Chapter One
A cloudless sky and gradually descending.
Summer of 1927, Altai Territory
Summer horizon of the Altai forest-steppe. The camera moves slowly down. On the ground there is a small lake, which remained after the flood of the local river, under the name of Alei.
On the bank of this lake, three small boys, Yashka(5), Alyoshka(4) and Andreyka(3) are sitting on their haunches and staring intently into the depths of the murky reservoir, waiting for someone.
One of them, the youngest named Andreyka(3), slaps the surface of the water lightly with his palm. The aMarusya Kizhakinage depth of the lakes is no higher than a child's neck, or 70 centimeters.
Suddenly, a girl, their blood sister, named MARUSYA KIZHAKINA(6), stands out of the water in a white wet sundress to her feet, an apron and a scarf that covers all her hair, tied at the ends around her neck in the form of a scarf.
She comes ashore all wet and wears bast shoes on her feet. Splashes spread out on the sides. Barefoot boys jump back and sit on their children's asses. MARUSYA KIZHAKINA
(solemnly)
I've found it!
MARIA KIZHAKINA takes her hand out of the water and shows everyone that she's holding a mushroom that looks like a toadstool. The oldest boy named Yashka is surprised.
YASHKA
What have you found, Nanny?
MARIA KIZHAKINA is nervous.
MARUSYA KIZHAKINA
(mimicking)
Like what, Podozernik!
The second boy, named Alyoshka, gets up and reaches out to the girl's hand with his own hand to touch it.
ALYOSHKA
(with sarcasm)
Is that a mushroom?
MARIA KIZHAKINA throws her hand with the mushroom up and prevents Alyoshka from touching it.
MARUSYA KIZHAKINA
(warning sternly)
Yes! Don't stretch your arms, or you'll stretch your legs. Well, Alyoshka, you're a troublemaker.
ЯШКА
(ехидно смеясь)
Да не ври, Няня, таких не быват!
MARUSYA KIZHAKINA
А я, Яшка, говорю быват.
И тут Андрейка встает.
АНДРЕЙКА
(Крича)
Не ври, Няня! Я видат, как ты его по дороге сорват, когда сюды пишли.
MARUSYA KIZHAKINA
(злясь)
Предатель ты Андрейка. Иуда.
MARIA KIZHAKINA тут же другой кистью показывает прям в лицо Андрейке фигу и трясёт большим пальцем. А гриб кладет сырым в рот и усердно пережёвывает.
MARIA KIZHAKINA (продолжая)
(жуя)
Во, чаво получишь от меня больше, а не сахору!!
Андрейка начинает громко рыдать и кричать на всю лесостепь. MARIA KIZHAKINA поворачивается к Яшке и Алешке.
MARIA KIZHAKINA (продолжая)
(строго)
А вы чаво уставились? Берите палки и мутите заводь.
The porch of Marusya Kizhakina's house, and on the porch stands a pregnant woman in a headscarf, the mother of Marusya Kizhakina(24), named Anfisa. She is in tears, holding a one-year-old child named Kolka(1) in her arms, and chewing on the edge of her headscarf. Next to him is a strong-built man, TATYA (FATHER) MARIA KIZHAKINA MARUSYA KIZHAKINAMARUSYA KIZHAKINA(30), named Akim, holding his son Seryozhka(2) in his arms. He looks sad and clenches his fists until his joints crack.
The boys: Yashka, Alyoshka, and Andreyka quickly grab their sticks and run into the lake. They scuff their bare feet on the bottom and stir up the mud. The water quickly becomes cloudy. Small pike fish, about ten centimeters long, appear on the surface.
They slap the fish on the back with their sticks, and the stunned fish flip over. MARIA KIZHAKINA follows them with a bag and collects the stunned fish.
Children: MARUSYA KIZHAKINA, Yashka, Alyoshka, Andreyka collect all the prey on this lake, run to the next lake and do the same.
Suddenly, for the first time, the whistle of a passing steam train is heard in the distance beyond the forest. The children flinch and turn in the direction of the whistle.
YASHKA
(frightened)
