on even, let's say, 22.
Or on red.
If odd plays or black, or zero, croupier wins.
You can't imagine how head freezes during winter.
Wear a hat both day and night. I'm allowing you.
Oh, Volodya, it's you.
Yes, it's me.
I need a contrabass, in case.
No, no, in case, Volodya, in case not in bag.
I'm ashamed to tell, numer is old, even quite bad, but perhaps
original because of that. I met Albert...
Yes, yes, alive.
Alright, good luck. I'll pick up contrabass myself.
Why do you need a contrabass?
I love classic,
Mozart, Sarasati, Verdi
or, let's say, Pushkin. know what?
Do you know what i like the most
in Onegin?
That everything is written in simplest
words there, just listen.
Dusk fell, and on the table, gleaming,
Stood the hissing samovar for the evening,
The Chinese teapot stood on it warming,
And underneath the steam was swirling.
Poured out by Olga's steady hand
In a dark stream, into each cup,
The fragrant tea ran out like sand,
And with cream a young boy topped it up.
Tatyana stood before the window,
Breathing upon the frozen pane,
So pensive she was, my pet, my sparrow,
And with her finger, light as rain,
Wrote on the glass (which was all misty)
The cherished monogram, O and E.
Take a look - most ordinary words,
it seems there is nothing there.
There is everything.
Let's go and have a dinner.
Me and Albert last time met...you wasn't born yet.
That time he told he was getting married and
was enthusiastic about bride's name...Zoe, Zoe.
There's something medieval in this name,
something alchemic, astrologic...Albert, do you remember?
Medieval? I thought so.
Zoe is ancient greek name.
Oh so?
It means "life".
That is really so. For twenty five years already Zoe is my life.
Andrey, congratulate us. Yesterday our grandson was born.
We were told over the phone: boy, 54 centimetres.
Congratulations!
Wonderful.
[Our] son is serving in army now.
Anyway, how are things going?
Do you really still ????
We do.
...members of Lipetsk automobile factory have
undertaken new responsibility to increase prductivity...
Oh, how i'm fed up with all this,
what productivity of work can be there,
the more you toil,
the less you get paid, roll further.
O! Stop.
The game is called Bangladesh, i thought it up myself,
so imagine some number. - Imagined.
- And i imagined.
- Well, tell what
number do you have? - Seven.
But i have eight, i won.
I can't picture how you will drive away
that stupid [contrabass] case.
- That's small matters.
- Return to hotel by seaside,
i will take a walk there,
don't get your legs wet, eat dinner, bye.
To Simferopol,
Bye, bye.
To Simferopol, railway station.
How do you think: will we get stuck on mountain passage?
Pardon me for the ruble.
Why are you making such a deal out of it? I've already spent it on drinks.
Converted in in coffee. Look.
What's this?
I began writing a book.
What is book about?
Story of all life.
From infusoria to newest events.
Doesn't burn, but sinks in water.
What's that book, kids?
Eternal book, daddy. Great one.
And how is it?
Superb. Very. It will remain intact in case of Universal catastrophe.
I conducted an experiment.
If there will be Universal catasotrophe, we won't have to live here.
Why it so exceptionally grim in the soul?
It's no better for me.
I have taken this fact of your fate in account.
When it becomes totally grim, put on this tape.
How did you decide it must become totally grim?
I just think so.
...how bad it is for me, how hard. I live alone with my mother for eight years...
Do you want to play Bangladesh?
What's that?
Good game. I thought it up myself.
How much fo you have?
Nineteen.
It's twenty for me. I win.
Andrey, I have a favour to ask.
Do you know what it took from me to earn
such living as I have last almost twenty five years?
I was threatened, but withstood it.
You never disapproved me of quitting, perhaps, only one of all.
I know your word was cruicial, that thanks