White Nights Page #3

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No. I mean...

Why not?

He's had a big shock. Plane crash.

Lot of bad luck.

Yes?

I don't wanna blow it.

Get out.

Please.

What did you mean last night, huh?

You were "hot news"

while we needed you.

You mustn't think you're being used.

This country gave you a shelter,

an education, a forum for your views.

I was drunk. The guy's a pain in the

ass. He's driving us nuts staying there.

He's a prima donna, isn't he?

Yeah, he's a big star.

You can't walk up to him and say,

"Look, you gotta dance here, or else. "

It's not that kind of atmosphere.

A man gets old before his time

in places like this.

Look at them.

Modern man is so confused,

Raymond.

But finally, it's better to work

in a theatre than in a mine.

Raymond, are you all right?

Yeah, yeah.

What did he want?

He wanted to chat. He's got a big

ego, he likes to keep tabs on people.

No, what did he say to you?

"Modern man is so confused. "

Listen, I'm sorry about last night.

It got a little out of hand.

Everyone drinks too much here.

It helps.

Yeah, well, I don't think I'll ever be able to

look another bottle of vodka in the eye again.

Want some coffee?

Yeah.

I am sorry about last night.

I just... I got embarrassed.

A big star like you having

to stay in a dump like this.

I know it's not what you're used to.

Anyway, you're home now.

I guess you consider that

a lot of bad luck.

Unluckiest guy in the world, right?

But on the bright side, everybody

here is so glad you're back.

Who's everybody?

Well, you were so popular

when you were here.

I think it'd would be fabulous for

everybody concerned if you danced again.

People would love it.

People?

The people and the higher-ups too.

Is this an official proposition,

or just your advice to me,

comrade to comrade?

Look, man, your situation here would improve

a thousand percent if you danced again.

My situation?

Uh-huh.

Why don't you just go lie down.

Listen, you're here now. Face it.

Make the best of it.

Here in Siberia?

Well, not here. Russia.

I think they would

bend over backwards for you.

They would?

They'd let you have

your old life back again.

My old life.

The whole thing.

They'd be delighted.

Well...

I'd have to make sure

they were sincere.

It's no problem.

I'd have to go to Leningrad,

see what sort of situation

they're talking about.

It's a piece of cake.

How does it feel to be back?

What do you want me to say?

Oh, these are yours.

Your luggage is in the boot.

Amazing what they were able

to recover.

The Kirov Ballet. This is where Pavlova,

Nijinsky, Balanchine were taught.

Oh, yes, Nikolai Rodchenko

shouldn't be forgotten.

All of them dance here in the Kirov.

And all of them left here.

A new season opens in 10 days.

Your appearance on the opening night will

be a great moment in the history of dance.

I'm sure of it.

I'd see.

Actually, it's a terrible embarrassment

to us, you being back here.

There were many

well-publicized defections.

Yours was the worst.

However, we have not thrown you

in prison, have we?

Everyone wants you to know

that our offer is sincere.

No one will hold your

past mistakes against you.

Everyone?

Hello, Pasha.

How is your mother?

She died four years ago.

Oh.

I'm very sorry.

This is where you lived, huh?

Eight years ago.

It's just the same.

It was kept just as you left it.

I wouldn't moan

about coming back here.

I hope you can see how sincere the

offer is. You have everything you need.

A rehearsal studio,

a car at your disposal.

Food, drinks, anything.

Raymond, look.

Raymond, tomorrow you start

at the dance studio.

Six hours a day.

I need him on his toes.

I'm a tap dancer...

That's your problem.

This is the place for you, Kolya.

Your history is here. Your culture.

If you return, you will be respected

as a cultural hero.

In America, what are you really?

A curiosity.

A momentary fad.

In a few more years,

you'll be a has-been there.

Think it over.

Bastards.

Damn it!

I wish we could lose ourselves here.

Just you and I.

With no one watching us.

Everything's gonna be all right.

I wish we could just disappear.

Things are gonna get better

for us here.

Your friends should hide

their mikes better.

So, what about it?

They want you to be fit.

You gotta work out.

Please forgive me.

For some mysterious reason,

I don't feel like dancing.

That kind of attitude's

not gonna get you anywhere.

Attitude?

You've learned to play the game,

haven't you?

No one's gonna hold a gun

to your head, but if I were you...

No, no gun. How smug you are.

If I dance, you and your wife get

crawl up the ladder. Just a little bit.

You see the difference?

I dance when I feel like it,

you only dance when you're drunk.

Shut up and work out.

You want me to dance?

I'll dance anything for you.

A little ballet? A little ballet.

A classical ballet. Coming up.

How about that?

That's what they want?

Very funny.

This is good stuff. Who is it?

Good, huh?

Maybe you should plug your ears.

It's dangerous stuff, don't enjoy it.

People might be watching.

Okay, I'll dance for you.

You want a tap?

You couldn't tap to save your life.

Save my life? Freudian slip?

Okay, okay, enough playing around.

Let's get to serious business.

Some serious ballet?

It's about time.

How much money you got?

Why?

How much money?

I got about 10 rubles.

Okay. Watch.

One pirouette, 1 ruble. Two

pirouettes, 2 rubles. And on and on.

You a betting man?

Yeah, what do I get if you lose?

That's good question.

They took my money. My watch?

Uh-uh.

You're a black-marketeer as well.

That's right.

Okay, 7 rubles

against my tape recorder.

No, no, no. I got 10 rubles.

I want 10 pirouettes for it.

Be serious.

I'm very serious.

This isn't ice-skating rink. Impossible.

Ten rubles, 10 pirouettes.

You're a betting man. Wait a minute.

Eleven rubles.

Eleven pirouettes.

Eleven rubles?

Okay.

Can you count?

Yeah, don't worry. Just spin.

Eleven pirouettes...

11 rubles.

Rubles.

Sweet, sweet rubles.

You're right.

This music feels good! Woo!

Rubles! You know,

I forgot how small they are.

Very impressive.

My God, it's you.

Turn it off.

Please.

Galina Ivanova.

Raymond Greenwood.

Would you please wait outside?

Yeah. I'll wait outside.

Galina. How many years?

Eight.

How's your life?

I'm very well, thank you.

I heard you were married.

Not anymore.

You look wonderful.

I'm older.

But why are we speaking Russian?

You're no longer Russian, are you?

I thought I'd never see you again.

Did it make it easier for you, Kolya?

Easier to forget?

No, harder.

You bastard!

I had to go. I had to do it.

It wasn't right to say anything to you...

"Right"?

You knew what was right?

I was choking here, you knew it.

When I came back from London,

I had to defend myself to the KGB.

They didn't believe you stayed

in the West without word to me.

I couldn't believe it myself.

I'm sorry.

They took away my passport.

For four years,

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