"A RAIN IN JULY" "Written by Anatoly Grebnev and Marlen Khutsiyev" "Directed by Marlen Khutsiyev" "Theatrical summer at its peak." "The tour season this year is exceptionally int..." "The Portuguese are on the attack, and Eusebio's kick..." "Director of Photography German Lavrov caused some anxiety for the Brazilians." "The champions have taken a ball from the corner." "So the Brazilian's fate will now hang on the outcome of tomorrow's game between Hungary and Bulgaria." "Another shot at the goal..." "Eusebio's shot has reached the goal." "It is now 5:30, and Mayak Radio continues..." "Songs by Bulat Okudzhava and Yuri Vizbor" "Lions in a car, rabbits on a tram  it joyfully recalls to memory a good man and the years of our youth..." "Starring" "Yevgeniya Uralova as Lena Aleksander Belyavsky as Volodya" "Yuri Vizbor as Alik Yevgeniya Kozyreva as Lena's Mother" "Aleksander Mitta as Vladik" "Damn." "That's inconvenient." "Yes... we are marooned." "No links to the outside world." "Now it's going to be a while." "Not necessarily." "See how it pours." "It means it will be over soon." "Wait, where are you going?" "Take this, it's waterproof in theory." "Hold on." "How will I give it back?" " Can't be difficult." " Write down my number." "B5-14-90." "Somebody's always at home." " Thank you so much." " Not at all." "Thank you!" "If these considerations are taken into account... and the familiar phenomena are approached... with a clear head... bluntly... objectively... we shall be faced with facts that... overturn our old and accepted projections." "Full stop." "And the reason is that the consumption of fresh water... in the next 8-10 years... will approximately double... which will confront the economy and humanity as a whole with the problem of the desalination of sea water." "Paragraph." "However... given that, all things considered... we have at our disposal today... no more than... five rubles and change... a natural question seems to arise... as to how this amount can be approximately tripled..." " Oh, get out." " ... by means of fair expropriation..." " I keep typing like a fool." "... from close friends and distant acquaintances." " Give it to me." " Help yourself." "So tonight we'll set about solving this problem." "He spent his evenings by the extinguished fireplace... with a Saxonian clock and ugly China figurines on its mantelpiece... reading a French novel... having opened it in the middle... about the sufferings of poor Juliette... who had fallen in love with a noble lord." "STOP PLAYING THE FOOL." "I'VE HAD ENOUGH." "ME TOO." " Hello?" "Lyova, hi..." "What's new over the elapsed period?" "I've been good today: five pages." "Hear the typing?" "So you've been double good." "If we go on like this, maybe in a couple of weeks... we could finish, what do you think?" "With that in mind, what are your views on some civilized recreation?" "Think of something." "Use my name." "WHAT ABOUT WORK?" "ALL WORK AND NO PLAY." " Lazybones." " What?" "I work like a deep diver." "18 minutes a day." "And that's the way they lived." "They had no money... but they had a very little  elephant." "After you." "The car of the French military attache, please..." "The car of Bulgaria's military attache, please..." "The car of the Ambassador of Sweden, please..." "The car of the Ambassador of Japan, please..." "The car of HRH the Princess of Cambodia, please..." "And what will be your royal majesty's pleasure?" "I will follow your pleasure, sir." " Let's go to a certain place..." " Let's go to a certain place." "... that's so amazing because..." " So amazing because..." "... it's always fun and full of new faces..." "... and it's always..." "... somebody's birthday." "But first we'll call." "It's not necessary to call the certain place." " As was remarked by..." "... one of the greats." " Are you firm in your decisions?" " Yes." "I think old dances will become fashionable again." " Like candlesticks." " Do you save money?" " All my life." "I'll put "no"." "Have you ever been jealous?" " Must think." "Are you inclined to forgive people their weaknesses?" " Depends on the weaknesses." " You answer yes or no." " Then no." "Alik, I'm very glad to see you." "It's mutual, Lena." " You've already met?" " I'm Vladik today." " Only today?" " Are you always Lena?" "In some African tribes people change their names to confuse the evil spirits." "Have you known envy?" " What's new over the elapsed period?" " Toiling..." " For love or money?" " Money's been scarce." "I'm working on a paper." " Incidentally, can you bail me out?" " Certainly." " What's the paper about?" " The problem of fresh water." "No, seriously." "I'm going to shake the foundations." " That's not well paid." "Please allow me." " You are not bored?" " At your place?" "Never." " You alone?" " My woman is dancing." "Her name is Regina." "She is a water-skiing champion." " And who are you supposed to be?" "A cosmonaut?" " A jokey." "But then I confessed that I was a priest." " Your companion dances beautifully." " You are welcome." "Independence is relative." "A pal of mine devised an experiment." "He kicked all his habits at once." " Stands to reason." "Our habits are what we are most dependent on." "E.g., I refuse to own a car so as not to become its slave." "What about you?" "Me?" "I refuse to own a car because I love the tram." "It's my weakness." " By the way, traffic is becoming humanity's nightmare." "In London, the Parliament tries to relieve traffic jams." "He's dangerous to argue with." "He knows everything." "Vladik, what's the matter with the tape recorder?" " Your success, Volodya." " What success?" " Don't be modest." " Why not, it's my nature." "What's the matter with the tape recorder?" "Do you know how many people will die this year in traffic accidents?" " Three million." " Is it known beforehand?" " Everything is known beforehand." " Here's the guitar!" "How on earth did you manage to find one?" "I asked the neighbours across the hall, they didn't have one." "The people downstairs told me to ask upstairs." "I started begging." "I said I had to sing for a man so that he finally pays attention to me." "And this lady went from door to door, and the world does not lack good people." "Hurray." "You are reserved and withdrawn, nobody knows what you think." "Some people find you arrogant, but it is only a mask." " All true." "How can one help singing in the country of Youth." " Who is that man?" " Where?" "It's the host." "The hostess's husband." " Seriously?" "I thought it was that one." " Please sing another one." "Are they yours?" " Almost." "They are my friend's, Vadim Brusnikin's." " Sing the one about the white birches." " No, Alik, the one about Mondays and Tuesdays." " Which Brusnikin, the artist?" " The very same." " Let's go somewhere." " Let's stay a while." " No, I mean, for a vacation." "Ten days or so." "In the daytime he paints academic subjects." "Combine harvesters and stuff." "And nights, he writes these songs." "A hobby." " It's a new trend." "Everybody has a hobby these days." "My friend, a physicist, goes for deep diving, collects cacti and matchboxes." " A philocarpist?" " No, a phillumenist." " Vladik, can you think of a hobby for me?" " In your place I would collect friends." " Fine, I'll take you for my collection." "You're a singular person." " Why are you laughing?" "A pal of mine calculated that a modern man has 300-400 acquaintances." "That's much more than in the last century." "Phones and airplanes bring people together." "So?" "Let's do it." "Anywhere, for ten days." "Just you and me." "You see how many acquaintances a modern man has?" "Don't you believe... the weather when the rains linger on." "Don't you believe the infantrymen when they sing gallant songs." "Don't you believe it, don't when nightingales strike up their tunes;" "Life and Death have not yet settled their accounts." "The times taught us to live as on a campaign trail, with the door open." "You are a man, my friend, and yours is an enviable lot, after all." "And just one thing keeps you awake:" "where do we go when spring rages over the world..." "Why do we go away when spring rages over the world?" "Oh God, I think I am being late." "Lena, what are your plans for today?" "No particular plans." "I'd like to spend the evening at home." "No particular plans..." "Where's my bag?" "Why don't we go to the Belovs today?" "Dad asked us to, have you read his letter?" " Mom, let's pick another evening." " Here it is." " I'm up to my neck with my translations." " I'm up to my neck, too." "But the Belovs get offended." " They'll get over it." "You know how I love them." "But still..." " It's a quarter to!" "Are you coming?" " Yes, coming." "No, you run." "I'll be a while yet." " Bye, then." " Be careful!" " All right." "Walk only on the sidewalks, do not step onto the road." "Hello?" "..." "What is she like?" "Blonde, brunette, redhead?" "A blonde?" " Who do you want?" "Get lost." "Sorry, this wasn't for you." " This is Zhenya." " Who?" " Well, Zhenya..." " Hello." " Excuse me, is this..." " Oh, I got it!" "It's good that you called, I was afraid you would lose the number." "You know, unfortunately, your jacket..." "It's at another place." " Never mind." "I'm busy today, too." "Can I call you another time?" "Only I don't know your name." " My name is Lena." " I see." "Got it." "Lena." "All right, bye." " Bye." "Call by all means." "I think we should send him his overcoat and the winter hat." "I don't think they'll finish before the holidays." "What did Nikolai Nikolayevich say?" "That's what he said, not before the holidays." " Is he still here?" " Who?" " Nikolai Nikolayevich." " He flies there Saturday." "Dad asked for cigarettes with filters." " We had them at the canteen, I'll buy some." " There's someone to answer there." "You going anywhere today?" "No, I'm waiting for a call." " If you think seriously about your post-grad studies..." " Mom, I know." "Why is Nikolai Nikolayevich only going now?" "I don't understand this." "Why is work a duty to some people and not to others." "What does it depend on?" "The work or the people?" "OK, here goes." "Look, what if we re-arrange everything?" "You have a passion for re-arranging things." "Let's fix the place first." "Tear off the wallpaper." "Are we moving this?" " Are you in a hurry?" " No, never mind." "I wrote to Klava that you take your vacation in September." "I don't know, maybe not." " It depends on him?" " Yes." "I don't want your father to find everything the same when he returns." " You see what I mean?" "You ought to decide." " Decide what?" "You want me to get married?" "So consider me married." " I can't do that." " So do something else." "Think what you like best." "Consider that he is my fiance, and we are waiting for an apartment." "He is my fiance, and he lives at his friends' while we're waiting." "Is fiance good enough?" " Why do you talk to me like that?" " I talk normally." "Look, let's really tear off the wallpaper." " Lena!" " It was practically loose." " Now we'll live in a stripped room for who knows how long." " Otherwise we'd have never brought ourselves to do it." "Mom, let's make a pact." "I'm getting married." "Everybody's happy." "She's getting married, so no more questions." "And then?" "Mom, let's agree that each lives his own life." "Mom, I have to go." "It's not for long, I'll be back soon... and then I'll do everything and write everyone." "By the way, give me some money." "I'll give it back." "Back soon." "I won't even take the keys." "Guys, I'm in a rush." "You can't imagine the racket at my place." "Relax." "This is Lena." "Lena, this is Lyova." " Why laughing?" "Something happened?" " I'm not laughing, darling." "Congratulations, old man." "Your report is with Shapovalov now." " How did this happen?" " He took it right off the typewriter." " Did he ask you about it?" " Not a word." "The whole institute talks of nothing else." "What can this mean?" "An unfinished report." " We planned to ask you." " Could be innocent curiosity." "Shapovalov?" "Innocent?" "Nobody knows his interests." "They change daily." " We must talk." " How can you talk to him?" "So naive, all of you." "Have you got Arithmetics for Third Form?" "It's you age, Lyova." "Why should we be afraid of a scandal?" "Times change and plans change." "Remember Kolganov?" "Same story." "Then we should finish quickly and move on." "This is rather serious." "I agree with you completely, but there's tactics to consider." "Give me a break." "This is only the beginning." "He'll crush you, but he'll do it in kid gloves." " Matches please." "You have to know Shapovalov." "Precisely." "He's fickle like a dragonfly." "Ropewalkers!" "Do not walk on tram cables." "It can endanger your life." "Greetings!" "Volodya!" "Greetings!" "How's life?" " Thank you, getting along." " Greetings!" " It's been a while." " You know how it is." " You see anybody from the old set?" " Now and then." "And Gleb has vanished completely, the bastard." "Yes, yes, thanks." "I admire his cool." "He acts like he knows something but won't say." "Right?" "Volodya is very level-headed." "But still, he needs help." "Mind you..." "I believe in friendship." "There." "I think he needs a good friend." "And you are just the right person." " Thank you." "You haven't imagined that we have an affair?" "Thank God, I hate jealous cows." "These days, it's as outmoded as princely ancestry." "Is it all right that I babble?" " Feel free." "You see, he has to get his degree this year." "His thesis, you see?" "And now this report." "They could have gotten by with any slapdash job." "But these guys, they'd rather break their necks." "And a good job, too." " It was a scandal." "Nonsense!" "Who needs those daredevils who tiptoe in fear of stumbling." "They make very much noise." "Very much." "Can you really get into trouble?" "Sure." "But these days, it's embarrissing not to." "Those who are not in trouble invent it." "No, seriously - what will happen?" "Oh, well, nothing to die from." "Although some people have." "No, I mean, truth will always triumph." "But sometimes it only happens in the fourth act." "But one has to get through the second and third." "And I tell you there can be no compromise with that man." "Look, old man." "Begging pardon." "Do you think I should make the move?" " What move?" " The one I told you about." "What bothers me is, those bastards might not let me go." " Could be." " There, you see." " What if I go and make a stand?" " That's the way." " On the other hand, you never know..." " Very true." " So what do you suggest?" " That's exactly the right thing." " You think?" " Positive." " Have I upset you?" " No, never mind." " How old are you?" "24?" " 27." "At 27 I had just graduated, after the Army service." "It was 1949." "And at 28 Shapovalov took me on." " I wrote his thesis." " You?" "Me." "And you know, I envy you." "Volodya especially." "Right?" "Here." "Here's the guy I envy." " So, what's your position?" " My position?" "Personally, I'd like to grab a bite of something." " I'm serious." " Me too." "We'll stand fast." "As they did on the barricades." "Am I right?" " Absolutely." " You agree?" " Certainly." " Now my mind is at peace." "Give me a break." "You are like children." "Any coffee in the house?" "Please." " Let's go." " What?" " Let's go." " Great idea." "Let's sneak out, you first, I'll follow." "Look, what if they say that they'll give me good terms?" " Well?" "How should I respond do you think?" "Look, pal." "Why don't you buzz off?" "Yeah, that's right." "Cheers." "That's the way it is, darling." "So what's to be done?" "Nice pad." "How much do you pay?" " I water the plants." " Meaning?" " Oh!" "And the owners?" " Landlady's in Afghanistan." " She's a ballet teacher." " She teaches the Afghans to dance?" "Something like that." "Don't envy me, it's only until the New Year." "We had some sausage." "I ended up hungry." "I threw it away." "So, gentlemen..." "I have noticed that people are made from different materials." "Isn't that right, my sweet?" " That's right." "There." "There's ordinary clay, for instance." "And then there's fire clay." "There's reinforced concrete." "Much in use." "One comes across ceramics." "Some people are tiled." "Block building is not unusual." "Take Lyova." "He is thatched." " I am flattered." " What about me?" "You are, I think, of surrogate materials." " Pardon?" " I mean top quality synthetics." "And there's our friend Volodya." "A very modern creation." "He is antimagnetic... frost-resistant... waterproof... antirust..." "It is a refractory metal." "You can put him in space." "And he will not burn in dense atmosphere." "This is why I have no misgivings about him." "Be calm, my friend, be calm," "Everything is still to come." "Let grief, like a belltower at night," "Stab at your guts." "An ending is not the end," "The dawns bloom as before." "Your grief is not the reason," "It's only another step." "The steps creak underfoot," "What's gone through is left aside." "The steps creak underfoot" "And the years hang behind you." "And you keep smoking restlessly," "And a shadow lies under the eyes," "And your camp bed is freezing," "And a black bird is circling." "Be calm, my friend, be calm," "There's more drinking and more songs in store." "And in future wars" "Your lot is to survive." "The dawns are now awake" "That will bring you back to life." "And the bullets are now moulded" "That are destined to miss you." "Mom..." "So how are you doing?" "Misha's not in bed yet?" "Why?" "Can't you put a child to bed?" "No one called me?" "All right, I'll be there soon." "All right, all right." " How will it end?" " What?" " All this hassle." " We'll see." " They are all so worried and sympathetic." " They like it." "It makes them nobler." "'Go ahead, guys, be firm, be brave.'" "'And we'll applaud you..." "quietly, of course... out of sight.'" " What is it?" " Nothing." " Can't I look at you?" " You can." "He gave his permission." "You are so level-headed." " Do you ever get ill?" " Dunno." "Let you become sick for a while." "I will take care of you." " Did you ever cry?" " Now you want me to be ill and crying." "Why?" " Everyone must cry sometime." "OK, I will try." "This is all rubbish." "I do not believe in myself at all." "Have to pull through somehow." "Have to get independent." "All rubbish." "Nobody knows what people think at night." "When alone." "Hello." "I'm listening." "Who is this?" "Zhenya..." "Please forgive me." "It's difficult to talk now." "Could you call another time?" "In a few days." "My father died." "Goodbye." "Excuse me." "Who was it?" "Just... somebody." " Should we call..." " No, I have already." " Then I will say tomorrow..." " Right." "Anna Gavrilovna called." "Yes, let her come." " Have you managed to reach Olga?" " Yes." "She will come directly to the station." "Michael is away on an assignment." " What time does the train arrive?" " 9:10 pm." " There's time." " We'll take a taxi." " We could call for one." " There's a taxi stand nearby." "Yes..." "Wait, wait..." "It will be very difficult for her." "But it can happen any time to anybody." "You be strong." "Come together to visit in October." "We have a motor boat." "Does he fish?" " I don't think so." " Are you married now?" " No." " What is he waiting for?" " We are both waiting." " Seems a nice guy." "He doesn't drink?" " No." " Not stingy?" " Not in the least." "It's the main thing." "Meanness is so off-putting." "What about women?" " I haven't asked." " You know, it's life." " I understand." "Has he got friends?" " He has lots of friends." " Lots is not good, either." "It means he is the same with everybody." "And where are his parents?" " His mother's in Serpukhov." " It's life." " Look... is it all right for me to..." " Of course." "Please come again." " Excuse me." " I'll walk with you a bit." " Hello, Lena." " Hello." " Do you want an apple?" " Thank you." " Nasty weather." "It's autumn already." "I'll take the next one." " Who was the woman with the Army officer?" " My cousin and her husband." "Go." "Go." "So unexpected." "He shouldn't have gone there, he didn't have to go." "He hadn't been feeling well." "Somebody else had refused, found a pretext." "And Dad got so obstinate about going." "He just had to." "And he went." "All right, Zhenya." "Thank you for calling me." "Keep in touch." "Bye." "What can I tell you?" "I am a reserved and withdrawn person, that's scientifically established." "When asked 'How are you', I always reply 'Thank you, everything's fine'." "Everything is normal, Zhenya." "People don't keep diaries now for some reason." "I'd have written, 'Nothing special today.'" "Hello, Zhenya?" "You are keeping quiet." "All right, let's keep quiet." "Nobody's evicting you from the call-box yet?" "A cop is safe to keep around." "Give him my regards." "Yesterday I thought: this, precisely, is life." "There'll be nothing else." "And that's not so bad, really." "Is it?" "Do you like your job?" "Me too." "Are your parents living?" "As long as there isn't another war, right?" "Look, have you read about that small planet?" "The one that's approaching Earth on a collision course?" "There were all kinds of projections, but it all turned out pure nonsense." "It's no longer going to collide with us." "So we can live at ease." "Well, bye, Zhenya." "Yes, of course." "Who can be sure?" "I hate it." "That's also bad." "My father never complained and never envied anyone." "Which is the same thing." "He said there was nothing more humiliating than envy, and that some day people will get rid of it." "What about love?" "No worries." "I think the main thing is to have a profession." "All right, Zhenya, let's talk about this another time." "At this moment I'm standing in the corridor, locked out of my room." "I lost the key." "Never mind, I'll call Mom at work." "No, Zhenya, I was ill." "Nothing serious." "Back to work tomorrow." "Are you there?" "What's that music?" "No." "I thought it was playing at your end." "Yes, something very familiar." "Look, Zhenya." "Maybe you don't exist?" "Like you're not there at all." "Nothing but a voice." "Meaning what?" "Yes, yes." "This way, a little bit to the right." "Perfect place for a camp." "This way, everyone." " Well?" " Perfect." " A Levitan painting." " Amazing." " Breathtaking." " What a lark!" " One goal play." " Who wants to gather mushrooms?" " Everyone!" " There are no mushrooms in the forest." " You haven't seen Lucie?" " Alik, it's you." "What about the shashlyk?" "Prof. Shapovalov will take care of that." "Apparently it's his speciality." "You haven't seen Lucie?" " She was just here." " Funny girl, isn't she?" " Is she also a champion of something?" " Not this time." "Your taste has changed." "Where is your guitar?" "I hope you have stayed loyal to that." "It's in the car." "But it's not mine." "Neither is the car, in fact." " What do you call your own, Alik?" "Why do you pick on me, Lena?" "Maybe it's a mask for your fond feelings?" "Now then." "I knew it." "There's only on thing to be done." "A duel." "Duels are out of fashion." "What is the current thing?" "Vladik must know." "The current thing is to play dirty behind somebody's back." "Then the adversaries meet again." "'How you doing, old man?" "' - 'All right." "What about you?" "'" "'Me too.' - 'Well, good job.'" "'Cheers.' The era of peaceful co-existence." "That's the way it goes." " It's nice here." " What?" " It's quiet." "Halloo!" "Imagine the Three Musketeers with high blood pressure." "When conflicts were settled with a sword, the nervous tension found immediate relief through muscular energy, and heart desease was rare." " So what's the inference?" "The medics recommend, if you tend to be nervous..." "If you tend to be nervous, don't be!" "No, they recommend exercising." "A miracle of sophistication, coffee in the great outdoors." "Very useful gadget, old man." " What's the matter with your finger?" " Some thorn." " I hope it's not fatal." " Let me see." "When I was in South America, I was told about thorns containing curare." "Nonsense, curare is secreted by a species of frogs." " What frogs?" " Correct." "Good thing we are not in South America." "Incidentally, the most poisonous creature of all is a fish the Japanese call 'fugu'." " How are we getting on?" " Swimmingly." "I believe we'll have the pleasure of hearing your songs?" " I heard that you sing charmingly." " Exaggeration." "By the way, Indians dip their arrows in curare." "And those two guys from Kiev, the doctors who experimented..." "Volodya!" "Well, this is not the Yangtze, with its rough currents." "I can't look at these things." "It's awful." "He's a daredevil." "And talented." " It's folly." " If he had more sense... patience..." "I can't look, he'll get pneumonia." "An athlete, an Atlantes." "Can't look." " Bravo!" " Next time, make sure I'm not there." "Make him dress, he's got gooseflesh." "It's unfair of you to flaunt the benefits of youth." "Never crossed my mind, Professor." " He's got gooseflesh." " Ice-swimmers brave lower temperatures." " You mean Arctic animals?" " No, some people do it." "Don't worry, he should in fact be warm now." " Who are we waiting for?" " Volodya, come and get it!" " Lucie, this is yours." " People, take turns for the shashlyk." " Who are we waiting for?" " Lucie, I hope you haven't forgotten our friendship." " May I have some?" " Alik." " Thank you." " I am on a diet." " Speech!" " A long Georgian toast!" " Make it a short one." "I always drink the same toast." "All the best!" " Does it mean 'goodbye'?" " It means 'all the best'." "Here goes." "It's a dream." "There is a huge number of various shashlyk recipes." "First, of course, the Georgian." " Karsky shashlyk." " Rib shashlyk." " Bulgarian, on a spit." " The kebab." " That's a different dish." " Shashlyk de mouton." " Karsky shashlyk." " We named that." " They serve a good one at the Aragvi." " There's a Finnish variety." "Every nation wants a shashlyk of its own." "Every nation has the shashlyk it deserves." " I prefer the Karsky shashlyk." " Have some more." "We forgot the most important variety." " Shashlyk a la Shapovalov!" " That's a brand!" "Here's one with a kidney." " What's this horseshoe doing here?" " It's mine." " Where have you found it?" " You know, it brings good luck." " I know." " Almost new." " Good luck was lying in the road." " Anatoly Alekseyevich." " Well, Daddy, show us." "That's not the way it's done." " Everybody bends his luck in his own way." " Right." "Good show!" "You surprise me, old man." "Quite a performance." "Now it's bent." " Yuri Vlasov." " A phenomenon." "All the best." "It's excellent exercise, by the way." "A prolonged physical effort without breathing." "That's what isometric gymnastics is all about." "It's an element of Yoga." " Let's play a game." " Name it." " Cities." " Deal." " Kiev." "No, no, I start." "Vladivostok." " Kishinev." " Warsaw." " Annecy." " Irkutsk." " Krasnodar." " Rome." " Monaco." " Omsk." " Alik." " Yes?" "I am really fond of you." "Do you want to do me a favour?" " Whatever you wish." " Could you not sing tonight?" " Not to drink?" " Not to sing." " Very well." " Kandalaksha." " Archangel." " Let's switch to historical figures." " How's that?" " Romain Rolland." " Nekrasov." " Verne." "The Jules one." " Nansen." " Nekrasov." " Foul." " Another one." " Oh, I quite forgot there's more than one." " Wolfe." " Forsh." " Shapovalov!" " Well, now..." " Mine is not that great a name." " Who knows who among us is great." "Maybe Lucie is a great person, maybe me." "The contemporaries are clueless." " We were promised songs." " I have none today." "The guitar is busted." " Sing without it." "I don't sing without it." "I need accompaniment." "Let's tell stories from life!" "Suppose somebody begins..." " Another joins in." " Excellent soulmate." " Funny stories?" " Where does he find them?" " Stories of the unexpected?" " Toy store, mechanical section." " Terrific staff they have." " Have you ever been scared?" " Right!" "Let's tell scary stories." "A man meets a boa constrictor." "Already scared." "Where's your soulmate?" "It's passe, humanity has re-embraced the concept of marriage." "So what's the problem?" "You are against it?" "No, I'm all for it." "I seem to be unlucky that way, old man." "Here's another." "A man was pursued by his mother-in-law with a hot iron." "About mothers-in-law, although it's common..." "In Maracana stadium, in Rio with 200,000 people present, a new car was offered to the person who would happen to have his mother-in-law's photograph on him." "There were no takers." "Is it scary?" "We agreed to tell scary stories." "Why don't you tell one?" "Or better you, Volodya." "Nothing scary ever happened to me." "Here's a scary story from life." "Some 10 years ago" "I was giving an important lecture." "I was nervous." "And there in the front row, right under my nose, was a young cheeky bastard with a sweet naive look." "Tossing messages across the hall." "Because, do you see, he fancies a striking brunette in the far corner." "And he does not even wait for me to turn away." "I got all hot." "Well, I thought, in a moment I'll throttle you." "We've been friends since." " Recognised himself." " Let Yura tell something." "He's just returned from Cambodia." "Yura, please." "Scary story." "Here's one." "The year is 1961." "The Ambassador calls me and says we have to go to a royal reception." "We go." "Two blocks short, the limo stops." "The motor dies." "What to do?" "It's a scandal." "You can't go to the royal palace by taxi or on foot." "Question: where to get a limo?" "Have you ever taken curare as an experiment?" "It's the Indian's poison." "Kills instantly." " Speaking of poisons..." " Those two doctors in Kiev, they did it." "Amazing guys." " I remember, I heard it on the radio." "Of course." "We listen to the radio every day." "Phone in the questions." "Nothing goes unanswered." "Have YOU ever taken curare?" "You, Alik?" "Not me." "I've never taken curare." "I dealt with nicer poisons." "Lilac, for instance." "I spent four days once in some lilac bushes." " Like in the song." " Exactly." "There was just one small inconvenience." "Their tanks were all around." "And our minefield in front." "That lilac grew in huge clusters." "Like this." "Hanging in my cross hairs." "Since then I cannot stand the smell of lilacs." "And bird cherry, for good measure." " So what's the inference?" " I wish I knew." "Let's ask Vladik." " Picnic proved..." " ... perfectly pleasant..." " participants..." " ... plainly plastered." " Proceeding..." " ... to play pranks..." " ... postponing..." " ... peaceful..." " ... paralysis." " Let's switch to L." " Let's." " Leaf..." " ..." "levitates..." " Love lasts..." "Where's Lena?" "Lena!" "Why are you shouting?" "I'm in the car." "Knight g1 to f3." "Knight b8 to c6." "Can you keep up?" "Third move." "Bishop f1 to b5." "A7 to a6." "Bishop b5 moves to a4." "Why silent?" "Are you unwell?" "No." " Maybe you'll explain what happened?" " Nothing." "All right, what about tomorrow?" "Who calls when?" "I don't know." " OK, I'll call." "In the evening." " Don't." " What?" " I said, don't." "Don't call." "Lena, it's me!" "Have I woken you?" "Zhenya, you've gone mad." "Do you know the time?" " No, what is it?" " It's night." " Night." " Are you standing up or sitting down?" " I'm sleeping!" "No, I don't want you to sleep, you mustn't." " Can you go out?" " Go out where?" " Outside." " What happened?" "Can you wake lightly and regain your vision?" "What?" "Empty your heart of wordy rubbish, and live a clean uncluttered life?" " Have you been drinking?" " I have." "Frankly, I am roaring drunk." "Suppose this is my birthday." "Can that happen?" "Of course, many happy returns." "And live a clean uncluttered life, the knack is easy to acquire..." "Maybe next time?" "I'm hanging up." "Wait!" "If you hang up, I'll dial again." "I'll ring all night long, your neighbours will submit a complaint." "I'm 30 today." "It's not an insignificant figure, if one considers." "30 years old..." "Hello, are you there?" " Yes, I'm here." "I didn't try to see you, I just needed to call." "To listen to your voice, to say whatever I think." "And not bother about it sounding silly or naive or whatever." " Do you hear me?" "!" " Yes." " Can you talk now?" " No." " Well, then..." " No, go on." "But I want everything to be for real, do you see?" "So that one could... die..." "But do something big..." "To exceed one's destiny." "I'm tired of all the blabbing, when words stop meaning anything..." "Look, you'll just call me and we'll meet." " What was that?" "I can't speak louder." "You'll call me..." "All right, all right." "Go to bed, I woke you up." " Good night, Zhenya." " Good night." " Well, go." " I am going." "Go." " Let's hang up together." " Let's." "All right, me first." "Many prominent Soviet scientists took part." "The readings coincided with another anniversary - 30 years ago the Tsiolkovsky Museum first opened its doors." "It has since welcomed 350,000 visitors." "The Fine Arts Library has started the publication of a series dedicated to the history of world art." "It is entitled The Civilisation of Art." "The books will be written by prominent experts and richly illustrated." "The publication will take several years." "2-3 volumes will be released each year." "The first two have just come off the press." "And now for today's weather." "Murmansk and Archangel will see some showers." "I sometimes think, how alike you are." "It was so typical of your father to switch on the radio and to plug his ears." "Let it play." "I'll say that you are studying?" "To call later?" "It's not for me." "If Zina calls, say that I'll be at home all evening." "All right." "Why not go somewhere together?" "I don't know." "Perhaps we'll stay in." "Monday I work till late." "Tuesday Julie and I go swimming," "Wednesday we have a meeting." "Thursday we go to the theatre, you and me." "That's the whole week." "I remember the Arts Theatre before the war." "Tarasova..." "Yelanskaya..." "Khmelev as Tuzenbach." " What about your vacation?" " Don't know yet." "Is he not in town?" "He is away working on a project." "There's a new discussion." "Have you read?" " Sorry?" " A discussion." "Who can be considered a cultured person." "And the verdict?" "Funny people." "As if it can be established like that, eh?" "Listen." "Engineer Baranov maintains that a cultured person..." "Mom." "May I tell you something?" "Yes." "I love you very much, you know." "You're..." "Thank you." "I'll take it." "Long distance for you." "Sverdlovsk calling, go ahead, Moscow." "Moscow, go ahead." "I'm listening." " Lena, hi." " Hello, Zhenya." " Where are you calling from?" " Sverdlovsk!" "I haven't called because I had to go away on short notice." "How are you?" "Thank you, everything's fine." "Good connection, isn't it?" "Yes, I can hear you perfectly." "We'll be here another 3 days, back Thursday, there's a plane that arrives at 11:10, and another at 6:30 pm." " I'll call you right away." " All right, Zhenya." "I am a little embarrassed of that call at night... too much candour..." "No, Zhenya." "I am very grateful." "It's a good thing you woke me and said what you said." "I'm listening." "Lena!" "I'm here." "I said, thank you." "Just don't apologise, or you'll spoil everything." "All right, I won't." "I am also grateful to you." "Sometimes you go through a phase when you really need a living soul to talk to." "Must happen to everyone." "Some day I'll explain everything." " Bye, Zhenya." " Bye, Lena." " Is everything all right?" " Everything is fine." " Bye, Lena." " Bye." "Moscow, you finished?" " Yes." " Please hang up." "An acquaintance, from Sverdlovsk." "When they said long distance, I thought..." "It's not Volodya, he cannot call." "Is he so far?" "Very." " Hello." " Hello." "Going that way?" " Yes." " I'll walk with you." "All right." "What's new?" " Nothing much, what about you?" " Well..." " I called you at work." " I'm in the workshop all the time." "I see." "How's Alik?" "And the 400 other acquaintances?" "I haven't seen anyone in a while." "Too busy." "Look, let's go somewhere." "Away from everyone." "I think we both need it desperately." "I cannot now, Volodya." "I have just broken free." "The report's being published, you can congratulate me." " I know." " How come?" "Rumour travels." "There's of course Shapovalov's name in block letters on the cover." " But I'll get over it." " I know, I saw Lyova the other day." "Lyova is playing at being principled." "These days it's not a bad option, either." "He took his name off." "There you are." "Look, let's go away." " No, Volodya." " What a character you've got." "Perhaps." "Well, here I am." "Let's walk some more." "Not this time." "I'm visiting voters." " I'll wait." " It will be quite a while." "I'll take some air." "If you're in no hurry." "Where are your voters?" "Right here." "The whole building." "Fine." "I'll start from the top." "What's this you have?" "Good... got it." "Fine." "Here you are." "On your mark." "Please, please, come in." "No, no, we can't let you go." "Please take a seat." "First some red wine, and then you can start agitating." "Thank you, I've had dinner." "Or, if you like, we're ourselves agitators." " That's fine then." " A glass of red." "You see, Grandad has come to visit." "A famous man, by the way." "People's deputy." " Isn't that right, Grandad?" " Maybe this year he's not been nominated." "I have been." " I have to go." " For the road, then." "A small one." "Permission to report." "Visited 23 apartments, read the candidate's bio." "In one had some watermelon." "Two left." "Go for it." "Where did you learn the bio?" "There's a bit here." "The rest I improvised." "Don't be long." "Bye." " May I come in?" " You may." " Hello." "Avdeyev Yuri?" " That's right." "Please come in." " No, thank you." " Do you want some watermelon?" " No, thanks." "The election takes place Sunday from 6 am to 10 pm." "Correct." "I see you need no canvassing." "I do need canvassing." "Please come in." "No, I think I... you have questions?" "Just one." "Where can I see you?" "At the polling station." " When?" " 6 am sharp." "All right, I'll be there at six." "But please no cheating." "Bye." " I think they are not at home." " Thank you." "6 am then." "Wait a moment..." "You are new, I think?" "Where is the girl who used to come before?" "She was also from the printing plant." " She's on vacation." "Ah." "So you're new." "Well, tell me..." "Don't worry, I won't ask many things." "But tell me please..." "What's your impression of De Gaulle's visit?" "Positive." "Right..." "When I was in France..." "It was 1915... no... 1916." "Yes, it was 1916, the other war, the first one." "To help the French, Russia sent... an expeditionary corps." "To France." "I was there on the Marne." "I don't remember now if there were Russians on the Somme..." "But at Verdun, yes." "And our units took part in the decisive action which, actually..." "Masha, please get us some tea..." "I think you had some jam..." "You're not in a hurry?" " Not at all." "Excuse me, I think my colleague is here." "I need to see her, I'm from the District Committee..." "Thank you." "Please forgive me the intrusion." "Elena Fyodorovna, everyone's gathered, we're waiting for you." "Coming." " Excuse me, I need to go." "Bye." " Well... then... we'll see you Friday?" " Of course." " No cheating, then!" " Bye." "You shouldn't have." "Well, I have another apartment left." "But please do not come to get me..." "from District Committee." "Bonn is manoeuvring." "You won't get sunburn?" "Such weather is treacherous." "Easy to overdo it." "First report, London interviews..." "Oh, this is interesting." "'Battling temulence.'" "I'm hungry." " What?" " I'm hungry." "We'll go soon." "Just one more dip." "9 above zero in Moscow." "Occasional showers." "I miss Moscow." "What about you?" " Me too." "I think I am getting fat from idleness." "Back to Moscow..." "I know what you think about." "What?" "Us." "We never talked about it." "It offended you, I know." " It didn't." "Not true." "It offends any woman." "I can't really understand why we never brought it up." "You see..." "Two people must..." "need each other very much..." "Not just love, we both had that." "To cut this short..." "Let's go and visit the place." "The one where they make people happy." " Are you proposing to me?" " Yes." "Solemnly and officially." "Consider that I am wearing a dress coat." "What if I'd rather preserve my independence?" "Seriously, is that an option?" "I suppose so." "You know..." "My cousin kept asking me about you." "What you're like." "Kind or ill-natured." "Whether you drink." "I was objective." "I listed all your virtues." "I said you were kind." "You didn't drink." "Not a philanderer." "It's also important, she said." " Not lacking a sense of humour?" " No, not lacking." "You are easy-going." "You're not a coward." "And, you know..." "I will probably never be able to explain to her why, in spite of all your beautiful qualities..." "I will not marry you..." "Volodya." "141." "142." "143." "If there was a special place for all divisions." "Then everyone would know where to go." "... Passed the streets and read the name of the last one." "And the name was like a battle-cry:" "Bryansk Street leads us further West." "And that's where we're going then." "So we stormed the town of Bryansk, passed the streets and read the name of the last one." "And the name was like a battle-cry:" "Minsk Street leads us further West." "And that's where we're going then." "So we stormed the town of Minsk, passed the streets and read the name of the last one." "And the name was like a battle-cry:" "Brest Street leads us further West." "And that's where we're going then." "So we stormed the town of Brest, passed the streets and read the name of the last one." "And the name was like a battle-cry:" "Lublin Street leads us further West." "And that's where we're going then." "So we stormed the town of Lublin, passed the streets and read the name of the last one." "And the name was like a battle-cry:" "Warsaw Street leads us further West." "And that's where we're going then." "So we stormed the town of Warsaw..." "Berlin next!" "Translated by Tiberio for KG."