White Nights Page #2

---

know how to say it," and I said:

Say what is in your heart.

People were so moved

by your heroism.

I'll never forget that day.

Long time ago.

Seems like yesterday.

I couldn't get in touch with you...

I was so busy.

But when I learned that I'm going

to be in this godforsaken area,

I just had to see you.

There's something you can do for me.

I'll wait outside.

He's waiting outside for us.

What is he doing here?

Why are you talking to him?

I don't want him in our lives again.

Did you hear what he said?

He can help us get back home.

I think he helped us enough already.

Don't worry about this now.

Everything's gonna be all right.

"Raymond, your beautiful interpreter

was already standing by your side. "

There's a large haematoma here.

Evidence of a concussion,

swelling of the brain.

What's your opinion, Art?

From the evidence of these x-rays, it would be an

idiot risk to move him. He could very well be in a coma.

How do we know

these are his x-rays?

You got to insist that they release

him to us. We have to go there.

There's not a chance. I've tried.

That is a highly secret military base.

I'm surprised they even let

the plane land there at all.

Well, you can't just sit here.

He's an American citizen!

Not to the Soviets.

By their rules, he's a criminal.

Eight years ago he was tried in absentia and

sentenced to 15 years. He's got no rights at all.

We have to appeal to the U.N. I am going to

schedule an international press conference.

No! Right now they're taking credit

for saving 250 lives.

Oh, please.

Soviet PR has never been better.

Larry!

He's an embarrassment to them.

They're asking us to keep a low

profile till he comes out of it.

I don't believe this. You're

gonna let them get away with this?

Anne, go back to New York. The State

Department will keep you informed.

I am not leaving this country

without Kolya.

Where am I?

Taimyr.

Oh, hi, you're up.

Hi, Raymond Greenwood, New York.

Nice to meet you.

Thought you'd never come.

I asked to call American Embassy...

I'm not from the embassy.

But you're an American citizen,

yeah?

I'm American.

That's my wife, Darya.

We're gonna look after you for a

little while till you get on your feet.

I am on my feet, I'd like to go home.

You got pretty shaken up

in that crash.

You ought to be glad you're alive.

I am glad.

I suppose she's from New York too?

I am from Moscow.

We work in the theatre here.

Yeah, I'm a tap dancer.

Tap dancer?

Yeah.

Of course. You're from New York,

she's from Moscow.

And you live here, in Siberia.

It's only temporarily.

Of course.

Nobody's here permanently.

Am I under arrest?

No, no, you're not under arrest.

You're free as a bird.

And you're not my guard?

No, I told you, I'm a tap dancer.

I can go out and get some fresh air?

Yeah, sure. I'll go with you.

What if I wanna go alone?

Go ahead.

It's cold out.

Sh*t!

B*tch!

I thought I was free as a bird.

Just hanging out for a while with

another dancer. A tap dancer, right?

I'm sorry. I just don't like

people making long-distance calls.

You and your wife are paid informers.

Stool pigeons. Lowest of the low.

Watch your mouth.

If they tell you to, you'll kill me.

Anything to survive.

You're a real American paranoid.

I think they brought me back here.

How do they feel about you

back home in New York?

Shut up!

Had enough?

Yeah, the herring was just great.

I'm so glad.

A**hole.

Has your life in Russia always

been like this? Like in a storybook?

No, I think it's only your life

that has been like a storybook.

Oh.

You know, you're not as tall as I

thought you'd be. Dancer of your stature.

Please, don't drink if it'll make you

bigger pain in the ass.

We're in Russia. And in Russia,

we open up a bottle, we drink it.

It's all right.

You can leave it in the bottle.

Come on, drink up.

You used to be Russian.

I'm still Russian. I'm just not Soviet.

Mm.

You're amerikanetz now, I forgot.

That's right, I am.

Are you Soviet citizen now?

Amerikanetz, that's just fabulous.

It's a wonderful country.

What the hell do you know

about America anyway, man?

You ever been to Harlem? Like, on your

way to an airport? You ever look inside?

You ever dance at the Apollo?

You go on your tippy-toes

to the White House.

Tell me...

why did you come here?

I'm surprised you never heard of me. I was

right up there in the headlines for a while.

I was a big star.

Not as a tap dancer, of course.

You're a defector.

I'm a selector, not a defector.

Oh, you got fed up with freedom?

Or you thought that audiences in

Siberia are better public for your work?

Clever.

Very clever.

You know the funny thing about me?

I can't imagine.

I used to feel the way you do

about America.

I was a patriot.

The greatest country in the world.

I was also a tap dancer,

which, for a black person,

is not that unusual.

I mean, I don't know whether you know

this, Nik... Mind if I call you Nik?

Most black people in America

can tap.

I don't know, it's just a thing.

You're born, you're black,

you can tap.

Don't get me wrong, I love to dance.

Love to dance.

And I got work. I was cute.

Cute little colored kid. They

called us colored in those days.

A cute little colored kid,

tapping away.

Oh, I was a real novelty. Yeah.

Of course, by the time I grew up,

it was a different story.

"He's an adult black man now.

He's not so cute. Give him a broom. "

Raymond!

The rich don't patronize tap, Nik.

So I'm 18.

I can't get a job.

I cannot get a gig.

My mother says... She says:

"Raymond, don't worry.

This is your year.

Something good's coming.

Something good. "

She was right.

She was right.

Somebody did want me.

Uncle Sam.

And right!

Yeah, Uncle Sam wanted me,

wanted the whole ghetto.

He said,

"I want all y'all! Get on in here!"

I said, "Wow, this is it.

I'm gonna get myself a real career.

I'm gonna get involved in electronics.

Become a communications expert.

Defend my country against

communism. Where are they?"

But when they made me the offer,

nobody said,

"You're gonna become a murderer.

You're gonna become a rapist.

You're gonna maim and rob people. "

I kept saying to myself, "This war

has gotta be about something.

We can't just be hired killers. No,

it's not possible. We're Americans. "

A little voice in my head said,

"Ray, you're being used.

They're trying to kill you.

They don't even think you're human,

and they want you to die for them.

Make them richer. "

It was all very clear.

Now I remember you.

Sure, I was big news

while they needed me.

It's still a better place than this.

Don't talk that sh*t to me, man.

I know about America.

Shh.

I know what makes it tick.

You don't fool me for a second.

You're no hero.

You just made a run

to where it pays better.

I can't remember. I can't.

I think I'm going crazy.

What am I doing?

Did you tell him he would

be given the opportunity

to live the life he had before?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes