me.
Helen and I have been through
enough insanity.
I don't want that for you.
But I won't be like that.
If you marry me you will.
I know.
Why?
Because the world's gone crazy!
Because the traditional family
has crumbled and there's nothing
left to replace it!
Everyone - women, nations,
Soviet physicists - everyone
wants freedom
but, sometimes, the price of
freedom is collapse.
Before I deliver my paper, I
would like to say a few words.
The world is changing at an
incredible pace.
When I was younger, scientists were
the undisputed heroes of my time.
The 19th century philosophy still
prevailed, war, famine, and disease
would all magically disappear if we
could only educate people properly.
The Biblical parable of Adam and
Eve's banishment from the garden
of Eden after
eating forbidden fruit from the
tree of knowledge was reduced to
a silly fairy tale.
The very thought that knowledge
could bring anything except
absolute bliss was laughable.
The curiosity that is the essential
characteristic of every scientist
was regarded as a moral virtue.
It was referred to as "sacred
curiosity".
My own professor, Doctor
Heinrich Gross,
would do everything in his power to
instill this quality into his students.
I do the same thing now, with my
new students!
It is the only moral basis of
humanity,
the only thing that separates us from
the animals, this sacred curiosity!
This is correct. Animals do not
have this quality.
Perhaps that is why animals haven't
tried to annihilate the human race,
and humans, are even now,
successfully ridding the planet
of all animal life.
My friends, tell me honestly,
have you ever thought that man
is the plague of the Universe?
God's punishment, an implement
of death and destruction,
something akin to a virus or a
cancerous growth that exists
only to destroy all life?
Demagogy!
Do not fear, Master, I am not
calling for the banishment of science.
I felt I had to say these words.
Thank you for indulging me.
(CLAPPING)
Ah, let's now get down to
business.
How close is your model to a final
understanding of the Universe?
I feel it's very close.
Excuse me, I think I missed
something:
does your theory offer an
immediate solution for any of
today's problems?
I need a drink.
You need some sleep.
Do you really think I could
sleep? I need a drink first.
You should try. Call room
service.
But you probably won't get it
until tomorrow.
Was I really that bad?
Everyone seemed to like it.
I feel horrible.
Get some sleep, Sasha.
If I don't have a drink I'm
going to throw up.
I heard your parents are giving
a party for Sasha this evening.
Um um. Yes, they are.
Are you expecting a lot of
people?
A dozen or so...
We're going to have a trial run
of our Moscow tours on troikas
with gypsies right now,
and I would like to invite your
group.
Sasha and Jill are coming.
Thank you.
I'd also like to ask if you
would invite us to your little
gathering this evening.
Eh.
Thanks. Yeah.
It was awful. Just awful.
Sasha, you're a hero here and
you want to be one.
I guess you had to think of
something to impress the little girl!
Now, why did you say that?
Supposedly, you brought me up
here with good intentions.
Weren't you trying to help, not
make it worse?
Cut it out! I am not your
mother! I'm not even your wife.
Leave, then.
Fine!
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
Come in!
What happened to you? The
gypsies are waiting!
(SINGING)
Stop here for one second. I see
they just got a vodka delivery.
What, are all these grandmothers
alcoholics or something?
They get forty rubles a month
pension.
If you remember, we paid thirty
for a bottle of vodka the other day.
Tonight, each of them will sell
a bottle and raise their
standard of living almost twice.
It's called survival.
Forty rubles! That's enough for
one dinner at a restaurant!
With no drinks. But why would
grandmothers go to restaurants anyway?
SASHA (VOICE-OVER):
Aye, brave