Евгения Гришковец – Aina and the Maelstrom (страница 2)

GALYA (offended)

I don't have friends because I'd be ashamed to bring them to our home. I don't want them to know how loud and shouty you are.

SERGEI (without malice)

I'm a catch! Another man would have talked to you the old‑fashioned way by now.

GALYA

One more word, and you won't see any more food from me!

SERGEI (conciliatory)

Okay, okay, I was just joking…

INT. BANK. STAFF ROOM. LUNCH BREAK.

Galya and Aina sit at a small table, drinking coffee. Aina eats a cookie, picking off small pieces with her fingers.

GALYA

You'll be eating that until the end of the day!

AINA (embarrassed)

I can't eat fast.

[PAGE 3]

GALYA (thoughtfully)

But on the other hand, that's probably why you're so slim. I should take a leaf out of your book! (anxiously) I've been meaning to ask, maybe we could go to a movie after work? Or just walk around the city?

AINA

With pleasure! Let's go to the movies tomorrow? I'll check what's playing tonight!

INT. GALYA'S APARTMENT. KITCHEN. EVENING.

Galya, Sergei, and the boys are at the table. They all have pelmeni (dumplings) on their plates. The boys watch a YouTube show on TV, where someone is playing a challenging level of a computer game. In the corner of the screen, a young guy loudly comments on the virtual players' actions.

SERGEI (wincing)

Fine, if they were playing themselves, but they're watching other people watch and comment… Turn down that nonsense!

Galya takes the remote and lowers the volume.

BOYS

But, ma‑a‑am!

GALYA

Quiet, I said! Your father wants some peace.

SERGEI

I don't want peace, I want homemade pelmeni!

GALYA

Then you should have married a submissive girl from a Caucasian family. By the way, I'm going to the movies this weekend…

SERGEI (with feigned jealousy)

With whom, exactly?

GALYA

With a girl from a Caucasian family… Since you keep saying I have no friends. I do, as you can see!

INT. GALYA'S APARTMENT. BEDROOM. MORNING.

Galya is trying on clothes in front of the mirror. Sergei lies on the bed, watching.

SERGEI

Are you really going to the movies with a friend, or with a lover?

GALYA

I'm going with Aina, with Aina! I just haven't gone out in a thousand years, except to the playground or the store for bread. I'm nervous, like it's a date, you're right!

SERGEI

Who is this Aina anyway? Young? Pretty?

GALYA

Leave me alone! The main thing is she'll go to the movies with me. I'd already forgotten what it's like to be carefree and just walk down the street alone, with no purpose, to just stroll, you know?

SERGEI

What's in it for her, hanging out with you, a young girl? What can you offer her? And it's strange she's not married yet. In Adygea, they marry them off fast, before they get a taste of freedom…

EXT. BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER. VIEW FROM ABOVE, THEN SUDDENLY DOWN. SUMMER.

Galya stands on the bridge. Galya is dressed in an elegant white dress with black polka dots. Her waist is cinched with a belt. Galya leans on the bridge railing. On several bars, colorful padlocks with the names of couples in love are attached as a sign of fidelity. Galya keeps checking the time on her phone. The planned meeting with Aina is delayed. Half an hour passes. Aina sends a message. Galya reads it, shrugs, and leaves the bridge.

[PAGE 4]

The bridge is crowded. Parents with children, girls with guys, groups of teenagers. Galya hurries away alone, constantly bumping into the crowd. Disappointment and awkwardness are written on Galya's face.

INT. GALYA'S APARTMENT. KITCHEN. EVENING.

Galya washes dishes and noisily stacks plates.

SERGEI

Keep it down! Your noise is giving me a headache! Am I to blame that your Aina stood you up?

GALYA

You're not to blame, but you're gloating! For once in a blue moon I went out, and bam! Take that! Can you even imagine how uncomfortable and awkward it was for me, standing alone on that bridge?

Galya finishes washing the dishes and turns to Sergei.

GALYA (upset)

She turned out to be so unreliable! At work, she seems fine. Sure, she's a bit slow sometimes, but management values her…

SERGEI

So what did she write you, why didn't she come?

Galya rolls her eyes.

GALYA (irritated)