"APARTMENT 72 KNOCK!" "Hands up." " Well?" "Still alive?" " As you see." "Mmm, Kent cigarettes." " I'm back." " Back where?" " Back with you." "Back with me?" "!" "That's something." "You're about 3 years late then, my friend." "Your honeymoon dragged on a bit long." "And you have a ticket to Stockholm in your pocket." "Back in Russia on a business trip?" " How do you know?" " I know everything these days." " Ah yes." "I saw the door plate." "Big man now?" " People grow." " I'm seriously back." " Why?" " To work." "With you, by the way." " With me?" " With you." " Interesting!" "As if nothing happened?" " Nothing." " Clean slate?" " Clean slate." " Attaboy!" "Just like that!" " Yes, like that." "Because one can't live like we do." "You're a bureaucrat, I'm a God-knows-what..." "Mendeleyev was a bureaucrat." " Really?" "Who else?" " The founding father, Dr Pavlov." " You and them." " I'm in good company." "Cut it out." "There's a grand foreign term, neurosurgeon." "Remind you of anything?" "Oh my God." " You're a curious guy, Peter." " Am I?" " Yeah." "Wasn't it you who ditched us like a whore?" "Cleared off to that foreign kingdom." ""Tre kronor"." "What piece of good luck!" "Embassy doctor!" "The frontline of Soviet science." "So cut out the swagger now." "As if you stepped out for 5 minutes." "Escuse me, Peter." "I don't play these games." "Don't you understand..." "I can't do anything without you." "Listen." "How much does this thing cost over there?" "You're right." "Like it?" "A present." "YOU AND ME" "Starring Leonid D'yachkov" "Yuri Vizbor Alla Demidova" "Written by Gennady Shpalikov and Larisa Shepitko" "Directed by Larisa Shepitko" "Photographed by Alexander Knyazhinsky" "Music by Alfred Schnittke" "Katya, what's he saying?" "Something about our side." "About Firsov." "But what?" "Like..." "Firsov is... world's best player." "A talent finding its full expression." " Go on!" "He's an era in hockey." "A master, an icon for millions." "Achieved everything, a veteran, still only 31." " How old?" " 31." "What did I say?" "!" "The puck is decisevely in the goal, and who put it there?" "Firsov, naturally!" " Where are you going?" " Back in a sec." "Oh, go on!" " Big change?" " You look better than ever." "Curious coincidence." "Away for 3 years, and you know the first person I met in Moscow?" " Who?" " My first husband." " And what about him?" " He also said I look better." "What about you?" "Finally married?" "No." "Standing firm so far." "Thank you." "Sasha." "I am not taking too much of your time?" "No, I have library day today." " What day?" " Library day." "I just didn't get anything over the phone." "I am not at my best in the mornings." "So what's the matter with Peter?" "But you know everything." "He just took off and ran away." "For no conceivable reason." "You can't imagine the furore at the Embassy." "I tried to explain, make excuses..." "The horror!" "OK, damn that Sweden, it's a stupid job, there's the nostalgia..." "But he's a grown-up person, he made that choice himself." "And he doesn't care." "He meets us in Moscow, with flowers, smiling..." "I came near to killing him." "Is that your work?" "What?" "Just don't play the innocent!" "He'd been in Moscow before making off." "And he saw you." " For 2 minutes." " What did you say to him?" "He came back and everything went haywire." "Katya, I had nothing to do with it." "You must have forgotten me." "Or you never knew me." "Look at me." "Do I look like a person who could lead somebody astray?" "I am too lazy for that." "What's he going to do?" " I don't know." "He sits on the windowsill and sings all day." "You know what he did the other day?" "Nothing anti-social, I hope?" "You're mocking me." "Well, go ahead." "Never, Katya." "Under no circumstances." "Whatever the temptation." " So you remember." " I do." " Fine." "You know, you changed." "I always thought you very unreliable, unlike Peter." "That's quite true." "No." "You're calm." "You don't fuss like the others." "Tell me." "Is Peter really talented?" "Questions, questions." "Why not talk some more about me?" "Making comparisons?" "No." "Those postgraduate experiments..." "Why couldn't you finish the work yourself?" "There was no work." "Not true." "I remember." "One dog survived." " That was just a start." " So?" " Just an idea." " Well?" "The idea was there, Peter wasn't." "And me, you know, I'm unreliable." "And not irresponsible enough to be a genius." "It's just the geniuses who can make anything work." "An idea yesterday, and today..." "Sweden." "Tomorrow someting else again." "I understand, he let you down terribly." "What prevents you from finishing the work now?" "Together." " Nothing prevents us." "Maybe one day Peter will leave the windowsill." "And his talent will make up for time lost." "Me, I even forgot what it was about." "But that's another story." "I don't know about the windowsill, but he is already jumping from bridges." " What bridges?" " The one in Silver Wood." "For no reason." "There could have been logs underwater." "How do you like that?" "Seems I am present at a major confession of love." "I forgot how it's done." "Take today." "It's funny..." "I know you for ages." "And it's no kind of date, and yet I was nervous." "Why on earth?" "But I felt it." "We're getting older." "He doesn't love me." "What?" "He doesn't." "Not for years now, I think." "Sasha..." "I beg you." "Talk to the people in the Directorate." "Peter's there, he has an appointment at 1pm." "Talk him into something, anything." "We can't live like that." "We need some stability." "Katya." "I am not going anywhere." " Why?" " Because." "It's useless." "Nobody will decide anything for him." "So, he made a show pulling out." "The main thing is, what's behind it?" "And there's nothing, Katya." "There's the rub." "You have to pay for everything." "Like what?" "Like ditching us then, and taking off." "And how are you going to pay?" "You took off, too, a bit later." "May I?" "Come in, come in." "Yes, yes." "I understand." "Yes, I'm writing it down." "Good." "Well?" "The 5th department's here." "Ask them to wait please." ""Memorandum." "I wonder if you know the feeling of waking up in a city that's utterly foreign to you." "And the whole meaningless day can already be imagined with all its faces, meetings, conversations that make you want to never open your eyes." "The heart is heavy as if something were wrong." "So that neither your wife, the person who is closest to you..."" "This is urgent, for the flood victims." "Excuse me." "Medical supplies." " When do they go out?" " Two flights today." "Excuse me." ""...so that neither your wife, the person who is closest to you, nor your daughter, whom you love most, even though she's not yours, can bring you joy." "You know you have to pull yourself together, go to work, pester healthy and busy people with medical check-ups and convince yourself that this is also important." "And so every day you feel tension like you were acting somebody's part instead of living."" "Somebody's part." ""Morning till night, until you can take the sleeping pill and drop, like into a void."" "The 5th department is waiting." "Katya." " Hi." " Hi." " Know the score?" " 2:1." " How's life?" " Alright." " Hey there!" "It's 2:1!" " Congrats." " How's tricks?" " Variously." " What's new?" " Nothing's new." " Hey, Sasha, how's life?" " My life?" "Thank you, your interest is very touching." "But it's a difficult question." "It could be considered personally, business-wise, on a social scale, where would you like to start?" " Let me go." " What interests you most?" " Seen Peter?" " Not yet." " He's left." "Born this day, Ernest Rutherford." "Mind the flowers!" "Well." "Just in time?" "Sasha!" "Where's Peter?" " Sasha!" " What?" " Where's Peter?" " How should I know?" " How come?" "You haven't spoken to them?" " No." " About Peter?" " No." "Sasha!" "My dear, it would be so easy for you." "I beg you." "You found out something?" " Yes!" " What?" "!" " That life's alright." "That the score's 2:1." "And tricks go variously." " That's it?" " No, there's more." " What?" " He needs no rescuing." "He's out of this rat race, and thank God." " Thank God?" " Can't a man stop for a moment, think about himself?" "Isn't he allowed even that little?" " And what were you saying at the cafe?" " Yes!" "You're right." "I'm confused by my own lies." "A non-entity." "Leave me alone." "You and he both." "By the way, I think in this whole business you are more worried about yourself, eh?" "Buy some plums." " Alright?" " Alright." "Hey." "May I have some?" " What station is this?" " No idea." " Long stop?" " Beautiful eyes." " Beautiful legs." " Going far?" " Far, far away." "And you know how boring it is." " You alone?" " All alone." " Listen." " What?" " Go to the market." "Wait..." "Here. 3 roubles is your budget." " What if I run away?" " From me?" " Well, you've been warned." "Pickles, too!" "Here's the money." " Must be the wrong coach." " Not at all." "Where's the change?" "See, he came back." "Got some smokes?" "Here's to new friends." "Your health." "Three wagonloads of equipment!" "Come, help yourselves!" "Well, all best." "Cheers!" "Won't you stay?" "Go." "They're waiting." "He's crazy, grab him!" "Get lost!" " What?" " Yours?" " Thanks." "May I?" "Would you like an apple?" "Would you like an apple?" " Thank you." " For your health." "Kolya, let me steer!" "Ask the boss." "Boss, let me steer!" " You really want to?" " Yeah." " OK then." " Just show me how." " This is right, this is left, this is straight ahead." "We're falling, guys, how to get it up?" " I dunno." "Clean forgot." "Kolya, get it up." "Easy!" ""We're falling!"" "Katya!" " Long time no see." " Hello." "Where have you been hiding?" " Hiding is the word." "The beret's very becoming." " Everything for you." "What are you smiling about?" " Me, smiling?" "You're smiling." " I wonder why." " How about an ice-cream?" " Sure." " Don't move." " Where from?" " It's Wednesday." " So what?" "All wishes come true on Wednesdays." "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" "The day was such a muddle, I wouldn't have worried." "But now we have ahead of us an afternoon of miracles and unlimited opportunities." "Masha, look who's here!" "Hi girls!" "Look at them!" "Gone for 2 days, and they're all shameless." " Get off me!" " Grab her, the pace-maker!" " Who's grabbing whom?" " Peter, can you come tonight?" "I feel tight here, put me on sick list!" " You should give birth to triplets." " I'm willing!" " Peter, I dreamt I lost a tooth, what's that mean?" " Write to a newspaper, let the whole country ponder this." " Get off, that's enough." "She has a husband!" " And kids!" " Triplets!" "Andryusha the Clown!" "Now for a surprise!" "Would anybody like a ride on a wild Arabian stallion?" "Well, you, brave men, dzhigits, anyone?" "Or else I'll do it!" "I see the gentleman in grey is willing." "What, not a single brave man here?" "I ask you, is there a man in the house?" " Anyone?" " Me!" "I want to try!" " Sasha!" " Where are you going?" "Ah, so we have a brave one!" "Are you serious?" " Will you perform, too?" " Is he a performer?" "Is he on the bill?" "What's his name?" " I don't know." " You thought about it?" " Yes." "I mean, no!" " Well then." " Fasten the cord." " Take it easy." "Don't worry." " Look, comrades." " Don't worry!" " Guys." " Come here." "Stand." " Comrades!" " Get on the horse." "Take his foot." " Look, he is facing back!" "Must be a clown." " Who rides like that?" "Face the other way." "You'll be more comfortable." "What's the matter with you!" "Look!" "That's something." "Katya!" "From admirers!" "Where are you going?" "Get up!" "Everything's well, it's fine." "Look what a success you are." "Bravo." "Where are you going?" "Stop!" "Take a bow!" "Bravo!" "Bravissimo!" "Thank you." "Like it?" "The show's over." "Ciao." "Let's go." "What?" "What do you want from me?" "Leave me alone!" "Take the legs!" "Let me go!" "I can't take it!" "Let me go!" "Everybody out, now." "Get the hell out." "Stay." "You'll help." "Stay there." " Don't touch me." " Get lost!" " It's my life!" " Lie down!" "Take this." " No!" " Hold her feet." "Caught some?" " You won't get anywhere." " OK." "We haven't much time." " I won't live anyway." " Are you the new doctor?" " Yeah, the new kind." "A flying one." "Just now, as we flew in, we were laughing like mad." "Listening to Chukovsky on the radio." ""At my dacha in Peredelkino" "I have a good friend, a Lilliputian called Bibigon." "And he has an awful enemy," "Brandulyak the Turkey Bird."" "This was first published in 1946." "People were so happy then, the was had just ended." "When were you born?" " '49." " Yes, you kids weren't even around yet." ""In Africa, in Africa, flows wide the Limpopo..."" "Good girl." "Scream if you like, it helps." ""Sad Hippo is crying..."" "I read this from my aunt's epaulets." "I tagged along on the medical train." "Read this for the wounded soldiers." ""In the evenings from the harbour" "Ships are leaving for the distant shores..."" "Feel dizzy?" "A bit." "Still alive?" "Good, then." "Later, sergeant." "Later." "Got it." "Why did he come?" "Did he come for Lyonya?" " Who's Lyonya?" " Her boyfriend." "The stud." "It's because of him she did it." "There." "There he is." "The hero." "They won't send him to jail for me?" " Who?" " Lyonya?" "Nonsense." "Just don't say anything." "It's all my fault." "Right?" "It's me." "I dreamed it all up." "And then I was ashamed to show my face... and go to work..." "My eyes hurt." "Such a silly thing to do." "I wanted to do it differently." "I got up and went out into the steppe." "What to do, people everywhere." "And everything got so clear." "I knew I had nothing to wait for tomorrow, or the day after." "And I don't want anything." "And it's like I'm alone in the world." "I'm afraid of blood, I can faint from a blood test." "So I found a rope." "But where to do it?" "Found a large nail behind the barn." "I hammer on it, it goes through the wall." "Rot." "Found a timber door." "Got the nail in anyhow, made up my mind... and then a goat appears from somewhere." "How to do it with a goat watching?" "And the dinner call goes." "So I throw the rope over the nail and plonk!" "And the nail gave way." "So I'm sitting there with the rope on my neck, somebody bangs on a pan, calling for dinner..." "Should I go on hanging myself, or have dinner first?" "You don't want to live, but you're still hungry." "Who cares." "I decided I'd have dinner and see." "And that goat, too..." "Take your hand off." "Off!" "Why do you make me say all this, why?" "Are you crazy?" "What do I want to know for?" "What for?" "Must be a reason, then." "You listened..." "Yes you did..." "I'll say nothing more, you can go to hell." "You know, I also used to think it was all or nothing in life." "But it can't be that nobody cares." "Somebody needs you and me." "While you feel, you live." "Where's the phone here?" "Found it." "I'll fry some eggs." "I'll do it." "Tie it up." "Katya." "Stop all this." "Forgive me." "Go home." "Katya." "Forgive me." "Sasha." "Why do you keep insulting me all day." "And yourself." "I don't know." "It's a muddled day, right?" "And Peter's gone." "I keep calling." "Katya." "Does it trouble you very much?" "You've guessed." "I was never so close to leaving him." "You know, all this Sweden is on my conscience." " Stop it, Katya." " It's true." "My divorce, custody battle, people offering advice..." "I asked him one thing, to take me away." "And the Swedish job cropped up right then." "And now I'm losing him, and myself." "Three empty years, feeling I'd betrayed him." "And you, too." "Katya, you're an intelligent girl." "Do you seriously think women decide everything?" "Ask Peter why he did it." "He wouldn't be able to explain." "And it's a very common case." "I'm saying this as a doctor." "You feel you have talent." "You forget about the brakes." "Sweden?" "Sure thing!" "My talent is always with me." "It will serve me regardless." "And you never think you can just lose it." "Then one fine day you panic: what am I doing?" "You break up with everything, punch your way out." "But what next?" "What next?" "Doesn't matter!" "Play it by ear." "Is it wisdom or an affliction?" "I dunno." "Youthful actions in mature age." "Time makes us ridiculous." "We've been left behind, Katya." "Do you think we've missed our chances?" "I don't know." "I won't shout about it in the streets, anyway." "A girl I know told me:" ""You're older and more boring than my father."" " How old is she?" " 19." " Kettle's boiling." "Where does it hurt?" "Everywhere." "Ask me where it doesn't." "Hold your breath." "There it is." "See?" "Get dressed, gran." "Help me, son, my legs don't hold me." "Well?" "What is it?" "We'll operate on you, gran." " Who else is there?" " A spoon-eater." "What are you doing here?" "Me?" "I'm waiting." "You're wanted." " By who?" " As if you didn't know." "Peter!" "Get out of there!" "A minute!" "Alright, go." "I'll send you the spoon X-ray." " Are her scans ready?" " I'll show you later." " Why not now." "Come on." "Don't hurry." "It's pretty hopeless." "Thrombosis?" "Damn, like I knew." "What are you going to do?" "Nobody does things like this." " They never tried?" " They did." "They probably keep trying." "On dogs." "OK, cheers." "Cheers." "My respects to you." "A guy sent you some smoked fish." " Who?" " The frost-bite case, remember?" "Here's the plan." "We take 2 days off Thursday, plus the weekend." "We meet at 4am at the hostel and take off." "Make all the arrangements, cut up and finish off all your patients ahead of schedule..." " Will do." " Your gun in order this time?" "Ah!" "don't forget the alcohol!" " That's where you start!" " That's where we'll finish." "Did you hear, there's beer at the canteen." " I have pickles, drop by." " Don't tempt me." " Hello Doctor." " Hi." "Is there more beer?" "They'll have some for you." " Be good." " That's for the whole kolkhoz?" " What is it?" " Don't you know me?" " Hold it!" " Shall I sock him?" "Hold it, hold it!" "Where's Lyonya?" "Nowhere!" "Let's me go." "So you do know me." "But of course!" "My saviour." "Come again?" "Say it louder." "So that they hear." "Hey, kids!" " What are you doing!" "What if they really sock me, not knowing that we're acquainted, that you just forgot to say hello." "Oh, forgive me." "Hello." "Hello." "I'm very glad that you're all right." "What else?" " Where are you headed?" " Home." "Is that all?" " One more question, may I?" "Will you marry me?" " What?" "Be my wife." "Once and for always." "Who else would you marry?" "One of those?" "I'm a serious man." "Solid earner." "A talent finding its full expression in removing appendixes." "Even splinters!" "Didn't I save you?" "You want to keep saving me all my life?" "Well, there's no more need!" "Look inside yourself for once." "And save yourself all you like, if there's anything left to save." "Go, go." "Push off." "Forgive me." "Forgive me, do you hear?" "Forgive me at once." "Has something happened to you?" "What?" "Look... do you remember the first time you lied?" "What?" "Your first lie." " No." " Me neither." "I remember the first fight." "First time I was a coward." "The first lie, no." "But today, for the first time, I couldn't lie." "Did you tell the truth?" "No." "Sometimes you must lie to a patient." "From impotence." "Every such lie has a justification, otherwise you couldn't live." "But today, a common, regular lie... and I couldn't..." "I turned to her as in a dream," "I opened my mouth, and the words didn't come." "No justification." "No more, see?" "No refuge." "Look, stay." "You must be close." "You're my justification." "A small one, but still." "You kill one, you save one." "Like you ever killed anyone!" "Me?" "Of course not." "Although I did." "Many." "But I started with myself 3 years ago." "Stop it, never say that!" "You mustn't say that." "All will be well." "You'll live long, it's in your palm." "Thank you." "Your Line of Fate crosses the Line of Ability." "Mutually cancelling each other." " Reinforcing." "Also you have a wife and love her very much." " I do." " And 'once and for always' was a joke." " It was." " Such a pity." "Come on!" "What is it?" "!" "Nothing!" "Limbering up?" "Strong devil." "Buzz off!" "What are you mucking about for?" "Stop the foolery, get up!" "Peter!" "Get going!" "Come on!" "Get up." "Guys!" "Sergey, what is it?" "Well?" "Translated by Tiberio for KG."