Bad ground, isn't it?
How do you know?
There are many "borerers" here.
It's "borers" not "borerers."
Though Ihappen to be a driller.
I'll remember that.
- Taya...
- Don't worry. And thanks for the present.
- Taya, I...
- What, want to come in?
Well, Taya...
I've got some time right now.
Okay, let's go.
Taya.
Ilike it. Lots of room and light.
You really like it?
Ido, actually.
Ididn't expect that.
Very well. Step aside.
Listen, Taya, I...
Oh, it's over there.
We're not strangers, are we?
Of course not.
We're all related in Elan.
That much Iknow.
- Taya.
- Alexei.
You know nothing happened.
- Nothing?
- Nothing.
- Ibeg your pardon?
- There was nothing between us.
What do you mean "nothing"?
It was just a dream of yours.
- That's right.
- You must be joking.
There's mushroom soup,
fried potatoes.
Here's the soup.
- Idon't want soup.
- And pickles. I'll go get them.
I'm not hungry.
Ipickled some cucumbers.
You should taste them.
Taya, have you ironed my pants?
Taya?
Hey, what are you doing here?
What are you doing here, Alexei?
What, me? Oh, hi.
Having a rest before my shift.
Ineed to go soon.
- Oh, right.
- And how about you?
Iwas in the banya here.
Taya's right.
The steam is just great.
A man needs washing, you know.
Itake steam baths here.
- Since when?
- For about a month.
- Have you read this book?
- Nope.
Me neither.
Did you radio about the pipes?
- Idid.
- Okay.
You can stay.
You're not in the way.
What are you doing?
What am Idoing?
I'm looking for my pants.
And what's he doing?
He's reading an interesting book.
- And you?
- I'm bringing some pickles.
Fine.
Making a fool of me?
Sure.
Make a fool of him. It's easier.
- Have a good steam, Tofk.
- Alexei...
Why?
What a fool Iam. Itrusted you!
Carried you with my hands!
Istep out for a second for some steam
and fnd another man in your bed.
Now Iknow who bought you
the earrings.
You think Tofk is greedy?
Icould buy you dozens of them.
Tofk has given cars to women before!
You fioozy!
I'll kill you.
Then kill him and then myself.
We've been sweating
1 8 months without leave.
Okay, guys, put it on.
And so the feats of our labor add up.
How could you, Taya?
And he calls himself a friend.
He liked the steam indeed.
Serves me right.
Ibelieved him, left Tataria,
quarreled with
that worthy man Rashat.
What a fool Iam.
The hell with it.
I'll drill this hole
and then go back to Tataria
and join Rashat again.
But what about the Devil's Mane?
No, Iwon't give it to anyone.
I'll keep on drilling there.
If Ifail, I'll go to Sochi.
Oh, Sochi
For days and nights
We mess up our lives
Doing nothing but sin
If you rush around all your life
in sin and with poor grub,
when will you get well?
Come on! Move your ass!
Quit wasting time!
Ican't do it.
If you can't, go help the women
carry the powder sacks.
Can't you get it in, Pete?
No practice with your wife, huh?
Stop!
Stop!
It's my fault!
It's my fault!
My fault!
Ididn't shut the elevator.
He kept rushing me.
Isignaled to you, you son of a bitch.
You kept driving me too fast!
- I'm telling you!
- Quit yelling!
Quit yelling.
Call your Tofk.
Step aside.
You'll fnd him in Taya's banya.
PART FOUR
PHILIP
THE SIXTIES
Worthless land.
Ican imagine how proud
and satisfed you are
as the Regional Party Secretary.
Why?
Well...
With the building of the
world's largest man-made sea
and hydropower station,
your region will be
among the country's leaders.
In the water category,
I'm already a leader.
Pardon?
You can place three countries
the size of France in our swamps.
This isn't my frst hydro plant.
But to be honest,
I've never been so exited
because the scale of the project
is so big.
It's about time we developed
the Siberian backwoods.
Why do you say it like that?
Siberia is fairly developed.
But Iagree
that this here is still backwoods.
Exactly.
Take a look.
How can someone live
in