We Are Different

Stavl Zosimov

We Are Different

chapter 1

Autumn 1998. KRASNODAR.

On a rainy morning, ARISTARKH (20) and SNEZHANA (20) cross an empty secondary road with tram tracks on a green light. Suddenly, a car from the adjacent alley speeds out, hits them, and drives off. The impact is from the side of ARISTARKH. He falls on Snezhana in the momentum. SNEZHANA falls on the asphalt and hits her temple on the tram rail. She loses consciousness. Through the fog, ARISTARKH sees the car's license plate and a woman behind the wheel who briefly stops to ensure the successful payback and quickly drives away. ARISTARKH looks at the bleeding Snezhana lying next to him and also loses consciousness.

END OF FLASHFORWARD

The camera shows the facade of the music school in the city of Petropavlovsk, North Kazakhstan region.

Summer 1995. Three years earlier

Students of the brass department, trombonist ARISTARKH, trumpeter FRITZ, clarinetist WINT and Percussionist (drums) BALL are lying hungry in their room on the fourth male floor on their beds. FRITZ is lying down with his shoes on.

ARISTARKH

Guys, we have to wait another week for the final exam of the year in our specialty. Maybe we should do something cool?

WINT

Hey, ARISTARKH, they've already settled some female applicants on the third floor. They put the male applicants in the orchestra hall. They probably have money. FRITZ, go and shake them down for some cash.

FRITZ

(Laughing)

You're kidding, WINT? Are you trying to avoid it? Get off your ass and go yourself or let's all go together.

BALL

(Tenderly)

How about I go? I'll be quick.

ARISTARKH gets up from the bed.

ARISTARKH

No BALL, you don't have the guts to shake them down for cash. You better go get some beer later, and the three of us will go to the applicants now. Maybe something will work out.

ARISTARKH walks to the door and exits. WINT and FRITZ stand up and follow ARISTARKH.

The camera shows the building of Kuban State University.

SNEZHANA sits in her room at the easel and paints a landscape with colors. Her mother enters the room.

SNEZHANA’S MOTHER

(Surprised)

You're spouting this nonsense again?

(CONTINUED)

SNEZHANA’S MOTHER (continuing)

(Calm down)

Listen, sweetheart, you can do this as a hobby, but your duty is to continue our family business. Your late father wanted this, so you must first finish university.

SNEZHANA

Don't worry, Mom, Dad won't be disappointed for sure, if there is an afterlife at all. Besides, I have to get into the university on my own. If not, then I'll go to a private university.

In the orchestra hall, there are several folded beds ready and one unfolded. In the middle sits a young man from the village named KOLYA. Suddenly, the door opens and ARISTARKH, WINT, FRITZ enter.

FRITZ

(Impudently and arrogantly)

Salam aleikum, bro, how's it hanging?

KOLYA is slightly scared, but trying to appear confident. WINT reaches out his hand for a handshake.

WINT

WINT.

KOLYA

(With fear)

Nice to meet you, Nikolai.

ARISTARKH sits on the bed next to KOLYA. He puts his hand on KOLYA's shoulder, as an older friend would. KOLYA looks at ARISTARKH with scared anticipation, then looks at FRITZ and WINT in turn. WINT sits on the other side of KOLYA on the bed, while FRITZ grabs a chair and places it with the back facing the bed. He sits down and folds his hands on the back of the chair, like a schoolboy at a desk.

ARISTARKH

(Like a child)

You know, KOLYA, you will succeed. I can see it in your eager eyes. But for further education, and in general, studying well is not enough. You need to be friends with us so that the Kazakhs won't mess with you. They respect us because we stick together.

FRITZ

You know who the Kazakhs are?

KOLYA nods hesitantly.

WINT

The Kazakhs are in their own home here. This used to be Russia, but now it's Kazakhstan. So Brezhnev sold you. And me and FRITZ.

ARISTARKH

es, everyone in short. They are trying to kick out or oppress us, Russians, just because we are Russian. Although look at FRITZ, how Russian he is. His face is fascist.

FRITZ

You're the fascist, I'm a Komsomol member, of pure German descent. And here's WINT – a Jewish German.

KOLYA

Like Hitler?

Everyone laughs.

WINT

No, Hitler is not German, he is Austrian. Like a Cossack and a Russian.

ARISTARKH

And who are you?

KOLYA

I am Russian

ARISTARKH

Oooh, brother. You've made it. But there is a way out and salvation for you.

KOLYA

How?

WINT

It's simple, you just need to install it now.

FRITZ

And you will be under our protection. And the Kazakhs don't bother us because we have a whale.

Fritz pulls a firearm from behind his back and brings it to Kolya's nose.

KOLYA

(With a trembling voice)

I have no money.

Fritz boldly wraps his other hand around Kolya's head and forcefully hits his forehead against his own.

FRITZ

Then Schmuck, pack your things

and get the fuck out of here.

I'm serious, why are you sitting

there?

Fritz throws his head away, like a ball, and straightens his back, showing off his chest tits. Kolya, with trembling hands, takes out a thousand tenge and hands the banknote to Fritz.

KOLYA

(With a trembling voice)

I just have this. This money is for the entire college entrance exams. I didn't bring food from home because it's not cool. I wanted to eat at the cafe here.

Wint takes the banknote from Kolya's hand and looks at it in the light. Then he puts it in his jeans side pocket.

WINT

(Cheered up)

Real. Well, bro, you definitely won't starve here, because there are a ton of pigeons on the roof, and while BALL is running for the poilet, we'll go beat up those pigeons for a snack.

chapter 2

SNEZHANA pushes her way through the crowd of applicants to the notice board and looks through the lists of those who passed the entrance exams for the Krasnodar University, but she does not find herself there. Teacher OSTAP GRIGORYEVICH approaches her.

OSTAP GRIGORYEVICH

Hello SNEZHANA, can we talk?

OSTAP GRIGORYEVICH and SNEZHANA emerge from the crowd of applicants.

SNEZHANA

Oh, we've met before?

OSTAP GRIGORYEVICH

Don't be scared, my name is Ostap Grigoryevich. I was a classmate of your mother, Elena Stanislavovna Bogoslavskaya. The thing is, I am also a member of the examination commission. However, I cannot make final decisions alone, especially since, as I heard, you wanted to test your knowledge and it appears that your results are not sufficient for admission on a state-funded basis. But you can still enroll in a paid course now. Also, I'm sorry, but I have to inform your mother of the admission results. I gave her my word.

SNEZHANA

(In hysterics)

Oh damn, she butted in with her financial support again. I am categorically against it, do you hear me over there!!

OSTAP GRIGORYEVICH

Ostap Grigoryevich.

SNEZHANA

(In hysterics)

So, OSTAP GRIGORYEVICH, I don't want anything from my mother at all, who has gone crazy from her jewelry stores, the glitter of diamonds, and her greed for her money. And if I do choose to enroll in a paid course, it will be at an art school. I have no need for this enterprise of yours with soulless professions. The thought of your financial economy makes me want to vomit. So, you can pass this message along to her!!

SNEZHANA quickly heads towards the exit of the building.

Aristarkh, Wint, Fritz, and Kolya quietly climb onto the attic. Fritz immediately runs to the only open window with a pillow to close it. Many pigeons coo on the attic and start flying in the opposite direction.

KOLYA

These pigeons are dangerous. They eat from the dumpster.

FRITZ

So, don't eat their liver and that's it. Liver is the body's filter that traps all the toxins. What, didn't you study at school? Remember, Zoology, 5th grade, 7th paragraph, page 235.

Wint and Kolya go to the far end of the attic with their bats. Aristarkh and Fritz, also with bats, stay here near the entrance, and they all start hitting the pigeons on the fly. The pigeons fly from wall to wall, across the entire attic, and the guys knock them down in flight. Sometimes blood splatters. Then they start gathering the groups of pigeons in a bag and head towards the exit.

Aristarkh, Wint, Fritz, and Kolya are plucking pigeons when they hear Ball's scream from the street.

KOLYA

(With sadness)

It is a sin to kill God's bird.

WINT

Oh, come on, but isn't it a sin to slaughter chickens, pigs, cows as well?

ARISTARKH

It is written in the Bible. Have you read the Bible?

KOLYA

No.

ARISTARKH

So, everything that is killed for food is not a sin.

BALL (behind the scenes)

(screams)

Hey, guys, stop horsing around!

WINT

Oh, Ball showed up. Quite fast, indeed.

Aristarkh and Wint leave the room. While Fritz and Kolya continue plucking the pigeons.

FRITZ

(to Kolya)

Go help them out, it will also be a learning experience for you.

Kolya throws the carcass of an unplucked pigeon and quickly steps out of the room

10. EXT. STUDENT DORMITORY/BALCONY BEHIND – MORNING

ARISTARKH , WINT, KOLYA, BALL

Aristarkh, Kolya, and Wint go out onto the balcony on the 4th floor and lower a rope with a carabiner at the end. Ball hooks a 40-liter plastic jerry can full of beer by the handle onto the carabiner.

BALL

Pull it up!

With difficulty, the jerry can starts to rise, and Ball disappears around the corner of the dormitory.

Ball comes out from around the corner of the dormitory, runs onto the porch, and enters the main entrance door.

The jerry can hooks onto the balcony of the 3rd floor and gets stuck. ARISTARKH and WINT try to swing it loose, but without success. Then KOLYA takes the initiative, steps over the balcony barrier, and tries to push the rope further away from the balcony edge. ARISTARKH and WINT hold the rope to prevent the jerry can from falling down.

Suddenly, BALL enters the balcony, and everyone turns their attention to him. The rope slips out of ARISTARKH's and WINT's hands, falls down, and pulls KOLYA along with it. KOLYA, the jerry can, and with a crash, falls into the shrubbery growing below.

Chapter 3

In the director's office, ARISTARKH is sitting. THE DIRECTOR hands him a copy of the expulsion order.

THE DIRECTOR

Well, lad, you've finally crossed the line. You've been giving me a hard time all year. That's it. The order is already in place, and this copy.

ARISTARKH

(Reading out loud)

Expelled from the music school for organizing and consuming alcoholic beverages.

THE DIRECTOR

Say thank you that the Freshman didn't break his neck, otherwise, you would be facing not unintentional manslaughter, but a real prison term. So, you get up quietly, go to the dorm, pack up your stuff, and get out. Remember, no chance of reinstatement.

ARISTARKH gets up and slowly walks towards the exit, then turns around.

ARISTARKH

(maliciously)

Rot in hell!! Watch your back, you old bitch.

ARISTARKH slams the door of the office shut with a bang on the other side.

ARISTARKH approaches the carriage and hands his ticket and passport to the conductor. The conductor takes them and carefully examines them.

CONDUCTOR

Едешь на заработки в Москву с советским паспортом? Проходи, твое место 37.

Поезд пассажирский едет на скорости среди Уральских гор.

ARISTARKH sits on the side seat of the platzkart carriage and gazes at the passing landscapes with black wooden houses.

ARISTARKH

Does anyone still live in them?

PASSENGER (behind the scenes)

Poverty.

ARISTARKH turns around and sees several people having lunch at the compartment table, appetizingly eating expensive food they brought with them.

ARISTARKH stands up and leaves into the vestibule..

ARISTARKH enters the vestibule and approaches the door. He takes money out of his pocket and looks at them.

ARISTARKH

Safety reserve. But hunger waits for no one.

ARISTARKH enters the empty restaurant car. He stops and looks around. He walks up to the counter and stands, looking at the outrageous prices.

YOUNG WAITRESS

So, have you chosen something?

ARISTARKH

Yes, me-uh …

YOUNG WAITRESS

(smiling)

Can I help?

ARISTARKH

(With pomposity)

Give me a liter mug of beer and some pretzels.

YOUNG WAITRESS

Pretzels with which flavor: bacon, chicken, shrimp?

ARISTARKH

Shrimp.

ARISTARKH hands the money to the girl behind the counter. She takes the money and puts it in the cash register.

YOUNG WAITRESS

You can sit at any free table for now, and I will bring your order to you.

ARISTARKH

Shit question.

ARISTARKH walks away from the bar counter and goes to a comfortable spot where he can watch the TV hanging on the wall near the ceiling. The male waiter brings him a mug of beer and a plate of pretzels. ARISTARKH thanks him and takes a big sip.

Chapter 4

Suddenly, ARISTARKH hears feminine laughter behind him. He turns around and sees two young fashion model-like figures heading to the bar counter, dressed in poisonous red and pearlescent black evening gowns that tightly hug their bodies and reach all the way to the floor. Harmoniously shimmering precious stones adorn their necks, set in combined gold and platinum necklaces.

ARISTARKH forgets about the TV show and, as if hypnotized, watches them move confidently with their outfits swaying freely, like buds against their slender waists accentuated by buns. ARISTARKH takes another sip, chokes, and coughs. The girls hear his coughing and turn around. The girl in the poisonous red dress raises her delicate hand and playfully waves her fingers.

NATASHA IN POISONOUS RED

(smiling)

Hello.

The girl in the poisonous red dress turns towards the counter and continues to read the menu with her partner in a half-whisper, occasionally smiling and teasing, throwing intimate glances at ARISTARKH.

NATASHA IN DARK BLUE

(in a half-whisper)

And he doesn't say anything.

NATASHA IN POISONOUS RED

(in a half-whisper)

Do you think? It's not hard to check.

The girl in the poisonous red dress looks at ARISTARKH assessingly, as if he were the chosen victim.

NATASHA IN POISONOUS RED (continuing)

(in a half-whisper)

You, sweetheart, place the order, and I will approach him.

The girl in the poisonous red dress pushes away from the bar counter of the restaurant car and heads towards ARISTARKH with a model-like stride. Her curvaceous hips, compared to her slim waist, elegantly toss her luxurious heart-shaped backside from side to side.

ARISTARKH, mesmerized, gazes at her groin, opening his mouth and freezing like a statue. The girl approaches ARISTARKH closely.

NATASHA IN POISONOUS RED (continuing)

(in a half-whisper)

Are you free?

ARISTARKH flinches.

ARISTARKH

Huh? Yes, yes, I'm free.

The girl elegantly pulls out a chair and sits on it. She looks at her friend, who also gracefully makes her way towards them.

NATASHA IN POISONOUS RED

What is your name?

ARISTARKH

(Gasping for air)

ARISTARKH. And you?

NATASHA IN POISONOUS RED

My name is Natasha, and her name is also Natasha.

ARISTARKH

(Surprised)

Oh! Both Natashas?

ARISTARKH proudly arches his back, like a rooster among hens.

ARISTARKH

(Smiling)

Great, you won't mix up.

NATASHA IN DARK BLUE

Exactly.

Shortly, the waiter approaches and brings the girls' order on a tray. It included: a bottle of expensive red table wine and a seafood salad in two salad bowls. The waiter opens the bottle and pours wine into the girls' glasses.

NATASHA IN DARK BLUE(continuing)

(Smiling)

Thank you.

Natasha in dark blue puts a generous tip on the tray. The waiter smiles sweetly and leaves. ARISTARKH finishes his beer and sets the mug on the table.

NATASHA IN POISONOUS RED

Would you like some wine, ARISTARKH? What a majestic name you have.

ARISTARKH nods and smiles shyly like a boy.

NATASHA IN DARK BLUE

(Smiling)

If you want, pour yourself some wine.

ARISTARKH takes the bottle of wine and pours nearly seven hundred milliliters of the drink into his one-liter mug. The girls giggle sweetly.

NATASHA IN POISONOUS RED

Waiter, give us another bottle of the same wine, please.

ARISTARKH

And now, dear Natashas, a toast for you: let's drink to dying!

ARISTARKH quickly finishes this mug of wine. The girls open their mouths in surprise, laugh, and applaud.

NATASHA IN DARK BLUE

Bravo, ARISTARKH!

ARISTARKH stands up, bows to both of them, like in the times of Eugene Onegin, and sits back down. The girls exchange glances.

NATASHA IN POISONOUS RED

ARISTARKH, may we invite you to join us for a small weekend getaway in the VIP compartment.

ARISTARKH

(With a drunken accent)

Is there booze there?

NATASHA IN DARK BLUE

Of course, and there's gourmet food too.

ARISTARKH

(With a drunken accent)

So why are we sitting here, let's go!!!

SNEZHANA walks sadly along the sidewalk and hears a small car stop.

VASILINA

SNEZHANA.

SNEZHANA stops and turns sharply in surprise towards the source of the shout. In front of her is a foreign compact car.

SNEZHANA

(amazed)

VASILINA?

VASILINA

(smiling)

What's wrong, my friend? Why the long face, my friend?

SNEZHANA

Hey, I aced the entrance exam for the university and got a scholarship spot.

VASILINA

And how many points were lacking?

SNEZHANA

You won't believe it, just one point short.

VASILINA

And you're killing yourself over it? Come on, forget about it, my friend! There's no reason to feel so bad. You can always go for paid education. Your mother, she's been doing pretty well with her jewelry business lately.

SNEZHANA

(with a sour expression on your face)

I wouldn't want to depend on her.

VASILINA

Come on, she's your mother and she loves you deep down. It's natural for parents to help their children. One day you'll be a mother yourself, imagine yourself in her shoes?! How would you feel if your child rejected you?

Snezhana looks sternly at Vasilina and slightly bulges her eyes.

SNEZHANA

Alright, let's move on. Where are you headed?

Vasilina looks in the rearview mirror.

VASILINA

I? I met some cool guys online. They are twins and they invite us to their birthday party.

SNEZHANA

Who's 'us', Vas'ka?

VASILINA

You and me?! Agree, they are artists and they have a new style. They say they will soon be holding an exhibition in Paris.

SNEZHANA

Are you believing their nonsense?

VASILINA

I don't know, but they are cool and they have bodies like Apollo. Muscles and all. So jump in my car, let's go and expose them.

Snezhana sweetly grins and sits in the passenger seat of Vas'ka's foreign car.

Snezhana and Vasilina are sitting in the front seats of the foreign car, with Vasilina behind the wheel.

SNEZHANA

(According to the criminal slang)

Well, where are we heading, Vasylina?

VASILINA

(surprisingly)

What?

SNEZHANA

Where shall we go?

VASILINA

Oh! Got it. Let's go to their dormitory.

Snezhana fastens her seatbelt and looks at Vasilina with surprise.

SNEZHANA

(Disgustedly)

To the dormitory?

VASILINA

(With pomp and grandeur)

To the artistic dormitory. They live there and have their art studio there.

Aristarkh enters the SV compartment last. He looks around in surprise.

ARISTARKH

And how much does it cost to ride in such a compartment?

Aristarkh stands up at the table already set with expensive treats. Natasha in red sits down at the table.

NATASHA IN POISONOUS RED

I don't know, we pay with a premium class credit card, so it's probably expensive?!

NATASHA IN DARK BLUE

Our dads have their own personal compartment cars.

Natasha in black sits across from her friend. Aristarkh remains in the seat between them and, without invitation, sits down in that spot as if he were at home. The girls smile.

NATASHA IN POISONOUS RED

And you, Aristarkh, are a simple man. Come out with us in Ulyanovsk?

NATASHA IN DARK BLUE

Why do you need this Moscow?

ARISTARKH

Like a breeze. He came, he saw, he conquered.

Aristarkh's eyes are glazing over, and instead of just one girl on each side, there are now two twins sitting before him. He drinks another glass of wine.

ARISTARKH (continuing)

(He sings)

Pigeons fly over our zone, Pigeons have no obstacles. One wanted, stole bread, but the law punished so harshly, eight years to sit, black curls became.

The girls laugh heartily, exchange glances, and get up from the table.

ARISTARKH (continuing)

(With a drunken accent)

Where are you going? Bitches.

NATASHA IN DARK BLUE

To the bathroom.

NATASHA IN POISONOUS RED

To powder their little noses.

ARISTARKH

(With a drunken accent)

Are you crazy or something? All four of you. You won't fit in the toilet.

NATASHA IN POISONOUS RED

Don't worry, Aristarkh. You lie down on the bed and don't forget to undress.

The girls go to the toilet. Aristarkh gets up from the table and moves to the bed. He struggles to undress and lies down in his underwear.

The camera shows the facade of the Krasnodar Art School. Vasilina's car pulls up to the dormitory building and Snizhana and Vasilina get out of it, heading towards the main entrance and entering the building.

Snezhana and Vasilina enter the dormitory lobby and walk.

BABULYA THE CARETAKER

Girls, how far have you come along?

The girls stop, turn around, and approach the counter. Vasilina leans on the table of the counter with her ample bosom.

VASILINA

We are twins artists, Kirill and Mefodiy.

BABULYA THE CARETAKER

(growling)

Don't break the stance with your balconies.

VASILINA jumps back in fright.

BABULYA THE CARETAKER(continuing)

Let's see your passports.

The girls open their purses, take out their documents and hand them to the security guard. The guard takes the offered papers and puts them in front of him. Slowly he writes down the surnames and arrival time, folds them and hands them back to the girls.

BABULYA THE CARETAKER(continuing)

Do you know what time the dormitory closes?

VASILINA

No?!

BABULYA THE CARETAKER

Until eleven in the evening, so that your spirit is not here. Everything is clear?

VASILINA

Understood. Which room are they staying in?

BABULYA THE CARETAKER