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THE GARDEN RING

The first time I saw her was in our home.

I came home at the wrong time.

I live in a shelter and have no money for cigarettes.

You should thank me for letting you come here. You're an embarrassment.

- Hello. - Hello.

- Hello, I'm Lida. - I'm Ilya.

This is my daughter Lida. She stopped by to take something.

This is Sasha.

- Ilya's girlfriend. - Great, should we have some tea?

No, we have to go.

No, don't. I'll go.

Ilya, I have a request.

Please, don't tell your parents that Lida stopped by.

- It's against the rules. - Fine.

Thanks.

We have a date today.

Until one o'clock. First we'll go to the cinema, then grab some food.

Damn, I'm tired of you. Really. We were at the club until three last night.

- Give me at least one day. - Ilya, please.

And what do you want me to do until 12?

I don't know. You'll think of something.

Fine.

Post it at eight or so.

I'll take a picture of the cinema when I drive by.

It was the worst period

when one of us was dating and the other wasn't.

Sasha was seeing Nodar, but I didn't have anyone.

But I had to cover for her so that she'd cover for me.

And then I saw her in the crowd.

It looked like a game.

I decided to follow her.

I saw them. I was strange.

Why did she go to the construction site if she was looking around?

She knew someone was following her.

I had two hours left so I decided to see what would happen.

Somewhere deep inside I knew it was a bad idea.

But I couldn't stop.

Finally something was happening in my life.

An adventure.

Help me!

Somebody, help!

Hey! Leave her alone!

Did he attack you? Lida?

- Is it you? How... - My university is nearby.

I work nearby. I mean, worked. I was fired today.

He didn't hurt you, did he?

No. No.

Thank you, if it wasn't for you...

We need to call the police.

He might attack someone else.

She...

She was so kind. So defenseless.

I looked at her and thought

about how unfair it was.

That she had to walk across construction sites to get home.

That her mother was a house maid.

That some bastard tried to attack her with a razor.

She didn't deserve it.

She didn't.

Then we didn't go to the police. And we awkwardly went our own ways.

It didn't cross my mind to get her phone number.

The next day she was waiting for me at my university.

I didn't go to my classes that day.

- So. - Money, money.

- Should I do it too? - If you need money.

Here we go.

That's it.

Actually, I have to tell you something.

That man who attacked me, it wasn't an accident.

We used to date.

And now he can't accept that it's over.

Why didn't you tell that to the police?

Are you kidding? They don't care. Nobody does.

No one cares about getting rid of lies and violence.

And murders.

They just want to create a world where it doesn't exist and live there.

I guess I wanted it too when I got involved

with that guy.

I just got unlucky.

- Unlike you. - I'm lucky?

I think you are.

You have such a wonderful relationship with that girl.

- Sasha, right? - Yes, Sasha.

I told her everything.

About Sasha. About our lies and how long we'd been doing that.

I couldn't resist telling her the truth.

She looked at me in a special way.

She barely knew me, but she accepted me for who I was.

We parted ways in the morning.

Sasha sent me eight texts or so.

She was mad that I didn't tell her.

Because if she knew I didn't stay at home that night, she'd leave too.

- What's going on there? - There's a man in 108, he's a junkie.

- They're trying to throw him out. - I see.

- Do we have tea? - Why is a man here?

- It's simple. - He's quiet now. He just rented a room.

- But it's a shelter. - It's a shelter for magazines only.

In reality it's all about money and business.

- Whose business? - Your mom's.

Do you think she doesn't know?

Ilya. Ilya!

- Good job. Ilya, where are you going? - I'll tell her everything.

Wait, think about it for a moment.

- If she finds out about us, she'll... - Be quiet.

She'll kick me and Ira out.

- She mustn't know about us. - I don't want you to live here.

Where else can I live?

Listen, everything is okay.

It's alright.

Lida was the only person who mattered to me at that time.

I felt complete with her.

I found out who I was.

And what I had to do.

I rented a flat for us. I had money.

This is the living room, the bedroom is over there.

Low window sills.

The view is amazing.

- But we aren't... - I can see, I see that you're not married.

God, I don't really care.

You know, the Soviet government brainwashed everyone into getting married.

Now everyone's married to God knows who, just to be registered.

- Look around, I'll be in the kitchen. - Thank you.

- Are you crazy? - Why?

It's insanely expensive.

- It's beautiful. - Yes, but...

It's stupid to rent a flat for so much money.

- You don't want a flat? - No, I do.

It's just that we can rent something without low window sills

and, stop it, five times cheaper.

- I have money? - You do?

Why did you say that? Are you starting an argument?

I just...

Today you have money, tomorrow you don't.

- It's always this way with money. - Don't worry.

I wanted to make her forget all the bad things that happened to her.

I wanted to spoil her. To pamper her.

She didn't just help me.

She saved me and asked nothing in return.

When she let go of her constant irony and alertness to the world,

she turned into a little girl.

Funny, affectionate, even naive.

I felt that

a little more effort would defeat everything bad that happened.

All the evil in our lives.

And we'll break free from that fake crap that I existed in with you, Anya and dad.

And Sasha.

I had a chance to become different.

To start a new life that I never envisioned before.

A real life.

- Honey, do you want to hurt me? - A little.

Are these handcuffs?

Do you like it?

Ilya, what did you do just now?

- Gave her some change. - To her? Are you out of your mind?

Maybe she's in a difficult situation, how can we know?

Do you know that they buy these children from drug addicts?

- That they steal them. - Stop it.

- They're taken to orphanages later. - Lida, calm down.

- One more, one less, who cares? - Lida, stop it.

They pump them full of drugs and then they die.

- She'll use him for a week until that. - Let's go.

- Let's wake that child up. - Lida, wait!

- Don't do it. - Children are tender and helpless.

Lida!

While kind people like you give them change these bastards will keep on doing that.

That's the price of your kindness.

If you didn't give them money, they wouldn't steal and kill children.

She often said that suffering doesn't end

even if the source of it is eliminated.

Her suffering was poverty.

I forgave her for that. Just like she forgave me for everything.

I'm coming.

We had a dream.

We knew what we wanted our life to be like.

We knew what to do next.

Maine is the best state in America.

Pine trees, lakes, moose.

We'll buy a ranch and horses.

We'll feed them in the morning and tend to the garden.

We'll grow corn and the best sorts of potatoes.

From Australia. Then we'll buy a cow and turkeys.

Wait. What color will our rubber shoes be?

- Green. - So you've thought it all through?

We can buy black ones for you if you want.

So America? Rita lives there.

- Who is she? - My grandma.

You call your grandma by her name? It says a lot about your so-called family.

The more time I spent with Lida,

the closer we became, the less tolerant I grew to our family.

Things I was used to ignoring, just like everyone else,

were multiplying.

Those things became worse and worse.

Dessert.

I didn't have any feelings for you anymore.

Only hatred and helpless anger.

I tried to understand, to find logic.

But I couldn't.

- You knew about dad and Anya and... - I didn't know anything.

I couldn't believe it.

It's the truth.

I thought the only thing left of my version of you was a husk.

With horrible blind fear inside.

Fear to lose all the fake smiles

and stupid conversations about how good everything is.

Lipsticks, rings.

What else did you have?

And they were so obvious with it.

They've been doing it for so long they forgot they have to hide it.

- To contain themselves. - Maybe they don't have to hide it?

Careful. What do you mean they don't have to hide it?

I mean your mom knows that her sister is sleeping with your dad.

But she doesn't do anything because she's an awful and greedy wench.

You're right, but what can she do? She's used to it.

The only thing that matters to her is to keep her comfortable life.

She doesn't care what you think, you're just a decoration of her fantasies.

You're a part of her facade of happiness.

I don't know, Lida. I think she tolerates it for me.

Really? Then talk to her.

Open her blepharoplastic eyes to the truth.

- Why do you hate her? - For what she did to you.

Wait.

Wait. Tell me.

- Why do you go to university? - To get a higher education.

- Why? - Because I need it.

Or she needs it?

I need it.

Or maybe not.

- I don't know. - You do.

I stopped going to university.

We needed money to leave.

A lot of it. Lida was going crazy because of it.

I didn't even know the extend of it.

It's not enough.

We have enough for a ranch and tickets.

But we need money for green cards and to sign a deal.

- What will we do? - We...

We can go to Rita, she doesn't mind.

What the hell? Did you tell your grandma about us?

About our plan? Are you an idiot?

I just wanted to find a place to stay.

Really? How old are you?

Do you understand that she'll call your mother? She'll know where we are.

No, they hate each other, she won't tell her.

You're being such a cretin! How short-witted are you?

Do you think it's a game? Is it a game for you?

I didn't call Lida. She didn't call me either.

And then I realized what I had done.

I hurt someone dear to me.

The only person who loved me.

What did I do it for?

To keep watching the play called "Our happy family"?

To fetch croissants for you, to cover for Sasha.

Then I decided to contribute to our dream.

To do something.

- I... - No.

Don't say anything. Just don't.

I'm happy that you're with me.

- Don't. - I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

I can't keep seeing all that.

You've been holding on to people who don't need you.

Who don't know you. Who don't care to know you.

They're dead, you understand? And you're alive.

And despite their attitude towards you, you still love and support them.

- Lida. - The only thing you need to do is leave.

Close the door of this crypt and leave.

- Let yourself live. - Lida, I know what to do next.

You're right, I was being childish.

But it won't happen again.

I know where to get money.

Where?

I'll help Artem to betray my father.

He's his partner, he won't say no.

I'll take my share. It'll be enough for the deal and green cards.

And for everything you'll even want.

Ilya, he's your father.

He's sleeping with my mom's sister.

You must think it through.

- Do you think it's too cruel? - God, of course no.

You're a real man.

I...

I was afraid of losing you.

I knew that Anya visited Nodar from time to time.

For a little bit of money he agreed to copy the information from her laptop.

The information that Artem would be interested in.

Then came the day when I realized that she was actually crazy.

I took my things and something else.

It's his birthday, I wanted to give him a surprise. `

Are you robbing your ex-husband?

Robbing him? Do you know who he is?

- And who is he? - He's just like your mother.

Like your dad and aunt. Borya.

People who have to lie to themselves or else they'd commit suicide.

My husband got me committed to an asylum and your mom would do the same

if she knew what you thought about her.

What? Whoever they are, whatever you think about them, robbing them is just wrong.

- We need money for the house. - You've gone mad because of money!

I wouldn't have if you could do anything about it.

You're a spoiled boy and you don't know what life is. I solve everything myself.

I plan everything, look for cheaper tickets.

- Plan our food rations. - I never asked you to do it.

It's because you...

You don't know what future is.

But I do. And I understand that as soon as your comfort ends,

as well as your lavish lifestyle, problems will begin.

And you'll betray me.

And you'll go back to your mom, your aunt Anya, to Rita.

To any old hag who'll wipe your nose and tell you that you're her baby boy.

That you don't have to deal with it. And that you don't have to be a man.

That's what your mother turned you into.

You're completely insane. I can't be with you. Go to hell!

Ilya.

Ilya!

Ilya, wait!

Ilya. Look at me, I love you.

I've made a mistake, I'm sorry.

I feel bad when you're angry. Please. Look at me. I love you, you hear me?

I know you love me too! I know it. You're my life. I'll die without you.

I'll die. You'll die without me too. I'll fix everything.

I swear, I'll fix this mistake.

Lady, what are you doing? This is a public place. There are children!

Shut up, you old hag!

Help, she'll kill herself!

We have to get our things from the police.

- We can sell them. - No, don't.

It won't solve anything, you hear me? I have a better idea.

- What idea? - I'll sell my dad's car.

The car that he gave to me.

And we'll leave this place. We'll leave everything behind.

Do you hear me? It'll be fine. I love you.

Do you promise me?

I promise.

Lida. Lida.

Don't.

Lida, we'll leave soon. It'll be over.

It was going sideways.

Lida lost control of herself more often than before.

In those moments I thought I'd made a mistake.

That everything is not what I think it is.

When she snapped, she became a different person.

A scary person I didn't know.

I was afraid of her, I didn't want to go anywhere with that person.

But I didn't want to lose my Lida.

I was hoping she'd come back to me.

And I decided to postpone our trip.

My mom was attacked, she was robbed. We can't leave now.

Why? What does that old hag have to do with it?

Don't call her that.

We need to refund the tickets. We'll go there later.

What is it? Croissants?

- To comfort your mommy? - Are you out of your mind?

Is it about croissants? You don't like them, do you?

Or everything that has something to do with my mother is somehow bad?

It's not about your mom, it's about you.

An you never seemed like the type to like croissants.

- What do you want from me? - I want you to make a choice.

Me or them? Me or croissants?

I've made that choice long ago, what else do you want?

- Don't scream at me! - I can't!

You're acting like an insane person.

I am insane, don't you know who you're dating?

Since then I lost control of the situation.

Things were happening too fast, I didn't have time to be shocked.

Lisa left the flat, I don't know how she paid for the last month.

And I had to move her to our dacha.

She stopped taking pills. I was afraid of her and afraid that you'd find out.

And then I bumped into her at our home when she came to your session.

It became clear that it had to end.

I knew it would end badly.

I decided to talk to her for the last time.

- Nikulshino village, 1000 rubles. - Get in.

- Ilya. - It's fine. We'll talk there.

Why did you come to my mom's session?

- I asked you not to do it. - Session?

I thought it was a tea party of housewives.

That's not what I mean, you have no right to intrude into my family.

Our relationship is our relationship.

It doesn't give you the right to do that.

You're sorry for her? After what she did, she destroyed your life.

- She never meant me any harm. - She never reckoned with you.

She only cares about her own life.

She's scared for her fake miserable life.

For her pretty face.

You know, I regret that Sergey didn't mutilate her back then.

Sergey?

It was you? You sent him to attack her?

Because I love you. I want to save you.

- You're sick. - No, you're sick.

You're a masochist. You're holding on to someone who doesn't need you.

- She's my mom. - She is your mom.

You must make a choice. While she's here, it won't work.

But it's okay, our plane is leaving soon.

- We have to go to the airport soon. - We're not going anywhere.

- I told you to refund the tickets. - And I didn't.

Lida, come back. What are you thinking?

- I won't let her torture you anymore! - You're torturing me.

- I'm torturing you? - Yes.

- God, she's in your head. - Stop it.

- She's here. I'll put an end to it. - Stop it.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you.

But I have no choice. I must do it. For us.

Wait, you psycho! Wait!

I'm doing it for us.

I took her inside the house.

I was hoping she was just unconscious.

I wanted to wake her up. But she was dead.

I didn't know what to do, I was horrified.

My first thought was to leave her there and go to the airport.

But she hid the tickets and money.

She had everything.

I didn't know where and I didn't want to find out.

I just wanted to run away.

But I was left without any money and with a corpse on my hands.

I managed to bury her.

I didn't tell Sasha, I was afraid she'd rat me out.

Then I remembered about the shelter.

I wouldn't be surprised if she hid the money there.

I decided to go there.

There I met Lera.

She lived in her room.

That's it.

- Did you come home? - What? When?

I couldn't find your chain with a skull.

Yes, I took it.

I was scared to go home, I didn't want to be seen.

But I had no money left. Even to buy food.

So I just waited for you all to leave.

I wanted to take some things, like a computer.

But Larisa came home and I could barely take the chain.

I ran away while she was in the kitchen.

You couldn't do anything else.

- What? - She made you do it.

She made you do it.

You're going through a breakdown.

She attacked her ex-husband with a knife too.

Dear, I'll tell you something terrible.

If you hadn't killed her, she'd have killed you.

Mom, it didn't happen.

She didn't kill me, I did.

Why are you repeating it?

For what reason are you repeating it?

I just want to explain to you what happened.

They didn't find the sweater.

They can't accuse you again.

No. I burned it down.

No.

You're a murderer.

You're a murderer.

- Mom, I'm sorry. - You're a murderer.

I'm sorry.

We'll go to the police and you'll tell them.

You'll tell them. You'll surrender.

Ivan Nikolaevich, were you the person who closed the shop on the eight?

Come on.

- Excuse me, may I talk to you? - I'm busy. You'll have to wait.

Come in.

No... Sorry.

- What is it, Vera Mikhailovna? - Never mind.

Wait, what did you want?

No. Sorry for bothering you.

- Mom. Mom. - What?

Let me go.

Sorry.

It's my fault.

He's there.

- How much longer can he just stand there? - As much as he needs.

- He has to go to work. - He's a sick man.

A psychopath. What work? He's having a psychotic episode.

He can stand there for a week.

- What should I do? - How do I know?

You should have thought about it before sleeping with him.

Where did you even manage to find such a schizophrenic?

- You made me do it. - I made you do it?

Great. It's mom's fault.

You didn't want to, I made you sleep with him.

Where are you going?

I'll go to him and ask what he wants.

He'll kill you.

It'll happen sooner or later. Why wait?

Wait! He's...

not well.

- What are you doing here? - We need to talk.

What can we talk about? Do you know what you're doing?

You call me in the middle of the night, send me 500 texts a day, stalk me.

You scare me, I'm afraid to be next to you.

- I just love you. - No, you don't love me.

- You're obsessed with me. - I want to be with you.

You're the only meaning of my life.

- You want to be with me? - I do.

Then give Vera's flat back to her, she has to leave that shelter.

I'll do it, I'll give it back.

And you need to go to a psychoanalyst, because you need help.

- Mom, what are you doing? - Help me.

You know what I think?

If someone takes tranquilizers for a while

it affects their blood vessels.

They get thinner and tear.

Maybe it wasn't your fault?

She could just fall and die.

It's a different side of pharmacy.

- Do you know what it means to have a baby? - I do.

It's the hardest job and, as life shows, it's also completely pointless and routine.

So you're saying

that these fatties who can't fit into doorways with strollers

can raise children, but I can't?

These fatties seek salvation

in raising stupid and useless fatties like them.

But what helps them the most is that it's the only life they know.

Where children scream and cry,

where they have to cook huge pots of disgusting stinky soup every day.

They take bank loans to buy phones.

It's their happiness.

You won't survive such a contrast.

But you did. You cooked stinky soup too.

I did, but you're not me. You don't know life.

You just pretend to be a normal person.

Your ideas about this reality are fake illusions.

The truth about reality eludes you.

Then what is the truth?

The thing is that nobody can deceive themselves.

If you stop pretending to be a diva and realize that you're a sick addict,

you'll see.

It'll get easier for you, you'll see.

You'll see that there's no place for a child in your life.

Mom. There's no place for you.

Believe me, I'd rather die than let you anywhere near my child.

I'll do everything I can to make sure that my child lives a normal life.

My child will never know that nasty life that we had.

I met a woman.

She's interesting, beautiful.

But complicated.

We started dating.

I fell in love.

Sincerely. I wanted to take care of her.

I wanted to change her life for the better.

But I had too many complaints for her.

It's difficult to explain.

I loved her and at the same time

I couldn't accept her for who she was.

I annoyed her.

I wanted her to become a different person, a different woman.

Not the one I fell in love with.

She didn't accept it. She left me.

Then something bad happened.

Something exploded inside of me. Into little pieces.

It collapsed. And left an empty space for something new.

I was free.

I realized that I was the problem, not her.

That it was my fault.

I was afraid.

I was afraid to accept people for who they are.

I cried, screamed and demanded that they become what I want.

It destroyed everything. Those people.

And me.

Here, take a napkin.

Vera Mikhailovna. Vera Mikhailovna! Hello.

Get in, I'll drive you.

How are you?

I try.

How's your son?

He's looking for work. It's difficult.

I know. But I'll be alright. Eventually.

He'll go back to normal life.

He'll find a job.

And get a girlfriend.

You really think so?

What did you think?

You'll send him to me?

I'll send him to prison and justice will prevail?

I don't understand you.

You understand, Vera Mikhailovna.

So what do I do now?

Live.

Keep on living.

I think it's the harshest punishment.

We're here, Vera Mikhailovna. Let me help you with the bags.

Andrey, can you pour me some wine?

Don't.

No, I think

this room looks horrible.

- Is it windy here? - No, it's fine.

- I think it's windy. - Maybe a little.

Sit here.

It used to be better. It was cozier.

Mom, nothing has changed here.

I don't know. It was united by a style.

And now... Maybe you need new furniture.

Vera, are you going to change the furniture?

- Eventually. - By the way.

There's new furniture in the gouache style.

The wood material is covered with juicy but matte colors.

I want to buy it for the children's room. There'll be a bed...

Are you going to eat?

Vera, I'm sorry, I don't eat meat. There could be parasites in it.

I brought my pumpkin, did you heat it up?

- I'll bring it. - I'll do it.

- Alright. - One moment.

You're going to have a children's room? Where will you get the money?

- Artem's helping me. - Artem?

I let him help if he gives the flat back and goes to therapy.

Where did you send him? Maybe Vera can help since she's a therapist.

- She's good at it. - Would you like some wine?

No. No way. I'm going to the clinic tomorrow.

Nothing serious, I hope.

It's very serious. I'm getting new implants.

Here's the pumpkin.

It's hot, be careful.

Enjoy your meal.

- Grandma, can you pour me some wine? - Do it yourself.

My taxi's here.

- I have to go. - You're going to India?

I'll go to the airport.

I thought it was an extended joke, but if it's not...

- Have a nice flight. - Don't cry.

- Keep in touch. - You too.

Wait.

We can't do it like that.

- Let's take a picture together. - That's right!

- Let's do it. - Gather around Anya.

- I'll move you. - I'll help.

Take the pumpkin away.

- I'll take it. - Thanks.

Vera, where did you go? Come here.

It's just a photo. Come here.

- Hold it higher, it'll be better. - Like this.

- Are you ready? - Yes.

One.

Two.

And three.