Chipped blockheads
Fedor Laburchenko
Fedor Mashina

Translated by Natalia Grigorieva

Editor and proofreader Maria Beloglazova

© Fedor Laburchenko, 2024

© Fedor Mashina, 2024

ISBN 978-5-0062-8065-6

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

Episode 1

Scene 1

Maria was sitting at the work table in the poorly-lit utility room of her laboratory. A heap of piled-up experiment results and an open bottle of brandy presented to her by someone seemed to cry out that all her work was moving to hell.

Upon entering the room unexpectedly, Fyodor noticed that his partner had not yet consumed a drop of alcohol. So, not all was lost.

FYODOR: Maria Vladimirovna, don’t you think you’ve finished your working day a bit early today?

MARIA: Stop it, I have nothing finished yet. Can’t you see I’m having a little creative crisis here?

Fyodor sharply pushed a chair towards Maria’s desk and sat down opposite the girl, trying to look into her eyes. But in vain. Maria sat with her shoulders slouched, her eyes seemed to poke holes in the neck of the bottle, her stare was blank and tired.

FYODOR: I repeat it for the five thousandth time, Masha, people are not pigs, it’s not your fault that this man died. Do you think someone could have done something like that if he had any hope of recovery? I tell you NO! He was a goner! Not a ghost of a chance. This is the only truth you need to take in, and that’s all. Clear?

Slowly, Maria turned her gaze away from the bottle and smoothly shifted it to Fyodor, who felt a bit sweaty after his emotional speech, as the shiny drops on his forehead confirmed.

Maria thought things were worse than she had expected. A moment ago, Fyodor tried to cheer her up, though usually it was she who brought him to his senses before even the most trifling test. And now he was yelling at her, a respected microbiologist, as if she was a snotty first-year student. Masha had a wild desire to have a drink. Her hand reached out to the precious vessel of brandy, but Fyodor grabbed the bottle and returned it back to the table.

FYODOR (calmly this time): Masha, get yourself together now. Let’s make a deal. As soon as all is over, you and I will have a drink. Together. Together. If you like, we’ll call the whole department to join us! But now we have to work. You’ve put a lot of effort into this project. You must reach the end. Mom wouldn’t forgive you…

MASHA (a little offended): Don’t mention mom…

FYODOR: Well, why not? We do all this in memory of her. You and I know for sure she watches us from there! (Fyodor pointed upward.) And she rejoices at your success, at every new step.

MARIA (sharply hits the table with her fist): What can you understand, Fedya? You are as safe as in God’s pocket. Do you know what I felt leaving my mom alone with her parkinsonism, with her alcoholic son and starting out in search of a magic elixir? Five years have passed since she went there, to heaven. Five years, Fyodor! And we still have no elixir! Isn’t it too long? You’ll never understand it, Fedenka, what it means: to have no forces to return to your parents’ house and look into your brother’s eyes. Yes, I can’t look my alcoholic brother in the eyes, because he will say: “Sorry my little sister, you are late!” Because, although he drank like a fish, he was beside her… And I left them alone, Fedya! I left them alone but nothing came of it. Nothing…

Fyodor was silent. He listened to Mary’s revelations with his head bent.

MARIA (calming down): Fyodor, understand me, I believe in God, and for me the death of this poor man is a sin on my conscience. No matter what you say, I will always think of it this way. No, I can’t work here anymore. I’ll file for leave tomorrow.

FYODOR (scared): Don’t even think about it, Maria! What about all the things we have already done? No one can finish what you started. You know this perfectly well. No, Maria, I won’t let you do that.

MARIA: I need a reset. The death of this patient must be a sign… I need to stay away from this place for a while.

FYODOR: What’s the problem? Take a vacation. Have a rest. And return to us. I’ll talk to the boss myself!

MARIA: No, no. I won’t stop thinking about it on vacation. And I need to clear my mind. To be alone with myself, to pray. To accept some truths. That’s all, Fyodor, it’s settled.

Maria grabbed the bottle. Fyodor thought she would take a sip, but instead the girl took a cap from her robe pocket, screwed it onto the neck of the container, and put it in a drawer.

Fyodor looked at his partner. His eyes seemed to be slightly wet with tears.

Scene 2

Three logs, cut unevenly and scattered among the old maple thickets, were the favorite place of village men who escaped their homes and shared two liters of fragrant moonshine with five of them. Nikolai, a former well-known chess champion from the Tula region, was part of this gallant company. Unfortunately, Kolya had to pack up his sports career, so he unpacked a different direction that was far from intellectual.

MITYAY (drinking buddy No. 1): Have you heard about Alekseich, our chairman? Guess what he said to the head of the region recently? He said there were no men in the village. He will recruit migrants to work on the collective farm. Just fancy what we’ll have in the village?

KOLYA: What will we have?

SERGEYICH (drinking buddy No. 2, imitating Nikolai): What will we have, what will we have… That’s what we will have: we will be pushed to one side in our native village. No, guys, we need to show these migrants who’s boss here.

KOLYA (smirks): And you, Sergeich, compete with them to see who drinks more. So you’ll show who’s boss here. Truth be told, fellas, don’t dump on Alekseich. Of course, he’s dodger, but he’s not to blame here at all.

MITAYA: Why is that?

KOLYA: Just because he has no choice. Who will he put to drive the combine? Who will he trust to drive the seeder? Not to mention the milking machine. Who will work for him in the end? Maybe you, misery boozers?

CHUPA (drinking buddy No. 3, the most awe-inspiring and the oldest one): Mind your tongue, snotnose! If you are so smart, why don’t you go to work on Alekseich’s collective farm?

KOLYA: You asked and answered, Chupa. I’m smart – that’s why I don’t go there. I’m a person engaged in intellectual work: by definition, I cannot use muscles in my work.

MITYAY (contentiously): Yes, yes, we are in the know! Highty-tighty, you’re almost Kasparov, a genius chess player!

KOLYA: Why chess only? Take it up a notch! I am the smartest strategist ever. Whatever I do, I triumph!

CHUPA: Yes, and there we have it: in words you are buying a yacht from Abramovich but at actuals you are sitting with us, pouring this cheap pig sweat into yourself. A strategist!

The drinking buddies laughed loudly.

KOLYA (irritated): Stop cackling! I’m just having a run of bad luck. From the day when I buried my mother, I can’t feel like oneself again. I did all these things only for her. Whether I brought a certificate from school or a cup from a competition. She smiled, and I wanted nothing more.

Kolya closed his eyes. Memories of his mother made him happy and unhappy at the same time.

MITYAY (it’s unclear whether he’s kidding or he is serious): You are a great show-off, Kolyan. But in truth, they all don’t need you for shit. Even Masha, your dear sister, never comes to see you. And why? Yes, because she doesn’t want to see her crooked bro!

For exactly five seconds Nikolai stared at Mityai with fiery eyes. His gaze was fixed on the man who dared to hit him where it hurt. The drinking buddies didn’t even notice how Kolya leapt up, appeared behind Mityai’s back and clasped his neck in his long sinewy arms. Stasyan (drinking buddy No. 4), Mityai’s best friend, tried to separate the fighters, but got a kick in the stomach from the vigilant Kolya.

Noticing that Mitya’s face had turned blue and his eyes were about to pop out of their sockets, Chupa carefully called Nikolai.

CHUPA: Kolya, calm down. Take no sin on your soul. You’ll kill him.

Kolya loosened his grip a little. Seeing that Mityai didn’t try to fight back, he let him go. The guy slowly slipped down onto the log, looking back in horror at his offender.

Nikolai was breathing heavily. Looking angrily at his recent drinking buddy, he waved his hand, cursed loudly, turned around and walked away.

Scene 3

An old blue PAZ bus, one of those that usually run between regional centers and villages in our vast country, took Maria to the place where she had spent her childhood. A bumpy road and a hard seat prevented the girl from dozing, so she let her mind fill with thoughts during the trip. Scenes of studying at the university were swirling around in her head alongside memoirs about how she dreamed of getting a job at a research institute, and how the dream came true, and how everything collapsed a few days ago, when unsuccessful test prompted her to resign from the research institute.

Maria travelled home fully unaware of her future. What will she do? How will she earn her living? The girl had no answers to these questions.

The squeak of the brakes interrupted Maria’s thoughts as the vehicle arrived in the village. Maria got off the bus and headed to her parents’ house. Having reached it, she stopped for a while, thinking. Then something made Maria continue to move down the street towards the church at the very edge of the village.

On entering the church, the girl was pleasantly surprised by its good state. During her previous visit there, she was a schoolgirl, and the temple looked different. Maria walked through the church insides, admiring the icons, wall paintings and, most importantly, the fresh cosmetic repairs.

Suddenly Maria felt someone’s glance on her back. The girl turned around. A rather young clergyman wearing neat and well-ironed garments was looking at her. Maria noticed that the priest really cared about his appearance. Her idea was proven not only by his clothes, but also by his neatly trimmed beard.

PRIEST: Good day to you, sister! Can I help you?

MARIA (looks in surprise): Bless me, Father! My name is Maria. I was once a parishioner of this church. I never thought everything would become so beautiful here! You, Father, have created a real miracle.

PRIEST (smiling): Not me, Maria! Thanks to the concerned parishioners. Your fellow countrymen did their best.

MARIA (smiling): I know my fellow countrymen quite well. They are great, of course, but without a good… uh… impetus, they will not participate in pious deeds.

PRIEST (laughs): Fair enough!

There was a pause. Maria continued to look at the interior of the church while the priest didn’t take his eyes off Maria.

PRIEST: Kyrill is my name.

MARIA: Father Kyrill?

KYRILL: Just Kyrill for you. I’ve joined the priory recently, so sometimes I look too simple for a priest.

MARIA: Really? I must admit, this made me feel a little better.

KIRILL: But why?

MARIA: I think you are the man who won’t criticize me… You see, Kyrill, since childhood I have considered myself a devout believer, but my last project, let’s say, was not a pious deed.

KYRILL (jokingly): Did you take alms from the beggars?

MARIA (seeing the joke, she smiles): Not that!

KYRILL (calmingly): In this case, Maria, any profession can’t be called pious. For example, I am a reserve officer. Frankly speaking, at the academy, they taught me how to kill people. Thanks to God, I wasn’t involved: I didn’t have to take such a sin on my soul. But what if we consider it from another point of view? A strong army keeps enemies from the temptation to attack our people. This way, it saves thousands of lives! It turns out that even without fighting, I helped my brothers and sisters.

Maria nodded approvingly because she shared Kyrill’s ideas.

KYRILL: Now you, Maria, look at your calling from a different angle. How can your work help people?

Maria thought for a while. Perhaps Kyrill was right: if she had achieved a positive result in her research, it would have saved thousands of human lives all over the world. The new priest’s technique really worked!

MARIA (smiling): You know, Kyrill, during my school years I liked coming to this church. But, certainly, in those days it lacked a significant thing.

KYRILL: What exactly?

MARIA (cheerfully): A young and handsome priest with a creative approach to the matter! No doubt, I’ll come here again, Father. I’ll come to my senses and I’ll visit you!

KYRILL: Our doors are open, Maria!

Maria bowed to the priest and headed for the church exit. Kyrill looked appraisingly at the departing girl. His face showed a smile of pleasure.

Scene 4

Nikolai’s and his drinking buddies’ “company party” ended with what people usually call in the village “it’s been a good hang.” Sergeich fell asleep on the spot right under a tree. Mityai went in search of adventure, which traditionally ended with calling the local police officer. To take Chupa home, his caring children came: a teenage daughter and a ten-year-old son.

When Kolya was left alone, he grabbed the bottle with the remains of moonshine, shook it as if trying to collect all the drops of alcohol, and emptied it in one gulp. Having consumed the contents to the last drop, Nikolai threw the empty bottle into the thicket of trees and tried to get to his feet. The first attempt was a failure: Kolya skidded, so he barely had time to grab the branch. The chess player sat down again, gathered his strength, and this time rose to his feet without recourse to the subjects at hand.

At the moment when Kolya left the green gazebo, he remembered that Sergeich was still sleeping there. He turned around, took a few steps back, but suddenly stopped, waved his hand, turned around and confidently shuffled towards the village houses.

The passers-by that Kolya met traditionally walked to the other side of the road: no one wanted to get hooked up with the drunk chess player. Everyone in the village knew that the guy in such a state could be inadequate.

However, Grandma Shura, who also met Kolya that day, was a stranger to fear. By the way, some words about Grandma Shura: she was one of the grannies one can see in every village, the type about which people usually say “she knows everything that happens in the village.”

Seeing Nikolai, Grandma Shura tried to foresee his motion trajectory to stop the chess player and strike up a conversation. When Grandma succeeded in pressing Kolya’s pliable body against the fence of the nearest house, she started interrogations.

GRANDMA SHURA: Why are you wandering here in broad daylight so juiced-up, ducky? Did Grandma Shura miss some holiday? Spit it out, dearie!

KOLYA (slurring): Well, grandma, nothing special. We sat with the guys and relaxed. Sometimes, it doesn’t hurt.

GRANDMA SHURA (squinting her eyes, disapprovingly): Eh, you idlers! To relax, you need to strain yourself at least sometimes. I know your gang: not a single working day in the work record book since privatization. Eh, Andropov is not there to keep you in check! He had a short way with mooches.

KOLYA (grabs his head): Don’t drizzle, grandma Shura! I’m feeling bad enough without you.

GRANDMA SHURA: He’s feeling bad! You’d better go and meet your sister.

KOLYA (seems to turn a bit sober): Which sister?

GRANDMA SHURA: Which sister! Do you have a lot of them?

KOLYA (scratches the back of his head): No, only one.

GRADMA SHURA: So why are you asking me, you fool? Go, otherwise by the time you limp across to get home, she will sell your mother’s house. You’ll be a hobo, dearie!

Grandma Shura laughed. However, Nikolai didn’t find it funny. KOLYA (completely sobered up): Wait a minute, Grandma Shura. Are you sure? Is Mashka really here? She hasn’t come since we… well… since our mother was buried…

GRANDMA SHURA (with sympathy): Well, I know. Grandma Shura knows everything. I’m telling you, she has just arrived. I bet.

KOLYA: I don’t care a damn about your bets! Why did Masha come? Kolya seemed to ask this question not to Grandma Shura but to himself.

GRANDMA SHURA (pretending not to know about the bad relations between brother and sister): What’s wrong? Has she arrived or not – who cares?

KOLYA: Well, she and I, let’s say, don’t get along. Cos she slinked out to the city and left me with my sick mother. Alone. I can’t forgive her for this, Grandma Shura, I can’t!

GRANDMA SHURA (taking Nikolai’s palm into her hands): Why are you telling me this, Kolenka? I remember everything. The name of the disease is… foreign… pattypan, or what?

KOLYA (corrected her): Parkinson’s.

GRANDMA SHURA (didn’t catch): Parkisyan! Exactly. You went through much, sonny, one wouldn’t wish it on his worst enemy. And what about Masha? Did she say anything in exuse?

KOLYA (smirking): She said it! “I wanted to find a cure for this parkinsonism,” said she. All the scientists in the world can’t come up with this, but she left to get it. A genius from the village!

The guy waved his hand expressively.

KOLYA: Grandma Shura, by heaven, I don’t even remember her. I don’t wanna see her. I won’t go home. I’ll sleep in the thicklets, if needed.

GRANDMA SHURA: Bad idea. You should go and have a look. She’s a city girl now, your Masha. Hell knows what they have in their heads, these city girls. She will sell the house and drain you dry. Go, Kolya, go.

KOLYA (nervously): The hell with you, Grandma Shura, I’ll go. Grandma SHURA: So go now.

And Kolya headed for his house. Grandma Shura continued her way, carefully looking around in order not to miss any significant events that could happen in the village that day.

Scene 5

Maria entered the empty house of her parents. The fact that the doors were wide open did not surprise the girl: her brother Kolya had not closed them for a long time. He wasn’t afraid of thieves because he had nothing valuable there for a long time. Perhaps except for the books in the closet that Masha and Kolya read from cover to cover in their troublefree childhood; and a CD collection with chess training sessions, which helped young Nikolai rise from a beginner to a regional champion in this sport. Masha looked at the old things and slowly plunged into memories of her childhood. Fragments of her life came to her.

She sees herself and Kolya sitting at the kitchen table. She is ten, he is even younger. While the mother stands with her back to them and finishes baking the pancakes, a serious battle breaks out between the children. Masha holds a large tablespoon in her hand; next to her is a bowl of apricot jam. Nikolay is armed with a teaspoon, his task is to reach for the bowl and get at least a spoonful of jam. But Masha carefully guards her wealth, so Kolya can do nothing. In despair, her brother produces a growing roar. The mother turns around, looks at what is happening, slaps Maria on the head, takes the jam from her and gives it to Kolya. Having completed the rescue mission, the mother continues frying pancakes. Masha gives Kolya a menacing gaze and intimidates him with a gesture: she runs the thumb of her right hand across her throat. After that, Kolya’s appetite disappears completely, and he silently moves the bowl of jam towards his senior sister.

In the next memory, Masha is a teenager. First, she sees herself in her room where a poster featuring Angelina Jolie hangs on the wall. It’s about the movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Masha packs her clothes, placing them tightly in a hiking backpack.

Her mother and Kolya see her off at the bus station.

MOTHER: Maybe you’ll take your brother with you?

MASHA (speaks in her mother’s ear for Kolya not to hear): Great-grandfather told me to come alone. “I don’t have anything to talk about with this slobbering chess player,” said he.

Masha nods her head in her brother’s direction. Mother looks sadly at Kolya and sighs heavily.

An old bus arrived. Masha got into it, sat comfortably by the window and waved her hand to her mother and brother, smiling happily. They waved back, and, when the bus moved towards the city, slowly walked home.

In the next shot Masha saw the adult Kolya rushing around the house, kicking things on the floor and sweeping everything off the tables. She sat in a chair and silently watched her brother’s nervous breakdown. Maria broke the silence only when Nikolay noisily threw on the floor a rack of cups, diplomas and medals he had received during his career as a chess player.

MASHA: Stop it! What are you doing?! What do your cups have in common with it?

KOLYA: The fact that only they were dear to her! A fat lot you cared whether I succeeded or not, and my great-grandfather always made fun of me. Do you want to hear the truth? I hate chess! I played it only because my mother’s eyes shone with happiness when I brought home another piece of paper or medal. I was ready to do anything for her! And now she’s gone! I have nothing! And I have nobody beside me now!

Nikoly continued to destroy everything around him.

Masha returned to reality. She brushed away tears that gathered at the corners of her eyes and slowly flowed down her cheeks.

Blinking energetically to remove the liquid accumulated in her eyes, Maria began cleaning. She started by sorting the things lying in the middle of the hall. Among them, the girl discovered a heap of empty vodka bottles. After that, Maria found a broom, wrapped a rag around it and began to remove the cobwebs that enveloped every corner and chandelier in the house. Having finished this stage of cleaning, Maria sat down to rest. She still had a lot of work ahead, so the girl decided to save her strength.

Scene 6

Shifting feet near his house door, Kolya didn’t dare enter it. He decided to gain time in the hope that Maria would not wait for him and leave for the city. So Nikolai left the village borders and found himself in a private plot that belonged to eighty-nine-year-old Stepan Fyodorovich, where his pretty granddaughter Alina lived with him.

Stopping at the gate, Kolya felt exhausted. Leaning on one of the pillars, he attracted the owner’s attention.

GRANDFATHER STEPAN (quite severely): Good day to you, Nikolai! As far as I remember, during our previous meeting, someone promised to quit this whole matter. Or maybe there was nothing like that?

KOLYA: Yes it was, it was, Stepan Fyodorovich. I remember everything. But doctors say you can’t quit quickly: your body will suffer an enormous shock.

GRANDFATHER STEPAN (with a grin): I see! Well, since the doctors said this, don’t hurry. You can quit like that for fifty years! That’s fine: you quit and drink. It’s a dream, not a cure!

KOLYA (massaging his temples with his fingers): Stop kidding, old man!

GRANDFATHER STEPAN (seriously): I’m not making fun of you, Nikolai. You’re a good guy, but drinking will ruin you.

Kolya treated Stepan Fyodorovich with respect, so his words and stern tone made the guy come to his senses and feel a little better.

KOLYA: I know, Stepan Fyodorovich. Yes, I’ll quit… I’ll definitely quit!… Only let me come to my senses. You know how my mother died… Well, you know.

Kolya fell silent and thought. Stepan Fyodorovich was also silent.

KOLYA: You better tell me how are things with you. Any news? Haven’t seen you for ages.

GRANDFATHER STEPAN (upset): Alas, I have a rough time too, Nikolai. The bourgeoisie are putting pressure on me. They are putting pressure!

KOLYA (fussy, clenching his fists): Who is putting pressure on you? Why are they putting pressure?

GRANDFATHER STEPAN (upset): Well, you know why, I told you.

KOLYA: Sorry, grandfather, I don’t remember.

GRANDFATHER STEPAN (in a mocking tone): Of course you don’t remember! You need to drink more, you see, and you won’t even remember yourself.

KOLYA: That’s enough, grandfather. I said, I’ll quit! Let me know everything, maybe I can help you a little bit.

GRANDFATHER STEPAN: It’s highly unlikely. There is a spring on my land, you might have heard about it?

KOLYA (with a grin): Of course, I heard. Who in our village hasn’t heard about it?

GRANDFATHER STEPAN: The village is a trifle, but they in the capital found out about it, and now they are putting pressure on me through our chairman. They told me: “Sell the land”. How can I sell it? It’s the most precious thing I have… Well, after my granddaughter, of course…

KOLYA: tell them to go to hell!

GRANDFATHER STEPAN: I’ve told them!

KOLYA: So what?

GRANDFATHER STEPAN: “You’ll end up in a bad way”, old guy, they said.

KOLYA: Do you think they won’t get off your back?

GRANDFATHER STEPAN: These sort of guys won’t. The deal smells like money, and these phizes love money, it shows.

KOLYA (patting the old man on the shoulder): Don’t be down. If hack and slash begin, my guys and I will stand up for you as one. You know it!

GRANDFATHER STEPAN: I know, but how can you compete with these bulls? They have money, they will buy everything and everyone with it. What’s behind you?

KOLYA (hitting his palm with his fist): The truth is behind us, grandfather. Do you remember what the guy in the movie said: Truth is strength? It’s about us!

GRANDFATHER STEPAN: Thank you, Kolya. You’re a good guy. But I’ll probably do it myself. I don’t want to put you in trouble.

At that moment Alina appeared on the porch. She was a slender, pretty girl about twenty-five with long curly light brown hair. She was wearing a light summer dress, showing the girl’s figure and making her bright appearance even more impressive.

Alina greeted Kolya with a nod. Nikolai didn’t nod back. He was struck by the girl’s beauty and didn’t hear what Stepan Fyodorovich was telling him.

GRANDFATHER STEPAN (pulling Nikolai’s forearm): … Isn’t it true, Kolya?

KOLYA (comes to his senses, blinking): No fear, old man, we defeated the Germans, and we’ll cope with these ghouls!

Looked like Kolya’s final phrase hit the mark, because the old man nodded with satisfaction and squeezed the guy’s hand tightly. After that, Stepan Fyodorovich turned his back on Nikolai and slowly walked towards the house. Nikolai stood at the gate for a while, watching Alina gracefully cross the yard. He stood frozen until the girl disappeared behind one of the buildings in her grandfather’s large yard. Nikolai sighed sadly, straightened his tousled hair, and headed for his house, looking back now and then in hope of seeing Alina again.

Scene 7

Deciding that she had rested enough, Maria got up from the sofa, put on rubber gloves, took a bucket in one hand, a mop in another hand and headed to the bathroom. She heard the sound of the front door opening and closing with a bang, then footsteps, and a cough right behind her back. Maria stopped and froze, not daring to turn to the man who entered. Although she knew for sure, of course, that it was her brother Nikolai.

KOLYA (with schadenfreude): I wonder, I wonder, what is Your Excellency doing on our farters’ land? Have they really kicked you out of the institute?

MARIA (without turning around, looks out the window with wide eyes): Kolya, can we talk normally, like a brother and a sister? KOLYA: Hi there, don’t be my scare! You want to talk? So you should have come when our mother… well… was alive. There were so many topic points: medicines, and doctors, and “nobody needs me, Kolenka.” Why didn’t you come? We could talk a lot at the family table!

MARIA (calmly, but sternly): Kolya, I explained it to you a thousand times. I drove away because I wanted to help our mother. Living in the city, all I thought about was how to create this damn medicine to cure her. All the while I thought only about her. Isn’t it clear?

KOLYA (sadly, almost crying): Tell me this for the thousandth and first time. Probably mom will feel better. (He pointed his finger upward). Even on the death bed she repeated: “Masha, my Mashenka will come, and I will immediately feel better!” Mashenka didn’t come. She has arrived now. But she is five years late…

Maria still stood with her back to Kolya. Her eyes immediately filled with tears, and they rolled down her cheeks in large drops. After standing there for a few seconds, the girl moved to the bathroom, still not turning to face her brother.

Kolya was totally exhausted. Memories of his mother seemed to have taken most of his energy. He sat down heavily on the sofa, put his hands on the knees of his long legs, and gazed at something on the floor. Maria returned with a bucket of water, placed it in the center of the room and began sweeping out litter from the corners, using a homemade broom she had found in the entrance hall.

KOLYA (with squinty eyes): What are you doing?

MARIA (surprised): What do you mean? I’m cleaning the house!

KOLYA (with a drunken grin and disgusting voice): “I’m cleaning the house!” It’s the right word! It’s like I told you: “clear the house”, and you misheard me.

Kolya burst out laughing. Maria stared blankly at him. Kolya abruptly came up to the bucket of water, put his foot on the rim, and in one sharp movement dropped the bucket on its side, so all the water poured out onto the floor.

KOLYA (sarcastically): Clean the house, and then clear the house. I repeat for the slow-witted: clear the house means “get away from the house”!

And Kolya, looking at his sister with contempt, showed her the following gesture: with the help of the index and middle fingers of his right hand, he imitated steps. After these words, he left the house and walked towards the gate with his signature gait: slightly bending his legs at the knees and swinging his long arms.

MARIA (raising the bucket): I hate you! Dipso! Cocky mug! Scum! Pig! No, you’re even worse than a pig: it would be offended now! You should be the subject of our experiments. It’s you who must be chipped. Maybe you can come to your senses this way only?!

Suddenly it dawned on Maria. She straightened her back abruptly and dropped the bucket onto the floor again. Maria thought there were many candidates in the village who had nothing to lose, take at least Kolya’s friends, or rather his drinking buddies. This is a great fund for scientific experiments!

The girl hurried to look for her purse. Having discovered it, Maria took out her phone and selected Fyodor’s number. He picked up the phone almost immediately.

FYODOR (a surprised voice comes from the phone): Hello?!

MARIA: Hello, partner. You’d be surprised, but I need your help. I have an idea of how we can continue our research!

Scene 8

The intense quarrel with Nikolai did no good for Maria’s working spirits. For a long time, she paced back and forth, not knowing which way to turn. Finally, the girl sat down on the sofa again. Looking around the living room, she remembered what it looked like long ago, in her childhood. A scene from that time recurred to her again.

Masha is twelve. She stands in the living room. Everything around her is spotlessly clean, every subject is in its place. Mother comes in.

MOTHER (looks around, putting her palms together at chest level): My God, Mashenka! Did you do it all?

Maria nods, looking pleased.

MOTHER: That’s fine! Good for you! What about the kid’s room? Is it clean too?

Mother turns and goes to the children’s room. Maria’s face suddenly changes, and she runs to intercept her mother and prevent her from entering the room.

MASHA: Stop, mom. There… uh… it’s not done yet.

But mother had already pushed the door and saw that the nursery was a terrible mess.

Mother frowned and looked sternly at her daughter.

MASHA (avoiding her eyes, getting angry): Why are you looking like that? Kolya did this. He was meant to clean the nursery and I was meant to clean the living room. As you can see, he hasn’t even started.

MOTHER: And where is he?

MASHA: Where, where…somewhere! He had escaped to the street with his friend.

MOTHER: What Mityai do you mean?

MASHA: Sure, he’s with him. (Sighs.) Mom, after all, it’s all your fault!

MOTHER (surprised, putting her hands on her hips): I like that! Will you explain please?

MASHA: You fuss over him like over a kid, but he’s no longer a child! He’s nine!

MOTHER (smiles and puts her hand on Maria’s shoulder): Darling, no matter how old you are, you will always be children for me. As for Kolya, let’s consider this… creative chaos!

MASHA (smirks): Hmm, it’s interesting! There is no creativity, but there is chaos!

MOTHER: Why not? What about chess?

MASHA: Mom, are you serious? Who needs these chess?

MOTHER: I need them, my daughter! I need…

Maria’s memory ceaased. She smiled sadly, brushed away a tear, and remembered another episode from her life. Here she is, a young university graduate, standing in the middle of a cluttered laboratory. It was her first day at work. Fyodor nicknamed Point Head is standing next to her, he is her fellow graduate who got a job the same day Maria got it.

FYODOR (with his eyes round in surprise): Holy vibrios! And how will we work here?

MARIA (looks suspiciously at Fyodor): How, how… First let’s start cleaning!

FYODOR (spreads his hands, turns to the door): No, no, I graduated from uni with honors not for going through this junk!

Maria grinned. Several minutes passed. Maria was sittinh at the desk with her legs dangling. In her hand she had a big red apple, which she periodically nibbled on. Fyodor walked in front of her, taking objects from a heap in the middle of the laboratory and carrying them out the door. He shot glances at Maria, not hiding his resentment.

MARIA: Why are you looking at me like that? We agreed: you take it all away, I wash the floor and put everything in its place.

Remembering that day, Maria smiled, looked again at the room she had to clean up, got up from the sofa and continued cleaning. A few hours later, Maria stood in the yard next to the metal barrel where she burned old things. Her eyes were fixed on the horizon, where the fading rays of the setting sun were still visible. The north wind forced Maria to grab a long knitted jacket from home; she was forced to wrap herself in it, shivering at times when the wind cut through it.

Looking at the sunset, Maria worried about her brother. She imagined him in some garage, where his loyal drinking buddies sat around him. They empty one bottle after another and cackle loudly. Kolya tries to relax, pretending that he is also having fun, but from the look on his face it’s clear that he is thinking about something else and feels concerned. The phone rang. Maria reluctantly took it in her hand, looking at the screen.

MARIA (before picking up the phone): Fyodor! Of course, who else needs me in this world? Only the crazy programmer from my previous work!

The girl answered the phone, smiling.

MARIA (with a shade of humour): The laboratory. The genius microbiologist Maria is speaking. How can I help you?

FEDOR (laughs): Hello again! Looks like it’s you who needs help, Masha. Are you turning crazy? Have nothing to do?

MARIA (sarcastically): Yeah, nothing! Come here, we’ll idle away together! I just need an assistant.

FYODOR: Okay, I’ll be there tomorrow!

MARIA: Stop mocking me! He will be here tomorrow!

FEDOR: I’m serious. It’s kind of dull here without you. Tomorrow I’m taking a vacation and coming to see you.

MARIA: Who will let you go? Especially now.

FYODOR: I won’t ask them. It’s settled, wait for me tomorrow. You’ll tell me more about your ideas. That’s all, astalavista! Smack-smack!

Kissing sounds are heard in the phone.

MARIA: Listen, it’s cool! I am waiting! Till tomorrow!

Masha hung up. She didn’t take her partner’s playful advances seriously, so she never responded to his “smack-smack” and similar antics. The girl stood for a while in the yard, looking at the dying fire in the barrel, and entered the house.

The end of the episode.

Episode 2

Scene 1

On one of the countless regional roads, which distinguished feature was multi-layered asphalt and colorful patches, a matte black Toyota Land Cruiser of a Pickup configuration stopped. Inside the car was a broad-shouldered skin-headed man of about forty or forty-five wearing dark jeans and a tight black T-shirt, showing his beefed-out arms. On the man’s wrist was a rare commander’s watch made during the period of stagnation, at Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev’s times. The man was holding a smartphone, with which he was trying to call a person indicated in his phone book as Boss. But every call ended with the annoying phrase: “The subscriber is busy.”

The man was nervous but kept trying. Finally someone answered on the other end of the line.

BOSS (in a tired voice): Hello.

SKIN-HEADED (in a drawling manner): Rudolfich, you, like Smolny, are hard to reach!

BOSS (ignores his words): Something urgent? I have no time to waste. Spit it out.

SKIN-HEADED (starts to speak faster): The village with a spring, remember?

BOSS: Well…

SKIN-HEADED: People are charged, equipment is fueled.

BOSS: Did you find out everything?

SKIN-EHEADED: Yes, there is an old farter there and a cunt with him. Right now we’ll scare them a little, and they’ll sign everything like one o’clock. Don’t worry, Rudolfych, they aren’t the first we’ve brought to heel!

BOSS: Be careful, Ignat, times are different now. We should talk to people. Psychology, my friend, makes life easier. Got it?

IGNAT (a stupid smile appears on his face): No.

BOSS (sighs): It’s a pity. Well, forget it.

IGNAT: So what?

BOSS: What do you mean by “what?”

IGNAT: Do you give me a green light for starting the operation?

BOSS: You’ve said it: People are refueled, equipment is charged.

IGNAT: Wow, did I say it that way?

BOSS: No, Ignat, I’m kidding! I’m trying to make you smile. But in vain, as I can see. In short, you better go as you are. Without a smile, you’ll look even more terrifying. I give the green light. Shift yourself to the area. If something or someone is in the way, bring them down to hell.

IGNAT: So, it’s well under way? Have you ironed it out with the governor? Or who is the point man on this land?

BOSS (sighs again): Ignat, let me prepare a report in writing and give it to you by morning.

IGNAT (with a surprised face): Are you serious?!

BOSS (shouting into the phone): No, damn it, Ignat, you have some nerve! Do I have to report you? If I said “green light”, I mean “green light”. If I say stop, it means stop. Turn off your head and just follow my instructions. When I need you to turn on, I’ll tell you. Is it clear?

IGNAT (upset): Yes…

BOSS: So, forward!

The boss hung up. Ignat threw his smartphone onto the passenger seat and cursed. Got out of the car. He climbed the hill behind him. From there, the man could see the parking lot for special purpose equipment: an excavator, two dump trucks, a bulldozer, a manipulator, and a slightly rusty Niva. Drivers and workers gathered in a circle in the very center of the parking lot: they smoked, talked loudly, and some even played cards. Noticing Ignat, everyone froze, waiting for a signal. He solemnly raised his hand, waited a few seconds, then waved, calling on the drivers to take their seats and move in the indicated direction.

Scene 2

Maria usually slept for five or six hours, and it was enough for her. However, the village sleep refused to let the girl escape from its embrace. Getting out of bed with an effort, Maria stretched and went to the yard to perform her morning washing routine. The sewer system in the house had turned off a long time ago because Kolya was too busy to spare time for his house. After taking an outdoor shower, Maria put on a light summer suit and put the kettle on the gas stove to charge herself with energy through a meager breakfast: tea and cheese sandwiches she had prepared for future use back in the city.

Despite yesterday’s efficient cleaning, there were still places in the house that claimed attention. Maria walked around the house, making today’s work schedule.

Suddenly the girl heard someone enter the house. Maria hurried to the hallway. A man about forty-five or fifty stood at the door. His appearance inspired confidence: a respectable man wearing a suit and polished shoes, gray hair well styled with a comb and hairspray, a fairly smart face, clever and kind eyes.

GUEST (smiling and extending his hand): Well, hello, Maria!

MARIA: Have we met?

GUEST: You hardly remember me, the last time we met you were knee-high to a duck. Maria tried to remember the man. His face seemed familiar to her, but not to the extent that she could call the stranger by name.

GUEST: Well, you don’t remember me, so let me introduce myself. Ivan Alekseevich, chairman of this wonderful collective farm.

MARIA: You mean a head of administration?

IVAN: Let’s use the phrase “chairman of the collective farm” – this approach makes communicating with the population easier. It just so happened that they trust the chairmen more than the mayors, peers, administrations and other overseas evil spirits.

MARIA: Okay. As you like, Ivan Alekseevich. Would you like some tea?

IVAN: No, I never drink at work… I mean… I don’t drink tea either. I have a headache after that… Also… Although no, not also… It just aches.

Ivan Alekseevich blushed.

MARIA (taken aback): Some water?

IVAN: Well, yes! I’ll drink some water. Our water is fine. Did you notice?

MARIA (smiles): Of course, Ive grown up here!

IVAN: Well, what did we have at that time? And now, we are even preparing to receive tourists. Now, we’ll come to an agreeement with your grandfather Stepan Fyodorovich, and he will let people visit his spring, and pilgrims will come to us!

Ivan Alekseevich kept silence for a while, dreaming with his chin raised high. Maria scooped up water from the bucket with a glass and handed it to the chairman. He took a sip and sat down on a stool at the table opposite Maria, who had returned from the kitchen with sandwiches.

IVAN: Maria, pardon my asking the indiscreet question, but how long will you stay here? You know what the BBC said? “For life”.

MARIA (surprised): BBC?

IVAN: Yes, BBC. It’s real name is Grandma Shura.

MARIA (smiling): Ah, Grandma Shura! Well, Grandma Shura seems to know more than I do, because I haven’t decided yet.

IVAN: Get used to it, Grandma Shura really knows a lot. She often teaches me how to deal with state affairs. I’ll make notes!

MARIA: Well, I haven’t decided how long I’ll stay in the village yet. I’m having a tough time right now. I need to take a breath…

IVAN (jabbers): I see, I see! No need to explain it to me, I understand. And I even know how I can help you. Occupational therapy is the best cure for stress. It’s checked, tested, and patented!

MARIA (smiles): Good idea! I’m intrigued!

IVAN: So let’s go straight to the point. I know what kind of education you have, and they also whispered to me about your previous working place. Now, I want to invite you to continue your career on our collective farm as a leading vet.

MARIA (spreads her hands, shaking her head): Oh, no, being a vet is not my thing at all. I prefer to disable animals… I mean, I can… instead of treating them.

IVAN: Calm down, Maria. You will neither treat nor maim anyone. You will be just a salaried vet. All your job duties Semenych will perform; in the spring, he is like that wolf from a child’s game: he only manages to catch eggs. Do you know how many bulls we have?

Maria choked on her sandwich, cleared her throat and sipped tea.

IVAN (embarrassed): Sorry for God’s sake, I forgot that you are having breakfast. Well, for you, Maria, I have a completely different plan. Based on your CV…

MARIA (interrupts the chairman): Where, I’m afraid to ask,

did you get this piece of knowledge about me? Did BBK tell you it, too?

IVAN (corrected): BBC.

MARIA: Sorry, BBC. Is the data really from her?

IVAN: No, no, God forbid, Grandma Shura works in a slightly different direction. However, I personally track valuable specialists who stray into our village by mistake. How else? With our alcoholics you can’t raise the collective farm from its knees!

Maria remembered Nikolai and sympathized with the chairman.

IVAN: Oh, what am I doing? I chat too much. I think you should see everything for yourself. This way, you will decide whether to agree on my offer or send chairman Ivan Alekseevich to hell. I invite you to an exciting journey on our farm, Maria!

Ivan Alekseevich smiled mysteriously and winked at the girl. The man’s face won her favor, and Maria accepted the invitation without thinking twice.

MARIA: Please wait for me outside, Ivan Alekseevich. I’ll tidy myself up and join you.

IVAN (smiles): But don’t overdo it! I don’t want anyone to take you straight to the registry office on the way to the farm! We haven’t seen such beautiful girls since Perestroika!

Maria smiled shyly, and the chairman left the house.

Scene 3

The road to the farm wasn’t short. Ivan Alekseevich kept apologizing to Maria now and then for the discomfort of going on foot.

IVAN (without noticing it, he became less formal): You see, Maria, my driver, Vitalka, is the best of guys! (The chairman stretched a thumb up on his right hand). But he has a problem: when a drop gets into his mouth, that’s the end, welcome to the rodeo. God knows what I did to fight his addiction, but he still periodically reaches for the glass. What can I do? Can I sew his mouth shut? You and I are going on foot now, Masha, because Vitalka is on drink.

MARIA (calmingly): That’s all right, Ivan Alekseevich. Hiking benefits the whole body, by the way. As for your driver, such things happen even to the best of us. He will sleep, get up sober and return to work. He knows that your patience is limited. After all, you can fire him.

IVAN (shakes his head): You’re a bit wrong here, Maria. Well, I’ll fire Vitalka, and what comes next? Do you think there is a queue of drivers on my farm? Far from it! There is only one problem in rural areas these days: personnel. Earlier, there were two problems: money and people. It’s different with money now – take as much as you can take away, just don’t forget to report. But as for the staff, things didn’t change much. The young and promising fled to the city. Well, let’s take you, for example. Only alcoholics and addicts are left here. Your brother, for example… uh…

The chairman blushed terribly. He felt awkward calling Maria’s brother an alcoholic.

IVAN (returning to a more formal manner): Sorry, Maria.

MARIA (sighing sadly): Don’t apologize, Ivan Alekseevich. Unfortunately, you are telling the truth. It’s painful for me to watch that such a gifted child became this third-rate wnen adult.

IVAN (can’t decide whether he should use formal or informal style and begins to alternate them): I’ll tell you the following, Masha. He is far from a mediocre person. Nikolai has enormous potential! It’s all the fault of vodka, it interferes with everything. If you succeed in helping him fight this evil habit, you will get a completely different brother. He is communicative, the makings of a leader are also present, and I don’t have to tell you about his brainpower. It’s a pity, of course, it’s a great pity! Do you know how many such guys we have in the village? Everyone has his talent. If something happened that could make everyone stop drinking one day, that would be just wonderful! We would arrange an extraordinary collective farm here! Not a collective farm but no less than a corporation!

Meanwhile, the chairman and Maria had already reached the farm. Here the girl saw something she didn’t expect at all: new buildings, renovations, all clean and tidy, and modern equipment.

MARIA (returns to the conversation): You know, Ivan Alekseevich, it’s possible in theory. Modern science knows many methods that can affect some of humans’ weaknesses by total elimination of them from their consciousness. In the laboratory where I worked, we dealt with similar issues.

IVAN: Wow! Probably you would like to see our laboratory? Of course, we deal with more down-to-earth issues there. But perhaps they will be interesting to you too.

The chairman led Maria to a detached building. Entering it, the girl saw a quite decent laboratory and no personnel.

IVAN: Meet the pride of our collective farm, Masha, the secret laboratory named after Ivan Alekseevich. Here, we had a plan to advance science. But for now, we had to pause: the person who promoted this science had left for the capital, where they pay much more for science.

MARIA (looking around with admiration): It’s wonderful! Ivan Alekseevich, I would never have thought that in such a… village…

IVAN (with a grin): In such a hole, you mean? It’s okay, you can call a spade a spade.

MARIA: Yes, you are right. I didn’t think I’d see something like that here. Where did you get all this equipment from? It’s very expensive!

IVAN: Maria, dear, we are collective farmers, but we are not just out of the trees. A large portion of the profit from agriculture is invested in technology. In this lab, for instance, experiments such as plant genome editing have been conducted. We have results already, and they are of real use. For some crops, we have increased the yield many times, made them more weather resistant, and also adapted them to pest control. I can speak about it for hours! And here is also the thing we are proud of: a bioreactor for growing meat from one animal cell. But this is still a secret project, so I can’t tell you much. Well? Do you like it? Will you join us?

MARIA (embarrassed): I don’t even know, Ivan Alekseevich. This is a very different direction. I’m a neuroscientist. That’s quite another kettle of fish. Besides…

Ivan (interrupted his interlocutor, putting his hand on her shoulder and looking into her eyes): Masha, frankly speaking, we desperately need people like you! No matter we are a village. Times have changed. Money, resources, equipment – we have everything, they give us everything. But I have to find people myself. Where can I find them? The locals don’t want to get smart, and the smart ones don’t want to come here. That’s why I set sights on you. Why do you think so many smart foreigners lived in Rus centures ago? Yes, because our Proshka never needs anything! In the forest, there is honey and berries; in the ground turnips grow on their own: rivers are full of all kinds of fish. Take as much as you can take away, and you don’t need to invent anything. This is how our fellow countrymen live. But you and I understand that it’s not the way to live life!

The chairman glared at Masha. She understood that saying a simple “no” would not work.

MARIA: May I think it over?

IVAN (removes his hand from the girl’s shoulder and looks away): Of course, my dear girl! By the way, I don’t care what you are going to do in this laboratory. You can start with the research you did before at your previous work. I’m sure we can apply any your idea. The main thing for me is that you stay with us!

The girl’s eyes lit up. The idea of continuing her experiments was very tempting.

MARIA: What if my experiments require additional equipment?

IVAN: No problem! We will order everything you need and as much as you need!

MARIA: Even if this equipment is from German?

IVAN (laughing): Yes, even if it’s from the Czech Republic!

Scene 4

The porch at the village store’s staff entrance was among the favorite meeting places for those who enjoyed stiff drinks. There, you could meet anyone: there was only one store in the village, and all roads led there. Nikolai, a regular customer at the events, as usual, was telling his friends interesting stories.

NIKOLAI: Well, I said to him: “You, Makar, exchanged boxers with Big-Bellied yesterday.” And he said he didn’t remember. It’s okay, I thought his wife would remind him: she keeps records of his underwear. And here…not ours! Well, she said, come up to me, dear Makarushka. She wrapped her hand in those boxers and gave him a hack in the face. That’s where he got the black eye, and you say he fought Wad. If he gonna fight Wad, he must first defeat his wife. Or survive at least one round with her. But that is not the whole story. The next day Makar…

At that moment, Kolya saw Alina a short distance away. The girl walked quickly towards the store.

MITYAY (looking forward to hearing the whole Kolya’s story): So?

KOLYA (shifts his gaze from Alina to Mitya): What?

MITAYA: What happened to Makar the next day?

KOLYA (clearly forgot what he was talking about): Makar has left for the neighboring region to work on side.

MITYAY (irritated): Kolya, damn it. To hell with his work on side! You were talking about his boxers!

KOLYA (waves off): Go to hell with your boxers, Mityai! Wait a little, I have things to do.

Kolya rushed after Alina and caught up with her at the store entrance. Shocked Mityai saw him disappear in surprise.

Kolya made Alina stop, touching her shoulder. The girl shrugged off at first, but, recognizing Kolya, she relaxed and even smiled slightly.

ALINA (jokingly): Kolya, is that you? I wouldn’t recommend repeating this. The reflex might work. Elbowing. Do you know this? KOLYA: I know. The man standing in front of you is not an amateur, by the way. I want to ask you: how is your grandfather? Did they call him? I mean those who want the spring.

ALINA (sighing): Grandfather is on edge. Of course, he won’t be scared that easily. But they will get on his nerves. We will see. When he reaches for the double shotgun, there will be a foul-up!

KOLYA (laughs): Yes, Fyodorovich – he’s a fighter.

Alina smiled. Kolya, noticing that the girl had become more friendly, decided to flirt.

KOLYA: Why are you walking here alone? Now there are so many strange guys wandering around here.

ALINA (with squinty eyes): What kind of strange guys do you mean?

KOLYA (scratching the back of his head): Well, all sorts of drunk or inadequate ones.

ALINA (smiling and looking at Kolya): Drunk, you say? Well-well.

Alina waved her palm in front of her nose, showing her dislike for the smell of alcohol emanating from her interlocutor.

KOLYA (blushed): Oh, I see. Yes, I did it, I drank a little bit. It’s a friend’s B-day… his daughter’s…

ALINA: Sorry, but I can’t stand the smell of alcohol on men.

KOLYA (shunting on another topic): So… this… what was I talking about? I’m serious, you shouldn’t walk alone through the forest belt. What if some maniac is hiding there? It’s better to spend the extra ten minutes and go around on the road.

ALINA (laughs): Who? Maniac? Kolya, don’t be ridiculous. Do you think my grandfather did not teach his beloved granddaughter close-in combat techniques? He’s a candidate master!

KOLYA: Wow! I am also a CMS.

ALINA (laughs): You? CMS?

KOLYA (offended): Don’t believe me? I’m serious!

ALINA: Really?

KOLYA: I swear!

ALINA (with disbelief): And in what sport?

KOLYA: In chess!

Alina laughed even louder.

ALINA: You’re funny, Kolya.

Kolya became even more offended. He thought: “Funny? Doesn’t look like a compliment!”

Alina looked at her watch. The girl’s face turned concerned.

ALINA: Sorry Kolya, I’m having fun with you, but it’s time to leave. I promised my grandfather I would be home for lunch.

KOLYA (through clenched teeth, barely audible): You won, granddad, thank you for that!

ALINA: Did you say something?

KOLYA: No, nothing! Say hello to your grandfather!

ALINA: Sure.

KOLYA (timidly taking the girl’s hand in his palm): And, Alina, I have already told your grandfather: if anything happens, call me! I’m always ready to help.

Letting Alina’s hand go, Kolya turned his back on her and walked towards his friends with his inimitable gait.

The girl sadly watched Nikolai return to the company, them handing him a glass filled with alcohol that he drank to the bottom with a deft practicized move. Shaking her head sadly, Alina turned to the store door and disappeared inside the dark cool room. Nikolai continued to play the role of a man involved in the conversation with his drinking buddies, but in reality he thought about one thing only: he had to prove to Alina at all costs that he was good not only at chess.

Scene 5

On giving a tour of the farm, the chairman decided to walk Maria back home, but she refused, explaining that she wanted to go to the church on the way and light a candle for the repose of her mother’s soul.

When Masha entered the church, it looked empty of people. Maria approached the altar and was about to perform the ceremony when she heard footsteps behind her. The girl turned around and saw priest Kyrill.

KYRILL: Good afternoon to you, Maria. I do apologize. Go on, I won’t interfere.

MARIA: You don’t bother me at all, Kyrill. On the contrary, I wanted to talk to you, and here you are.

KYRILL: I am always ready to listen to you, Maria. Speak.

MARIA: You know, Kyrill, when I returned home, I promised myself never to conduct experiments on people and animals anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I sincerely believe in God, and I always did. What happened to my last patient is a sin I will never atone for. It will haunt me until my death.

Kyrill listened attentively to Masha. His face showed no emotion.

MARIA (continues): Everything was different before. When I started working at the research institute, I was sure I would benefit people. I will make discoveries that will change the world and help humans say goodbye to many diseases considered incurable. But when faced failures, I had doubts. As a result, I was completely disappointed.

Maria’s eyes were filled with tears. Kyrill listened to her silently.

MARIA (tries to restrain herself from sobbing): Nothing worked… Nothing! So I came here. Hell knows why… Sorry. For some reason I came to this farm. I almost promised the chairman to start working in his laboratory. But the worst thing, Kyrill, is that I want to do it again: to carry out what I was doing before! I am completely at a loss. I’m like a drug addict lured by a dose again and ready to run after it as fast as I can.

KYRILL (after a pause): Maria, all you are doing now is escaping from yourself. I see that it’s difficult for you to give up the goals you had set in your youth. And even failures couldn’t force you to change your guidelines. Higher powers are telling you that you are moving in the right direction. You try to turn away from the path, but Providence brings you back. You are used to explaining everything from a scientific point of view, but science is powerless here. That’s why they say: “divine power”. It is the thing that guides you. Just think about how many discoveries on our planet would not have happened if people gave up everything halfway through. Do you think their ways were easy? Do you think the burden of responsibility weighs only on you? We see only the results: Darwin discovered this, Einstein discovered that! But we don’t know what these people had to go through on the way to their discoveries. It looks like you are following this path, Maria.

MARIA (with admiration): Wow! I don’t even know what to say. You know how to motivate people!

KYRILL: Sometimes it’s enough for people to hear their thoughts said by someone else. This gives an incredible effect.

MARIA (thoughtfully): You’re right. You said exactly what I’ve always thought. But how could I know that these thoughts were true? At least, I’m not the only one who thinks so, this changes everything. So this is not schizophrenia!

KYRILL (smiling): Well, that’s fine! Let us consider that today you are one step closer to pacation. And now, with your permission, I will leave you alone. Repair, as they say, won’t do it itself.

Kyrill retreated to one of the inside premises of the church. Mary began the ceremony for which she had come. Having lit a candle and said a prayer, the girl headed for the exit. Hearing a noise from the room where Kyrill had disappeared, Maria looked inside, wanting to thank the priest for the recent conversation. She found Kyrill working without church vestments. The priest was mixing mortar for plastering the walls. He was wearing a tight T-shirt, showing his shredded and slender figure. Noticing that Maria was looking at him, Kyrill was embarrassed. Without thinking, he reached for the cassock hanging on a hanger, but then he relaxed, put the shovel aside and came close to Maria.

At that moment, Maria felt the priest inspire strange feelings in her: it seemed to her that he had the very features she found attractive in men: wisdom, religiosity, male beauty and strength. For a moment, Masha thought a spark had run between them.

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