"Gorky Film Studio" "Studio "Za lgralni Filmi", Sofia ln memory of Hans Christian Andersen" "THE little mermaid" "Screenplay by Victor VlTKOVlCH, Grigory YAGDFELD" "Directed by Vladimir BYCHKOV" "Director of Photography Emil VAGENSHCHAlN" "Production Designers K. ZAGORSKY, B. SAPUNDJlEV" "Music by Yevgheny KRYLATOV" "English subtitles by Tatiana KAMENEVA" "Stop staring!" "Sit up!" "What's the matter with you?" "Starring" "Vika NOVlKOVA as Little Mermaid Valentin NlKULlN as Sulpitius" "Galina ARTYOMOVA as Princess Yuri SENKEVlCH as Prince" "Galina VOLCHEK as Inn Hostess" "Stefan lVLlEV as Knight Mikhail Pugovkin as Thicklipped" "S. MOlSEYENKO as Jacqueline M. CHUDlNOVA as Leonela" "S. PElCHEV as Fisherman" "How far are you going, Frecken?" "As far as Cioninborg, sir." "Do you know what was happening to you, to me, to all of them?" "Very, very long ago?" "When no one existed: neither you, nor me, nor any of them?" "What do you mean?" "This happened in time immemorial, when there'd been no stage-coaches and only caravels furrowed the seas." "Have you ever heard of the sea mermaids?" " The ones that sink the ships?" " How do you know it?" "Ah, I know." "I know everything about you." "You don't believe me, do you?" "Now listen..." "Far away from here, there's an old, old sea." "In that sea live the fishes and..." "Try to remember, maybe you lived there too?" "Many a day is gone, We're sailing on." "The blue sea taught us so That we should share all," "A moment gay and droll, And one common big woe." "The storm we'll overcome," "Come on, bring'ere the rum." "There's a cause for cheer and glow." "To make us more amused, Tempestuous, rain-infused," "Sea abyss is lying low." "Drink, make merry, Fill up your glass!" "Raise a toast to your dear lass!" "Upon us Heaven's wrath," "The eyes of our betrothed Won't see us in the harbor." "The wind got wild and strong, lt swept our ship along," "But sickness did not us trouble." "When God didn't hark, And the beacon went dark," "Then good fortune came to our side." "Bottoms up we'll drink, To the sea bottom we'll sink," "But we'll have our dance alright." "Mothers dear, your boys here" "Have come amiss the right mooring." "Dear lasses, your dresses" "Not wedding will be, but mourning." "All is folly." "Only ourjourney" "Will be very, very long." "Let the water swirl and the trouble crawl," "Our merriment will go strong." "Oh God Almighty!" "Mermaids!" "Man your posts!" "No one is to look at the mermaids!" "May they go to the sea devil!" "Jesus Christ, save our souls..." "Wake up!" "Come on, wake up!" "Oh, God!" "This is Prince Antoine de Saint-Gotharde!" "Can it be that the most eligible bachelor of Normandy is dead?" "He seems to be alive!" "Grooms!" "He has already refused three prospective brides." "Taken together, they weren't worth even his little finger." "He's expecting an inheritance from his aunt, Marianne the Savage." "I'm afraid, the inheritance is no longer expecting him." "You've saved my life." "Holy Mother!" " What's up?" " A mermaid!" " Go to hell!" " There's a mermaid there!" "No mermaid can sing like that." "Could it be the Prince's voice?" "My darling stars, please help me." "Let him know I'm waiting for him." "My darling Prince." "I won't move from here!" "Oh, that's the Prince!" "Make way for the Knight Adalbert Greenleaf Reynold of Marndell." "Hey, little one, come here!" "Dear wind, help me." "Go to the Prince and tell him I'm waiting." "And whoever said that life is beautiful was in some sense, and certainly mostly right." "Where did you come from?" "Come on, say something." "Of course, you can't talk." "If I don't see the Prince, I'm going to die." "Swim home." "Your daddy down at the sea bottom must be worried, your sisters weeping." "Do you have nannies?" "Can you afford nannies at your place?" "No?" "And you probably have a tail..." "You see?" "And you want your prince." "If I don't see the Prince, I'm going to die." "Make way for the doctor for a prince that was salvaged from the water." "Your prince must be having a bad time." "You two need some help." "Stay here." "You heard me?" "Don't leave!" "One beer." "We put in a net at the Bald Boulder and came up with a barrel of beer." "Give it back!" "Where can I find a witch?" "Come on, I'm nobody's fool!" "Do I look like a servant of lnquisition?" "Calm down!" "What's the matter with them?" "They all scattered the moment the King died." "Only scatterbrains are left." " Pretty weird place." " There's much more to come..." "You'd be surprised. ." "What do you need a witch for?" "A mermaid ran away from her parents' home." " You don't say!" " l swear by my place in Heaven." "And you fell madly in love with her, didn't you?" "Are you crazy or what?" "You don't know it yet, but soon you will know." "Your name is Sulpitius, isn't it?" "No one knows me here." "That's what you think, that nobody knows you." "You just loafing about, you good-for nothing." "To make it short, what about a witch?" "Boy, you're lucky." "You're seeing one in front of you." "Wait till it grows dark." "So she wants two legs and a heart in exchange for her tail?" " What does she need a heart for?" " To be happy." " Did yours bring you happiness?" " l ain't complaining." "I warn you, you'll be sorry." "She'd better stick to her sea bottom." "No, she wants a prince..." " lt will cost a lot!" " She's no pauper." "You may keep your shells." "What pretty green hair you've got." "I wish I had such hair." "Everyone would go green with envy." "Will you give it to me?" "You are welcome." "Say it again." "You are welcome." "And the voice!" "I wish I had such a voice!" " Forget it!" " Nobody asked you!" "How will she be able to talk with the prince?" "That's none of my concern." "You'll have to make do with the hair." "All right, I'll make do." "However, when your tail turns into two little legs, it will hurt as if you were walking on the sharp edges of swords." " What are you talking about?" " There's no other way to do it." "And that is not all." "Should your prince marries another girl, your heart is going to break with sorrow, and you will die!" " Well, it's your choice." " Wait!" "I agree!" "Hold it!" "That's not the rule." "If someone gives his life for her... lf someone gives his life for you, you will never die." "You will be eternal like a dream!" "But there're no such fools who would give their life." "Go and wait for us in the inn." "What is it?" "Get away!" "There's a mermaid there!" " Stop lying, Thicklipped!" " l saw her with my own eyes!" "The legs came out beautiful." "What is it?" "What is it beating?" "That's your heart." "Just like the Prince's." "Go on, walk!" "On your toes!" "Suffer it!" "That's nothing compared to the pain your heart is going to endure." "All the troubles come from them, mermaids - hail, hunger, pestilence, Saracens!" "Yesterday, they fished out some prince from the water." "And who has sunk the ship?" "Them!" "The mermaids!" " How do you know?" " l know everything." "My mother takes milk to the castle." " Don't open!" " Keep your hands off!" "Mermaid!" "Go and sleep it out!" "Here's your beauty." "Let's go, my child." " Does it hurt?" " No, not too much." "At early dawn it's such a fun To go dating with the sun," "To sing Earth praises so wonderful And breathe in odors of the night." "Whoever said that life is beautiful" "Was, in a sense, mostly right." "Take just one look at human hands." "What they create, eternally stands." "No work for them is low or futile." "God made them not for pastime trite." "Whoever said that life is beautiful" "Was, in a sense, mostly right." "Much better than the guns to hear, To drain a glassful of good beer," "To Bacchus all remaining dutiful, Be it a cobbler or a night." "Whoever said that life is beautiful" "Was, in a sense, mostly right." "What will it be?" "A drama or a farce That Thespians are offering to us?" "But when your face unmasked and full, Will you reveal your real sight?" "Whoever said that life is beautiful" "Was, in a sense, mostly right." "Are we going to the Prince?" "To the Prince, right?" "Ah, Prince!" "This is fate!" "We were on our way from St. Magdalene after the confession." "Suddenly I said:" ""Let's go to the sea!" ""l feel that someone's soul is parting with life there!"" "We rode up to the sea and saw something white in the distance." "Jacqueline said: "lt's a seagull"." ""Oh, no," l replied, "it's a poor knight!"" " And we plunged into the sea." " You might have been drowned." "My horse was drowned." "It was snatched by a shark." "It's so strange. I thought..." "What, Prince?" "No, it was just a beautiful dream." " Tell us, Prince." " Tell us about your dream." "I hope you were dreaming of me." "No." "Wait for me here." "Do not speak to anyone and answer no questions." "Have you been to church?" " What is church?" " l see." "Where did you come from?" "I promised not to tell anyone." " Are you a mermaid?" " Yes, I am." "You're lying!" "Hey, folks!" "A mermaid is here!" "A tramp who claims he's King Arthur's herald!" "Speak up!" "Are you the prince that has been salvaged from the water?" "I'm Prince Antoine de Lalan Poitou Lefevre Saint-Gotharde who has been saved by this noble princess!" "I need to talk to you in private." "I have no secrets from the Princess." "I swear by St. Benedict's sandal that I've never met such a beauty as you not on the earth, nor in the inferno!" "But what King Arthur has to do with it?" "If I came on my own, would they have ever let me in?" "I don't feel in the least offended." "Go away while you're in one piece." "I came to show you something that will shock you." "Come on, let's go and see!" "Burn her up!" "Burn her!" "Put her on fire!" "They sink ships!" "Good people!" "We've caught a mermaid!" " You sank the Prince's ship?" " Together with my sisters." "Mermaid!" "Put her to fire!" "Keep your hands off!" "Don't dare touch her!" "She is a mermaid." "She said so herself." "Stop it!" "The King of the Sea is ordering you!" "Harken and tremble!" "Didn't you recognize the king?" "Didn't you?" "We're traveling actors!" "And she's my daughter." "How many ships have we sunk?" "Want me to count?" "Let's go, daughter." "Dunderheads!" "He's been fooling you!" "I saw her in the water!" "Burn her!" "They bring pestilence!" "Keep away!" " They sink ships!" " Bring on pestilence!" "Prince, you can't allow that heavenly creature to be killed in your presence!" "What creature?" "This one?" "Ladies and gentlemen!" "You see before you the noble prince that was fished out of the water." "He is going to tell you if she's a mermaid or..." "Tell them, Prince." "Sweet child, I won't let anyone hurt you." "Ladies and gentlemen!" "She's not a mermaid." "Didn't I say so?" "That's right, she's not a mermaid!" "We just hurt the poor girl." "You're ready to believe any nonsense!" "Let's put her to test by fire!" "First you'll have to test my sword!" " They'll tear her to pieces!" " Oh no, come on." "Noble knights!" "Why did you draw your swords?" "Because of me!" " Who are you?" " A mermaid." "That's not true." "She doesn't understand what she's saying." "Mermaids have fish tails, don't they?" "Throw her in the dungeon!" "Take heed, Princess!" "And who are you?" "Are you with her?" "Throw him in the dungeon too!" "I'm the sword-bearer of the noble prince that has been fished out of the water." " l like his nerve!" " l like it too." "Since I was 15, I've been looking for a girl deserving to live for!" "I beg you, live up to my expectations!" "The gallant knight Adalbert Greenleaf Reynold of Marndell!" "The news of your beauty has reached Marndell." "I've got seven castles and 120 vassals, three thousand barrels of wine and 120 thousand sheep." "I offer you my hand and heart!" "Noble knight, you're very gracious." "Tomorrow we'll hold a tournament!" "The winner will get my hand." "If someone asks you, say you're the Princess of Zaduan." "This is not true, I can't say it." " Can you keep a secret?" " Yes." "The Princess is praying for you." "She is sure you will win and God will unite you two in wedlock." "Can you keep a secret?" "The Princess is sure you will win." "The Lord will unite you." "Tell the Princess that she is a noble lady." "She's a very distinguished lady!" "Really?" "I could have guessed it!" "Of course, she's not a mermaid." "She just has some secret!" " And where's she?" " ln the tower." " Why in the tower?" " But you yourself..." "Why is she not here, at the ball?" "It's so romantic to keep one's name secret!" "She's a victim of the cruel fate!" "She's the daughter of Duke of Norfolk, who had to elope with her knight." " And where's the knight?" " He must have been killed." "But pray, don't ask her any questions." "Yes, she swore on the cross to keep her secret!" "Oh, we'll never do that!" "A noble lady..." "shrouded in mystery." "Come here, my dear." "Your secret is sacred for us." "We'll never ask you a single question." " The Princess is so beautiful!" " She saved my life." "Tell me, my child, where did you learn to dance so well?" "I wish I could dance as well." "I'm bored with my ladies-in-waiting." "They always lie to me." "Tell me, for instance, am I very beautiful?" "Yes, very beautiful!" "You're such a darling!" "I'm not going to ever part with you!" "I'm Witch!" "Com'ere, my toads and snakes!" "All people are stupid to talk of just love." "To cook evil poison forever it takes." "I laughed at the people throughout my life." "But something went wrong with the moon and the sea," "With stars in the sky, or maybe with me." "I'm tired of witchcraft." "That's it." "That's enough!" "I want to be one who's dying of love." "I'm Witch!" "Do you hear, you river females?" "You all are just women, just foolish naiads." "You can only think of your glittering scales," "Of falling in love, and your sweethearts' tirades." "The Duchess Alice-Margaret Elizabeth of Cornwall!" "On her way to Rome!" "I can imagine, dear Duchess, how tired you must be!" "Not a bit!" "Shall we dance?" "With you?" "I don't feel like it." "Your fish tail must be hindering you." "She's my guest." "I'll teach you some manners, knight!" "Gallant knights!" "Let's not spoil the ball." "Tomorrow you'll meet each other at the tournament!" "They're justjoking." "You'll get used to it soon." "My dear, you think I'm the ideal woman." "Actually, I'm a nasty, evil, envious, gossiping brat." "Believe me, I'm the worst gossiper." "And something else. I laugh, dance, make men go crazy about me, but really I'm being tormented." "is it possible that a man is predestined only for one person?" "There're so many people in the world..." "The Prince loves you!" "I don't know." "Everybody waits for a prince, like in fairy tales." "One day you'll tell me your secret, and I'll arrange a special tournament for you." "Wise man!" "What have I done!" "If the Prince is killed during the tournament, she's going to die!" "If the Prince wins and marries the Princess," "she's going to die anyway..." "All right, I'll help you." "I'll give the mermaid some of my philter, and she'll be yours." "Are you crazy?" "She's in love with the Prince." "Don't you dare!" "Go to hell then!" "With this lance, the Duke of Navarre skewered three Saracens." "Thank you." "I wish it broke right now." "Are you mad?" "What are you talking about?" "It's you who went mad!" "Such stupidity is simply unimaginable!" "You forget yourself." "Who are you talking to?" "To the prince who's willing to marry a coquette." "She doesn't care a bit whom she's going to marry." "But you're blind." "All your life you've been looking for a girl who..." "And she's not this girl, Prince." "I could just cut you in two pieces!" "Whatever stops me?" "The very last drops of reason stop you, my friend." "Don't you understand that there's only one princess..." "The princess of princesses." "The daughter of the king..." "Well, what's the use?" ".." "Are you drunk?" "You were holding her hand." "You danced with her." "If I were in your place, I would have fought for her." "Your place is to go and groom my horse!" "I feel I'm going to die soon." "I can talk only to you now." "When I'm gone, tell the Princess that I thought about her all the time." "Tell the Princess... lt's time, Prince." "If I have to die seven times just to be with her for one moment, I'm ready to face death seven times!" "Wait!" "It's notjust a game!" "It means death!" "They are going to kill each other!" "Why are you laughing?" "The 13th century we live in is very cruel, my dear." "A feat of chivalry is the most valuable thing on earth." "A man may die, but his fame would live forever!" "Cross your spears, bold knights, for the most beautiful eyes are watching your feats!" "The noble knight" "Prince Antoine de Lalan Poitou Lefevre Saint-Gotharde challenges the knight" "Greenleaf Reynold of Marndell!" "The gallant knight Adalbert Greenleaf accepts the challenge!" "Don't be afraid, my dear!" "Who is to win?" "Get him under the saddle!" "Pierce him with the spear!" "Hew him!" "Right through his heart!" "What a lovely dress!" "is that velvet from Venice?" "No, I've got it from... I wish I had such an angelic voice." "Oh, God!" "Why the two cameos?" "What does it mean, Princess?" "What a treacherous stroke!" "Good for him!" "Another stroke, and he'll be king!" "I'm asking for your hand, Princess!" "You hoped to win my hand with your base stroke?" "We'll have to hold another tournament." "Let's send the footmen on a three-month walk again." "And the troubadours will have to be dispatched too." "The whole world must know about the pride of our Princess, who has rejected the winner for his unworthy stroke." "Leave alone your lute!" "Another tournament!" "It will take ages just to arrange it!" "If I revive the Prince, he will rise and run to his Princess." "That's for him to decide." "And you keep on fussing about." "You'd better think of yourself." "Who, me?" "You poor, poor witch!" "It's not for you to feel joy seeing joy in someone else's eyes." "Well?" "Do you want me to revive your prince?" "But don't forget:" "you'll lose him forever!" "Yes, I agree!" "Well, let's have your pretty eyes covered." "Hey, you, get up!" "What happened to me?" "Prince Antoine de Lalan Poitou Lefevre Saint-Gotharde!" "Oh, Jesus Christ, our Lord!" "Holy Magdalene, the patroness of our castle!" "Thank you for hearing my prayer." "Do you know that I've been on my knees since I returned from the stadium, and only now rose to my feet?" "Yes, I lied about everything!" "No, I didn't pray, nor there had been any God's angels." "And I gave my cameo to each of you just in case." "Antoine!" "But she saved my life." "And my duty of chivalry..." "Are you leaving?" "Do you know that as soon as the Prince marries the Princess the Little Mermaid will die?" "Yes, I know. I know everything." " Did you say goodbye to her?" " What for?" "I have my hands full even without her." " Where are you going?" " Well, the world is..." "Lamplighters, mirror-cutters and showmen are always in demand." "Do you have any regrets?" "No regrets." "Rejoice!" "Hey, you, good-for-nothings!" "Just look at her!" "She's going to die today!" " Stop insulting us!" " Mind your own business!" "is there anyone ready to give his life to save her?" "There're no fools here!" "We'll marry you off to the most gallant knight!" "Tailors!" "Make twelve dresses for her right away!" "She must be dressed better than anyone... except me." "Tailors!" "What are you so happy about?" "You will die today." "And you have no regrets?" "Who are you?" "I'm Prince Antoine de Lalan Poitou Lefevre Saint-Gotharde!" "And he's an impostor!" "You?" "Why?" "Come closer, Prince!" "You've been looking for your dream." "And you have overlooked it." "It is the Little Mermaid!" "The moment I die you will lose her for good." "She will live on earth forever." "But you will never see her again." "All my life I was a failure, but I didn't fail at death." "Antoine, who are you looking for?" "Since then the Little Mermaid has been wandering around the earth, bringing happiness to everyone who happened to see her." "The End"