fallen.
I mean, I met you.
My leg's okay. No pain.
We owe it to your friend.
His was a fantastic fall-down.
Today it's you, tomorrow it's me.
Want me to give you a riding course?
- Sure.
- See you tomorrow then.
What reason do you have
to tap me on the shoulder?
It's nice to take a morning ride
in Bois de Boulogne.
You have a cat's eyes,
narrow and vertical.
Kasyanov!
At school I wrote an essay
on Maykovsky.
You said: "Jack London,
love, money, passion".
But I knew: You're Mona Lisa
and I need to abduct you.
Did you come to see me
or Nikolayev?
They are said to have
asymmetric facial muscles.
What are you thinking about?
How to topple Harold
riding Player.
You mean it?
I too can talk
and think at the same time
about standing a circus turn
with horses.
That's why I came here,
I need a partner.
Why do you think they let me
go first onto the arena?
It's because you're beautiful.
You think so?
Because mine is the worst turn
on the program.
Perhaps, I'm not that dull.
Simply, I don't like those bicycles,
nor partners.
That's how it is.
A pretty girl - fine teeth, eyes.
But she has problems, too.
They walked the rope,
but then changed the genre.
And I'm only starting out
as circus artist.
True, they keep telling me
that my turn has great prospects.
One way or the other,
this won't be my last job.
No gratification.
You see what I mean?
No, not really.
Why do you say this to me,
not Milashevsky?
Wouldn't he go to circus?
You know, I had a dream of you
as a fish.
Normally, circus partners
are husband and wife.
You know,
I can take you as a jockey, buddy.
I work with Ivan Ivanovich Onkin.
Why did you decide to work
with Nikolayev?
Don't you like my wares?
You've got good horses and many
riders. Why do you need me?
I've got good horses,
but no decent jockeys.
You'll get Harold.
You know Harold?
I don't know where I come from.
I can't say if I'm Russian,
Tartar or Azerbaijani.
But I'm held in high esteem
and mean something in this world.
If I were a horse,
I would be a nobody.
A horse without a breed
is not a horse.
You sound paradoxical,
but not untrue.
But, frankly speaking,
Nikolai Amirovich...
Sure! That's why I want you.
You're kind of treacherous.
I'm objective.
What is Narkisov, after all?
Give him a horse - he'll ride.
He'd grip tight and race like hell
from start to finish.
He's working for Amirov himself!
Who has one of the best stables.
Anyone would take prizes there.
And you mount stray dogs.
Your horses have no style,
nor speed or strength.
You're kind of... treacherous.
If you decline,
Narkisovwill be number one.
He will go abroad.
But that's only if you decline.
No offence meant,
but I'll have to decline.
Ivan Ivanovich treats me
as his equal.
This is quite another life.
Hello, Ivan Ivanovich!
What are you debating?
You.
And dried mushrooms.
A jockey can't switch over
to other trainers' horses.
The more so without his trainer's
permission.
You told me this
when I first came to you.
Unequal conditions.
Amirov's are top-class horses.
But the credit here goes not to him,
but the stud farmer.
But who can convince the bosses?
You see my point?
Do I make myself clear?
Amirov now seems intent
on grabbing all the trophies.
Not he alone.
Last month, my Persten
won all three races.
Don't get excited,
you've known only one breed,
but switching from an Akhaltekin
to a thoroughbred
is like switching from a tractor
to a Volga car.
I don't want even to hear it.
Don't you agree
that Harold is the strongest now?
I agree, but my Persten will win out.
He might,
if our horses smother Harold.
He's a demon of a stallion.
At the start
two or three horses
should make Harold race
at a faster pace than necessary.
Harold gets spent midway.
And one in the know will relax
to drive forward at the finish.
And who is assigned
to win at the finish?
Let's throw lots.
This doesn't suit me.
Who do you