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.
