"VYBORG, FINLAND, 1923" "Has Nikolai Pavlovich had breakfast?" "He is still asleep." "The lights were on all night." "He was talking to himself." "Nikolai!" "Are you up yet?" "Nikolai!" "Huh?" "You're meeting a German writer today, remember?" "Am I?" "Meeting who?" "In the theatre." "It had been arranged." "How was your trip?" "Bad." "Tinger doesn't have money." "You didn't sleep, did you?" "Close the curtains!" "The light!" "I'm sorry." "Nikolai, you can't carry on like this." "We have to talk." "What about?" "Don't you know?" "Unbelievable!" "I want to know what's going on with you." "Is anything going on?" "What are those ridiculous expenses?" "Who are those people that come to you?" "They have faces of murderers." "And you give them ridiculous amounts of money." "For what?" "What business do you have with them?" "Life." "What?" "Did you hear what I asked you?" "I'm your wife, Nikolai." "I have to know." "What is this?" "Let's just fire Martha, so that we can save some money." "Why?" "She's a good housemaid." "No, she's not." "She informs on me." "It's disgusting." "Listen," "I don't want to discuss the housemaid." "What I do want to discuss is, where do you get this money from?" "As I understand, you're selling valuables." "The last we've got." "What are we going to live on?" "On what?" "You refuse contracts!" "Ivan Karlovich said that you're not going on tour to Germany." "You said you have no time!" "No time!" "What's keeping you so busy?" "You refuse cinema also." "What's next?" "Fate." "You must be joking!" "It's unbearable." "Simply unbearable!" "Come in, doctor." "Amalia will come in a second." "Let me take your coat." "Where should I put this?" "What would you like to drink?" "Tea or coffee?" "Coffee, please." "I'm sorry I kept you waiting." "I apologize for such an urgent call, but the circumstances call for it." "I just don't know what to do." "I understand." "Have a seat, please." " Is he at home?" " No, he left." "What happened this time?" "He's not well, doctor." "He's not well at all." "He's seriously ill." "I'm not exaggerating, believe me." "He's sick, I can see it." "Tell me everything from the start." "What happened this time?" "He's going to leave the theatre." "He almost has." "He's refusing contracts and tours." "Is he depressed again?" "On the contrary." "He got some idée fixe." "Some kind of psychosis." "I know this state of his very well." "He's living as if in a dream, talking to himself." "Always mumbling something, like he's preparing for a role." "But he doesn't have any new roles at the moment." "He rented some room, on top of our other expenses!" "He spends all his time there." "At first I thought he wanted to open a studio and give acting classes." "But no." "I can't just sit and watch anymore, I have to save him." "We have to do something." "But what can I do, Amalia?" "But you're a doctor, you treated him." "You've been observing him for over a year." "I can't help a patient unless he wants it himself." "And he doesn't, you know that." "Try taking him to doctor Freud in Vienna." "Maybe his authority can persuade him." "We can't go to Vienna now!" "What should I do?" "Frankly speaking, sometimes I don't understand them at all either." "Who?" "Russians." "Sometimes they do such things... the motivation for which I can't even start to comprehend, even though I'm a psychologist." "It's like in Dostoevski's novels." "Emma, look, it's Yevlakhov!" " Nikolai Pavlovich, please!" " No... well, alright." " For who?" " Emma." " Me too!" " Thank you." " For who?" " Anastasia." "Nikolai Pavlovich, are you rehearsing "The Seagull" now?" "Yes, I am." " That's all." " Yevlakhov, you're a genius!" "You're a genius!" " I almost thought you wouldn't come." " I was delayed in the theatre." "I'm sorry." " Hello." " Hello." " Here it is." " Perfect." "It's genuine, Nikolai Pavlovich." "As you requested." "Perfect." "Perfect." "Perfect." "When will you get a revolver?" "Don't worry, Nikolai Pavlovich." "We have plenty of revolvers around here." "Why bring one across the border?" "What's the difference?" "What's the difference?" "You must be joking!" "There is a difference, Valerian Semyonovich." "A revolver remembers the hand that was holding it." "The metal, the blood, the sweat - and plus, if a lot of people have been killed with this revolver..." " Of course, there is a difference." " As you like." "I was just trying to save you some of your money." "It's going to cost ten times as much to bring one across the border." "Yes, money..." "It's perfect, I'll take it." " Do you want me to wrap it?" " Yes, sure." "Here." "Dmitri, bring me some canvas." " I wanted to ask you something, if I may." " Of course." "I met a friend of mine, he's also a smuggler, Ryzhukhin's assistant." "He says that this Ruzhukhin sold you some Red Commissar's archive from Siberia for 5,000 francs." "Is that really true?" "That's a lot of money." "Yes, it is." "It is true, Valerian Semyonovich." "He went all the way to get that archive." "That's a huge risk." "The reason I'm asking is..." "If archives cost that much money," "I'm always ready to help." "And for half the price." "Alright." "I'll take that into consideration." "Valerian Semyonovich, just don't forget about our deal." "Of course, Nikolai Pavlovich." "I won't tell anyone." " You forgot your hat." " Oh thank you." "Goodbye." "I want to get in." "I want to know what's behind that door." "Can I go in?" "Let's go." "To the right." "Not that way." "To the right." "No." "To the left now." "I don't understand." "I don't understand anything." "What does this mean?" "What is this?" "You do understand." "You have for a long time." "I remember how scared you got when I first started looking for documents on this man." "You do understand everything." "You just won't admit it to yourself." "It's a kind of women's self-deception." "You're the one who needs to be in therapy." "Not me." "Yes!" "Yes!" "Look at me!" "This overcoat is genuine!" "It smells of soil and sweat!" "I forbid you to even talk about it!" "I won't have it." "I don't want to see it." "You're an actress, after all." "A smart and talented actress." "Who can understand me, if not you?" "Who else can understand the grandiosity of this chance?" "Of this sign of destiny?" "What Yevreinov dreamt of is nothing compared to this." "Nothing!" "So don't be hysterical." "It's vulgar." "Here, just listen to what Plotnikov wrote." ""The commander felt" ""as if someone was digging, creeping into his underground shelter." ""As if his mother's hand was touching his face." ""It was a girl in a linen shirt who, kneeling beside him," ""was quickly removing the snow with her hands," ""making commander's head and shoulders appear above the ground." ""She was saying," ""Mister, my name is Vera, I'm 12 years old." ""Get up, you've been killed."" "Or this one." ""And now, brothers, let's remember 1919" ""and the quiet Rytva station among the snows of Siberia," ""which was destroyed in a ferocious battle between the Reds and the Whites." ""Having left a black wasteland behind," ""both withdrew to the depths of the forest." ""To the depths of the forest..."" "Stop!" "I won't let you through!" "It's an order." "It's an order!" "Get away!" "Everyone, the enemy is inside!" "Burn them all!" "Let go of me!" "Let go of me!" "Die, scum!" "Tomorrow all of you will be hanged!" "Let's make them bleed!" "Don't do it!" "Don't kill me!" " You'll get what you deserve!" " Nikolai!" "No!" "Help!" "No!" "No!" "Help!" "Kolya!" "Commander!" "Plotnikov!" " Where is he?" " In the command car." "Plotnikov!" " Look in the next one!" " Where is he?" "Plotnikov!" "Ignat, we're in trouble." "Third regiment is mutining again." "They're demanding the execution of the captives." "They've burned three of them already." "Give your orders, Plotnikov." "We have to do something about the captives." "The people are waiting for your decision." "Where are they?" "I ordered to line them up at the end of the train." "We hardly managed to save them." "Otherwise, they all would have been burnt." "Quiet!" "Move aside!" "Move aside!" "The pitiful!" " Spirya, what is this?" " What?" "I told you." "The officers were cut to pieces, the rest - burnt in a furnace." "Vasili, clean it up." "Here they are, lined up." "Officer?" "Execute him." "Cadet?" "I can't hear you!" " Yes." " Execute him." "Wait!" "I..." "listen!" "Try to understand...!" "Wait!" "Wait!" "Execute him." "Please, no!" "I beg you!" "I beg you!" "They're not from the punitive squad." "They're innocent people!" " I beg you!" " Enough." "Have mercy!" "Please!" "He's near-sighted." "He can't even shoot!" "I beg you!" "Have mercy!" "Enough!" "Have mercy!" " Execute him." " Excuse me, is this your child?" "Execute him." " Is this your child?" " No." "Does anyone know whose child this is?" " Where are your parents, kid?" " I don't have them." "Well, your honor..." " To the wall, please." " Leave him." "Why is that?" " It's villainy." "Are you going to shoot the kid?" " Come on, Ignat." "I can see through them." "Did you hear what I said, Commissar Spiridonov?" "Alright." "We'll meet again, your honor." "See you later." "Ignat!" "Commander!" "What's gotten into you?" "Ignat!" "Do you hear?" "Commander!" "What's wrong with you?" "Ignat!" "I suppose you really are sick, Commander." "You need a doctor." "Tell you what, Spirya..." "Go sort it out by yourself." "I'm not feeling well..." "Don't be too ferocious out there." " It seems there are many civilians there." " Civilians?" "Those are officers and their relatives." "I can feel it." "Alright." "Don't worry." "I'll sort it out." ""Nausea." "Dry mouth." ""Some sad feeling made the commander sick at heart." ""Before his burning, tired eyes," ""he saw once again that man's face, indistinguishable from his own," ""only this time dead, as if staring at him from underground," ""from the closeness of eternal sleep, from plants and their roots."" "My God, it's unbelievable." "Is he talking about me?" "No!" "I don't want to hear it!" "I forbid you to even talk about it!" "Amalia, wait!" "It's a sign of destiny!" "The face, the height - everything is the same." "No!" "I don't want to hear it." "It's a unique chance to act for real!" "Amalia!" "Forgive me." "I know I'm cruel." "I'm sorry." "But it's beyond me." "I know." "It's just that I'm afraid." "Don't start that, Amalia, I beg you." "The car is here." "I have to go." "Go." "Eat something before the trip." "Who knows when you'll get the next chance." "There's a shortage of food in the Soviet land, you know that yourself." "Thank you, I'm not hungry." "Let's talk about your return." "Yes, of course." "Here's the address." "I'm not giving you the envelope, so you'll have to memorize it." "I understand." "As soon as you decide to go back, write to this address." "What has to be in the letter?" "It's not important." "Something to the extent of, "I'm alive and well."" "You'll figure it out." "The most important thing is to include the return address, so that I can find you." "The letter is a sign for me that you're ready to go back." "So I'll come for you in a week or two." " Deal?" " Yes." " Here." " Very good." "Have some rest for now." "I'll take a nap too." "We'll have to walk all night." "Yes." "Your documents are good, Nikolai Ivanovich." "Don't worry about getting there." "But as soon as you do, try to get new ones." " I remember." " It's dangerous to use them for too long." "I remember." "I said "Put it over there!", and he puts the basket right on top of my head." "Lady, what are you doing?" "There's a lot of room, you're not alone here." "Hey, soldier!" "Help me." "Don't you see I'm with children?" "My God!" "Marusya!" "And you too!" "Come on!" "Come on, give me a hand." "Hey, sir!" "Got a cigarette?" " I don't smoke, madam." " Look at you!" "Svetka, you bitch!" "Where are you?" "I'm coming!" "Here!" "They got me undressed, assholes!" "They have me as their whore." "Got it, Red Army?" "I had such a nice dress." "With a bow." "Those fuckers will take it to the flee market." "Well, good riddance!" "Cover yourself already." "I'm hot." "Like fire." "Want to try?" "For free." "For a pound of smoke." "Let's have some fun." "Do you disdain me or what?" "You do, I can see that." "Well don't." "Ask me about my life." "Just ask." "I'll tell you everything." "Do you know what I used to be like?" "Do you know comrade Shmaka's Red-and-Green brigade?" "Have you heard of it?" "I was the second person in that brigade." "As for combat, I could knock anyone out." "With this very hand." "We had a lot of fun!" "But in my youth, I used to be quiet." "And pious." "I adored my late mother." "She was a pilgrim." "She traveled around holy places all the time." "And I traveled with her." "She prayed for everyone." "She was a saint." "She died when I was still young." "About 16." "I became a maid." "Why not?" "I was all alone." "And then my dad returned, as a defector." "He had been away for about ten years." "He started robbing bourgeoises." "It's the way our time is." "The people are up in arms, they smell blood." "Once he came home late at night, drunk, he could hardly stand up." "And he started molesting me, old bastard." "I started screaming, "What are you doing?" "Have the fear of God!"" "And he said, "There's no God." "It's over." "Now everything is allowed."" "And then he raped me." "I don't remember how I broke free and escaped through the window." "I fell on the pavement and was lying there unconscious, covered in blood from the cut hands." "And I screamed, "There is no God, everyone!"" "Old women found me and nursed me back to health." "It's no use remembering now." "Ladies and gentlemen, prepare your papers!" "Look who's here!" "Zinaida!" "Still stealing on trains, I see." "What are you talking about?" "Me?" "Stealing?" "It's her!" "I'm sure!" "She's the thief!" "Don't listen to her!" "She doesn't know what she's talking about." "Quiet!" "Calm down!" "Zinaida!" " Come with us." " Get your hands off me!" "Get your hands off me!" "Grope your bitch wife at home!" "Get your hands off me, pig!" "What about you, sir?" "Stand up." "What do you need this for?" "Is Plotnikov here?" " It's me." " Come out." "When do we get to eat?" "Later." "Hands behind your back." "Stand still." "Move." "Don't pressure me." "I'll jump out of the window, and you'll be held responsible." "Look here!" "And answer my questions." " Stop bullshitting me." "Got it?" " Alright." "I repeat:" "I'm going to Petersburg from Golovatovsk, Siberia." "What for?" "To see my friend, Aleksei Spiridonov." "Stop bullshitting me!" "Tell me about the purpose of your visit to Petersburg and your contacts." "I can read you like a book." "Hang on, Scheglov." "Everything's alright, comrade Plotnikov." "Your papers, your gun and your order." "You're free to go." "Fancy yourself a great detective?" "Arresting Red Army heroes like criminals?" "By the way, 2nd brigade has captured Shura Meschaninova." "They have?" " Look at yourself." " What's wrong with me?" "You should find some accommodation, comrade Plotnikov." "You're entitled to a room as a holder of an order, did you know that?" "I'll write a note for you." "Come here." "Comrade, could you tell me where 8, Putilovski Ln. is?" "Here it is." "Come in, comrade." "What is there?" "Some trash as usual." " Hello." " Hello, Angelina Ivanovna." "Something smells here." "Angelina Ivanovna, help us clean the cooker hood." " It's not my job, I'm not a sweep." " Well whose job is it?" "Clean the cooker hood!" "You must be kidding!" "It's yours, comrade." " Come tomorrow, we'll do the paperwork." " Angelina Ivanovna, help us to clean it out." "I've already told you: it's not my job." "It's done." "One, two, three, four, five, The white crescent is out in the sky." "After the crescent, the moon comes, A girl sits alone and cries." "One, two, three, four, five, Everyone, hide!" "I'm coming to find you!" " Hello." " Hello." "I've found you!" "It's your turn now..." "You always have to soak the washing." "There are spots and dirt..." "This way, all the spots will disappear." "And it will be easier to wash." "Otherwise, you'll get blisters on your hands." "Is that our new tenant, the one with an order?" "Leave me alone." " Maybe you know?" " Know what?" "Olga Vasilyevna, is that our new tenant with an order?" "Probably." "Excuse me, comrade, are you our new tenant?" " It's me." " And you have an order?" "I told you!" "Let me shake your hand, comrade!" "You left the door unlocked again last night." "Where did you get this habit?" "I should teach you..." "That's nothing, just a trifle." "A trifle, you say!" "Last week someone tried to break in at night." "I wasn't asleep yet, and I heard someone jerking the back door." "I ran up to it and saw a knife sticking through the door." "They were already lifting the door bolt." "I got hold of the door bolt and pressed on it." "Then I tried to scream, but I couldn't." "They're now killing for fun." "Recently, a body was found around here - one hand cut off, a briefcase and everything else untouched..." "You don't have to wait." "I'll call you when it boils." "Thank you." " It's my spot!" " Go find yourself a different one!" " There's another one over there..." " This is my spot!" "...Stop chasing me, he's going to find us..." "The train is going to Mikhemson Blvd., former Vladimirski Blvd." "The train is going to Mikhemson Blvd.!" "Ladies and gentlemen, come inside!" ""In a stuffy room, packed with tufts of gray cotton wool," ""Bottles filled with acid and an ancient crackling clock," ""Giant steps from which hinges have been removed," ""Visions float in memory, unclear like a fog." ""Sick and feverish..."" "Have you fallen asleep or what, man?" "Five kopecks, please..." "Pie!" "Good pie!" "Five kopecks, please..." "Step aside!" "THE MOST IMPORTANT THING by N.Evreinov" "Who are you looking for, soldier?" "Does Aleksei Spiridonov live here?" "He promised to be back for dinner." "Why do you need him?" "I've come to see him." "I'll ask the mistress." "Nina Kirillovna!" "There's someone looking for Aleksei Gavrilovich here." "You're barefoot again, Masha." "It's not a village here." " What's your name, comrade?" " Ignat Plotnikov." "Do you have an appointment with Aleksei Gavrilovich?" "I'm his front-line comrade." "I see." "Nice to meet you." "Come in." "Aleksei will be back soon." "Masha, give the comrade something to eat." "Come in." "The city is called Golovatovsk." "I'm not exactly a psycho." "It's a mild condition." "Doctor Veintraub told me," ""Ignat, don't be in a hurry." "Don't try to think yet."" "And then one day I see" "Aleksei Spiridonov in a newspaper." "It took my breath away." "It just took my breath away." "Alright." "After all, we were like brothers." "Aleksei is turning into a good economic manager." "Here is some more pie." "I always say that it's the best pie in town!" "Don't exaggerate." "Why aren't you eating?" " Lyosha, don't drink too much." " Stop that." "Hello, Artyom Mikhailovich." "I'm looking at your, commander, and I can't believe my own eyes." "You were a dead man then." "I was." "And now I'm alive." "Only I'm contused." "I can't sleep." "Really?" "And I lost memory." "You can't carry on like that, Plotnikov." "Have you been to Shvayko, People's Commissar of Health?" " Or to Sukharevich?" " No." "Soldiers must be healthy." "Leave it to me." "I'll arrange everything." "They'll fix you up." "Tomorrow." "There's a cloud of smoke here." "Artyom, meet Ignat Plotnikov, the legendary Red Army Commissar." "An ardent supporter of the cause of revolution!" "Died at the famous Rytva station." "But, as you see, he's alive and well." "To the successful rising from the dead!" "Commander!" "What are you doing here?" "Are you feeling unwell?" "I have a headache." " Don't worry." "It'll go away." " You've become very weak." "Come with me." "You need to get some rest." "Let's go." "Nice flat, isn't it?" "And why not?" "I can afford it." "A windbag-lawyer lived here before me." "Now he's out." "I shared the apartment with him first, but he made such a mess in the kitchen..." "Sod him." "Have a seat, commander." "Oh, don't look at it." "One photographer was harassing me for a whole month." " Have a seat." " It's not bad." "Come on, have a seat." "Look, I noticed you're not wearing the order." "What for?" "You should." "Did you see my guests today?" "They're serious people." "What?" "It's so weird." "I'm looking at you now, and I can't figure out if it's really you or not." "So?" "Is it me or not?" "Yes." "It's you, commander." "You know, that day, when I regained consciousness on the snow, near the train," "I felt like someone was touching my face." "Like my mother's hand." "My mother, who died when I was still a small child." "She said," ""Mister, my name is Vera, I'm 12 years old." "Get up, you've been killed."" "Who?" "Ignat, what are you talking about?" "I'm still thinking about Rytva." "To hell with it." "Why are you holding on to it?" "Me, I don't remember anything." "Do you remember the kid?" " What kid?" " He was blond, someone was holding him." "Remember?" "Ignat, you died from cardiac rupture." "We thought you had died." "So I ordered to execute everyone." " Every single one?" " Every single one." "What choice did I have?" "But half of them ran away." "Rodenberg's cavalry reached the station..." "Ignat, all hell broke loose there." "It's villainy." "What?" "Are you referring to me?" "Yes, you." "I see..." "Look who's talking!" "Are you insane?" "Listen to yourself!" "You took pity on an officer's kid." "Some White scum!" "Who do you think you are to accuse me?" "I'm on top now." "You can't reach me." "It's your background talking now." " What background?" " You know what." "Religious background." "What did you just say, Spiridonov?" "Was that a joke?" "Say it once again." "What did I say wrong?" "Everyone knows the Plotnikovs in Siberia." "I said the way it is." "In Siberia, you say..." "Ignat!" "Ignat!" "Ignat!" "It escaped my lips." "It can happen to anyone." "What's the big deal?" "Background..." "Background." "Who is it?" "Sorry for intruding, but I've brought an offering." "I'm intrusive like Marmeladov." "My name's Ukhov." "Will you let me stay?" "Have a seat." "I understand." "I have something going on." "Zoya and I have been asked to start packing." "The community committee." "It's about eviction." "No one wants me." "You talk funny, Ukhov." "Are you a nobleman by chance?" "I'm a newsman." "An apologist and an imitator of Vlas Doroshevich." "Currently redundant." "Poor Rodion..." "Red hero." "Ignat." "Well, tell me about yourself." "What about me?" "I'm just someone with the face of a reactionary." "I knew Chekhov." "And now it's over." "Finished." "I've got used to my body, my smell." "I don't want to die." " You're afraid of death then?" " I am." "Don't be afraid." "It's nothing." "How do you know?" "Well..." "That's what I learnt underground." "Where?" "My heart's aching." "My heart can feel the cold." "A terrible winter is coming." "A steel-cold, hyperborean one..." "Put it over there." "Let it sit there for a little while." "Are you tired?" "Hey!" "Don't touch that!" "Rytva." "A bloody event." "I know about it." "What?" "Don't joke with me." "Tell me everything you know." "And if you don't..." "Of course, I do." "Rytva, Red Commissars, Plotnikov, Spiridonov, a ferocious battle." "Everyone from the train was executed." " What train?" "Stop lying!" " Rodenberg's train." "I don't remember anything." "There's a dark void." "So you don't remember..." "You don't remember anything at all?" "I actually know a person from Rytva." "A strange man." "A shadow-man." "A twilight-man." "A dangerous man." "An inveterate gambler." "He has a lot of money." "He's Rodenberg's personal aide-de-camp." "Would you like me to arrange a meeting with him?" "Who are you, Ukhov?" " What for?" " And what are you here for?" "Think it over." "If you make up your mind, I'll arrange it for you." "Let me through." "I've been running around, looking." "Then finally I bump into a friend of mine, Vanya Kolygin, the drunkard." "I ask him, "Where?" The bastard doesn't say." "I pay him and I get a lead." "The place is called "Eugène Sue"." "Girls are dancing on the tables." "I look around and I see him." "Who?" "Surprise." "Unexpected encounter." "Then a conversation - and it's done." " He's Rodenberg's personal aide-de-camp." " He's a shady man." "Virgil!" " Let me tell you your future." " I told you, I'll pay you back." "Just put a silver coin in my palm." "Here, between the stones..." " Go away!" " Bastard!" " No one tells me to go away..." " There are no fools here." "Misfortune will follow you from now on." "Soaked apples!" "I was behaving properly." "So what that I drank a little?" "So what?" "I wasn't disturbing anyone." "I have the right..." "Vasili, take it to the rooms." " Who is it for?" " For Maria Ivanovna, in her room." "For Marusya?" "Madam!" "Hold on." "Cards on the table!" "One, two and three!" "Your money is mine." "OK..." "Yekaterina, you know the conditions." " Come on..." " Alright." "Here's the deal..." "Find out for me who that guy in a Red Commissar's overcoat is." " He's not from GPU." " We're going to find that out." "Semyon Yakovlevich is asking about your guest." "Everything's alright." "Keep talking." "I'm listening." "Well..." "I remember there was a rowan tree there." "Go on." "The picture I have in my mind is as follows:" "there was a train on the platform, a bit closer to me there was an officer" "holding a kid in his arms." "Hey, come here!" "Bring me this one..." "Yes, an officer." "Has he survived?" "What do you want from me, mister?" "What Rytva?" "What train?" "I'm a civil servant, a union member." "I have all the papers." "But we had a deal." "A rowan tree, you say." " It's not a rowan tree, it's a cross." " How do you say?" "Forget about it." "Your overcoat, comrade Red Commissar, is in high demand now, by the way." "Any merchant will be ready to give you 3 chervonets for it." "They now walk around at night dressed in them, so that no one robs them." "I can arrange it." "Where is the kid?" "You had a kid in your arms." "So you want to know where the kid is..." "The kid with blond hair." "Why don't you ask Spiridonov?" "When hell broke loose, I had no time to worry about the kid." "I let him go and ducked in the snow." "What did you say?" "None of that happened." "Forget about it." " So you crawled away?" " I did!" "What are you doing?" "Why?" "Red bastard." "Why have you brought me here, Ukhov?" " What did I do?" " What's going on here?" "You asked me yourself!" "Someone's kicking up a fuss again..." "Well alright." "Fresh butter from Novgorod!" "Who needs butter?" "Fresh butter from Novgorod..." ""Tell me, brother, whose pain is more agonizing in this world?" "ST." "PETERSBURG THEATREGOER'S DIARY "Tell me, brother, whose pain is more agonizing in this world?" "ST." "PETERSBURG THEATREGOER'S DIARY" ""Yours, which aches and whimpers in your body, ST." "PETERSBURG THEATREGOER'S DIARY" "ST." "PETERSBURG THEATREGOER'S DIARY" ""Or the pain of all those people, who have been thrown in the snow, ST." "PETERSBURG THEATREGOER'S DIARY" ""Or the pain of all those people, who have been thrown in the snow," ""among blood and brains, like useless leftovers of the common destiny?" ""What's the use of asking in vain?" ""Try to become someone else's pain..." ""But no." ""It doesn't work." ""But no." ""It just doesn't work."" "Plotnikov." "Ignat." "Ignat." "Just a minute." "Come in." "Olga Vasilyevna," "I wanted to ask you something, as a tenant." "Who lived in my room before me?" "An old lady." "She made dolls for sale." "Then there was Fedya Garmash." "He was later sent to work on some construction project." "Why?" "Do come in, Ignat Vasilyevich." " Can I?" " Of course." "I heard there will be salted herring in the store for the holiday." "Would you like me to get some for you?" " Would you like me to get some for you?" " No, thank you." "No need." " You almost don't eat at all." " Me?" "Why do you think so?" "Come in, have a seat." "You always leave at night, I can see you from my window." "What for?" "Well..." "I can't sleep anymore." "Are you all alone?" "I got used to it." "I'm on my own too." "I don't have anyone." "There are a lot of lonely people now, especially women." "I'd like to become a woman." "For some time." "Why?" "What for?" "What for?" "Well..." "I don't really understand women." "I mean, I know what they live for." "But I don't know how they survive in this world." "I'm sorry I look like this." "Hold on a minute." "I'll be right back." "Don't look." "I see you have a lot of different photographs here." "Interesting." "I'm afraid there's nothing interesting there." "My life is as simple as our woman can have." "I have a proletarian background." "My father slaved away for Leferme and died in World War I." "My mother was a lace-maker, she died during the famine." "And I did a short course for school teachers of the first degree." "I wanted to teach kids." "I like reading books and going to the theatre." "I love threatre very much, actually." "Don't look at my hands." "It's from doing laundry and peeling potatoes." "I like looking at you." " You're pretty." " Me?" "I don't like my body." "I don't need that." "It's weird, the way you're looking at me." "You probably need a woman, to stay healthy." "I understand." "Well..." "But I can't do it like this." "Don't be angry, Ignat Vasilyevich, but I can't." "I don't want to." "I know it's old-fashioned of me." "Everyone's talking about this gender issue as a prejudice now..." "But I'm not so sure." "I personally think that only love exists." "Martha!" " Martha, who brought this letter?" " I don't know." "I didn't see anyone." ""Dear Amalia," ""Destiny has presented me with such encounters, such characters..." "Good Lord!" ""At night, I cry from the joy of being able to act in these scenes," ""with such partners and such dialogues." ""Especially since these dialogues develop by themselves, spontaneously." ""Life itself becomes a playwright." ""What can be more profound than this?" ""The more I get used to the role of Plotnikov, the more I realize that he is doomed." ""He will either shoot himself in the head or be shot, sooner or later." ""It's a tragic character, worthy of a tragic finale." ""In any case, if one is honest, one has to play his part till the end." ""Am I capable of accepting a role as a destiny?" "Is it possible at all?" ""I don't know." "Yet."" "My God!" "What are you doing?" "Where are you taking the miracle-working icons?" "Take this." "Keep the crowd away!" "What are you doing here?" "Get out of here!" "Pray, sister." "God won't leave you." "Come in." "Just a moment." "Here's everything that's left of the archive." "Section:" "Red Commissar I.V. Plotnikov, that is you." "Where is the rest?" "The rest was lost." "How?" "We had a fire in the building last year." "Whether it was burnt or not is unclear yet." "Some even suspect theft in connection with the fire." "Are you going to take notes?" "I don't know." "Maybe." "If you do, hand them in before leaving." "It's forbidden to take them out." "Yes, of course." "What a destiny!" "But how should I play this?" "How?" "What's wrong with you, Ignat Vasilyevich?" "What?" "Well... well..." "Maybe nothing happened, after all." "What didn't?" "Neither Rytva." " Neither Golovatovsk." " What?" "What Rytva?" "Nothing..." "Only my sickness." "My sickness." " A lonely desert." " What?" "My heart aches for a stranger." "I can't take it anymore." "Let's go." "Let's go to my room." "I..." "Why don't you shave, Ignat Vasilyevich?" "You have a beautiful face." "You even remind me of one actor." "Really." "I saw him in the theatre." "The two of you are really alike, especially the profile." "The world is an interesting place." "Incomprehensible." "And mysterious." "Sometimes I lie awake at night and think." "And my thoughts are very confused." "Maybe I should raise a child on my own?" "For the sake of future." "Look at the moon tonight." "It's so bright." "I can feel it." "They say it's cold and gives no warmth." "But I can feel its heat." "I feel better when the moon is out." "Can't you feel the moon?" "I can't even sleep." "I get up at night and sit by the window as long as the moon is shining." "I have these strange visions at times." "As if I'm sleeping," "and I can hear the sea in my ears," "and the dead are coming, like the living." "I know those are all figments of my imagination." "But it makes me feel good when I see those ghosts." "Especially my mum." "Yes, I know how that feels." "The dead are coming." "I understand." "Yes." "The time of the dead and the time of the living." "The dead are coming, I can feel that." "The time of the dead..." " Where are they?" " Who?" "Why?" "Go to sleep." "It's still too early." " It's snowing, isn't it?" " Snowing?" "What's wrong with you?" " Go to sleep." " It was a dream." "It was a dream." "The thing is..." "I see another person's dreams." "It was a dream, I know." "I know..." " It should be here. 8, Putilovski Ln." " Looks like it." " Who is responsible for the building?" " I am." " Does Mr. Plotnikov live here?" " Which Plotnikov?" " What happened?" " Maybe it's the new tenant?" " What's his name and patronymic?" " Ignat Vasilyevich." "No!" "Which Plotnikov do you need?" " I just said:" "Ignat Vasilyevich Plotnikov." " He doesn't live here." "I am Plotnikov." "Well, Mr. Plotnikov, get ready." "He's always out at night." "I told you." "Excuse me, soldier, I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but there are homeless people in the area." " There's a lot of swearing and knifing." " We'll sort it out." "Workers from the depot were allocated the guards..." "And we, defenceless women, what are we supposed to do?" " What if we pay all of it back..." " What difference does it make now?" " We can't go against him..." " How much does he owe?" "I don't know." "Here's Ignat." "Mr. Kenin, I don't know how it happened..." "it's my fault... arrest warrants got mixed up." "Go, Mikhail." "We'll talk tomorrow." " I'm sorry." "Your arrest was a terrible mistake." " I understand." " I ordered them to find you, and they..." " When did it happen?" "Last night." "He shot himself." "How so?" "I can't wrap my head around it myself." "He had huge debts, though." "He got confused." "Plus, his contractor left the country." "All of that." "And other things too." "What other things?" "Alright, go say goodbye." "Maybe this one is good?" "Kirillovna, I've ironed the trousers." "They're ready." "Hem it." "Isn't this shirt too tight?" "It's fine." "Accept my condolences." "Thank you." "A telegram from a former front-line commander." "It's you?" "He's over there." "In the study." "Farewell, brother." "You're going underground now." "Hello, Nikolai Petrovich." "I didn't recognize you." "You're hardly recognizable yourself." "What can we do?" "Have to dress up to survive." "Yes, you're right." "Shall we go to my place?" "No, we're not going to do that." "Let's go somewhere else." "There should be a pub nearby." "Why do you look so gloomy?" "Like you've been to a funeral." "If everything is alright, you'll be at home by tomorrow." "You were spot on about the funeral." "I gave my last honours to a comrade-in-arms today." "He shot himself last night." "Nikolai Pavlovich, what are you talking about?" "What comrade-in-arms can you possibly have?" "Indeed." "Let's go." " So you've made it then?" " What are you talking about?" "Excellent beer." " Here you are." " Thank you." "Drink!" "So, if we walk to Beloostrov on foot, it should take us from ten to twelve hours." "That means we have to leave tomorrow morning." "Yes." "It's time." "Here's the deal." "Well..." "I'm staying." "I need another month." "Maybe two months." "What are you talking about, Nikolai Pavlovich?" "Nikolai Pavlovich, please." "Of course, it's none of my business." "But in this case, you're putting your life at risk." "If you had some business, I'm sure you've dealt with it by now." "And if you haven't, you'll have to do it some other time." "Or you can send someone else." "If one can come here at all." "The control on the border is getting tighter and tighter." "And you can't cross it without me, don't even think about that." "I've made a decision, Valerian Semenovich." "Don't try to dissuade me." "I need another month." "Suit yourself." "I have a request for you." "A letter to Amalia Andreyevna." "A letter, again?" "If this letter ends up in the wrong hands, it can get me executed." "Don't you understand that?" "I beg you." "She will pay you extra." "I mentioned it in the letter." "She'll pay you extra, don't worry." "I beg you." "So you called me because of the letter?" " No, it has nothing to do with it." " Alright, let's not talk about it." "May God protect you." "In case you change your mind, I'll still be here tomorrow." "Same place, same time." "I'm not leaving yet." "Here's my move!" "I play trumps!" "I told you not to play with me." "I'll ruin you." "I'll leave you pennyless!" "Coming right up." "Ivan, bring us six glasses!" " What is going on?" " I heard gunshots!" "My God!" "Stop!" "Stop!" "Surrender and you will live!" "Freeze!" "Drop your weapon!" "I told you we should have got him at the market." "And now..." "We have to cordon off the pub and find out who he was with." "Stay calm, comrades!" "Through the courtyards!" "Get a move on!" "Or pigs are going to get us." "Go through the courtyards." "Your papers!" "Where do you think you are going?" "Plotnikov-Yevlakhov was found frozen in the field, three days later, far away from buildings and roads." "Where he was going and what for remained unknown." "As a doctor told later, he had still been alive when he was being transported to the station." "He was constantly mumbling something about the great darkness, about people being lost in the desert of time, about the unbearable anguish which reigns over the limitless Russian land, about the mystery of Russian history which was revealed to him." "He died on the station, in a car for prisoners." "Smiling and having said just one thing:" ""The final curtain"." "THE END"