" "Cinematography Anatoli ZABOLOTSKI" "Music PAUL CHEKALOV" "Actors:" "Lydia FEDOSEEVA Vassili SHUKSHIN" "Ivan RIZHOV Maria SKVORTSOVA" "Alexey BANIN Maria VINOGRADOVA" "Olga BISTROVA Jana POHORENKO, Lev DUROV" "How do you plan to live now, Prokudin?" "Honestly." "Well, that's obvious." "Where will you go?" "To her." "Who is she?" "A penpal." "Luba Baykalova." "What does she write about?" "Nice letters." "She's inviting me." "Are you happy?" "Happy." "Happy." "If I had three lives I would spend one in jail, to hell with it." "Another one, I'd give to you." "And the third life, I'd live as I like." "But I only have one." "So I'm happy." "And can you be happy?" "Your ass is grass." "What's there to be happy about?" "What is there to be happy about?" "Well, I don't know." "If you can be happy - be happy." "If you can't - live like you can." "Stop here, bro." "I just saw my girlfriends." "There they are, see?" "And I'm riding by." "I must go and see them." "See, they're crying." "Hi, auntie!" "Are you still alive?" "How are you, little bride?" "Tired of waiting?" "What are you crowing for?" "Wait, don't crow for me yet." "Why are you walking around, sit down!" "How much does this machine cost?" "Let's steal it and split the profit?" "Heads up, comrade!" "Where you're going, Nino?" "What are you looking for, Nino?" "Sharik!" "Big-eyed Nino..." "Spoiled my holiday." "Gonna leave my address, just in case." "Sharik, tell your Nino, that I'm giving her a warning for now." "but in future there will be penalties." "Hello!" "Hi!" "It's me" " Grief." "I have nowhere to sleep." "Why?" "Bastards!" "I'm warning you - don't hang up, or I'll come over." "I'm gonna make a bunch of flowers of you and plant it outside, heads down!" "Can you hear me?" "What can I tell you." "You are filthy bastards." "Shit!" "Get out of here, or I'll come out and show you some grief." "Show you some grief and suffering." "What the hell." "He just does not get it." "I'm asking you one thing, is Nino home?" "Let her go out." "Tell her, Grief came by." "I have an axe in my hands." "Ask it to come out, it won't refuse." "Should I set you on fire, or something?" " Try!" "That note you left on the door..." "I took it to the police." "They'll get you." "Fool!" "There's a poem there." "Poem, and your fingerprints." "They'll send you back where you came from." "Indeed!" "Does not scare me!" "Nino is not home, she's gone." "Where?" " Somewhere in the north." "Why didn't you say right away?" "So hard to explain?" "Because you piss me off!" "She left because of the likes of you, with one of you." "Consider her to be in good hands." "So much for the feast!" "Then let's check the crib." "Are there any more holidays, or not?" "Of course there are, Grief!" "My baby!" " I dreamed of you last night." "And what was I doing in your dream?" " Embraced me." "Did you confuse with someone else?" "I recall one night in the spring ..." "Glad you came out." "I'm glad too." "The air was a little humid." "The train station was crowded with people." "Everywhere you look are suitcases." "People are anxious, everyone wants to leave." "And among all these anxious people" "One man was sitting." "Look how many young people around here." "One elegant young person approached him and asked:" ""Why are you sad, bro?"" "He answered: "I'm in grief." "I don't know where to go"" "Come on, Bernie, wrote a whole novel!" "Then the elegant young man said..." "Nothing." "They're calling to a Philharmonic while sitting on the toilet." "Grief, let's perform our best number!" " Go, Lucy!" "Music!" "Here's the minute that my sad soul was waiting for." "Wait, Egor, I'll calm down your soul and I'll get calm myself." "I'll hold it close to my heart ..." "The dove is tired." "Watch out or this dove will peck you." "What evil people they are, Egor!" "With evil people we'll be evil, Lucy!" "They found us." "Get out, quick!" "Relax!" "One by one." "For two weeks everyone is dead." "Don't look for me." "Well, we sang, we danced." "Grief, what's wrong?" "Looks like it's time for me to take up gardening." "What gardening?" "We have to go, what are sitting down for?" "Going, going..." "When am I going to start coming?" "Don't, you'll get caught!" "Soon I'll see you all." "Are you going with her?" " No." "Run!" "Rest somewhere." "Got money?" " Got enough." "They gave me." "I can add a little." " OK." "We are surrounded." "She's done with." "This is our Sveta!" "Sveta got caught." "Get off me." "Your Sveta is as useless as a pig -- no fur, only squealing." "I fear that the others might crack up." "I'm gonna shoot." "Wait, stupid!" "Crazy." "They won't roll over." "I know them well." "Listen, I'm gonna run and lead them away after me." "I have a document." "If they catch me I'll say I was afraid and did not know what to do." "I'll say I was looking for a certain girl, heard the whistles and fled instinctively." "Here I go." "Go ahead." "Here they come!" " Hold me, my legs!" "Peekaboo!" "How long can you..." "Over here!" "So far, so good." "What now?" "I don't quite like these games." "I am not your honey cake -- here, there!" "Hello, Dear Egor Nikolaevich!" "This is Lubov Baykalova writing to you." "Luba!" "Dear Luba!" "I report that I received your long poetic letter." "In that letter you upset me a little bit, saying you can not stand silence." "The evenings here are very quiet." "You can hear a leaf fall on the water." "At least, maybe my hair will grow faster in that silence." "No offense, dear Luba." "I know how quiet it can be." "I was born in a place like that too." "Yes, good." "No matter what you say, I like silence." "Why don't you come, Egor?" "Ah, you're a good soul..." "Wait ..." "Maybe we can get somewhere." "Maybe I haven't lost everything." "Why not?" "Wherever life takes us!" "You know what, let's go get something in the tearoom." "I don't drink." " Come on, "I don't drink!"" "Are you trying to look better?" " Well, I drink sometimes in a company." "But getting stuck in a pub - I am not into these things." "I'm a moderate person." "What's the big deal?" "We'll get some tea, that's all." "You'll tell me about myself." "Mom and Dad are very stringent." "They told me: "Don't you dare bring your prisoner here!"" "I told them: "God forbid, what prisoner that?" "It was all by an accident." Right?" "Let's use another door." "Stand and stare." "Right?" "What is "right?"" "That you're a prisoner by an accident?" "Oh, yeah." "Coincidence." "Bad luck." "Your parents are probably hardtack." " No." "Why?" "So stringent." "And I smoke." "They'll ask me to leave." "No big deal, my father smokes, and my brother." "There's a brother too?" " Yes, big family." "My brother has a daughter." "She's in high school." "This is good." "And then?" "Going to study law?" "Come in." "Shall we take a bottle and go somewhere?" " Why?" "Look how nice it's here." "Nyura, bring us ..." "What shall we have, Egor?" "Red wine." "Vodka gives me heartburn." " A bottle of red wine." "It's so great here." "Space, freedom." "Well, Egor, tell me more about yourself." "Just like an interrogation." "What can I say?" "I was an accountant in the council." "The management must have been embezzling." "And then the inspection came." "Naturally, I got a sentence." "You know how it can be." "Listen, let's leave, we're sitting here like two hairs on a bald spot." "Everyone's watching." "What do you care?" "Let them watch." "You're not a fugitive." "Here's the bill for exemption." " Sheesh, I did not mean it so literally." "So how long were you in jail?" " Last time?" "Five years." "With clutches like yours you were an accountant?" "I don't believe you." "I trained them there." "We were sewing lots of slippers." "With these hands you can break locks, not sew slippers." "Some say it!" "And what do you plan to do here?" "Again, accounting?" "No, no more accounting." "Then what?" "Sew slippers?" "I have to look around first." "Luba, easy on me." "You did not give me a minute's break." "Work and work." "We used to say, work is not a hare - it won't escape." "Let's wait." "Why did you lie to me?" "I wrote to your director." "And he answered me." "That's what's the matter!" "Go then, Luba, speed along, pour bravely!" "You wrote such nice letters..." "I remember them by heart." "I may have buried my talent." ""Prisons destroyed my talent and youth..."" "What's the rush now?" "Wait, let's talk." "To hell with that director." "Cool how I made myself look like a goody, huh?" "An accountant." "Accounting of the goods for the general public." "What did you expect, Egor, by lying to me?" "Wanted to rob me, or something?" "That's too much." "To go to the other end of the world to steal two pairs of felt boots." "You're insulting me, Luba!" "Then what did you want?" "I don't know." "A little rest for the soul." "I want a holiday." "How long should I wait for it?" "Ah, Egor!" "What?" "You are really tired." "Like a horse going up the mountan." "Only there's no foam in the mouth yet." "You'll drop dead." "Do you really have no relatives?" "Luba, don't hit below the waist, please!" "I'm not a beggar yet." "In any case, I can always rob a liquor store." "Sometimes, I am incredibly rich, Luba." "Too bad you did not meet me back then." "You'd see that I have nothing but contempt for this stinky money." "Nothing but contempt, but it makes you go through such torments." "Not because of the money." "Then why?" "I can by nobody else on this earth, expect a thief." "Oh, look how scary you are." "Only no one is afraid." "Drink up and let's go." "Where?" "To my place." "Didn't you come to me?" "Or you have another penpal elsewhere?" "Even though we established that I am not an accountant?" "That's clear." "But just so you know, madam, I am a driver of the first category." "Well, not first, but second." "Do you have a license?" "No, my license is in Magadan." "See now?" "You can sew slippers and you're a driver." "You'll be priceless here." "Let's go." "Typical peasant psychology." "Head on." "I went to jail seven times, you fool!" "I am an incorrigible thief!" "Quiet, quiet." "Are you drunk?" "Then what's the matter?" "Let's go to my place." "Have a week's rest." "I have nothing to steal." "Catch some breath." "Then you can go and rob your stores." "Or people would say - she did not welcome him and sent him away." "Why did I invite you then?" "Everything is okay." "They're coming!" "In a red shirt, like an executioner!" "Why are you standing around?" "What to do?" "Let's go." "Why are we running away?" "What happened?" "Who's coming?" "Now we'll start a new life, according to the protocol." "He'll make us line up." "What a stubborn girl, so headstrong!" "What could I do?" "Don't show that you're afraid." "Like we have not seen the robbers before!" "Look at him, like some Stepan Razin, the steppe invader." "But we have to greet him properly." "We will." "Let's do everything like we should." "Then we'll see." "Maybe we'll even have to die because of our own daughter." "God, what are you talking about?" "Ah, Luba, Luba." "Thank you, dear daughter." "Come!" "Good afternoon." "Here is our accountant." "Sit down, Georgiy." "Come, sit down!" "Thank you." "May I sit next to you?" "There you go." "He's not a robber at all." "He got into the jail by..." "Egor, what's the word?" "By accident." "By mistake." "And how many years does one get 'by accident' these days?" "Five years." "Not too long." "Before there was more." "What kind of accident was that, sonny?" "His boss was embezzling, and he had to cover up." "Well, are you all satisfied?" "Now it's time to feed him, the guest had a long trip." "I'll go check the sauna, Egor." "Although, stay." "Mom, you need to feed him." "May I smoke here?" "You may." "Would you like a cigarette?" "I don't smoke." "Are you orthodox Christians?" "I'm not a believer, I just don't smoke." "I don't want to." "Don't want or can't?" "It is not the same." "One guy said: 'Ah, they're killing me!" "'" "They ask him: 'Who's killing you?" "' He says: 'My boots are killing me'" "So what accident that was, you say?" "Aimed at the head and got into the forehead?" "Yes." "Seven people were stabbed to death." "The eighth one fled." "Seven ..." " Seven." "Piled them in the sack and dropped them in the water." "But the eighth one reported." "Heavens!" "Fedya ..." "Sit down." "One fool is blabbering, the other one believes everything." "Watch what you say!" "There are elderly people here." "And why are you, elderly people, making a bandit out of me?" "She told you, I am an accountant." "But you are picking on me." "Well, I was in prison." "There are not only murderers there." "Who called you a murderer?" "But watch your tongue and don't exaggerate." "An accountant!" "I've seen some accountants in my life." "They are all quiet and shy." "An accountant has a feeble voice, he wears glasses." "Then I noticed they all have upturned noses and they watch ballet on television." "What kind of accountant are you?" "You can wack piglets with your forehead." "You can tell Luba you're an accountant." "She'll buy it." "From the moment you came in, I could tell." "This guy either got into a fight, or stole a truckful of logs." "You oughta work in the police, daddy." "They wouldn't let you go." "Were you in Kolchak's white troops, huh?" "Or in counter-intelligence?" "Speak up." "Did you execute anyone?" "What are you talking about?" "And why are we so shy all of a sudden?" "I'm just asking." "Why so shy?" "Look me in the eyes!" "In the eyes!" "In hard times, did you steal grain from the collective fields?" "Where's he getting at?" "Where am I getting..." "Why are you so lost?" "In the eyes, look me in the eyes!" "Okay, to put it in another words, in a family manner." "Do you frequently speak at collective farm meetings?" "Where are you getting at?" "What a mess!" "Now what's going to happen?" "Look how you have it all worked out." "The country produces electricity, locomotives, millions of tons of iron." "People strain their utmost powers." "They fall from their feet with fatigue, they stutter from stress." "They get covered with wrinkles at the north pole." "They are forced to get golden teeth inserted." "How else can it be?" "And at the same time, there are people who from all human inventions have chosen the oven!" "Very well!" "Better to sit around in a warm place then to strain together with others." "He's slaving away from childhood, farming from when he was ten!" "Comments later." "We are all very kind when it does not touch our own interests." "I am an old record-holder!" "I have eighteen diplomas!" "Then why don't you speak up?" "How can I speak up?" "You don't let me say a word." "Where are the diplomas?" "Where are they?" "I want to take a look." "Over there." "Where - 'there'?" "In the locker." "Piled up neatly." "They ought to be on the wall, not in the locker." "So, how is it going?" "Is everything alright?" "I made the sauna ready." "Some bumpkin you found for yourself!" "If you'd only heard where he was getting." "I can't even repeat." "It's nothing." "We were just talking about different things." "Told some stories." "No offense, daddy." "I am just a funny guy." "Check it out, he says he was an accountant, then as if there was an inspection..." "But you can tell by his face that he's a bandit." "Oh yeah?" "So what?" "Nothing, just be careful." "Go take a look at this accountant." "That kind will thrust a knife without a moment's hesitation." "Oh yeah?" "So what?" "Go take a look at him and show yourself." "Let him be scared." "We're neighbors now." "So what?" "Nothing!" "Just that our daughter is in school!" "Just can't stop saying 'so what', 'so what'?" "We often have to stay alone at night, and you just won't stop saying 'so what'." "Blockhead!" "Wife and daughter will get slaughtered and he won't lift a finger." "The house will be full of dead bodies but he will only repeat his 'so what'." "Well, big deal." "How can you live like this, Egor." "Coming all the way to propose and not even bringing a change of underwear." "Who comes like this?" "Prison is a prison, not a resort." "Even a resort can leave you all... transparent." "Remember how Vasya Belov came back from a resort:" "'Lots of experience, but no more money.'" "I found something from my former husband." "What do you mean?" "My former husband's." "What's wrong?" "Luba, I am not a beggar to wear somebody else's underpants." "I have money, just need to go to a store and buy." "Where can you buy it now, shops are closed." "Nothing wrong with it, I washed it." "Take it." "It's not from a dead man." "Jeez, you know how to put things." "Here's a towel." "How low can you go?" "I'm beginning to get interested." "I'll sing you a song:" "'In that garden in the valley...'" "Go, go, go!" "One thing: our Peter is not very welcoming." "Don't mind him, he's like this with everyone." "Oh yeah, our Peter is like a wooden log." "Are crewcuts accepted?" "Everyone's accepted." "Georgiy." "Now, maybe let's kiss." "Georgiy means Zhora." "Not Zhora but George." "Today all day I'm like a clown in a circus." "What, did I cross your way?" "Is it so hard to shake hands?" "Come on, here's the hand." "Thank you, I don't need it." "Look at him, so uptight." "Why are you sitting around?" "Keep washing." "I'll go last." "I come from prison." "After you, don't bother." "There you are, Zhora." "Can't fall any lower." "Like a poor relative." "What's wrong with you?" "Why are you lying around?" "I am an orphan." "So what?" "Are you coming or not?" "I have an exemption card!" "Tomorrow, I'll go and get the same passport as yours." "Same, except for a small remark that nobody will ever look at." "Understand?" "I'm gonna grab you, shove you into a tub and put it on the stove." "Without a passport, with the card alone." "That's more like it." "I thought you needed to see my diploma." "Why did you bring him to the tea shop?" "What for?" "Now the whole village knows that Luba has a prisoner visitor." "Someone at work asked me, I could not believe my ears." "You tell him Luba:" "'If you came just to rest, to fatten up and to go back to your banditisim, then just leave!" "'" "Tell him: 'Don't compromise me in front of other people.' He probably has a family?" "Evidently." "How can it be that a person has no family?" "He's not a boy of seventeen." "Are you using your head at all?" "Luba, tell him:" "'If you're up to something bad, pack up and off you go.'" "He has nothing to pack." "Why are you attacking Luba?" "What can she say now?" "Who knows what kind of person he'll turn out?" "How can she speak for him now?" "Don't you scare me, I'm already scared." "That's what I'm telling you." "Listen, Luba." "Tell him:" "'My good man, go find yourself a place to spend the night.'" "Where?" "In the village committee." "You're crazy." "Invited a man and send him to sleep in the village committee." "Like some barbarians." "Let the police examine him tomorrow." "What's there to examine, he's all inside out." "I may not know him well, but it seems he's a good man." "I see it in his eyes." "I noticed on his photograph long ago:" "his eyes are sad." "I don't know, you can laugh at me." "I feel sorry for him." "Maybe I am a fool." "Oh, mama, save me." "Boiled me alive!" "Do I have to go to jail again?" "Boiled me alive, motherfucker!" "What a scoundrel!" "Murder!" "Murder!" "What 's the fuss?" "Peter, what's wrong?" "That orphan, I asked him for a dipper of hot water, and he scorched me!" "I was wondering, why would you ask for such hot water." "I tested with my finger, it was boiling." "I decided he must be used to it, or his skin is thick." "I did not know I had to pour it on the stones, Peter." "What are you, a baby?" "I thought you wanted to rinse off." "I did not wash, what's there to rinse?" "Enough, get out." "Bring me some undies." "Let me see." "Boiled alive!" "Nothing bad." "Put some oil on it." "Zoya, bring some oil." "Coming!" "Shall I pour some cold water?" "What are you, nuts?" "Please." "Let's go." "People are gathering." "Hey, where are you going?" "Damn!" "Does it hurt, Peter?" "Go to hell." "Almost drowned." "What happened, Egor?" "Well, you see, he's put so much wood there was nothing to breathe with." "And asked me to add hot water." "I thought he wanted to maintain the temperature balance." "I'll show you some balance!" "What if it was really boiling?" "I tested with my finger." "A finger!" "What do they make people like you with?" "Enough, Peter, he did not do it on purpose." "Go home, people are really gathering." "Then you don't sit around either." "What a mistake!" "How come I did not understand him?" "Old man, keep pouring, Everyone, eat well." "Luba, keep serving your guest." "This is our Pavel." "And this is Vanya." "At first, they fought together, then Pavel was wounded." "He got better and went to fight again, and then he got killed." "Vanya was killed in Berlin." "I really pity Vanya." "He was so cheerful, took me anywhere with him." "I was small, but I remember him so clearly." "I sometimes see him in my dreams, he's laughing." "Not smiling on this one, though." "Do you recognize him?" "It's our Peter!" "See how stern he looked." "But he was only 18 then." "He was captured and our troops freed him." "In captivity he was beaten really bad." "But later, not a wound, not a scratch." "I did wound him today." "Like a devil pushed my hand." "Egor, you sure you did not mean it?" "How can you, Luba, don't you believe me?" "I believe you." "What, Zhora?" "Peter, sorry for that shower." "I really did not mean it." "Forget it." "Friend, wait a minute!" "Go back to bed!" "Why is that?" "Because." "Go to sleep." "I can't sleep." "Then lie down quietly, think about the future." "I wanted to talk." "Ask you two questions." "Talk tomorrow." "What questions can you have at midnight?" "Just one question." "Luba, get something!" "Take the pan!" "I have a pestle under my pillow." "Circular defense, well-organized." "Tiptoed, like a cat." "Thought no one can hear." "I hear and see everything." "The hubby is sleeping, nothing matters to him." "Who's sleeping?" "Free, but with a card." "That's what you get for wanting a holiday." "And the moon is rabid like a bitch!" "Stop grunting!" "I have to go for a while, Luba." "Go." "Then why are you giving me this look?" "What look?" "You don't trust me." "Do what you decided, Egor." "Why are asking, trust you or not, it won't stop you." "I'd like to be a kind person, Luba, I'd like not to lie." "I've lied my whole life." "I have to be evil and cruel, but I pity the people." "One can't live like this." "Can't live like this!" "I don't know what to do with this confounded life!" "Should I get done with it?" "But I'd like the end to be more fun, with music." "And to think about nothing in the end." "I'll tell you the truth now:" "I don't know if I will return." "I might come back, and I might not come back." "Thank you for the truth, Egor." "You are good, Luba." "Don't." "Well." "Let's do like this." "I'll stay alone and ask myself - what to do?" "Do what you can, what you want." "I don't blame you for anything." "But if you leave I'll be sad." "Very sad." "I don't want to cry." "Luba." "I won't say one bad word." "Give me your hand." "Luba, I'm telling you, live alone." "You'll find someone decent." "What if this one starts stealing?" "What then?" "If he goes back to stealing, then what?" "He'll go to jail then." "You lost your mind!" "I don't know, really, did I lose my mind?" "I can't stand myself." "Soul hurts -- I do not know what to do." "Like I know him for a hundred years." "Well, we wrote to each other for a year." "There nothing else to do there, so they begin to write." "If you only knew what letters he wrote!" "So clever!" "About love?" "Not really, more about life." "He's seen a lot, what a devil." "So I don't know: either I love him, or I pity him." "Where is he now?" "Let's see what we have here." "Gorgeous!" "Let's show what we can do!" "'If you have no privileges, drunkard, you only have yourself to blame.'" "Punk!" "What do you care?" "Sweetest, why don't we both get happy?" "What are you looking at?" "I have money." "Citizen." "Behave yourself!" "If you are transfering money - then transfer." "Always so formal. 'Citizen.'" "What citizen I am to you?" "I am your comrade, and even a friend and a brother!" "Keep working." "Making eyes, that's what you know how to do." "Check this out, what they do to people." "I did not even say a couple of words and you are neglecting me already!" "Wait, marionettes!" "I'll show you!" "I'll make debauchery and will throw this town into darkness and terror." "To hell!" "What happened?" "Who let him in?" "He's not with the commission, I saw him in a hotel." "Mihalich, go see what's going on." "Please continue!" "Isn't it time to open?" "First we'll finish then we'll open." "In June 1972, Ignashichev, while being drunk  hit Konkov on the head with a steel sample." "By the way, it affects all of us." "What?" "Thank you." "Thank you very much." "Can I have a minute?" "Sit down." "I just came back from the gold mines and I'd like to ask you something." "if we could organize a little tournament here." "A little brotherly brothel, what do you think?" "Did I phrase it improperly?" "I am nervous because my money is burning a hole in my pocket." "One hundred pages." "The wad needs to be combed." "What is your name?" " Sergei Mihaylovich." "Mihalich, I want a holiday!" "I spent too much time in the north." "I think I have what you need." "Where are you staying?" "Currently, nowhere." "I just arrived." "I think we can arrange ... a little picnic of a sort." "To celebrate your arrival." "A nice, neat brothel." "Okay!" "I understand you." "Schprechen Sie Deutsch, Ivan Andreich?" "Oh, we'll organize quite a prom." "These bitches will see how we can dance." "And not just Swan Lake, but the iron bolero, krakovyak with squats.." "No need for that." "We'll do everything in a cultured manner." "Take it away." "What is your last name?" "Are you Egor?" "Yes, I am Egor." "I'm in the military commissariat, still can't get registered." "Late?" "That's how they work here, Luba." "Comrade Captain, come into the office." "No, it's a general." "No, Luba, I'm afraid I have to stay overnight." "Somewhere on the sofa." "Nothing, I'm used to it." "So how are you?" "Did they call you in the post office?" "What can I do, Luba..." "Yes, I must." "Well, okay." "Well, brother-in-wine." "Let's get down to decadence." "Everything is ready." "My robe." "I had to go to one old artist." "No one else has them now." "How is it?" "Suits you." "Well, do as I said." "People are ready for decadence." "Oh gosh, look at these girls with peaches!" "Good man, however, explain us please, what are we celebrating." "Well, aunties and uncles, let's begin eating." "Take your time, make pauses." "Don't they close down the comissariat for the night?" "Obviously not, since he's saying he'll stay there overnight." "He'll say." "I think he was told to come tomorrow by eight in the morning." "They are military." "Exactly." "So he said he'll sleep there on the sofa." "All offices close down for the night." "Who'd leave him alone to spend the night?" "What if he steals a chop?" "What does he need a chop for?" "I just used it as an example." "Don't talk nonsense." "Enough already!" "Why did you recruit such ugly faces?" "On purpose?" "Where do you find beautiful faces?" "All are married." "You wanted girls." "Besides, they are not bad." "No, Mihalich, this is not a holiday." "Here, give everyone a tenner, keep a hundred for your efforts." "But no cheating, I'll check later." "But, Georgyi..." "Listen, does it exist in this life at all?" "What?" "A holiday." "Peter!" "Look at him, wearing pants already." "It's me, Peter." "Come out for a while." "Hi!" "What's up, did they drive you out?" "No, just don't want to wake them up." "Did you ever drink 'Remi Martin'?" "What's that?" "Cognac, twenty roubles a bottle." "Let's go to the sauna and have a drink." "Why in the sauna?" "Why not?" "Let me put my shoes on, and we need a snack." "My pockets are full of chocolate." "I'm stinking of chocolate, like a student." "Come on!" "What?" " Look, how did he get here?" "Getting in is not hard, getting out is a problem." "He'll get out." "Why didn't you go home?" "I don't know ..." "Don't, Peter, don't prod me." "I've been wondering..." "Where are my horses?" "Did they vanish?" "Did I never have them?" "I've lived for forty years and I have nothing to say." "That's it." "Then don't say anything." "Pour it in." "What shall we drink with?" "Ah, here's the scoop." "Is this the one I scalded you from?" "Sure, there's no other." "Here." "Look at this beauty." "Ready to be a mother." "I heard last night when you came back." "But I thought it was my Kolya, back again." "What Kolya?" " My husband." "Does he come back?" " You bet!" "And you?" " I lock myself in the room." "He hasn't once come back sober, and I can't stand him when he's drunk." "He becomes a complete idiot." "Cows..." "They feel good here, huh?" "You know, of all my childhood I only remember my mother and a cow." "The cow's name was Raika." "One spring we let her go outside to feed on grass." "You know, then the snow melts, some patches of hay show up on the roads." "So we let her out." "And someone stabbed her in the belly with a pitchfork." "She must have eaten someone else's hay." "Came back home with her bowels dragging after her." "What are you looking at?" "Egor, darling..." "Don't, Luba, these are only words." "Words are worthless." "Did you just make it all up?" "No, I did not." "But you should not listen to people." "Or listen, but don't take it to heart." "You're very trusting." "Did anbody ever lie to you?" "No." "Who would lie to me?" "There's our chairman walking." "He was visiting our house." "Why did you get so excited?" "He's a good man, looks after things well." "Now they'll start agitating me to work." "Go ahead." "I can lift the bulls' tails, since I am so suave myself." "Where are you from?" "I'm local, from the same district, a village called Listvyanka." "There is no such village." "I know my area." "Funny, where would it be?" "There was a village Listvyanka, I remember well." "It must have burnt." " Possibly." "Too bad, the village was good." "Here, Lilia Viktorovna, I found you a driver." "He's from our area, called Ivan Taratorkin, from the village Listvyanka." "Egor Prokudin, thief and repeated offender." "Latest nickname:" "Grief." "Lady Hamilton, from the district prosecutor's office." "Bravo!" "Are you going directly to the meeting?" "I'll find my way." "Okay, I'll just stop to change and pass by the apiary." "The car is all yours." "Go ahead." "But watch out." "Weren't you surprised that I talked to you like this?" "Like what?" "Stupid, offhand." "I don't mind." "So why did you talk like this?" "Your chairman started to pick on my background." "I can't stand it." "What's the point?" "Take you, you're from the prosecution, I am a son of a prosecutor." "And what?" "Am I supposed to shout about it on every corner?" "Does it make us intelligent people?" "Am I right?" "Yes, especially when wearing suede boots." "What about suede boots?" "Intelligent people in suede boots usually hold their tongue." "Really?" "Really." "Otherwise they're ordinary boors." "I got it." "I shut up." "By the way, you could invite me for a cup of tea with honey." "You'll get by." "Why did you bring me the investigator?" "What?" "Who did you bring?" "Is she really an investigator?" "Who would have thought?" "After you, madam." "Allow me to present you, as a worker of criminal law..." "Stop grimacing." "You're disgusting to look at." "For your information, I really am a repeat offender and a thief." "Wonderful!" "Come often, I'll treat you with tea." "Are you also in suede?" "Come on, wave to auntie." "'I will execute the mosquito." "And so his head rolled out into the street, beyond, beyond, beyond the new gates.'" "Many things have changed, since the Russian peasant together with the worker overthrew the king's power." "The life of people have changed, their songs changed too." "People began to compose new songs." "Hear is the song of Aedonitski called 'Russian Lands.'" "Brought them?" " Yes." "Now wait." "Take a look, it's our team." "Then there will be a meeting." "So it's up to ..." "Can you drive?" " Yes, why?" "Then go by yourself." "I can't do it anymore." "What, are you sick?" " I can't drive anymore." "I understand that I'm irresponsible, backwards and a poor recidivist." "There's nothing I can do with myself." "I can't get rid of the feeling that I'm always smiling and looking you in the eyes." "I'd rather drive a truck or a tractor." "No offense, you're a good man, I'm just lacking something." "Is it a concert?" " A competition." "How much are you lacking?" "About forty percent." "Why are you alone?" "Did you go to Sosnovka?" "Yes, Your Honor." "Been to Sosnovka, brought the foreman." "No need to put the hand to the empty head." "Honey, what are trying to show?" "You'll become a prosecutor in your time." "You'll go on a vacation to the seaside, meet a handsome young lawyer." "And up the white stairs you will go straight to heaven ..." "Are your shoes the right size?" "No, but I have another problem." "My feet sweat a lot." "Such a nuisance." "Allow me to shake off the ash." "Don't take it close to heart, Egor." "Driving a tractor is not worse, it's even better." "They get a lot of money." "I am not upset." "Luba will come soon, right?" "She should." "They are turning over the milk." "When she's finished she'll come home." "Egor, be gentle with her." "She's our late child." "Parents' hearts ache the most for the late child." "When you have your own children, you'll remember my words." "She's a good girl, very kind, but somehow, always unlucky." "First, this alcoholic came around, so we could not get rid of him." "These drunkards are a menace." "I'd put them all to jail." "Each would get five years, in high security." "Why to jail?" "Why not?" "Look who's here." "I thought you'd only be finished by night, and you're already at home." "Why so soon?" "Did Peter come back too?" "He does not want to drive the chairman." " Why?" "Don't blame him." "He explained why." "He get carsick in a sedan." "He wants to drive a tractor." "That's even better." "You would give some advice!" "He'd come home clean." "Now he'll be coming back dirty." "How is it better?" "This is what's better." " You wish." "I wish, and maybe I'm right." "Luba, look, is he calling for you?" "Where are they going?" "Where did they go?" " To Sosnovka." "Why?" " For some reason." "Why didn't you ask the reason?" "Gave away your truck..." "So what?" " Nothing." "Peter, you're a real blockhead sometimes." "Your sister is being driven away somewhere, and you don't even care." "He'll bring her back, what else." "Where did they go?" " To Sosnovka." "Why?" " For some reason." "Why didn't you find out?" " You go and find out." "Ah, to hell with you, you're just ..." " What?" "Same as you." "There lives an old woman called Kudeliha." "How do you know?" " I should know, I visited Sosnovka today." "The point is, a friend asked me to inquire about this old woman." "And why does he need it?" " She's some kind of a relative, maybe an aunt." "Let's do like this: we'll drive up, but you go in first." "No, let's go in together, but you should ask all the questions." "My sons died." "The first one died in the battle near Lvov, the second one fought for two years." "I get a pension for the first one." "The one who was killed first." "I was getting twenty rubles." "Twenty-one and forty cents." "But now they reduced my pension." "Village committee informed the social security that my estate was too big." "Twenty-seven hectares." "But I never had so much, and no one in the collective farm had so much." "So I went there and asked:" "'What are you doing?" "'" "He said: 'Why did I receive the information that your estate is so big?" "'" "Then he said: 'We made a mistake'." "I said: 'If you made a mistake, you have to correct it.'" "'Your mistake is my tears.'" "He said: 'What are your tears?" "'" "Grandma, I also wanted to ask about your sons." "Sons ..." "I only have one son left." "Three died." "How long ago did you see him?" " Long ago." "How long?" " I've been alone for eighteen years." "Yes, right." "Alone for eighteen years." "Yes." "Such is my suffering." "And you don't know where he is and how he is..." " I don't know." "I looked him up, applied for a search." "Then I went to the village commitee and they told me:" "'Wait, he must be alive and healthy.' But he did not show up." "Twenty years - nothing." " Twenty years, is it?" "Not a sound?" " Not a sound." "Not a single sound." "Oh, dear grandma." "I don't know what happened, how he lived alone ..." "None of his friends came here." "And I don't know where he is .." "I can't stand it anymore, Luba!" "I am the lowest creature on earth!" "I can't live like this, I can't anymore!" "Lord, forgive me if you can!" "I can no longer suffer this torment!" "Why doesn't my heart stop beating?" "Do I have a stone in there?" "Egor, darling, calm down, baby!" "This is my mother, my mother!" "I saw my sister in the city, but did not recognize her." "Your mother?" "Then let's go back, come on!" "Not now, give me time." " What time, Egor?" "At least let my hair grow a little, I'll look more decent." "Oh dear." "Oh, how hard." "Come on, let's go back now!" " I sent her money." "She'll take them to the village committee, will be asking who it came form." "Will refuse to take." "Go to her tomorrow." "Tell her, it belongs to her." "Lord, how can you people be like this?" "So neglected!" "It's nothing, Luba." "What can I do with you all?" " Nothing, Luba." "Give me time." "Everything will be fine." "I swear!" "I'd rather eat earth, but I'll make it!" "Her husband came back." "Peter, why are you fooling around?" "Kolya is inside." "Let them talk." " You go talk to him!" "Egor, let's go." "They'll have to talk some day." "Kolya will only start a fight." "So what?" "Nothing!" "Kolya will start, and Egor will have to go to jail." "Luba, that's not the way." "What am I supposed to do, run and hide?" "Let them talk once." "Then it will be over." "Egor don't go, you don't know him." "When you talk keep in mind ther are two flunkies behind the fence." "I expected to see some legendary warrior Ilya Muromets." "But seeing such a worm, I can manage him myself." "Nikolai." "Let's go outside, prisoner." "Go, go!" " Just you wait!" "Not here, Kolya, not here." " Follow me." "Now you go ahead." "You little piece of shit." "Don't make me laugh, walk next to me." "People are watching!" "Go!" "You're such a fool, Kolya." "Shame on you." " Move!" "I'll teach you a lesson." "Here's for attacking from behind." "Dogs!" "Assholes." "I'm gonna mince you!" " Wait, he's got something in his pocket!" "You won't have time to wack, Kolya" " What are you threatening me with?" "With a knife?" "Come on, pull out your knife!" "Drink less, silly, your hands are shaking." "What can you do?" " Kolya, to hell with him, let's go!" "We'll setttle it with him another time." "See you later!" " Possibly." "Look at you, little ones." "Are you hiding?" "You're my sweet girls!" "Why did not you call out?" "Could have called, come, Egor, see us." "But, no, not a word, hiding here." "This time I saw you myself." "Good afternoon." "My darlings, how you doing?" "Finally." "Soon it will be warm." "Well, I have to plow." "I'll stop by often, I'm working nearby." "Well, stay well." "I have to become a record-holder." "I worked so much today." "Why should you be tired?" "Did you start taking the cows out?" "Hello!" " Oh, what a guest!" "Sit down, Vasya." " I'm Shura." "Sorry, I keep confusing you with that brigadier." "Remember, that huge one, called Vasya." "I was in the army together with Shura, under the General Kumov." "Sit down, Shura." "Have dinner with us." "Sit down, sit down, eat with us." " I can't, there's taxi waiting for me." "I have to pass something to you." "Have dinner first, taxi can wait." "Do you remember what Vasya used to say:" "'When it comes to eating, I'm like a vacuum.'" "No, I have to catch a train later." "Well, let's go out." "What is it that you have for me?" "Do you see our friends?" "Ah, those golden times!" "I often dream abouot that army service." "How much is it to the city and back by taxi?" "Do you know, Luba?" "How much for a kilometer?" " I don't know." "Ten cents, maybe." "Ten cents by thirty-six..." "How much will it be?" "Thirty-six cents." " Hey, can't you count?" "Ten kilometers are one ruble, then thirty-six ..." "Here and back, it's 7.20." "There were times I had to work all month to get 7.20." "Lives got better." "What did he come for?" "Something must have happened, pops." "Tell him like I told you." "Got it?" "I will, but you know him." "I know him." "And he knows me." "Did he get my money?" " Yes." "That's all." "I don't owe you guys anymore." "If you come looking for me, I'll raise the whole village against you." "With pitchforks." "Grief, I'll do as I was told." "He said: 'If he has no money, give some to him.'" "Why, you little shit!" "Brought me money, huh?" "Did you ever think I'd have to give it back?" "Creep!" "Egor!" "Get the money." "Do you remember what I said?" "I do." " Then off you go." "Egor, who is this?" "Hold on." "It's not a home anymore, it's like some headquarters!" "What happened this time?" "A person came to see Egor." " What for?" "What do you care?" "I don't care." "But when they start slaughtering you, don't whine." "Some kind of a brothel." "I'm afraid, Egor." " What are you afraid of?" "What?" "Come on, afraid of what?" "I heard that when you ... when they ..." " Forget it!" "And never mention it again." "'You heard.' Where did you hear?" "Did your time, or something?" " What do you mean?" "My little girl, forgive me." "Better let's sing." " I can't think about singing now." "Why not?" "Come on, there's one good song:" "'Red snowball tree.'" "I know it." " Sing it." "Egor, I beg you, promise, they won't do anything to you?" "Don't be mad, Egor." "I waited so long for my happiness." "How come you don't understand me?" "They're gonna take you and..." "Do I have no right for some joy in this life?" "Luba, I can't stand people crying." "Give me a break." "Don't cry." "Maybe let's go away?" "'Why did this night have to be so good?" "I would not have to be in pain.'" "'She did not like the end of my life...'" "'She did not see me standing in the church....'" "I'd like to have the lyrics." "Sit down." "Who was that?" " A friend." "Shall we start the sauna?" " Of course." "What are you looking at?" " Come over, I'll tell you something." "Don 't cry." "Come on, I know everything." "After the sauna." "I just want him to take a look at the motor." " Luba, really, it's about a motor." "How is it going, Vasya?" " Okay." "Do you treat your wife well?" " She takes no offense." "Don't give her hard time." " And how's yours?" "What do you think, is it good that we are alive?" "Could it have been better not to be born at all?" "Nobosy asked us." "Right." "Let's go plow." "Did you say something?" " Just singing." "What?" " Singing, you dumb!" "'I am tender just the same, and I only dream about the moment" "'To escape the sadness and return to our old house.'" "'I'll be back when I our luscious garden blossoms.'" "'Only please don't wake me early in the morning.'" "'Don't stir the old dreams, don't mention what did not come true.'" "'In my life I had too much early loss and fatigue.'" "' And there's no point to pray, you can't return to the past.'" "'You're my only joy and help." "You're only light of my life.'" "Vasya, go have lunch." "Egor, we've just started." " Go see your wife then." "I don's miss her yet." " Do as I say." "I have visitors." "I'm going to talk to them." "Come on." "Do as I say!" "Bernie, you're not going to touch him." " Lusya, what are you talking about?" "He should not touch me." "Tell him not to touch me." "What if he breaks my neck with his iron fist." " You won't touch him, you asshole!" "You'll rot soon." " Shut up!" "I'll bury you two side by side, like doves." "Please, let him live, let him plow like he wants to." "I'll rot and he'll plow?" "Where is justice?" "Did he not do enough?" "Now even his gait somehow resembles a working man's." "Proletariat." " Peasant, not proletariat." "Peasants are working class too." "Yeah, just call it intelligentsia." " Yes, teachers." "Stay happy with your four grades." "Read comics and breathe through your nose." "Oh!" "Hey, Grief." "So, how is it?" "What's wrong?" "Did anyone come to him again?" "Mom, speak up!" "Bernie, they're coming!" "This is her brother, quick!" "Egor, darling!" "Peter!" "You'll get dirty." " Egor, dear, don't speak." "What happened?" "Easy, come on." "Hang on, Egor." "It's nothing." "Some tried bayonets on us, and we're still alive." "Let me, Peter, it's a bullet." " Egor, darling, we'll be in the hospital soon." "Don't cry." " I'm not crying." "You're crying, I can hear, and there are tears on my face." " I'll stop, I'll stop." "Here, Egor, here I am." "In my Sunday suit, there's money." "Share it with my mom." "Then I'll come visit you ..." "He's not a bad man, I know him ..." "Mom saw him in her dream..." "I wrote her everything." "He's dying." "Too bad she can't read." "Bastards, you won't get far!" "Darling, darling, don't die!" "Thirsty, go soak your kerchief in the lake." "I'll be right back, Egor, wait." "Don't die!" "What are pouting about, honey?" "Stop!" "Don't feel sorry for him." "He's never been a man." "He was a bumpkin." "There's plenty of them in Russia." "Could have done it differently." "No, that was the only way." "This is that fool, his relative." "Watch out!" "Jump!" "Did you see how he was driving?" "What is he, drunk?" "Hey, what have you done?" "Don't be sad, Luba." "Look how many good people around you." "One should live." "Best to live smartly." "Wait, if me meet again, I'll tell you everything." "I've seen a lot in my time." "Even got tired." "My soul is suffering." "But I remember everything." "Give me some time, and everything will be fine." "Best regards, Egor Prokudin." "The END"