Евгения Гришковец – Aina and the Maelstrom (страница 5)

EXT. CITY. ROAD. DAY.

A luxurious SUV drives along. A pretty blonde is behind the wheel. Behind her, in a child seat, are two small children. One has a pacifier in his mouth. In front of the SUV, a domestically produced car with an extremely low ride is driving. The undercarriage almost scrapes the asphalt. Suddenly, the car brakes sharply and starts to turn towards the SUV. The driver is a dark‑haired young man with a confident expression. The blonde is forced to swerve into the oncoming lane to avoid a collision. The blonde lowers her window and shouts, leaning out.

BLONDE (angrily, loudly)

Hey you, just climbed down from a tree or what? Where'd you buy your license, you donkey!?

The driver doesn't answer and quickly completes his maneuver. The driver turns off the road towards the residential buildings.

INT. SERGEI AND GALYA'S APARTMENT. KITCHEN. MORNING.

The boys, Sergei, and Galya sit at the table. Everyone eats syrniki (cottage cheese pancakes) with jam.

BOYS

Mom, more!

SERGEI

Get up and get it yourselves! So, Galya, you're really not coming home tonight?

GALYA

God, for once in my life I'm going to the movies, and it's a catastrophe!

SERGEI

It's strange, that's all! Boys, mom has decided to abandon us. What will we eat? What am I supposed to do with them? What about homework?

GALYA

They've been on vacation for two months! You hadn't noticed? That's it, I'm leaving. I still need to put on makeup and iron my dress!

INT. RUSTEM AND SIMA'S HOUSE. KITCHEN.

Sunlight streams through the window. The kitchen is visibly very clean. Rustem finishes his tea and leans back in his chair. Rustem folds his hands over his belly and looks at his son.

RUSTEM

You should at least change after work, get some sleep at home, then visit. Why aren't you home with Ruzanna?

Akhmed's expression doesn't change, and he doesn't answer Rustem. Akhmed continues to glare angrily at Aina.

Aina places a cup of tea and a plate of pancakes in front of Akhmed.

AINA (quietly)

Akhmed, stop scolding me already. Will you pay off our loan? I work evenings because we took out a loan for the house renovation…

[PAGE 9]

RUSTEM (cheerfully)

See, you've worked yourself into a state! Today's a day off, and Aina isn't working either day or night anyway.

EXT. CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND NEAR SERGEI AND GALYA'S HOUSE. NOON. WEEKEND.

There are few people at the playground. The heat is oppressive. It's impossible to touch the colorful slide, it's so scorching. A bench stands in the shade of a tall tree. Sergei sits on it in shorts and flip‑flops. In front of him stands Galya in an elegant dress with a small handbag. The boys are on the swings in the middle of the playground. The boys' heads are wet with sweat. The boys aren't talking, exhausted from the heat.

GALYA

You're lucky. The boys will behave. Outside, for sure, and at home, they might even fall asleep.

SERGEI

I don't get what you and Aina have to talk about? She's young, free… What movie are you seeing, anyway?

GALYA

A comedy, unfortunately. Aina doesn't like other movies; I'd rather see a horror!

SERGEI

Aina has a healthy, normal psyche, that's why she likes comedies, unlike you…

GALYA

Maybe her real life is so terrible that she doesn't want to watch scary movies on top of it.

INT. AKHMAD AND RUZANNA'S HOUSE. KITCHEN. NOON.

Ruzanna, with a bucket and rag, has been wiping furniture, tables, and floors for an hour. Ruzanna still hasn't changed. Ruzanna is in a long nightgown, hair disheveled. Ruzanna's face is blotchy red from tears. Ruzanna keeps sighing, clutching her huge belly, but doesn't stop cleaning. The kitchen is hot. They have no air conditioning. When the kitchen is clean, Ruzanna takes out the pot again, meat, potatoes, and starts making new soup. Hair falls into her face, into the raw meat. She ties it into a tight knot with dirty hands. Ruzanna hurries. Ruzanna doesn't want Akhmad to come back and ask for food.

INT. RUSTEM AND SIMA'S HOUSE. KITCHEN. NOON.

RUSTEM (reasonably)

Son, you should be giving orders to Ruzanna now, not your sister. Your mother and I will manage without you somehow. Go to your wife.

AINA (gratefully)

Thanks, Father! Akhmad gives me no peace, always lecturing me like I'm some foolish child. I'm older than you, Akhmad. Go to Ruzanna, maybe she needs help.

AKHMAD (angrily)

Since you're all kicking me out, I'll go.

Akhmed gets up abruptly. The stool scrapes against the tile. Aina winces at the sound. Sima enters the kitchen.

INT. SERGEI AND GALYA'S APARTMENT. DAY.

Sergei and the boys return from their walk. The boys are sweaty, disheveled, and aggressive. The boys sit on the bench in the hallway and refuse to take off their sandals.

SERGEI (commanding tone)

March to the bathroom and wash your hands! Hey, stop, take off your shoes!

[PAGE 10]

BOYS

He should take his off first! No, him first! Now he'll lock himself in the bathroom for half an hour!

You'll lock yourself in! No, you will! Aah, Dad, he pushed me! You pushed me! If I pushed you, there wouldn't be a wet spot left of you! You're the wet spot!

SERGEI (loudly and irritated)

Shut up! Now! You're giving me a headache! God, how does your mother manage you?

EXT. CITY. VIEW OF THE SHOPPING CENTER FROM ABOVE. CAMERA SLOWLY DESCENDS, CAPTURING PEOPLE.

Galya and Aina walk towards the shopping center entrance at a leisurely pace. Galya and Aina laugh cheerfully.

AINA (whispering)

Men are looking at us…

GALYA