Which comrades?
- I can't tell you...
- Filippov?
Why Filippov?
There're some more...
- Who?
- I can't tell you this.
Suppose it is I who think so,
though I'm not sure of that.
Maybe I would like
to check up on my impressions.
If I'm mistaken, that's for the better.
in such cases one would even be
glad to be proved wrong.
Vladimir Vasilyevich trusts you more
than anybody else. You know him.
I understand that you feel uneasy.
I don't force you to slander him.
But it can't be avoided old chap,
trust but verify.
Who are those comrades?
Well, it's Filippov.
But don't give me away.
You silly, just think how valuable
to us his support can be.
His laboratory begins
working on a new model.
They would need new people,
that means good prospects, promotion.
I can be quite candid with you,
I got nothing to hide.
After all, who is
Vladimir Vasilyevich to you?
Neither kith nor kin.
Yes, of course.
The other day I...
saw him with a young gal.
Maybe she's his daughter, or maybe...
Good, go on.
If we weren't alone,
If it wasn't like this,
I would have punched you up.
What stops you?
I don't like doing it without witness.
A joke.
Two jump down with parachutes.
They pull the ring, all goes right.
Suddenly they see a 3rd one fall like
a stone. He put on his kitbag again.
An old joke, but funny.
Did you hear the last question...
We did.
Did you call me?
- I did.
- What happened?
Nothing. I needed you.
You know,
there's such a word "needed".
He's got a swell girl,
I saw her yesterday.
And now?
Now not needed,
now everything's all right.
Yes, a very animated conversation.
Shall we talk
about something else?
About soccer.
- Hockey.
- Ice hockey.
Let's go and have a...
- I don't want to.
- Why not?
I don't know,
but I have an impression.
Mind, it may be
my personal impression.
That people are divided
into those with whom you drink
and those with whom you can talk.
We used to combine that before.
Yes, before, but now
I'm afraid we won't be able to.
I've never seen him
having such an idiotic mood.
It's just that we haven't seen one
another for long, Slava.
You know, pals, life
is taking its usual course.
Each morning, I get up,
go to work, buy cigarettes,
eat, breathe, go to movies.
And everyday I see both of you,
not counting the army, business trips
and other understandable reasons.
And this is my life.
I can't live otherwise.
Perhaps it's a habit?
I don't want to change my habits.
This is called Erich Maria Remark.
If you wish, I'll rush to you
in a racing car through the fog.
We may joke, but we'd better not.
All right, get down to business.
Be more specific.
You're so businesslike.
You both are.
I'm not businesslike, I'm preoccupied.
Now it's all
getting clear to me.
Why didn't you say so
right away?
Sorry, but at some point
I thought I had better not.
These are just emotions.
Go on.
They're hounding
a good man,
a principled, fine,
real man.
Yes, he may be difficult and thus
makes others' life not easy.
A regular on-the-job squabble.
You shouldn't pay attention.
How can I not?
To live and know
there's a scoundrel beside you,
greet him every morning,
shake hands with him.
He's always there,
sitting in front of you,
young and prosperous,
with honest eyes.
Do you understand? With honest eyes.
Just a horrendous character.
You know, lately
I've got tired of joking.
You're getting old, Kolia.
When people have nothing to talk
about, they crack jokes.
When they have nothing to think about,
they joke. It makes life easier.
By the logic of our conversation,
you're implying
that I joke too much
and therefore...
There's no therefore.
I don't always understand what you're
thinking of when you talk like this.
I guess it's not necessary.
Of course, there's nothing
necessary about this.
You've got a rotten disposition lately.
Maybe sometimes
we should get it rotten.
- Should we?
- We should.
Why am I saying all