Gentlemen of Fortune Page #5

though I have no special training.

- I could be a cook or whatever...

- That All depends On A person.

A friend of mine, a scientist too,

he finished three years of school.

His banknote drawings are so good

they look just like real ones.

- Is he the man?

- I can't say for sure.

I'll have to get a closer look.

- Have you a light by any chance?

- I don't smoke.

- Well?

- No, it's not him.

- So he's a dick.

- You're right.

We've checked:
there's no helmet at

the addresses given by Docent's men.

There's only one lead left:

Prokhorov, the cloakroom man.

We haven't been able to check it yet,

he didn't come to the appointed place.

He might have got suspicions. He quit

his job and didn't go back home.

- We better find him.

- What'll we do now?

And you... We apologize

and thank you.

You may take the wig off, wash

the tattoos off, and go home.

I wish you a happy new year.

We are very grateful.

- And the boys?

- They'll be sent back to prison.

But if your cloakroom man appears,

you'll be needing us.

I would prefer not to tell you this,

but today Biely, or Docent, escaped

from jail, very close to Moscow.

- He broke out?

- Hard to believe, but it's a fact.

It would be too dangerous for you

to impersonate this man now.

Maybe tomorrow, then?

It's New Year's Eve today, a holiday.

They've been trying so hard.

We're living in the country.

Docent will never find us there.

All right.

Only stay in the house.

Oh yes, your message was forwarded

to Sheremetyev's wife.

Here's her reply

addressed to her husband.

Do you promise you'll come for dinner

at our home New Year's day?

We'll be there!

It's so sad.

Such a nice girl!

And yet her father is a speculator.

What's all the noise about?

And why did you leave the house?

Here he is again...

The untrustworthy fellow.

Happy New Year!

Vassia...

Gavrila Petrovich...

Fedya...

Comrades!

A brand new year is beginning,

and I hope that in this year

everything will be brand new for you!

We can't tell what's in the cards,

but I want you to know that wherever

you are, wherever I am,

I will always remember you, men.

And believe me, I'll find you.

Just a minute... I'll be right back.

Just a second...

- Where's he going?

- The devil only knows...

You can never tell with him.

I know what he meant. He said

he'd find us, and he'd bleed us, too.

- You mean he'll bleed us to death?

- No other way.

Look what they say he did to Pockface!

Took his razor and "swish"!

- Curtains!

- Nothing but a wild beast, a hyena!

Knock, knock, knock... Who's there?

Santa Claus!

And he's brought you some presents.

- Fedya, come over here.

- What did I do now?

Come here I said.

This is for you.

Something to wear at home.

What good is it to me?

I've got no home.

You will though. Everything will come

in time. They'll be useful in prison.

Anything for a laugh.

For you, Vassia.

Gavrila Petrovich, this is for you.

Thanks very much.

Hey, it's virgin wool!

And there's this, too, for you.

To us. Drink up.

Like acid!

- What a drag not having vodka!

- Do you have to get drunk like swine?

- What else is there to do?

- Tell people the dreams you have.

You sound like a headshrinker

in a courtroom.

We can play indoor games, if you want.

Am I a sucker to play with you?

You play with a stacked deck.

But why poker, comrades?

There're many interesting games.

We can play hide and seek.

I know a good game called "cities".

I start and say "Tula", then you pick

one that begins with "A", Astrakhan.

Then you think "N", Novgorod.

You got it?

It's now your turn, Fedya.

- Why me?

- Name a city that starts with "D".

- Vorkuta.

- Vorkuta? Why?

- I did time there.

- All right.

- You name a city starting with "A".

- Dzhambul.

- Dzhambul? Why Dzhambul?

- Because It's warm there.

There's my home and my old mama.

All right.

I think I know a better game.

Say I leave and you hide some object

here. I come back and find it.

- All right, Fedya?

- You'd better find the helmet.

- Shut up!

- We'll hide the thing and he'll peek.

Why would I peek? All right,

you leave and hide it somewhere else.

I'll stay here.

And you keep an eye on me.

Why does it have to be me? Anything

goes wrong, you pin it on me.

I'll clobber you!

I'm going to bash your face in!

Clobber, clobber...

- Docent, were you ever a little boy?

- Of course, I was.

- You had a papa and mama?

- Yes.

How can you be so nasty, then?

You're as mean as a mad dog.

Oh, Vassia...

- Got the thing hidden?

- Raspy's hanged himself.

- There's our man.

- You're here too, are you?

I was about to go to your joint,

but I smelt a trap.

I could just feel it.

I could feel it down in my bones.

Mityai,

you got to hide me for a while.

Come on.

- Where are we going?

- Go on.

Sorry, doctor,

your ambulance came for nothing.

It's all right. Just give him some

sedative, hot tea and let him sleep.

Thank you.

Does it hurt, Gavrila?

Plenty, Vassia.

Read it again.

Again?

Dear papa,

the news that you were in prison

made us very happy,

because we thought you were dead.

I'd like to know

who was the lousy skunk

that tipped off Raspy's kids

about him?

And mama was happy too,

because when your letter came

she cried all day long.

She used to tell us you were a pilot

who made test flights...

Yeah, test flights out of the cooler.

Anyway I'm very glad

you're still alive.

Mama says...

you're good and kind,

only you have a weak character.

That's it! He's a weak character!

Steals our bread and tries to pin it

on a hack driver!

Get lost, you hear?

Or I'm going to bash your teeth in!

Cut it out!

What's wrong with you anyhow?

Shame on you!

You're over 40 years old,

half of your lives is past now.

What's your past like?

What will be your future?

Muck and ignorance and fear,

nothing human.

Snap out of it while the time's still

ripe! Take my advice!

Listen, Docent! We got to get out of

here, that doctor will turn us in.

- No, she won't.

- What makes you think so?

I just bled her with my razor,

and threw her in the well.

To Colonel Verchenko,

from kindergarten principal Troshkin.

Forward this letter if necessary.

I'm going to tell these men who I am.

I haven't the right

to deceive them any longer.

If something should happen to me,

please don't accuse anyone.

Let's see, how much time was I

serving?

One year.

How much will I get for the escape?

Three years.

And then the kindergarten and

the flat? Well, say ten years.

- How much is that in all?

- 14.

And because of some measly 14 years

I have to put up with that murderer?

The one who throws little old ladies

into a well?

Do anything you like,

but I go to the police.

Go ahead.

He won't touch you.

How about you?

Are you going to put up with him

till you're both dead?

Vassia... Vassia!

I told him that I had a cold,

but he said...

Squash it! Who gives a damn

about your cold?

Come here.

Where are you, guys?

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote