Aleksandra Page #4

---

Buckwheat, salad...

Flowers...

Herb tea...

Thank you.

I'm not hungry, but I'll have a bite.

I'll try what they give you.

Buckwheat with meat...

He's a good cook.

He's from the Urals.

Why are you looking at me?

Sania, go get some water!

Leave me alone!

I'm done.

Thank you.

Let's go.

Do you know the way?

I'll find it.

- Finished?

- I'm going back.

I know where it is.

Pull the table back.

Move!

You're sure you remember?

We'll take you back.

I'm going that way.

- You remember?

- I told you I did!

- I'm going that way!

- No, not that way.

- No?

-The next one.

That way? I know that.

That way.

- I know.

-Why say the opposite?

I didn't ask you.

I'm going that way, period.

No, it's this way.

Go away.

- Go away.

- Goodnight.

Let's eat, Katounov.

Let's go.

Eat?

Let's go.

You'll make us dinner, right?

I've already eaten.

I'm back.

Your hand!

What's wrong with it?

I taught a soldier a lesson.

- What for?

- He disobeyed.

Sit up.

Do you think you were right?

Yes, we'll kick him out

and I don't care what happens to him.

But that's arbitrary.

It's punishable by prison.

He got a good hiding.

He can't even answer back.

- Move over.

- He can do the same to me.

- And the result?

- A draw.

Do you often organize

fights like that?

I won't say.

Where were you today?

We did a search.

Nearby, in town.

Did you kill anyone?

People around here don't like you.

That's nothing.

But we're not feared!

What good is the army

if we're not feared!

-You left the camp.

- Yes.

What for?

- I won't say.

-Why not?

Don't talk to me like that!

I'm not one of your army pals!

You can't just do what you like!

You haven't seen me in 7 years

and you're yelling at me!

-Why won't you get married?

- I won't say.

-Why?

- Out of respect for you.

- Out of respect?

- Yes.

Out of respect, Alexandra Nikolaevna.

Ever since I was little,

I remember that at home,

everyone toed the line:

you obeyed Grandpa,

my mother obeyed you...

It seemed normal.

But even as a kid,

I felt oppressed by it.

Not to mention your daughter...

My mother.

She was clearly ashamed

of your lack of tact,

yours and Grandpa's.

I can do without affection,

but your daughter still can't.

Are you sure that your descendants

should satisfy your every whim.

Are you?

But only part of our selves

is tied to you.

We're people in our own right.

You don't know what our life's like!

Can you imagine

a Caucasian son or grandson

telling his mother

he's a person in his own right

and isn't tied to her?

No problem.

I know them well.

Maybe, but I think you're wrong.

A Caucasian can only do that

in exceptional circumstances.

Whereas the Russians abandon you

for nothing or out of weakness.

You go too far!

You're right about the affection.

I'm guilty.

But I'll ask God for forgiveness.

Not you.

Try, it won't belittle you.

I don't know where to start

or where to stop.

Women always bear every burden.

Without leaving any

for anyone else.

Don't! They're too heavy!

- Do you want some?

- Why not?

Turn the light on.

Today I went to a woman's place.

A local woman... She was very kind.

I didn't dare to ask her

why they confine people in pits.

How can you kidnap other people?

- What's that?

-This?

A shell case

used as an ashtray.

Stop it!

Maybe she has nothing

to do with all that.

- It's in the genes.

- Drink some tea.

Only the genes can lead to that.

Want some tea?

Genes, genes...

I know them very well.The answer...

Their answer, if there is one,

will be very pretty.

You'd be surprised.

They should be kept in pits.

I didn't get that.

But I freed one of those slaves.

I thought that the guard

would be a hairy beast with big ears.

Know who it was?

- Who?

- A very handsome old man.

I wanted him to be tried, but

the women in the village screamed.

They have terrible black eyes,

husky voices, and they drool...

Stop talking nonsense!

I swear...

The war veteran's jacket and medals

stopped me in my tracks.

When are you getting married?

Do you take me for an idiot?

You're nothing like Dostoevsky's!

I turn the heads of girls I meet.

But not marriage...

Why not?

I'm poor.

Haven't you got savings?

- Do you know how much?

- How much?

Forget it.

We share a tent with an officer.

He's divorced.

I've seen the border guards.

All divorced.

There are thousands of us.

Soldiers like to generalize.

Oh, you...

- What's that?

-Where are you going?

Why is the door always open?

It's hot and there's only you here.

-The mirror?

- There.

- Where?

-There!

What a character!

Tell me what you're reading.

- What?

-What are you reading?

Nothing.

Do you watch films?

- Shall I tell you which ones?

- No need.

Leave it.

-Yes, Captain.

- I'll do it.

-The mirror's dirty.

-Then, clean it.

-Where do you do your washing?

-What a question!

Answer me.

Hold still!

Where are you going?

I just want to sit down.

-Where are you going?

- Stop it!

I'm sitting down.

We wash our socks and underwear.

We have a bowl.

The rest - trousers and tunic -

go in the machine.

There's a washing machine.

At the quartermaster's.

You're very beautiful.

Here we go again.

Don't look at me like that.

I understand why you're asking me

all these questions.

A soldier needs ceremony.

Rituals if you like.

We need to feel

we're being well looked after.

The uniform must be sturdy.

Made of good material.

I might croak in that tunic.

My blood will flow on its stitches.

It will soak up my piss, my sweat...

- Honey...

- Sorry.

We men aren't tidy.

We drag our sorry asses around.

So, then I stand up straight.

I tighten my belt.

I hide my eyes under a fine cap.

All around me are guys like me,

with their dog tags

around their necks

which say

who you are,

where you're going and why.

I'm getting carried away.

No...

You're right.

I really miss you, you know.

I think my life

is coming to an end.

I want to live.

My body has grown old.

But my soul

can still live another lifetime.

I love you.

I want to have someone by my side.

I'm no good on my own.

Hey...

You smell so good.

You smell good,

the way men sometimes smell.

Women are all the same.

Because all men are wonderful.

Get washed,

then come back to bed here.

Don't wake your neighbor up.

Alright.

I'll braid your hair first.

You used to do it

when you were little.

Wake up, Grandma, wake up!

Come on, wake up!

I'm going away for 5 days.

You should go home.

Come to the checkpoint.

What checkpoint?

The one you went through

when you ran off. Wake up.

Fall in!

Follow me!

Come on!

Serguey!

What's all the fuss about?

OK, come on...

- Hello.

- Hello.

Grandma...

Hello again.

You're so handsome...

I'm going to find you

a wife very soon.

You're my only hope.

You're so handsome, my darling.

Do you remember?

It's for you.

Drive on!

C'mon, c'mon!

Hurry up!

- Malika!

-What is it, Zoulai?

Well? I'm here.

Ah, it's her!

- I owe you money.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes