anything but.
I knew Ava was not the kind of woman
to be seduced by a ride in a private jet
unless you owned the jet.
This is your plane?
That is my name.
Of course, I was lying.
The plane was rented, like the car
and even the suit I was standing in
At the last minute,
I'd bribed the crew for the paint job.
Luckily, by the time we landed...
Ava wasn't looking anywhere
but in my eyes.
I had no idea.
I'm sorry I didn't recognize you.
Don't apologize. I put clothes on
for a living.
A least you're not taking them off.
I would be, if half the...
...photographers had their way.
What about you?
I'm in transport.
International air freight, mostly.
Business is good.
Where're you from?
I was born in Ukraine,
but I grew up in Brooklyn.
No.
What, you too?
Williamsburg.
Here's to a hurricane.
Without it, I never would have met you.
This is no accident, is it, Yuri?
It feels like fate.
I don't believe in fate.
What do you believe in?
Is that a view, or is that a view?
That's a view.
Thank you. Thank you all.
Congratulations.
Congratulations.
Thanks.
Always remember, son...
There is something above you.
Sure, Dad.
A forty-thousand-dollar crystal chandelier.
Make yourselves at home. Go!
Go!
I'm sorry. Today must be tough.
It'd be nice to have a couple
more guests
from my side of the family.
I'm sure they're watching right now.
Thank you.
But you don't believe that, Yuri...
...remember?
I know you, Yuri.
I know you're not everything you seem.
Don't worry, I won't ask a lot of questions.
I don't want to hear you lie.
You take risks.
Just promise me you won't risk us.
That's the trouble with falling in love
with a dream girl.
They have a habit of becoming real.
I've never been so glad to see Vitaly.
You're fucking beautiful!
Brother...
Brother, thank you so much...
for giving me such a beautiful sister.
He was out of rehab, and out of his mind.
Dance! Dance! We have to dance!
All right, all right
It's a wedding, a celebration
To Yuri!
For once, he rescued me.
New York - December 25, 1991
I was still living way beyond my means.
Mortgaged to the hilt, using one
credit card to pay another.
Anything to keep Ava in the style to
which she had thanks largely to me
become accustomed.
Ava
Ava, this is too much.
Yuri likes to spoil you.
Then suddenly,
all my Christmases came at once.
Nicki, you did it! Good boy!
That's my grandson!
Yuri, don't you want to see what
your son is doing?
Whoever said it's better to give
than receive...
...never got a Christmas present
like the one I got...
in 1991 from Mikhail Gorbachev.
What the hell's the matter?
It's over!
What's over?
The Cold-fucking-War!
The Soviet-fucking Union
The Evil fucking-Empire!
Mikhail's saying no mas.
He's throwing in the towel.
It's over!
Your son is walking.
That's incredible, honey.
At least they'll get religious freedom.
Let's hope so.
I think I'll go back for a visit.
Do you stay in touch with Uncle Dmitri?
I'm not a fool, Yuri.
I don't think you're going to
Odessa to sell Pepsi-Cola.
Is this how you want to be remembered?
I don't want to be remembered at all.
I'm being remembered,
it means I'm dead.
Merry-fucking-Christmas!
Who is this, Vitaly?
I'm Angel.
Her name really is Angel.
She's a fairy.
Let's put her on top of the
Christmas tree.
Come on
I love you.
Come on.
I love you all.
Take this.
I'm going back to Ukraine.
I miss Odessa.
I miss you.
I miss you.
Be careful, Yuri. Those things
you sell kill.
Inside.
You're high.
That's true.
Hello, Christian.
Odessa, Ukraine - 1992
During the Cold War, the Red
Army stationed nearly
one million troops in Ukraine...
because of its strategic military importance.
The day after The Wall came down...
the paychecks stopped coming.
Your papers.
There's nothing better for an arms dealer...
combination of disgruntled soldiers
and warehouses full of weapons.
Welcome.
I was hoping Major General Dmitri