LITMIR.BIZ

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already a lost person in every sense of the word. In a couple of months, it will be fifteen years since Susanna and I are married.

      VALENTIN (kindly): Oh! Congratulations!

      YAKOV (sadly): Thank you, but… Somehow, this date does not add joy and optimism to me. You've seen how we are with her… My son is thirteen, an adult already. Then at school, then with friends-girlfriends. He doesn't come home, almost. But… It is understandable.

      Valentin looks sadly at his friend, looks around, notices a bench – invites him to sit down with a gesture.

      VALENTIN (kindly):

      YAKOV (looks at his watch, shakes his head in resignation): Come on, I'm already late anyway.

      They sit down on a bench.

      VALENTIN (kindly): And where are you late? Something important?

      YAKOV (sadly): Yes, it's my mother's birthday today. Here, my wife and I were going to look at the celebration, (she points to the package in her hand) we bought a gift and something for the table. Well… as you saw, it didn't come to a joint campaign.

      VALENTIN (kindly): Yash, don't get upset. In this state, a holiday is not a holiday and life is not life. Tell me better, what happened with Susanna there? Why has family life brought you to such a state? After all, everything should be completely different? What's wrong? Where is the error?

      YAKOV (sadly): Yes, if I knew where the mistake was, Valya, I would have corrected it a long time ago. And so… I'm afraid that my family equation is not at all with one variable. And it has not been possible for me to solve it for a long time.

      VALENTIN (seriously): Wait a minute. But if everything is so bad, if everything is not a joy – so why not get a divorce?

      YAKOV (sadly): Oh, Val. I hadn't thought of that. What a divorce. We have a son, and it makes sense to disperse. Who needs us now? When we were young-then there were still chances to build something with someone, and now… and it's wrong – divorce. No, I didn't think about it.

      VALENTIN (seriously): So what? That's how you live, not because you want to live together, but because it seems like you just have to?

      YAKOV (surprised): Well, yes. And what, someone lives somehow differently?

      VALENTIN (seriously): Yes, many people live differently. For example, I live differently.

      YAKOV (cheerfully): No, brother, I don't take you into account. You and Alla are still just having a candy-bouquet period. It will pass, and it will pass quickly, then you will understand me.

      VALENTIN (seriously): I hope that I will not understand, because our period, as you put it, candy-bouquet, has been going on for nine years.

      YAKOV (incredulously): How much?

      VALENTIN (seriously): Nine, you heard right.

      YAKOV (incredulously): I didn't understand. And why are you so happy then, as if you've been dating for at most six months? What the hell is this? No, old man, you must be laughing at me. It doesn't happen that way… And then, your Alla is all shining next to you, like a polished nickel! I have never seen such a married couple! When I saw you two together, I actually thought that this young girl was your mistress.

      VALENTIN (with warmth): We are the same age, Yash.

      YAKOV (incredulously): Don't lie!

      VALENTIN (with warmth): Well, almost one. She is younger by a couple of years, but what does this change?

      YAKOV (incredulously): Yes, she looks twenty years younger than me, and we are the same age! However… to tell the truth, you yourself look younger than your years… either I'm older than my own…

      VALENTIN (with warmth): Just a happy woman always looks great. A happy woman has no age. She is always young, fresh, energetic and attractive.

      Yakov scratches the back of his head.

      YAKOV (sadly): What a day it is for such a day! Some disorders. First, I spent twice as much money on a gift as I planned, then I had a fight with my wife, now I've met you with your beautiful Alla – I don't want to live at all now!

      The beautiful Alla comes on the stage. She does not come close, she makes herself felt from afar to her husband. He notices her, gets up from the bench.

      VALENTIN (cheerfully): So! Yasha, give it to me… Cheer up and smile! You're going to your mom's birthday party. Leave all your worries on this bench. Get up and go celebrate, and tomorrow let's meet you and me in that (pointing to a cafe somewhere there) cafe, say at one o'clock! I think I understand what's going on, there are thoughts on how you can sort everything out. Tomorrow is a day off, can you come up?

      YAKOV (sadly, looking towards the cafe): Per hour?

      VALENTIN (cheerfully): Aha!

      YAKOV (doomed, on an exhalation): Ah…, I can.

      VALENTIN (cheerfully): Well, that's it, then, it's done, so until tomorrow?

      Yakov gets up, the friends shake hands with each other. Valentin goes to Alla, Alla nods goodbye to Yakov and waves to him with a pen. Yakov nods to her in response, they disperse.

      Valentin and Alla leave the stage, holding the handle. They are good together.

      Yakov turns around, looks after the departing couple.

      YAKOV (openly envious): Dddaaaa…

      ZTM.

      2 Visiting my mother

      Mom's apartment.

      A cozy, modest home of the average Russian pensioner.

      Aurora Moiseevna is busy with the housework, a little nervous. The small table has been set for a long time, there are no guests, she alone puts the room in order, puts the final touches so that everything is decorous and noble.

      Yakov enters the apartment.

      YAKOV (not too festive, more businesslike): Hey, Mom. Happy Birthday to you.

      Aurora Moiseevna turns at her son's voice.

      AURORA MOISEEVNA (delighted, but a little nervous): Hello, my son. Thanks. Why didn't we go for so long? Why one? Where is Susanna?

      YAKOV (calmly): We had a fight…, a little.

      AURORA MOISEEVNA (restrained): Because of what?

      YAKOV (undressing): Because of whom!

      AURORA MOISEEVNA (restrained): Because of me?

      YAKOV (passing by, passing a package with a gift): Well… in a way. Here's a gift, here, and there's something for the table. Happy holidays, Mom!

      He kisses his mother on the cheek, hugs her, goes to the table.

      Mom is upset, she is not up to a gift, she puts the package aside without looking at it.

      AURORA MOISEEVNA (in frustration): Thank you, of course, but… Wait a minute. Like in some way? What happened, Yasha?

      YAKOV (carefully examining the table, taking aim at what is tastier): Mom, what are you doing?.. like a little girl, by God. You don't like her yourself, and it shows. What is not the reason for the quarrel?

      AURORA MOISEEVNA (busily): I'm your mother! My status is supposed to dislike your chosen one, no matter what she is. But this does not give me the right not to respect your choice! And mind you, I have never allowed myself to reproach you for your choice. Yes, I don't like Susanna. I don't like a lot of things about her, but I am aware that she lived in a completely different family, she had completely different ways of life and established views on life. I don't understand how a woman can sleep until eight in the morning, I was taught that you need to get up at six and prepare everything for breakfast for your husband and child. I do not understand why, with a living and healthy hostess, the house is constantly in a mess, dust and dirty dishes. I basically do not understand the passion for entertainment in clubs and restaurants. For me, the age of dancing and a light, reckless, carefree life should end on the same day when a marriage stamp is put in the passport! Your chosen one likes to go to clubs. For corporate parties or there, for a friend's birthday. In fairness, I must say that now

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