NASHE KINO fiIm distribution and KAROPROKAT fiIm company
present
OTB fiIm company production
with the support of the FederaI Agency for cuIture and cinema
RENATA LITVINOVA
ALEXANDER YATSENKO
DMITRI DUZHEV
Design, renovation. Not expensive. 91 1 50 64. Misha, OIeg.
INGA STRELKOVA-OBOLDINA
This story began in the autumn of 2005.
OIeg and I had decided to do renovations with repIanning.
NIKITA MIKHALKOV
I thought we'd ask AIya to heIp. She's an idiot, but a good architect.
SERGEI MAKOVETSKY
I remember her from the architecturaI institute. We studied together.
VALENTIN KUZNETSOV
MARINA SOLOPOHENKO
- HeIIo. This is my friend OIeg. - HeIIo.
AIya, we'II say OIeg is the architect, and you're the buiIding foreman.
We'II swap roIes. UnIike us, he can speak the Ianguage.
WeII, you know what I mean. He'II do the taIking, and you whisper
your ideas to him. WeII?
What are, but you, hang on...
MARIA NIKIFOROVA
- But, Iisten, why... - Oome on. AIright, Iet's go.
Wait. Listen. But it's...
MARK RUDINSHTEIN
Oh, I'm sorry.
It's nothing. It doesn't hurt.
IT DOESN'T HURT
The bedroom.
The study-Iiving room.
The kitchen.
It's a wood partition.
We couId do an arched entry to the kitchen,
stressing the antique character of the space.
Great! Super!
Bas-reIiefs.
And I'd Iike a white sofa here. But then what about this waII?
Bas-reIiefs. Go on.
We'II ask the designer.
Here, we'II have a spIash green!
What?
A bright green patch - the starting point for the design. Waves,
Iosing their richness of coIor with each wave, the design roIIing on
to a bIindingIy snow-white sofa
and vibrating Iife freezes before naked tenderness.
WonderfuIIy compIimenting The coIor of your eyes.
HeIIo?
Yes, NateIIa Antonovna!
- When wiII the sketches be ready? - I don't know.
- The day after tomorrow. - No! No! I said no.
We Iook forward to seeing you the day after tomorrow!
- WeII? - What? We got the job!
No, I won't get it done in time!
He'II heIp you - he studied construction before Ohechnya.
Where? What are you? I mean, how wiII we? How?
You know!
Listen, I'II expIain. We rent an apartment, and we aII do it up.
How?
Guys, I'm Iooking after this fIat for the owners.
I'II Iet you in without an advance.
On one condition. There are tramps in the attic above the fIat.
You sort it out.
- It's got a baIcony. - BriIIiant.
We've got nothing to hide. We'II put a curtain up for AIya.
- You need to shave. - The architect takes the sketches.
You take them.
Go on! Go on, I said! There's no...
...money!
How'II we eat?
You go and, Iet's say, tenderIy, get an advance.
- Go on, shave and go. - Go!
You're so taIented!
Not me, NateIIa Antonovna - we.
Yes, aII of you. But you in particuIar.
Why are you so formaI with me?
PIease, when wiII you be paying an advance?
When can we start work?
Do you want to repIace the kitchen fittings?
How oId are you?
Twenty-six.
And me?
You wiII aIways be eighteen.
NateIIa Antonovna, Iet's get back to business.
Do you want to repIace the heating?
Have a drink,
and I'II repIace it.
So, how oId am I? Be honest.
ReaIIy honest?
OaII me Tata? I'm onIy a year oIder than you.
Tata, NateIIa Antonovna, if I may, I'II take my Ieave.
I'II come back tomorrow.
Have a think about it. About the money and everything.
What time wiII you come, MikhaiI?
At your convenience.
It's convenient for me any time it's convenient for you.
What time suits you?
Now suits me.
First pay us the advance.
The advance has to be earned.
Why do you want this?
BeIieve me, you'II be disappointed. I'm incapabIe of true passion.
You'II pass through me, as if through a cIoud - refreshed, and that's aII.
But...
...how can I Iet you go now?
After such a...
...tempting promise.
NateIIa Antonovna gave us your number.
We're caIIing on NateIIa Antonovna's recommendation.
PIease, phone back.
MikhaiI, sorry this is so Iate, but NateIIa Antonovna said we couId.
It's about a commission.
HeIIo, couId I speak to MikhaiI.
NateIIa Antonovna said you're a taIented...
I've sorted out the tramps.
AIIuring. Teasing. Good day, NateIIa Antonovna.
I'm gIad you came at the appointed time.
Oome in.
Tea? Ooffee?
Thank you. I've just been at Iunch.
I understand you've come for the advance?
Yes. We've done the sketches, which shouId be paid for.
NateIIa Antonovna, don't smiIe Iike that.
Let's not mix business and personaI reIations.
I'm not mixing.
I don't have any money, just Iike you and your friends.
I can offer you supper at a good pIace.
So, have we finished with financiaI issues?
If you haven't got money, yes.
So, do you Iike that thing?
It's great.
If you get undressed,
you'II be Iike a white rabbit...
...with spaghetti, in red wine.
I won't undress, I want to be undressed.
No.
And how do I Iook?
Fantastic.
Wait.
- Good evening. - HeIIo.
- Good evening, good to see you. - Good to see you.
HeIIo.
Oh! Tata, greetings, you Iook wonderfuI.
See you, we must meet up, Sergei.
Good evening.
- I'm aII mixed up. Hi. - PIeased to meet you.
I'd Iike to introduce you.
- MikhaiI. - A pIeasure. KiriII.
So, when may I visit you?
Whenever you want, come round.
Tata, I'd Iove to now. But I have to see the guys.
Oh, by the way, give them this. Be carefuI.
AIright. Bye.
We appreciate the present and the thought. Thank you.
WiII you be in tomorrow?
I'm notjeaIous, I just want to know.
AIya, get up!
Eh?
The toast is served.
What! What you want! Scum. Eh?
- AIright, sweet dreams. - Get Iost.
May you dream of sturgeon, roasted Iamb, oIiviye saIad,
caviar and pancakes, cherry pie...
Scum. Get out of here.
You bastard.
Misha! I mean...
...it's briIIiant...
...I was just...
...it's just, briIIiant.
She didn't want to offend you.
Misha, I...
...it's not...
...how did?..
...there...
...it's totaIIy...
She thanks you for the cuIinary ceIebration.
Bring some more.
It's, you know, I reaIIy...
...I mean...
Misha, you're...
...and I Iike...
They phoned from VasiIievsky, promised an advance.
Expecting us at eIeven.
We'II pop round in the evening. I'm busy in the morning.
It's not important, but...
No, you take care of business. Say thanks for the food,
and more importantIy, for the thought.
I'm stuffed.
It's...
...I mean, how did it...
...I mean, weII, you understand?
- Misha. - Yes, Misha, you...
OIeg.
OIeg? I know it's OIeg.
- WeII, and we know you. - Finding it tough, poor thing?
Hero! She ate the whoIe Iot!
Maniac. What time is it?
Maniac is the surname of a certain Jew, a metaIworker.
I'm Misha. I'm ashamed: I asked to be undressed.
Henceforth, I undress myseIf,
and do it first.
Now it's your turn - need any heIp?
Any heIp. Renovations, repIanning. Recommendations from a designer.
BuiIding services, repairs.
- Tatka, the teIephone. - You want mine?
- No, I've got one. - Where?
- Eh, in my trousers. - Hang on.
In my jacket!
There he is!
I was going to the fifth fIoor!
That it, then?
You said the fifth fIoor?
- Hurt? - No, no. Not at aII.
I've got three questions.
What were you doing here? Have you known her Iong?
And have you been in this apartment before? Answer.
Of course I've been here. I mean, in this buiIding. Loads of times.
First time in this apartment.
I've not had the pIeasure of meeting the wonderfuI mistress.
So, what were you doing here?
Offering the services of my architecturaI bureau.
PIanning, renovations, buiIding services, design.
But why did you get undressed?
WeII, I'm using the techniques of the ItaIian psychoIogists
LongfeIIow and Rizotti.
Attracting attention through non - standard paraIIeI actions.
- You get undressed. - Yes. But I don't enjoy it, beIieve.
You saw my body. Nothing to be proud of!
You heard how your charming daughter Iaughed?
By the way,
I was fIattered that our taste in undergarments is identicaI.
Sergei, Iet him go, you can see he's a nutcase.
No, he's insoIent.
And for his impudence he must pay!
Petya, take him to Zhora.
No, just kiII me, Sergei! You're a good man!
Death, paI, has to be earned.
I can't agree - you see, you're cIever!
If I'm cIever, why do I need your agreement? Petya, go...
Sergei, pIease, Iet him go, you can see he's...
...he's a weirdo, pIease.
Tata, why...
You never Iet me see anything through.
- PIease. - WeII, aIright.
This is Vasya.
- Vasya. - Misha.
Vasya's our buiIding foreman.
We went to VasiIievsky this morning. Got paid the advance.
- Decided to ceIebrate. - Waited for you. I'II bring chairs.
I'm a foreman in a buiIding company.
A house is being cIeared, and we come in. They Ieave everything behind.
Yes, Tajiks.
Misha, I suggested to AIya that we don't spIit up the money,
we put it in a communaI pot. She refused. You refused?
I refused.
AIright, Iet's spIit it. How much does the architect get?
HaIf.
There.
Misha, we spIit the money, or put it in the pot?
- No, we'II put it in the pot. - You hear that? What do we do?
You decided your share is 50%%%, but Misha found aII the orders.
You're the architect. But we Iive together, we're equaIs.
So it's a pot, or I'm off. I'm no Tajik.
AIya, you want a French cake. It's too expensive for you.
But with a pot, you take the money.
Yeah, right. Oognac, whiskey. That's how it'II be with you.
What are we, aIcohoIics?
Don'tjustify yourseIf, Iet's go. We'II pick up our stuff next week.
- Vasya, take us to the metro. - AIya, I'm sorry.
Me and Misha are opening an architecturaI bureau.
If things get tough, give us a caII - we might need a temp.
Rent's due on the tenth. There's meat in the fridge.
I didn't have time to cook it. Don't eat it raw.
You shouId Iook after yourseIf.
- Let's drink. - I'm driving.
Stay. There's pIenty of room, and no mosquitoes.
My wife are back at the hosteI.
Oome on, forget your wife.
Vasya, the metro!
Bye.
I'm so sorry, are you hurt?
- No, it didn't hurt at aII. - Have you got a Iight?
- You want to get Iit up? - Not in that sense.
AIright, there you go.
- How's tricks? - Keep it.
Thank you.
This is a washout.
Eat what you've taken.
- WouId you Iike something? - No, thank you.
Perhaps you'd sit with us?
Did you have fIowers here?
Yes, in a big antique vase. How did you know?
OnIy fIowers couId be here.
- I can't remember which. - Exotic fIowers. Too vivid.
DeIiberateIy vivid.
They probabIy irritated you, and you got rid of them.
And you were right. Excessive decoration is dispiriting.
And it's everywhere. In fIowers, in advertising, in peopIe.
You didn't expIain about peopIe.
They try to be surprising. They want to Iook unusuaI.
Vivid, interesting. That's irritating.
Because we know they're empty and faIse.
Yes. May I...
...can I have some...
...this, I'd Iike...
Oh! Of course.
Keep quiet.
What're you?
So, how's it going? Made a deaI?
WeII, it's aII very intriguing, of course, but...
Pay for the sketches.
That's standard.
I Iiked what I've heard.
Give them an advance and Iet them start work.
No probIem.
I'II be away for severaI months. Do a good job.
Of course. Advice from a designer:
When you get back, put the antique vase back in its pIace.
Put something simpIe in it, pIeasing to the eye. Daisies.
That fatty was wearing me out! What did you say to her?
- You didn't try it on with her! - No, he didn't try it on.
- You rascaI, eh? - Let's ceIebrate. Have some fun?
Right. We shouId, Iike, be working.
Oh, come on.
- Where to? - A boutique.
- No! Get Iost! - AIright, a secondhand store.
I don't want to, I said.
- Just Iook at Misha. - What about Misha?
- Look how he's dressed? StyIishIy. - Thatjacket's a hundred years oId!
I agree. But it's styIish - it's aIways in fashion.
See, he Iooks after himseIf. Irons his trousers, changes shirts.
You see, he Iooks smart, Iike a bridegroom! And you?
AIya, I have a deep respect for you. A very deep respect.
- What're you saying? - You Iook Iike a tramp.
No, she Iooks worse.
But no worse than a tramp.
When were you Iast at the station?
I'm saying that our AIya Iooks worse than any station tramp.
- I'm saying no worse. - I'm saying no worse.
- Right. Let's go to the station. - - DeaI! Let's go.
Get Iost!
- Where? Here? - Here.
It's the station again.
- A station prostitute. - UnempIoyed.
Just right, don't you think?
Right. That gray jacket, a skirt of the same coIor, and a bIouse.
What bIouses have you got?
There are wonderfuI red bIouses with pearI buttons! ReaIIy erotic!
ReaIIy cheap too!
Oome here.
Keep it quiet - don't tempt our girIfriend.
We don't need a fIirty outfit, we need a business suit.
Got it.
''Where are you? Misha''
- A beautifuI dream, orders, money. - Knock on wood.
Three weeks ago, I was Iaying bricks, 200 rubIes a Ioad.
91 1 50 64.
HeIIo? Good evening to you too!
What I hear even surpasses what I see!
I've onIy heard such a marveIous voice once before!
No, it wasn't a singer.
She danced in my friend's erotic baIIet.
He's a choreographer! I'II give him the phone.
Me, dance? Good evening.
Yes I produce baIIets. Three acts, usuaIIy.
No, my friend doesn't dance,
he's a masseur in a women's correctionaI faciIity.
Not in the prison itseIf, at the prison's sauna parIor.
- She's a compIete idiot. - Doesn't beIieve you?
No, she does. Stop! Who's that embracing you?
AIright, we'II taIk tomorrow.
''I'II caII. Love. Tata''
- Where're the Iaborers? - Sorry, OIeg. The MoIdavians.
The cops coIIared them - no registration. We have to finish,
so the pIastering dries tonight, and we paint it tomorrow.
HeIIo.
Where are you?
What metro station?
Hi.
You've got a cognac. Two cognacs pIease.
Where did you see cognac? We're not Iicensed for spirits.
There's beer. You want one?
No thank you.
So, how are you?
And you?
I asked first. So you answer first, NateIIa.
I asked second. So I answer second.
- Who is he? - And if he's my husband?
Husband?
You poor thing.
Who is he? A poIitician, a businessman? A revoIting oId thief?
My beauty,
don't Iet him take your youth.
What youth? I'm 27!
That's stiII youth.
And he's not my husband. I'm a kept woman, Misha.
What's wrong? You hurt?
Everything's fine. Not at aII.
Why don't you caress me then, pity me?
I'm smoking.
Because a married woman is cooI. But a mistress, it's kind of...
...not right, not cooI.
Are you in a hurry, Misha?
We'II stay friends?
There's no rush. I have to coIIect my thoughts.
You shouId've stayed in the cafe. Maybe you'II go?
Or we'II start an affair. I don't want to ruin your Iife.
BeIieve me. Don't expect anything good from me.
So what. Let it be the way it is now.
Empty.
- Buy some more. I've got money. - So have I. ShaII I get some?
We'II drink again, and part again.
I'm not afraid of Sergei.
Don't be. He won't do you any harm.
What eIse? At worst,
you're an aIcohoIic, and you'II make me an aIcohoIic.
That's no good. But we'II be treated at the same cIinic,
a new subject for conversation, we'II see more of each other.
The dream is over: I onIy drink a IittIe. To keep in shape.
- Why didn't say you weren't aIone? - When?
In the morning, when I came, and thatjerk Sergei was at yours.
I forgot about him - you Iooked so funny undressing.
And when he came out? Why didn't you say 'go'?
I wanted to see how you'd react!
I wanted to test you.
And?
You were wonderfuI.
Why go through it aII?
I understand, money, money.
But how can you sIeep with him?
EasiIy.
I Iive in his apartment. He sends me stuff,
gives me pocket money.
He comes round, sometimes stays the night.
Sometimes I go to his office, but not his home -
he has a wife, chiIdren, aIready grownup.
I've just come back from his dacha. But we don't have sex.
I shouId beIieve that? Or go mad? Why?
Zero sex. Zero.
Now I'm going to rape you.
Where's my haystack?
It's not in the bathroom, or kitchen. Forget about it, Tata,
it was uncomfortabIe.
It's my haystack! Give me the phone!
I bought it with my money.
HeIIo, yes it's me, NateIIa. Put me through to Sergei.
TeII him I'm in town!
Where's the haystack? Don't Iie to me, Sasha!
Give me back my haystack, or I'm Ieaving.
Bring the mattress.
Oome here.
A mistress's word of honor, I swear on my homeIand,
the wonderfuI town of KozeIsk,
you wiII be the first man on my mattress.
Let my ear go. It hurts.
ShouId I get dressed?
They can get Iost. Sit down.
Pour it.
Here.
HeIIo. Get ready, we're going. He's waiting.
If he says' ''Take the haystack'', I have to take it.
It's my job, and he's my boss.
I'm risking it as it is. If he knew about your notes.
I'II wait in the car.
And we're a coupIe.
It's off. We're not going. He's coming here.
You need a Iift?
He's staying.
See you soon, AIexander.
Have you gone mad? What if he sees this?
You'II get yourseIf in troubIe.
Get out of here.
Maybe I shouId go?
Turn the Iight off, pIease.
When you Ieave, Iock the door.
Misha!
You wanted to go?
I saw your photograph.
A very strange photograph.
We're trapped in a circIe! You on Sergei,
and me on the fact that you wanted to Ieave.
I just want to understand what's between you two.
Misha, he's just my benefactor.
He says I shouIdn't drink,
shouIdn't smoke, shouIdn't go out.
I'm bored of it.
I want to drink, smoke,
have a Iover.
Wake me in an hour.
Where's my haystack? You hear?
Tata, not now, I'm sIeeping...
Did I compIain when you took my car, my mobiIe?
Ta-ta, just...
Did I ask for them back? No! Because it's your car, your mobiIe.
But the haystack is mine! I bought it with my money.
Give me back the haystack. You hear?
SIeep. Go to sIeep.
You'II wake up cheerfuI and caIm,
and see how you're Ioved.
And Ioved for yourseIf, the way you are.
For your inteIIigence, goodness, for your fairness.
SIeep.
- TeII me, he's a psycho? - No, he's normaI.
He just sIeeps badIy.
Him and his wife cover themseIves in perfume,
knock themseIves out, and then sIeep together and breath it aII in,
poison themseIves.
You can't wash it off.
It sends your head spinning.
- I'II come up with something. - What?
Somewhere to Iive. You can't stay here.
You don't have to - everything might change.
- What? - Everything.
- You mean about where to Iive? - I mean everything.
AIright, go. I'II phone.
- WiII you miss me? - I aIready miss you.
Me too.
Go.
Tata! Wake up.
Oome here.
I remember how I came into your ward,
and you were sitting by the window with a book.
Your face was so chiIdIike,
defenseIess, Iike a IittIe girI.
I feIt something so cIose, something of my own, I don't know.
I asked for your information.
- Information? - Yes, of course.
Information.
I read it, a serious iIIness, nursing was necessary,
continuaI medicaI care, medicine,
a stabIe way of Iife, food, aII that.
NewIy arrived.
Six years wandering round Petersburg.
Sit down. Don't smoke.
Haven't we been friends aII this time?
Yes.
Listen, Tata,
your tests aren't good,
you shouId've been thinking about your heaIth,
and what do you do?
Oome here.
A hidden camera? So, I've aIways been under controI?
Not aIways.
They instaIIed it whiIe you were at the dacha.
I asked you from the beginning: don't bring guys here,
don't bring them.
I didn't bring guys here. I just brought one.
That's his note.
And that's yours.
I knew about them, I was even jeaIous. Romantic.
That's yesterday.
Two in the afternoon.
The pair of you come back.
That's me. EIeven in the evening. I go in.
And he comes out.
About midnight!
He Ieft as soon as you feII asIeep.
But he was here.
You shit on your own doorstep!
You Iaughed at me.
I gave you everything you need -
a home, food, books, doctors!
I, I didn't Iay a finger on you,
I just wanted you to stay aIive.
I thought you were...
...pure.
Oome back!
I'm tired, I want to sIeep.
Thank you.
It's wonderfuI - warm, nothing demanded in exchange.
I need to sIeep.
And you shouId go.
Go.
WeII, I'm ungratefuI.
Every day it's getting harder and harder for me to say
nice things to you.
I'm sorry.
- It's great to see you! - Same for me!
- How are you? - Great. And you?
Not great, but aIright. You've been in the treatment room?
Yes. Managed to sIip away.
Just a IittIe?
I can't yet - work.
The working day's over, and it's the start of your shift.
We'II ceIebrate the beginning of your shift.
We'II Iock up.
I brought Meyers.
A new monograph. I found it on the web.
SadIy, the transIation's mine. I'm hopeIess with the terms.
Thank you. I don't read anything, I'm degenerating.
No, the terms are fine. WeII done.
You shouId go into medicine. High time.
I've marked a paragraph. Page three.
Again?
I've known you for ages.
I've been under your sensitive guidance seven times.
But the situation's very cIear: cancer of the bIood,
the Iast stage of the iIIness.
Who said so! Nonsense!
You were shouting ''nonsense'' a month ago,
but I wrote the test resuIts down, and worked it out.
It's aII very cIear.
You idiot! She's diagnosing Ieucosis!
Listen to me, Iet me finish.
According to Meyers and the ''Systemic iIIness of the bIood'',
and just everything...
I'm finished.
And when I reaIized I'm finished, I decided to enjoy Iife.
I met a guy.
And it turned out he's absoIuteIy mine.
TeII me, as a friend, how Iong have I got?
I need to know.
You're totaIIy ignorant! I shouId throw you out for heaven's sake!
Let's drink.
I want you to Ieave.
How're you and Tatyana from the staffroom doing?
Stop it.
You weren't offended? She cheated on you.
You didn't have a chance.
She's an actress: her gIances, mystery, aII that.
- You weren't offended? - No.
She enjoys teasing you.
I'm sorry, but she knows what she's doing.
She reaIIy had you going in the winter, I remember.
It stiII gets me when I remember.
She was...
...with Parfyonov too.
That nobody?
HeIIo. Are you home?
I'm downstairs.
Forgive my state of dress.
Good Lord! You're not busy?
OnIy busy with you! I've been waiting for you aII day!
We're Iooking at the Iiving options.
Option one.
The peopIe sIeep after heavy Iabor.
We'II put a sofa here, and we can put a curtain up here.
Option number two. Guess what it means.
Get on with it.
I'II stay here.
You're shivering?
No, it's nothing, I just got a IittIe coId.
Get undressed.
- Here, drink. - Where're you going?
I'II bring some food, put something warm on.
- How did you sIeep? - Never better.
ShaII we move downstairs?
Forget it. I'd stay here for my whoIe Iife.
What, soIdiers' underpants?
So what? They're totaIIy new.
OIeg got them when he was demobbed.
You don't need to justify it. They're warm, soft.
And everything's wonderfuI.
OIeg says we shouId go for a waIk. He's ceIebrating today.
Hi.
Sir.
- Hi Igor, congratuIations! - Hi! Oongrats on the hoIiday!
How are you?
Hi guys, congratuIations!
- Hi, Iads, hi! - How are you?
Not too bad.
Hang on! There's no drink here.
- Get some down there. - I'II come with you.
- Oh! HeIIo! - Oh, Tata, heIIo!
How's your husband, the kids?
- Fine. What can I get you? - There's four of us.
- Have some kufta. - Ok, and four saIads.
- And two more piIaus! - You're ceIebrating, right?
Today. Tomorrow'II be different. Got it, scum?
- ApoIogise. - Fuck off, bitch.
PiIau?
- Sit down. What happened? - Ask your bitch!
He's had too much. OaIm down. Sorry guys.
I recognized you. You used to work here.
You!..
- To the ceIebration! - Hurrah!
Why? Today's a hoIiday. Tomorrow.
AIright, tiII tomorrow.
Go on, she's attractive.
But I'm not reaIIy a speciaIist.
If you have any troubIe, I'II happiIy heIp.
- Keep it simpIe, nothing fIowery. - Whatever you say.
OIeg. ShaII we get to know each other?
- Tanya. We have. - Oome on.
OIeg's one of us, from Pskov!
You see, an arch, and we can redo the fIooring here too.
HeIIo.
So. Otto. He doesn't speak Russian.
But he understands everything.
Otto's an expert in architecture. Writes for German magazines.
I don't Iike it, Misha. They're too friendIy, sitting there.
AIready happy! And now we'II get happier!
I propose a group sex session!
Three girIs, four boys! I wiII be the Gruppenfuhrer!
I'm driving.
Let's not hurry. We've the whoIe night ahead of us.
It's as if we met Iike two soIdiers, and immediateIy -
Ieft, right, Ieft right.
You think when soIdiers meet
they immediateIy begin intimate reIations?
WeII, first they saIute.
I want something good, Misha.
You're with me forever.
GirI, for how Iong, eh? You're kidding, right?
No, Otto's aIready doing the visa.
But why? OIeg, teII her!
He's right - what're you going to do out in FinIand?
They've aIready buiIt everything. Who needs your designs?
They're aIready put two of my designs in a magazine.
An entertainments center and, what's it caIIed, a cottage.
I don't remember us doing that.
You didn't - I did. When you were at necking your whiskey.
Father Ioann has a different number! AIya, have a heart!
We've got so many orders! We'd buy you a fIat!
Getting a fIat's hard in Europe.
Otto's got a house out in Lamperanta.
Give me that.
Phone back and I'II curse you!
- WeII, damn you, then. - AIright then.
- And the sex? - What sex?
- How's the sex? - What's it to do with you?
- Just asking, as a friend. - What's it to do with you, friend?
Aren't you ashamed?
I taught you to speak. You Iearnt, and now you're rude to me.
I see - that was humor.
Safe journey!
Our pot. Give me that money. I'II put in mine and we'II buy Iand.
My friend's got a pIot in Vartemyagi. He wants to seII,
but is afraid of being ripped off. But he trusts me.
He's wrong in the head.
He's a bit of a weirdo.
A peasant. They go nuts over Iand.
Start getting the peasant shakes about it.
- PIease! - Quiet, or you'II wake Misha.
What's with Misha, what's he Iooking for his girI, Tata?
You're going to the baIIet?
Drink vodka with us!
Russian baIIet and vodka are Iike a brother and sister!
After vodka, you want to dance, throw girIs about!
Let's drink to AIya.
Wish her the best.
I'II taIk her round.
I toId her: ''AIya, the Finns wiII respect you if you've got
your own pIot of Russian Iand!''
That's enough about Iand. Bring us some snacks.
Hang on.
Let's get drunk.
- You're Ieaving tomorrow? - Yes.
- Where to? - KozeIsk.
- She's from KozeIsk? - Yes.
We can find a new architect. To repIace AIka.
- You want that? - No.
I'm going back into the army.
But first I have to execute a certain bastard.
What do you mean execute?
I had two friends in my company. He got them with a direct hit,
from three weapons. Made a mistake, bastard.
It happens at war. You don't kiII over a mistake.
To heII with the mistake. I met him a month Iater in Rostov.
A happy coIoneI, big bright smiIe,
shining Iike a new star on your epauIet.
He couId at Ieast have regretted it for a second!
I'II execute him for that smiIe. Or I'II be cursed.
OIeg, this is nonsense.
Misha, we grew up next door to one another, read the same books.
But we Iived different Iives. Stay out of what you don't know.
Where's the water?
- We have to stop him. - How? Lock him in his room?
Or foIIow him round?
I don't mean that.
He hasn't sobered up since Division Day - a month and a haIf!
You don't see it, you're too busy. He's drinking himseIf to death.
I've thought up a prayer. Listen:
''My heart is fuII ofjoy,
my spirit rejoices, I'II do it!
Give me patience, give me true Iove, so that at the execution
I do not thirst bIood, but carry out your wishes, Lord!''
What do you think?
Don't worry about OIeg. Just because he's waffIing,
thinking up prayers. He won't touch anyone.
Oan't sIeep.
The guy above's snoring, peopIe going to the john. May I?
- There's no gIasses. - It's aIright.
- You got on at KozeIsk? - Yes.
- I noticed. From there? - No.
Nice. I was drinking gin. FiIth.
You're not annoyed I'm so cheeky?
SiIence is a sign of agreement.
Just drank a IittIe.
It's been a heavy day.
Got cheated out of 2,000 this morning. Argued with my guy.
Lived haIf a year fine,
and then suddenIy he turned out to be scum!
I think I know you from somewhere.
So bad.
There's a joist in there.
- Load-bearing? - Yes.
That's a partition.
We couId put a doubIe-radiaI arch here.
Height - 210cm; width - 1 70cm,
which wiII emphasize the character of the space.
HeIIo?
As for the waIIs, you can't get permission to knock them down -
no way, and it's dangerous.
- So, shaII we Iook at the kitchen? - Yes.
AII the best. See you soon.
I was taIking to new coIIeague. You heard: I addressed her formaIIy.
Just so you know, when I was 18,
I had a Iover ten years oIder, and I addressed him formaIIy!
What news.
I'm Iistening.
I think we can aIter the design a IittIe here too. MikhaiI.
For your information, when I was 18, I had a Iover 30 years oIder.
It was the other way round - she addressed me formaIIy!
- Bestjoke of the day. - Of the week.
They're our sort. Don't bother with sketches.
Too much hassIe for you.
So, begin: take an advance, knock down the waIIs.
Thank you. Some Dvin, maybe? The finest Armenian cognac.
I suggest a toast.
I hope that you'II be happy with our work. To getting acquainted.
Just a IittIe.
Do you remember where you got our number?
- Lyuba, who gave us the number? - You did. Ages ago.
We put the renovation off for ages, wanted an architect we know.
''A taIented architect and designer wiII be eternaIIy deIighted to
renovate your home.''
LoveIy - ''eternaIIy deIighted''.
We came out of the hospitaI and read it.
WeII, it was weII written.
That was fast! HaIf an hour, the two of us - ''just a IittIe''!
- We've got some vodka. - They've got vodka.
There's vodka, whiskey, whatever you want.
The patients keep bringing it.
Drive me to the grave with presents.
WeII,''just a IittIe'' more?
Oan you remember. NateIIa. Nata. Tata.
Oh, it was Tata who took down the ad.
What's wrong with her?
Where is she?
That's the way you are.
I need to see her.
No. Take a Iook at yourseIf.
- Why? I don't get it! - What, what?
He Iikes to hang out with youngsters.
When he drinks with men of his own age,
there's unpIeasant taIk, irritation, boredom.
- I'II wash them. - Thank you.
But with youngsters he gets younger.
You'II find out after 300 grams...
Misha, come with me.
Misha, sit down.
Drink.
She's got bIood cancer.
She's a brave girI.
Knows what's coming to her, but she keeps a brave face on.
You can't go to her Iike that with a mournfuI face on!
If you're weak, stay away!
Don't get angry.
Vasya, take Misha to the car. Wait for me there.
Let's go. Oome on, come on.
So, Misha.
You'II see her tomorrow. He's a great guy, that doctor.
He said he wants to get her out of the hospitaI for at Ieast a day,
some fresh air, a rest from that hospitaI stink.
I said we shouId have a barbecue.
We can take a Iook at your pIot of Iand, Vasya - how far
to your ''Russian Iand''?
An hour or so.
WeII, we'II do it tomorrow then.
I'm going soon!
- I'II be quick. - Listen, you shouIdn't go.
Listen, don't order me about.
Imagine - a whoIe hour together in the car.
You'II get miserabIe, ask her questions, she might start crying.
Imagine - someone comes out of hospitaI, and suddenIy sees you.
Get a grip on yourseIf. Oome on, stay.
We'II have a drink. You can sIeep.
Something's wrong.
You're iII?
What are you waiting for, everything's ready.
Oome on, come on.
We'II put a temporary hut up here, a workshop there.
- Vasya! Give it a rest wiII you? - But reaIIy, it'II be great.
- Just keep an eye on the meat. - I'm watching, I'm watching.
- Who wants? - Me.
Just a IittIe.
So! Here we go!
I'm so ugIy. I've powdered myseIf Iike an oId theater hag.
Jaundices, stones, aII that. It's nothing - I'II have a drink
and cheer up.
- HeIIo. - HeIIo.
And these onIy cost ten.
Excuse, who just neighed - a staIIion or a mare?
It was my goat.
- Send her our best wishes. - I certainIy shaII.
Tata, there's an acre here.
If we pIant potatoes, do it up over the winter, in just...
Leave her aIone, eh?
Guys! A toast!
I see you're a gang.
That's great - a gang means a sense of comradeship.
Guys, hang on to one another.
The main thing is to find your own and to gain a sense of caIm.
So, Iet's do it.
I've been thinking of you since morning! Of course.
Listen,
I envied you.
And I envy you now.
It's as if...
...she's from another worId. Where there's no scum.
Leave it out! I yearn for you Iike a beast for another beast!
My hands shake! You viIe young creature!
Your doctor's sick.
You want some sausage?
It was a miracIe. When you came the first time,
I Iiked you immediateIy - you and OIeg.
ReaIIy cooI Iads.
But I'm gIad
I feII in Iove with you.
My dear girI, forgive me. I'm drunk, drunk as a skunk.
I adore you.
I know you're a push over for young girIs.
You're different. This scum isn't worth your IittIe toe!
You're being tactIess.
I'm not going in there, I'm not interfering.
You Ieft and didn't drink. I've been waiting for you.
You're, you're tactIess.
Let's go.
- AIright then. - AIright then.
I'm not aIIowed anything. Even to kiss. Jaundice.
But it doesn't hurt at aII.
It hurts me.
I'II come tomorrow.
Don't you dare run from the hospitaI, Iike you did from the attic.
I need you, Tata.
When you're not there, I suffocate.
It's aII terribIe.
The shashIyk's inedibIe. But AIya's eating.
Thank you, AIya.
She's Ieaving, it's a shame.
The doctor's sIeeping, no one to drink with.
But there's...
...good news.
I announce that my friends are marrying.
Tata, Misha - to you!
But you're not drinking.
Tata died two months Iater.
She was buried in Sosnovo, not far from Vasya's Iand.
AIya Ieft and never heard about it.
It didn't work out with me and OIeg, he went back to the army.
And me?
I'm aIive.
But the way it aII started.