The Russia House Page #7

It arrived eight days ago.

lgor telephoned at my house.

- Who's lgor?

- A trusted friend of Yakov.

He telephoned. He said ''I have some

medicine for you.'' Medicine is a letter.

I thought he didn't have

any trusted friends except you.

What does he do, this lgor?

He is a scientist like Yakov,

at one of the ministries.

What does it matter? Do you wish me

to translate Yakov's letter or not?

Go on.

He is in a special hospital,

perhaps in a special town.

What town?

Some of our towns have no names,

even today. Only postal numbers.

''My darling Katya...''

He writes love talk. I shall not translate.

Does he usually do that?

What ''usually''?

It is not usually he writes to me.

Ah, now we come to you.

''Please tell our good friend that I shall

try my best to see him during his visit.''

''I will bring more material. If he has

a message for me, he must tell you.''

Do you have a message?

No. No.

''Tell him to bring all further questions,

because after this I do not wish

to answer any more questions.''

''Tell him his list should be final and...''

Like... complete.

Comprehensive?

Yes. Comprehensive.

Com... Comprehensive.

Full marks.

He says ''Please bring

a sample page of translation,

but in print, please, if you can.''

''Tell me publishing dates.

Which is the best season?''

Um...

''Please make your suggestions

for a title.''

''Will there be an introduction to the

book? Who will write the... digest?''

Er, the blurb.

Blurb?

Yes, the blurb.

Blurb?!

Oh!

(girl speaks Russian)

Er, it's a war wound.

It's very good. You must tell her.

- You tell her.

- Fantastic.

When do you speak to Yakov again?

You cannot come to the hospital, Barley.

It is not safe.

If it's not safe for me,

then it's not safe for you.

- How does he end his letter?

- That is not for you.

- More love talk, hm?

- Barley, I think it is clear to hedgehog

that you are being a little childish.

Which hedgehog?

Why does he write like that?

He is lonely. He exaggerates

his feelings. It is normal.

Yeah.

It's normal.

That's it! No more! No more f***ing tapes!

Final and comprehensive list. Why?

He's nervous. Why not?

Maybe I don't mind the list.

Maybe I mind him

writing her chatty letters.

People do when they've been ill.

Maybe I mind the red car and

the white car. You saw the watch report.

And lgor. lgor who? lgor when?

Ned, Ned, Ned, Ned, Ned!

It's early days. We're all jumpy.

Katya, Katya.

Did you know Agatha Christie?

Matvey is crazy for detective fiction.

Alas, Agatha and I were never introduced.

Raymond Chandler,

Dorothy Sayers, Conan Doyle...

Leningrad.

Family.

Family. Da.

What's he saying now?

He is talking about the siege.

The Germans were four kilometres

from Leningrad on the south side.

- I love you.

- You can still see...

the marks of the machine-gun fire

in the old buildings in the outskirts.

I love you.

All my failings were

preparations for meeting you.

The city refused to... accept defeat.

- Shostakovich still composed music...

- It's like nothing I have ever known.

It's...

unselfish love. Grown-up love.

- You know it is.

- Barley, please.

It's mature, absolute,

thrilling love.

You have bewitched my family.

My children think all you British are now

Santa Claus in beautiful tweed clothes.

There's no Santa Claus.

And nobody is what he seems.

Except you.

Why do you want to take away my rights?

Go and sit down.

I hope you are not being frivolous, Barley.

My life now only has room for truth.

- What are you doing?

- Shh.

I'm with you.

I know it now.

A final and comprehensive list.

One chance, then close down.

Why?

I really think you should get some sleep.

- I don't think I'm tired.

- Oh, I think you are.

I think you're tired as hell.

If the Sovs were playing Dante back at us,

they wouldn't close him down.

You wouldn't close him down

if you were Sov, would you?

I might have to

if my methods were Russian.

Why?

Because Dante may not

be presentable any more.

He may not be able to use the telephone.

He may not be able to use a spoon.

He may be dead.

Dante is going to phone Katya

at the hospital today.

If he does that, will you shut the f*** up?

Or stay out of my operation?

You must be very quiet.

If the children come, we must dress

and we must be very serious.

I'll tell them I love you.

I shall not interpret.

Can I tell you?

If you are quiet.

Will you interpret?

You are my only country now.

Sorry I'm late.

Da?

Are you connected?

- Bingo.

- We're in business.

What did he say? Tell me.

That's a neat fit.

Dante keeps it short.

Embracing?

They're happy.

- Why is he driving?

- Men like to drive women.

He's a male chauvinist.

- Your people saying he's still in the flat?

- You see what I see.

Come on, come on, where's the tape?

Geronimo.

Hello, Barley.

What do you think of Cy's lorry?

- Or ''truck'', as he calls it.

- It's very impressive.

- How'd it go, Barley?

- Good.

Well, we're bang on target, Paddy.

The meeting is on.

Dante's coming to Moscow on Friday.

He's borrowing that apartment.

- Well done. What time?

- 1800.

Good.

Anything unusual?

No. Nothing I couldn't handle.

But Katya's not as tough as she thought.

Wound herself up a bit, I think,

waiting for that phone call.

But I gave her a cup of tea

and held her hand for a bit.

Well done.

Well done indeed.

Leo, good to see you.

How's Olga? Still eating?

How's your dog, Barley?

Arkady. I haven't got a dog.

Why do you ask?

Because it's safer to discuss one's dog,

I would say, than one's friends.

Getting careless in our excitement, huh?

The informants will have

a good harvest this season.

- Hello, Barley.

- Alik.

Katya.

- Are you well?

- Thank you, I am very well.

Now, who don't you know?

Comrades! Ladies and gentlemen!

To you, and to our

new partnership, welcome.

Let's make each other free.

- And let's make each other rich.

- (cheering)

We want Barley!

Barley! Give us a tune! Come on!

Barley! Barley! Barley! Barley!

Wickers, you've got a real publisher in

you. When this business is over, go for it.

- Why Zapadny?

- Ned!

Barley buys Soviet books.

He's keeping his cover in trim.

Call it off, Russell.

You're not tired. You're sick!

Pixie voices!

If Dante is blown, Katya's blown.

Why is she still walking around?

I don't know.

OK. If Dante's blown,

who was on the hospital phone?

I don't know.

If it wasn't Dante,

why didn't she tell Barley?

And if she did tell Barley,

why isn't Barley telling us?

I don't know.

Don't give us hunches. Give us facts.

You brought us into this. Don't jump

off the tiger at the first f***ing stop!

It's over, Russell.

Dante is straight.

Those were your words,

and I loved you for them.

Ned.

He's blown.

We had him, but we lost him.

It's over.

And my joe's out there

telling us that he's bang on target.

This is the flat where Dante is waiting.

You'll be glad to hear that

the lift was working this morning.

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