long ago it was?
30 years ago.
There is no ending,
no grand finale.
I came to understand
that your Mom
was my muse.
The life and writing process
were different then.
The muses come and go on their own.
But it was you who left her.
You punished yourself.
Well, still,
it might have been for the better.
You could have become
a second-rate detective writer, and
after that you managed to become...
Who did you manage to become?
A big shot.
Daughter...
Forgive me, please.
Please do.
I returned to you anyway.
By the way,
it was my idea.
It was our joint idea to celebrate
the New Year together. As we used to.
After all it is a family holiday.
Will Anton join us?
- I don't think so.
- The boy is finetuning his personal life.
Why should he come to see us?
We three will sit at the table
and have a drink together.
We'll watch the TV and
loathe the government as you love to do.
Why should you stay here alone?
Folks, do you really want it?
Yes, this New Year
has been wasted for me anyway.
Let's go.
No, I won't go. I hate
interfering with your joy.
I have already been
invited to a party.
Are you kidding?
- Daddy, it took us ah hour and a half to get here.
- I understand.
But my plans are different now.
What plans? Are you mad?
Did you get offended?
No offence taken.
I just have some differnet plans. That's all.
Surely. The entire world has its own plans.
Only we're going to hang out like...
Shut up.
It is a pity.
It is really a pity.
Well, for you...
I haven't brought any gift for you.
I'll give you a call later.
Happy New Year!
- Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!The best gift is...
I'll live to see it.
An excerpt from the letter:
With Anton and my son at home...together.
And you know
the story is really good.
The plot is really great.
Conan Doyle could wish
he had had such a plot.
But there is no grand finale.
I need something truly original.
So that anyone could enter the room...
Who's out there?
Hi, Yura, happy New Year!
Did you get frightened?
Have I changed a lot?
You haven't grown younger either.
I haven't seen you for ages.
A hell of ages.
Mom, we were waiting for you here.
And I, eh, I was just passing
by and decided to drop in.
Good boy.
And suddenly someone came in.
Mom, never mind.
Better late than never.
Mind your business...
Antosha!
- What a surprise!
- Hi, Granddad.
Thanks for remembering me.
Hello anyway.
Do come in.
Has anything happened?
Yes, it has.
Yura, are you still capable
of flexing your ears?
- You used to be able to do that.
- No, Margot, I can't,
The old age didn't spare my muscles.
I can't flex the ear muscle anymore.
I understand your irony.
But Vera forgave me.
Will you?
You see, Margot.
This is some real stuff.
My feelings were born
from much suffering.
From days of weeping,
- From too many prayers.
- Players?
Mom...
No, the root word is
''a prayer''.
I'm so sorry,
I've heard it wrong.
Well, you have the right
to drive me away today.
I'll leave.
If you drive me away, I'll leave, but 'll get
mad on the way. Is is a line from some song?
Mom, stop it, please.
We haven't seen the New Year
in together in ages.
We'll read this Caliostro novel
and drink champagne.
The Caliostro issue
is the most burning one today.
How can we see the New Year in without knowing
anything about Caliostro?
I won't drive my Dad
into the cold, Mom.
This is the way
you brought me up.
We haven't seen each other for ages.
Margot!
I can kneel in front of you.
I'm just not sure I'll be able to stand up again.
Let him get down on his knees
and he'll change the world.
Let's drink some champaigne.
This toast is for our encounter
and for our prior life.
and I hope for the life
that's ahead of us.
It is a wonderful toast.
For your encounter.
Happy New Year!
I wish you all the better things.
We got acquainted via Internet.
They are from a bridge club.
You see, I just wanted to participate
in the bridge