""THE RETURN"" "SUNDAY" "Let "s jump!" "If you use the ladder, you"re a cowardly pig!" " Go on, Vityok." "You"re next." " Why me?" " You scared?" " Go on." " It "s scary." " Don"t chicken out." "Don"t hurt your armpits." " Maybe we should use the ladder." " You want to be called a pig?" "You stuck or something?" " What if something happens?" " Quiet." "You jump after me, got it?" " Well, did you hurt your armpits?" " No." "Come on, squirt." "Jump." "Hey, what "s up?" "If you"re scared, climb down!" "We"re not waiting!" "Wait." "He"II jump." "Just needs to pull himself together." "Vanya!" "Jump!" "Come on, jump!" "Andrei, let "s go." "It "s getting late!" "Jump or climb down!" "To hell with you then!" "Vanya, son!" "Mom!" "Mommy!" "I told you not to come out here!" " Mommy..." " Put this on." "Let "s go home." " What?" " I can"t." " Why?" " I have to jump." "I can"t climb down." " Why?" " Lf I climb down..." "If I climb down, they"II call me a coward... and a pig." "No one will know." "Don"t worry." "You"II know." "You"II know I didn"t jump..." " that I climbed down." " Don"t be silly." "I won"t tell anyone." "You"II jump another time, when you want to." " You sure?" " Of course." "Mom, I was so scared." "If you hadn"t come, I"d have died." "Don"t be silly, dear." "L"m here with you now." "MONDAY" "Hi, everyone." "Hello." "We don"t talk to pigs." "What did you say?" "Who"s a pig?" " You." "A coward and a pig." " You saying you"re not?" "Go on, Andrei." "What is he?" "A coward." " Got it?" " You scum!" " You ripped my shirt, you pig!" " You busted my lip, you idiot!" "Mom"II kill you!" "Come on, catch me!" "Come on!" "Mom!" "He ripped my shirt!" "Don"t believe him!" "He"s lying!" "He busted my lip, Mom!" " Hush, both of you." " Mom!" "I said quiet." "Your father"s sleeping." " Who?" " Who"s sleeping?" "Your father." "Go inside." "It "s him." "Definitely." "Pour them some wine." "Well... hello." "Hello." " Hello, Dad." " Let "s drink." "Like it?" "Not much." " I do." "Mom, can I have some more?" " That "s enough." "Eat now." " Is that your car in the yard?" " Yes." " Can we go for a ride?" " Of course." " We"II take a trip." " Really?" " Really." "Tomorrow morning." " Really, Mom?" "Yes, son." " Can we go fishing?" " Of course, if you want." "Squirt!" "Listen, squirt." " What?" " Did you put the sinkers in?" " Yes." " Good job." " You packed them yourself." " Right." " He"s huge." "Probably works out." " Probably." "Where"d he come from?" "He just showed up." "Aren"t you happy?" "Yeah." "It "s just Mom said he"s a pilot." "Doesn"t look like one." " Why?" " Well, pilots have... uniforms... military caps..." "He"s on vacation." "Why wear a uniform?" "Maybe." " Did you take the camera?" " Yes." "And a notebook." " What, to do homework?" " To keep a diary, moron!" "Of course." "We"II keep a diary." " Why aren"t you asleep?" " All right, Mom." "We"II sleep." "What have you got in here?" "Bricks?" "Why so much?" "You"II be home in two days." " We need it all." " All right." "Go to sleep." "Mom!" " Where"d he come from?" " He just came." "Now go to sleep." "TUESDAY" "Ivan." " What?" " "What, Dad?"" "What?" ""What, Dad?" Why don"t you say that?" "What, Dad?" "That "s better." "What "s wrong?" " Ashamed of calling your father Dad?" " No." " Don"t lie to me." " L"m not lying." "Call me Father, like a son should." "Got it?" " Yes, Dad." " Good boy." "Andrei, where are we?" "You awake, squirt?" "I thought you"d sleep the whole way." "You"re the one sleeping the whole way." "What?" "How much longer?" "I think another 2O miles or so." " Who"s he calling?" " How should I know?" " I want to eat." " Just hold on." "The town"s not far." "We"II eat there." "Dad said so." " Dad said?" " Yes, Dad said." "Well, I"m hungry now." "Ivan, get the flask out of the backpack." "Not there." "In the pocket." "Thanks." " Drinking behind the wheel?" " Yeah." "Want some?" "No." "What are you shooting that rubbish for?" " Take a picture of me!" " Hang on!" " "Closed." Dad, the cafe"s closed." " I see that." " Find out quick where we can eat." " How?" "What, are you stupid?" "Ask someone." "Find somewhere!" "Quick!" " What about Andrei?" "I want to eat." " He"II find us." "He"s a big boy." "Andrei." "Come here." "Closer." " What "re you doing here?" " Me?" "I asked what you"re doing here." "Dad, I found a restaurant where we can eat." " You"ve been looking for three hours?" " I just wanted to look at..." "We"re waiting, and you"re standing around looking." "This won"t happen again, right?" " I just wanted..." " Answer me!" "Am I right?" "I won"t do it again, Dad." "Great." "Let "s go eat." "Ivan, let "s go." " L"m not going." " Why?" " L"m not hungry." " You wanted to just a while ago." "I got fed up with wanting to." "Leave him, Dad." "He"s stubborn as an ox." " You eat." "L"II wait here." " You"re coming with us." "Thank you." "Ivan, your plate better be clean in two minutes." "L"m not hungry." "Starting now." " Eat that bread." " It "s dirty." "Who do you think should eat it?" "Nobody." "We"II just throw it away." "You"ve got 3O seconds left." "Eat your soup and bread." "L"II wait in the car." "You"II sit down and eat your soup and bread." "Got it?" "Yes." ""Yes, Dad."" "Yes." "All right, sit down." " So, everyone full and happy?" " Yes, thanks, Dad." "Yes." "Great." "Take this, Andrei." "Call the waitress and settle up." " Where are you going?" "Call her." " How?" "Out loud, of course." "Hey, lady!" "Woman!" "Andrei." ""Excuse me."" " Excuse me." " Just a moment." "Wait for me outside." "Hello." "Yes, it "s me." "What was all that with the food?" "Did you have to be a wise guy?" "Get lost." " Did you see all that money?" " So?" " Nothing." " Hey, guys." "Got any money on you?" "What if I find some?" "All right." "Sergei, let "s go!" " Dad, they stole the wallet!" " Can"t you catch them yourself?" "Wait here." "Dad." "I don"t know..." "They attacked..." "Dad!" "If he finds them, he"II kill them." "L"d kill them." "Follow me." " Is this him?" " Yeah." "He stole the money." " He"s all yours." " What do you mean?" "You got hit, right?" "Do what you want with him." " Please, don"t." " Shut it!" "What are you waiting for?" "He hit you, Andrei." "No, Dad." "I don"t want to." " Ivan, you got hit too." "Come on, son." " Let him go." " What was the money for?" " I wanted some grub." "Beat it." "You"ve got no fists." " I wasn"t ready, Dad." " You should be ready." " What if I hadn"t got the money back?" " You saw!" "Why didn"t you come out?" "I was on the phone." "Andrei, Ivan, come here." "Take your stuff." "Don"t forget the rods." "Andrei, here"s enough for two tickets home." "You need that bus." " Why, Dad?" " L"ve got important business." "But you promised to take us to the waterfalls." "Next time." "Next time." "You mean, in another 12 years?" "What did you say?" "You"II take us next time you come back, in another 12 years." "Am I wrong?" " Dad..." " Go with your brother." " Must be "cause of the money." " No, it wasn"t the money." "Then... because you made a fuss in the restaurant?" " It wasn"t that either." " What then, smarty?" "Because he doesn"t need you or me!" "Only a half-wit like you couldn"t see that!" " Who"s a half-wit?" " You!" "And you"re... a coward." "Freak." "Get off." "A real half-wit!" "Your business wasn"t that important, so we"re going to the falls after all?" "L"ve got exactly 3 days to get to..." "this place, to do some stuff." "And then we go to the falls, right?" "Mom"s expecting us tomorrow morning." "You don"t want to spend 3 days?" "Or you want to wait another 12 years?" "Andrei?" "We wanted to fish, and Mom knows we"re with you." "So it"s okay with me." "Ivan?" "It "s unanimous, then." "Andrei, get in." "We"re off." "L"m hungry." "Andrei, you hungry?" " No." " Me neither." "Wait for supper, son." "L"m gonna go get some." " There"s so many fish!" " Loads of"em!" " Get me some too!" " Get it yourself!" "Just try asking me for something sometime!" "Here, eat." "What do I do with it?" "Could have made soup." "Dad, do you know how?" "Yes, but I don"t eat fish." "Why?" "I had too much once." "Where?" "Far away." "Don"t forget to put out the fire." "Hey, champs, who puts a tent up like this?" "Stretch it out." "Andrei!" "What did he say about fish?" "Where could that have happened?" "I don"t know." "In the north, maybe." "Did you see how he went quiet when you asked where?" "Why?" "God knows." "Maybe he wants to forget." "But why?" "Change the record!" "How should I know?" "He"s just lying." "No." "How would you know where he"s been?" " Why do you suck up to him?" " Who"s sucking up?" "You are." "Dad this, Dad that." " He"s a grown-up." " There"s all kinds of grown-ups." "You believe his every word, but who is he?" "He could be a gangster." "He could slit our throats out here in the forest." " What?" " You heard me." " You"re a dumbo, squirt." " We"II see when he gets his knife out." "Go ahead and laugh." " Stop it, you idiot!" " Time to slit silly Ivan"s throat." "Stop it!" "Screw you!" "Stop it!" "Stop it!" "You give up?" " Stop it!" " You give up?" "Don"t you get it?" "We"re alone." "And who is he?" "How do we know he"s our dad?" "Why do you believe him?" "Idiot!" "Mom said he"s our father." "He"s our father." "Got it?" "Idiot!" "Squirt!" "Vanya." "Are you crying?" "Get lost." " You just imagined all sorts of stuff." " I want to go home." "Let "s go fishing tomorrow." "Early, while he"s still asleep." "Imagine how they"II bite." "Vanya, let "s go." " All right." " Go to sleep, then." " What "s that?" " The diary." "It "s your turn." "Tomorrow." "It "s late." "There"s a flashlight." "We agreed... every day." " Do you ever forget, squirt?" " Just write..." "WEDNESDAY" "Squirt, get the rods ready." "We"re going." "Where?" " Further on." "Don"t you get it?" " What?" "Did Dad say?" "Yes, Dad said." "Let "s go." "Why did we have to go?" "They just started biting." "Leave it on that station." "Wasted all the bait." "Turn it off." "I saw a huge pike." "I could have tried the spinning rod." "Andrei, see how much further to Beketovo." "Who needs Beketovo?" "There"s great fishing here!" " What are you moaning about?" " Nothing." "We could have fished." "We came here to rest." "Get out." "Here." "Fish!" "So, how"re they biting?" "Here, get changed." "Why did you come back?" "Why?" "Why did you come get us?" "You don"t need us." "We were fine without you, with Mom and Gran." "Why did you come back?" "Why did you take us with you?" "What do you need us for?" "Answer!" "Go on!" " Your mother asked me to be with you." " Mom asked?" "!" " Mom!" "What about you?" " I want to be with you too." "Why?" "So you can put us down?" "Get changed." "Are we stuck, Dad?" "Okay." "Get out." " Take your shoes off!" " What?" "Ivan, shoes off." "Here." "And put your coat on." "Cut some branches." "Let "s tell him we"re not going any further." " I want to go home." " Well, I don"t!" " You two gonna take forever?" " Just a sec!" "Put them under the tire." "I said under it, not in front of it." "How?" "With your little hands!" "L"II show you once." "Got it?" "Now do the other tire." "What "re you screwing around for?" "What?" "Do it yourself then, smarty!" "Get in the back and push!" "One, two, three." "Push!" "One, two, three." "Push!" "Got it?" "Got it!" "You had enough?" "Go and drive." "Go and drive, I said!" " Gas on the right, clutch on the left." " I know." "Come on!" "Good work, Andrei." "Move over." "Ivan, get in." "THURSDAY" "Dad, what is this?" "Where are we?" " Does anyone live here?" " No." "Just us." " What are we doing here?" " Nothing." "We"re gonna to an island." " An island?" " Which one?" "That one?" "No, another one." "Get out." "Wind it up good and tight." "Found it?" "Good boy." "Put it on the fire." " Dad, what are we going to do now?" " We"II tar the boat and then set sail." " Sail for how long?" " A long time." "Andrei, spread it better, so there"s no gaps." "That seam there." "Push the boat into the water." "And put the things in." "Sit down by the oars." " What are you staring at?" "Row." " Where to?" "Straight ahead." "Ivan, keep the bow pointing into the waves, you blockhead!" "I can"t!" "Row on my command." "Oars up." "I said oars up!" "Row!" "And heave, and heave..." "Come on, Andrei." "That "s it." "Heave, and heave..." "Heave..." " I can"t go on!" " Yes, you can, Ivan." "Row yourself!" "You"re stronger!" "And heave, and heave..." "We"re here." " Did you hang your clothes up to dry?" " Of course, Dad." "Hold your breath and drink." " Drink." " No." "Drink!" "Wash it down." "What, Dad?" "Go get some sleep." " How ya doing, squirt?" " Lf he touches me, I"II kill him." "Damn!" "It "s wet!" " Are you serious?" " What?" " About killing him." " Lf he touches me, I"II kill him." "I see." "FRIDAY" " Where"d you get that?" " From the tent." " Is he still asleep?" " He"s not there." "Where is he?" " You stole it?" " Yes." " Put it back now." " No." "I want to keep it on me." "Why?" " What if he finds out the knife"s gone?" " So it "s gone." "What "s that got to do with me?" "It got lost." " You won"t tell, will you?" " Of course not." "Then that "s that." "I saw this fish jumping by the shore." "This big." "We need worms, though." "That kind won"t go for bread." " Will you let me carry the knife?" " No, I"m keeping it on me." "Hey, boys." "Let "s go and I"II show you the island." " What, no breakfast?" " We"II have it later." "Let"s go." " Ivan, what "s wrong?" " My leg hurts." "Your leg hurts?" "You probably slept on it." "Let "s go." "My leg hurts." "You can come back if it doesn"t pass." "Let "s go." "Follow me, boys." "Now you"II see." " Well?" "You coming up?" " Go on." "You scared?" "My leg hurts." " Give me your hand." "Where"s Ivan?" " He didn"t come up." "All right." "He"s scared of heights, Dad." " Wow!" " Come here." " Look over there." " Cool!" "Andrei, get down, quick!" "You know this joke?" "A guy calls up:" ""Hello, is this the missile base?"" ""No, you got the wrong place." "No, you guys got the wrong place!"" "Another joke." "There"s a guy riding on a camel..." "All right." "Everything in moderation." "Me and Andrei will get some wood, and you wash the dishes, Ivan." "Why me?" "Last one to finish cleans up after everyone." "Not bad." "Fine for a first try." "The, er..." "Your bowl sank." "Sank?" "Got washed away by a wave." "Washed away?" "What will I eat from, son?" "I didn"t do it on purpose." "L"II show you how to make out of birch." "I can"t." "L"II teach you." " What "s wrong now?" " Nothing." "Look after yourselves for a while." " Where are you going, Dad?" " For a walk." "We need worms!" "The fish here won"t go for bread!" "Then find some." ""Find some." Easy to say." "There"s nothing but sand here." " Why did he take the backpack?" " Maybe to collect mushrooms." "Let "s go deep into the forest." "For worms." " It "s a long way." " So what?" "We need worms anyway." "Let "s go, then." "Take a can with you." " Will this do?" " Yeah." " Is this an island for sure?" " Definitely." "Water all around." " No people?" " Probably not." " It "s probably a hundred years old." " Probably." " Andrei, where are you?" " L"m coming." "Look." " Where"d this pit come from?" " Who cares?" "There"s loads of worms." "Where"s the can?" "The fish will be jumping at worms like these." " Will we throw them from the shore?" " From the boat, of course." "Hang on." "We need Dad"s permission." "Why ask him?" "Can"t we row on our own?" "Come on, push." " Where"re you going?" "Get back here." " We"II be right here by the shore." "Dad, we won"t be long." "Here." "L"II give you an hour." "Be back by 3:" "3O and we"II get packing." "Got it?" " Got it, Dad." " Go on, sit down." "Be back here in an hour." " And stay in sight!" " Got it, Dad." ""Got it, Dad."" "I swear, you"re gonna get yourself in trouble." "Honest." "Let "s go, squirt." "It"s already 3:" "OO." "We have to be back in half an hour." "L"II just cast a couple more times." "There"s no point." "They"re not biting today." " Andrei, let "s row out that way." " Father said to go back!" "You"re like a broken record!" "We"II take a quick look and then go back." "All right." "Let "s go." "Andrei, come here!" "Hurry!" " What "s up?" " There was a huge fish down there!" "Where?" " Run and get the rod." " Why me?" " Hurry!" " Shit!" " What "II we tell Dad?" " That we caught a fish." "And you didn"t want to go." " Look what we caught." " Andrei, what time is it?" " What?" " You"ve got a watch." "What time is it?" "7:" "OO, Dad." "And what time were you supposed to be on shore?" " Half past 3:" "OO." " Who"d let a fish like that get away?" "L"m not talking to you." " How could this happen, Andrei?" " But you can see..." " What are you doing?" " Didn"t you hear me calling you?" "Don"t you dare hit me!" "I said the fish were biting!" " Why"d I give you the watch?" " So I"d remember the time." " And what happened?" " We caught a fish..." "Don"t touch him!" "It was me!" "I kept him there." "We found a ship!" " Daddy, it "s true." " Don"t hit me!" "It was Ivan." "Don"t pass the blame." "You had the watch." "So?" "What do you want from me?" "Scum!" "Vermin!" "Kill me, then!" "Kill me!" " Bastard!" "I hate you!" " Kill you?" "Yes!" " Kill you?" " Yes!" "Stop!" "Touch him and I"II kill you!" " Kill me?" " Stop!" "Stay back!" "Stay back!" "Stay back!" "I could love you if you were different... but you"re terrible!" "I hate you!" "Stop torturing us!" "You"re nobody!" "You got it?" "Nobody!" " You"re wrong, son." " No!" "Ivan!" "Stay there!" "Ivan!" "Dad!" "Ivan, wait for me!" "Ivan, stop!" "Go away!" "I hate you!" " Son, let me up!" " What do you want?" "Go away!" "Son, please." "If you don"t go away, I"II jump." "You hear?" "L"II jump!" "Ivan, don"t do anything." "Wait for me." "You understand?" "L"II jump!" "I will, you scum..." "You hear me?" "L"II jump!" "I will!" "You hear me, you scum?" "I will!" "Vanya, son..." " Andrei..." " He"s dead." "We have to take him." "Where?" "To the boat." "How?" "With our little hands." "Come on." "Take his legs." "I can"t." "Come here." "We"II drag him by the arms." " Go get the ax." " What for?" "I said get the ax, freak." " I can"t, Andrei." " Hang on." "We"II rest a little." " This is the wrong way, Andrei." " It "s the right way." " We"re lost, I"m telling you." " Get up." "Let "s go." "Andrei." " What?" " What should we do?" "His eyes are open." "Get up." "Let "s go." "SATURDAY" "Let "s load up." " What was that?" " I don"t know." "Must have hit a rock." "Let "s take the stuff to the car." "Wait a sec." "Now we"II drag him." "Dad." "Dad!" "Dad!" "Look." "Hide it." " Andrei, my feet are wet." " Take your shoes off."