Veris ubnis melodiebi (1974) - full transcript
Pavle, who is a poor cart-driver has two girls, Maro and Tamro. The girls have a dream to take classes at a ballet school, but Pavle cannot afford such a luxury. Vardo, a laundress, decides to help the little girls.
Sofiko CHIAURELI Buba KIKABIDZE
in a film by Georgy SHENGELAYA.
MELODIES OF THE VERIYSKI QUARTER
Screenplay by.
Georgy SH ENG ELAYA
Anzor SALUKVADZE.
Music by Georgy TSABADZE.
Director of Photography
Alexander MGEBRISHVILI.
Production Designers - Vakhtang RURUA
Eduard LAPKOVSKY.
Choreography by Yuri ZARETSKY.
Lyrics by Moris POTSKHISHVILI.
Starring
lya NINIDZE Maya KAN KAVA
David ABASHIDZE
Erosi MANDZHGALADZE.
Zurab KIKALEISHVILI.
Alisa FREINDLIKH.
Kakhi KAVSADZE Ramaz CHKHIKVADZE.
Georgy GEGECHKORI
Georgy KAVTARADZE
Boris TSIPURIA Baadur TSULADZE.
A GEORGIA-FILM Studio Production.
Rub-a-dub, rub-a-dub,
Not for profit, not for gain,
Rub-a-dub, rub-a-dub,
Night and day, sunshine and rain!
Starch and soap and rinse and wring,
We'd make heaven a bright clean
thing.
Happiness is like a bubble.
It simply isn't worth our trouble.
Rub-a-dub, rub-a-dub,
When the sky is gray above,
It really is a work of love.
We work for one, we work for all!
Everybody, great or small!
Policeman, soldier, doctor too!
Chemist, barber, even you!
Student, merchant, family man.
Clean them up as best we can.
We wash for all:
For poor people, their socks.
For the rich, their togs,
For a clergyman, his cassock.
We wash for a baker,
A workman and a dressmaker.
And even a noble lord
Cleanliness won't hurt.
Rub-a-dub, rub-a-dub,
Night and day, sunshine and rain.
Starch and soap and rinse and wring,
We'd make heaven a bright clean
thing.
When the sky is gray above,
It really is a work of love.
We work for one, we work for all!
Everybody, great or small!
Soap and water,
The best cure.
Not one medicine can do more!
Cleanliness and hygiene both.
Are more than the Hippocratic oath!
So all hail to cleanliness,
And to those.
Whose clothes.
Are neatly pressed!
Clean and bright,
You're an angel of light.
With a neat negligee,
You're worth what they pay.
Dirty clothes mean misery.
When they're clean, a man feels free!
But when the soul has got a stain,
Washing won't take it out again.
Good morning, little butterflies!
Good morning!
Auntie Vardo, have a seat.
What's this strange dance?
The Quadrille!
Maro watched the rich people
dance it, and taught me to.
Our mother always said
she'd like us to be ballerinas.
You're real artists, a spot of
makeup and you'll be the real thing.
Today the dancing class opens.
Papa said he'd pay to send us there
if they think we're talented.
The Professor's an Italian.
His name is lnnocenti.
So Maro and I learned this dance,
just the way they dance it.
Come on, watch us!
Look what I've got here.
Oh, it's lovely!
And whose are they?
It's none of your business, whose.
All you have to do is
try not to tear and spoil them.
Wear them
when you go to your audition.
We're all just visiting here,
When we're gone, others will appear.
We should bring joy to each other,
What else is there to do?
Oh, I hate so much.
Cunning and hypocritical men!
I won't accept bread from such,
I'd rather die of starvation.
When the table is being laid,
My soul feels happy.
For a glass of wine,
I'd give all worldly treasures.
I'll make myselfa plough,
In it I'll harness a fish,
I'll plough and sow in water,
And harvest in the sea.
What a man! He can do anything!
You bet!
Papa. Papa! Come here! Hurry!
Papa, have you forgotten
that today's our dance examination?
And who are these young ladies?
So lovely and all dressed up.
Auntie Vardo says that we
look like the Czar’s daughters.
So it's her who dressed you up
like this?
Where‘re you going, Pavle?
Don't leave like that. Have another
for the road.
All the best!
My little butterflies are waiting
to take me home.
Grazie.
Quadrille!
Bravo! Bravo! Bravissimo!
Beautiful! Beautiful!
Now do itjust as I tell you.
Point, point, point.
Good.
Your hand, your hand, there!
Alissa!
Yes, yes, absolutely charming!
- And where‘re your parents?
- Yes, yes.
Papa. Papa!
What are you waiting for?
Come in! Quick!
I think they liked us!
Excuse me, who are you?
|‘m the father.
So these charming talented
creatures are yours?
Yes, they grew up without their
mother. They really love dancing.
Yes, they can dance, that's obvious.
Only these classes cost money.
How much money?
Courses in ballet are...
Fifty rubles.
That's a minimum.
Excuse me.
My mistake.
You misunderstood us.
We would do it with great pleasure,
but you must understand...
We admired your girls, but...
What did they say?
The higher you go up the ladder,
the farther there is to fall.
Good evening, Auntie Vardo.
Well, my little grasshoppers,
did he like the two of you?
He praised us.
We danced very nicely
and your dresses looked great,
but anyway...
What do you mean?
They won't accept us,
it's so expensive.
Papa could never pay it.
He says he can't make
that much in all his life.
Wait. How much do they want?
As much as 50 rubles,
and not a kopeck less.
Oh, fifty rubles!
So if you don't have any money
you're not supposed to dance?
Right, Auntie Vardo.
And you're not supposed to make
your bed, too?
And not supposed to wash the dishes?
And clean up the house?
Catch it!
This is for you
and this for you.
Where's your father?
We haven't seen him
since he brought us home yesterday.
I've wandered everywhere
in search of happiness,
But found nothing but sorrow.
There's so much trouble in the world.
That the sky would have turned black.
The wheel of fortune is turning...
Time flows, time flies,
Time turns us to dust.
Who will understand us?
Who will heal our wounds?
The wheel of fortune is turning...
Where am I to look for the answer?
O Lord, open Your eyes!
Take a look at my life,
And You will burn with shame.
Good evening, Papa dear.
What's going on?
Why aren't you at the landownefls?
|‘m not going back to Aha-Georq again.
What are you saying?
Don't even think of it!
Lam not, I'd rather be dead!
All that wood |‘m supposed to
carry around is just too heavy!
What's that?
They make you carry wood?
Yesterday night some wood
was brought to them,
and they unloaded it by the fence.
When Aha-Georq saw it,
he got mad and said:
“Even if you have to work all night,
you'll put it all in the shed.“
It was too heavy,
I only moved half of it.
Was I supposed to overstrain myself?
So I gave up, and I ran back here.
Yes, Vardo, whatever you tried,
it didn't get us anywhere.
Every hand is against us,
even the hand of God.
Don't blame the Almighty, Pavle!
He looks down even
on poor people like us.
And why should a man with
two daughters like yours complain?
One of these days they may get
the better of the Czar’s children.
Moon in the sky,
are you angry with me?
You're cold and serene.
What do you know of the state |‘m in?
You can't understand my sorrow.
You'd better throw light on my way.
And protect me from the evil eye.
Yes, I have to take a sin
upon my soul,
In order to do a good deed.
Your cold light.
Cannot dry up human tears.
You better hide behind the clouds.
And not betray me.
Look the other way.
And don't ask why |‘m sinning.
And if the Lord calls me to account,
I won't be making excuses.
Maro, wake up! Look at the huge
fire burning in the hearth!
Oh, how lovely! It's so warm!
Look at all the snow outside!
So beautiful!
And look at all the logs
on Papa's cart!
Enough to get through all winter!
We'll be so nice and warm!
Oh, it's so good!
Father brought us wood.
No one else has such a father!
It's so bright, it's so warm!
Oh, it's so good!
Papa brought us wood!
No cold will get to us,
Sitting by the hearth is so nice,
Listening to the wood crackle.
Papa dear! Papa dear!
Who will saw? And who will cut?
Oak and elm, And pine and nut?
Into quarters, and into sticks,
into fives and into six.
- Who is it?
- It's me, laundress Vardo.
Ah, Vardo, is that you?
- Good morning.
- Come on in.
What little breeze blew you in?
And what's that?
Have you caught a bird?
- Where did you get that?
- At the butcher's.
- You mean it?
- Absolutely.
I came in, there was no one there.
That damned Mikhaka was asleep
behind the counter, so I took it.
You'd better bite your tongue,
or the whole street will soon know it.
Oh, Vardo, you're just
a jack-of-all-trades!
I never realized it before!
I thought you only
had talent for washing.
How much do I owe you?
I want a fair price, notjust peanuts.
Two rubles. It's the 4th one
|‘m buying today.
- What are you doing?
- |‘m taking it back to the butcher.
Take your hands off! I may as well
add 20 kopecks, and that's it!
- Five rubles.
- Where are the police looking?!
It's the first time in 20 years that
I've been asked that much for a calf.
Five rubles!
Lfl add five more, I can buy
a fur coat I've been dreaming about.
I have to go to the mountains today,
to drive back the cattle I bought.
What kind of coat are you keen on?
Some good quality.
You can get it for 10 or 20 rubles.
Ah, Aha-Georq got a nice one!
I would've given 50 for one like his.
And you wouldn't even bargain?!
No. I swear
by my departed father!
All right, enough about the coat.
Let's get back to the calf.
All right, I'll give you
3 rubles, and that's a deal.
After all, you didn't have to buy it,
so you're losing nothing.
I told you 5 rubles
or it's no deal!
Don't touch it!
You're insane! Five rubles!
Five rubles!
You're cutting my throat!
Talking of cutting,
hand me that knife there.
What knife?
What do you want a knife for?
You're a religious man, aren't you,
Pankes?
So you know that when you buy stolen
goods, you should give to the poor.
Well, a piece of liver or spleen.
L‘ll look in at the church on the way,
and l‘ll leave it there for the poor.
I'll say it's Pankes‘s little
contribution to charity.
You'll do good by sating them,
and save your sinful soul.
Thanks, beautiful.
What a woman!
Who'll believe that Pankes.
Doesn't mind his interest!
That he's not only wheeling and
dealing,
But to the poor he's also giving!
Don't worry, sweetheart,
If |‘m untrue.
I buy and sell.
As rich men do!
Tamro, what a smell!
That delicious smell!
We'll have a wonderful dinner!
Super wonderful!
What a father! Isn't he sweet!
He's brought us a joint of meat.
No one else has such a father!
Roast it well and serve it hot!
It's better than a rich man's got!
Let's lay our table neat.
And add some spices to the meat.
We'll wake our papa up,
And like rich men we'll sup!
Silence!
I can see you there, Dzibo.
So come out!
My nose is so frozen that it may
fall off. What terrible weather!
I wanted to warm up in your house,
but I thought you were still asleep.
You weasel, been spying around again?
Wait, why are you in such a hurry?
Pavle, the police chief
wants to put me on his payroll.
It's my duty now to register
everything that may be wrong.
And what do you want here?
Such a nice smell.
So I came to find out
what's cooking here.
Smells like meat.
- It's a hare.
- With nice long ears?
- How did you come by that?
- Easy.
I opened the lid,
and the hare jumped in!
Everything is possible.
When dreams come true.
If yours is a lucky lot,
A hare will jump in your pot.
Everything is possible.
When dreams come true.
That hare’s a treat.
Salts himself,
Peppers himself, Ready to eat.
Stop it, Pavle!
Are you out of your mind?
Proud of the uniform we wear,
Serving with ardor and with zeal!
We're the guardians of the law,
All for the sake of a decent meal.
Innocent and guilty too,
Arresting them, arresting you!
Equal rights are law's decision,
Equal rights to go to prison.
Report, then.
Chief, during
the course of last night
with reference to our precinct
there's nothing to report!
Bon appetite!
How about the local workers?
What's Dzibo saying? Ls any
revolution or mutiny on the way?
Don't you worry! Peace and quiet on
that sector, and thank heaven it is.
Wonderful!
Take it away! Go on.
Someone stole an entire side
of veal at the butcher's.
- Has it been found?
- No, |‘m afraid it's been eaten.
Go on.
The landlord Georq was robbed
of a large quantity of wood.
I can understand pinching meat,
but a truckload of wood!
What are you talking about?
An entire truckload! They couldn't
carry it away in a sack, could they?
That wood is enough to drive
anyone crazy!
They take it on their backs,
on donkeys, anyhow.
How can one tell if it's
stolen property or their own?
Excuse me, Chief, but Mikhaka
the butcher would like to see you.
Send him in!
Good day, Your Honor!
I bought a calf for 5 rubles yesterday.
I cleaned it and gutted it and
hung it up on a hook.
And how was it stolen?
Lfl knew that I'd know
who it was that stole it.
And where did someone
steal this calf from you?
I already told you, in my shop.
And where were you?
Right there, sir,
sleeping behind the counter.
- Sleeping!
- Sleeping, eh?
Was there anybody with you?
The delivery boy perhaps?
He'd been there, but I sent
him out on an errand.
And someone stole my calf!
Enough about your calf!
- I've paid 5 rubles for it!
- 5 rubles are immaterial.
Stop talking about the calf!
But I keep thinking about it
all the time.
You have only yourself to blame!
You were asleep!
- But why...
- Please go away.
The Chief has more important things
to decide than your meat.
Have you no fear of God?
My meat is important, too.
|‘d prepared the calf and gutted it
and hung it up on a hook.
It's clear!
You killed the animal!
Gutted the animal! Roasted it!
Then you probably ate it,
and you run over here
and accuse someone of theft!
|‘m not an idiot, you know?
I know the trick you're
trying to play on us.
Miscreant bloodsucker!
A stain on the name of our quarter!
Charge him.
Why charge?
I insist on my rights.
What? Are you
questioning my authority?!
- Try to stay calm, sir.
- Throw him out!
Into the sweat hole!
One or two days down there
will fix him!
Where are you dragging me?
It's not Christian!
|‘m an honest man!
I bought a calf, I gutted it,
and I hung it up on a hook!
Shut up!
You locked him up?
Yes sir!
- How much is he giving?
- Five rubles.
He doesn't have any more on him.
He's nearly screaming the place down!
- Take the money and let him go.
- I already did. Right here!
Yes, Chief!
One second, Chief.
There you are, Chief.
Law and order, Made to order.
A gold piece here
And the case is clear.
That |‘m no saint, you can see.
I play cards,
I like a drinking revelry.
|‘m unfaithful to my wife,
I take many a bribe.
Remember if you've
money to spare.
Even a policeman needs his share.
And one thing I don't want
to see,
ls trouble in the quarter run by me.
That's all I care about!
Bravo! You really have
the Midas touch, Chief!
My respects to you, gentlemen.
May I help you?
I came here to bother you about
a question of stolen wood.
I dropped in to see you yesterday,
but you were out celebrating somewhere.
What's your name?
You don’t know my name?
I would hardly have believed it!
You don't have to believe it.
Please, give your name.
We have to put it in a report.
Put it down. Georq Georqov.
Profession?
A workman, as you can see.
Stop playing the fool!
If you know, why do you ask?
He's the owner of a house.
Many, not one!
So your Wood's been stolen.
Where was it stolen?
In the garden, close to the fence.
Might it not have been
on the road, outside?
In the garden! On my property!
I told my girl-servant to bring it in,
and she left it outside.
I demand a compensation
from her parents!
Why do the girl's parents have
to pay compensation to you?
Do you suspect her?
I didn't catch her red-handed,
but she is to blame for the theft.
Someone has to pay me.
All right, we will see to it.
I'll have them watched carefully.
I'll study the situation
and find the perpetrator.
Latest news! It's not so good.
Somebody‘s been stealing wood!
If the thief doesn't get away,
There‘|| be an execution day!
Latest news I have to tell,
A calf has been stolen as well!
If the thief doesn't get away,
There‘|| be an execution day!
Someone’s taken a fur coat, so,
That's three crimes now in a row!
If the thief doesn't get away,
There‘|| be an execution day!
The thief is clever in this case.
Leaving neither clue nor trace!
The Police Chief has no way of knowing
whether he's coming or he's going.
A coat, a calf and half a tree!
Where the devil can they be?!
The verdict is brief:
Lock up the thief!
Shoot up the thief!
Yes? What is it?
I need to see the man
who's in charge here.
|‘m in charge here.
What do you want?
It's about two little girls
that auditioned for you.
And their father...
You know, the one on a cart
with a whip.
- With a whip?
- Yes.
Oh. Yes, yes, yes!
- We remember now.
- Yes.
And so?
The girls danced beautifully,
didn't they?
Yes, I've rarely seen better.
We said as much to their father, only...
Yes, yes, I know.
I brought the money.
Here are the fifty rubles.
Take it.
Thank you.
And who are you...
to those children?
Oh, nobody. Just a stranger.
I beg you
not to tell anyone
who's paid for them.
Madame Incognito!
Bravo!
Please.
- Katamadze!
- Yes sir!
That's enough! You shameless man!
No tricks of yours in my house!
Watch out!
Come on, children.
Yes! Yes!
Katamadze, over there!
The ladder.
Hold this!
Now we shall see.
As I explained to you already,
Chief Constable, the thief
could get into my house
only through this main entrance.
Even a fly can't get into my house!
Wait!
We'll have your house watched and
we will get to the bottom of this.
No one doubts that you'll watch
and get to the bottom.
Only listen to this.
Get your men search
through Pav|e‘s house.
Because his daughter, Maro,
had the keys to my mansion.
Lfl understand right, my dear,
on account of a fur coat and some wood
|‘m to stir up the Veriyski Quarter,
search all carters,
close all shops,
send some to prison
and some to exile.
Try to recall
who came to see you yesterday?
- To see me?
- Yes.
Other than the laundress Vardo,
no one else was here.
Va rd o?
Vardo!
It can't be Vardo!
Everyone knows that Vardo is
the soul of honesty and hard work.
Even two men at a washboard
couldn't wash faster than Vardo.
No! No!
Such a version is to be discredited.
Pardon me!
The local citizens
want the bloodhound to be sent.
Send it!
It's found it!
Oh, damn it!
Pigs.
Good morning!
- What is it?
- My respects.
Anything new on the troublemakers?
Everything3 fine with them.
|‘m watching them,
but about what happened yesterday,
that cartload of wood and calf.
You have reasons to worry.
It's none of your business.
One second... One second!
|‘m doing it with all my heart.
You're my benefactor.
|‘m already
trying on new epaulettes.
If only you see it fit
to promote me...
I'll do my best
to do you a favor.
We know your kind.
So what have you got to tell us?
May I sit down?
From what |‘m given to understand,
this log here is one of
the cartload stolen from Georqov.
Yes, that's the one.
Where‘d you find it?
Where? The Lord is my witness!
If someone told me that,
or if I hadn’t watched it
with my own eyes,
I wouldn't have believed it.
Well, we all are conceived in sin.
If the devil wants it, he can
lead even a saint into evil ways.
You mean to say you picked
that log at the church door?
You're right, sir. I swear
your Grace I found it at the door.
Whose door?
You know Pavle, the carter?
Have you found the fur coat too?
Fur coat? No fur coat.
But he's got the wood.
And there's a very pleasant odor
around there, like cooked veal!
My dear.
We came to inform you
that your charming girls have
been accepted to ballet classes.
Yes, yes, yes.
Thank you, thank you.
But I got no money.
Please do not worry about money.
You see...
well... there‘re people in this town...
who care for your children.
What's this?
Tie them all up!
What are you taking us for?
Leave me alone!
It hurts!
Give me my hat!
Give me my hat!
I'll show you!
What are you doing, you fool?
Let our father go!
May I report, sir? The operation
has been successfully concluded!
The carter Pavle and his band
have been safely isolated.
I'll be complaining...
- Search him!
- Yes sir!
You have no right!
What are you doing, gentlemen?
You can't! Oh, my God!
Turn around!
You sack of hay!
What do you need the kerchiefs for?
Why?
What are you doing?
- Eureka!
- That's my money.
- Fifty rubles.
- Put it away.
- Wait!
- Yes sir.
This lady...
I had better search her personally.
All right, you scallywag!
Tell us how you stole
that meat and wood etcetera.
I've never stolen anything in my life.
He's lying, that's obvious.
|‘m not lying, |‘m saying the truth.
The other day I woke up
and I saw it'd been snowing.
The fire was burning in the hearth,
and a pile of wood on my cart outside.
And that's not all -
I woke up yesterday,
there's another fire
under the pot
and big pieces of
liver and spleen cooking.
And today he awakens
in a fur coat, I suppose?
No, nothing like that,
I won't say that.
You won't say?
Down below!
A day or two in there, and you'll
be in the mood to talk!
Arrest him!
Why, Your Honor? What did I do?!
Where did you get these 50 rubles?
They were presented to us
by an incognito woman
who refused to give us her name.
She gave it to us so that
we would teach European dances
to the daughters of the man
that you have just locked up.
The fee for our ballet classes
is exactly the sum of 50 rubles.
What a terrific story!
I shall arrest you, too.
And tomorrow you will tell me
just how that blackguard sold the coat
and gave you the 50 rubles.
Arrest him!
What?
You have no right, gentlemen!
|‘m a foreigner, do you understand?
A foreigner!
And she's my wife! My wife!
I already said it.
I will attend to your wife personally.
How dare you?!
Oh, my darling wife!
Don't give in, Alissa!
Please.
Auntie Vardo! Auntie Vardo!
- What's the matter?
- Papa's been arrested!
They took Papa to the police station!
No, it can't be.
I hope you're satisfied now?
|‘m more than satisfied,
|‘m greatly impressed!
The Lord has endowed you
with the gift of foresight.
L‘ll never forgive myself for
doubting your ability.
I'll proclaim from every rooftop
that you're a genius of investigation!
- Where do you think you're going?
- Let me through!
Vardo! Ls anything the matter?
I don't really know how to reply.
You all look so important here.
Why would you want to listen to me?
On the contrary, to me every your
word is worth its weight in gold.
Believe me,
poor old Pavle never stole anything!
You have arrested the wrong man.
That's only your innocent mind.
If you never steal,
you think others are the same.
Only you're wrong, Vardo.
Except you, all are thieves here.
Lam the thief!
You don't believe me?
I stole a calf from Mikhaka,
a coat and wood from Aha-Georq,
with my own hands.
These are just words.
You have no proof.
Proof? As you wish.
Call Policeman Shanshe here.
Ask him when the wood was stolen
and whom he saw on the cart that night.
Call Mikhaka in here
and ask him who came into his
shop, Vardo or Pavle?
And find out
who came to the ballet master
and gave him 50 rubles
to pay for classes for the girls.
Excuse me, Chief,
allow me to bring that police...
ballet master.
Are you out of your mind?
If this should be corroborated,
I'll have to send you down there.
I don't care.
All the misery‘s
for the ordinary people.
And all the pleasures are for
fine gentlemen like this one here.
They get everything: Dry wood, warm
fur coats, and even dancing classes.
- Easy!
- Take your hands off!
Hello! You recognize me?
I was wearing a hat, remember?
Madame Incognito!
I did tell you that it was an unknown
lady who brought the money!
Did you hear? That's how it was!
Arrest me, and release an innocent man
whose children are waiting for him.
Arrest me. Someone else
will help them through life.
Do I arrest her, Chief?
No other way. She asked for it.
Who'd you sell my fur coat to?
I'll leave you
to find that out by yourself.
Look who buys stolen things in this
quarter and you'll find your coat.
Come out of there!
Move it!
You may go.
What are you doing here, Vardo?
Let's not talk about it, Pavle...
As the saying goes, “heaven
helps those who help themselves“.
The fur coat, the meat, and the wood?
It was you?
I thought I'd help your children.
But as they say,
thieves never prosper.
When you build happiness on a lie,
The sand won't hold the water.
You have to pay the price.
And your dreams die.
When you see a young tree die,
You can't but help it.
When light borders on dark,
Good never wins.
Don't build your happiness on a lie.
See how talented she is?
Take care of her.
Such a woman loves you!
You scarecrow!
What fur coat?
There‘re only old rags here.
What's that?
- A bird, Gulnara.
- What?
- Katamadze!
- Yes sir!
And how about this pack here?
Who gave this money to Vardo?
How should I know? I've never
seen so much even in a dream.
You haven't?
Then you won't see it in reality.
My dear Chief!
A very dear Chief!
Now listen.
You've got three days to think.
After that you'll either
return his fur coat
or you'll get put down below
and you'll pay the coat 5 times over.
Why should I be deprived
of my coat for 3 more days?
What?!
I've turned the whole quarter
back to front on account of you!
To oblige you, I've imprisoned
an honest woman - Vardo.
And you still have the gall
to be complaining?
That's enough!
I wash my hands off this terrible
business!
Water!
Bloodsucker!
Morning, noon and evening too,
We've done the dirty clothes for you.
We've had just about all we can take,
So do your own.
Till your backs break!
Vardo‘s our friend, a girl of worth,
There's not a better one on the earth!
Why should she suffer, when all she
did.
Was think of the happiness of his
kids?
Goodbye, starch!
Goodbye, the tub!
Goodbye, Soap!
No more rub-a-dub-dub!
The laundry’s closed!
Mister Police Chief.
Thank you.
Mister Police Chief,
you put and end to stealing.
But a new misfortune has fallen
upon us now.
The whole quarter wears dirty clothes.
Shocking!
I got so lice-ridden that I can
think of only one solution.
I suggest that, if it's not too late
already, you free Vardo.
Even a cinder can burn a house.
Today all the washen/vomen
refuse to work.
And tomorrow they may
go out on the street.
- Revolt?
- It looks like it.
Revolt!
- It's very probable.
- Revolt!
Just look what's going on in the world!
- Germany.
- Germany?
- Paris.
- Oh my god!
Warsaw. The Siberian gold mines.
First they go on strike,
then they go into the streets
and set up barricades!
A nightmare!
And moreover...
If you remember,
tomorrow is Christmas.
Imagine the situation that our upper
classes are going to be in.
They'll have to celebrate Christmas
in an utterly unholy condition.
What will our clergy think?
Oh God, what our clergy
is going to think!
Katamadze!
Ready, sir! Just like new!
TO hell with all that!
Release the laundress Vardo now!
The laundress Vardo?
This is an order!
Go and open Vardo‘s cell!
- Yes sir!
- Fonlvard!
Halt! Come back!
Oh, those little girls, I forgot!
What little girls?
Pav|e‘s daughters.
Yes, so what?
Take them to the dancing school,
or we won't stand a chance!
But where do I get the money?
They want 50 rubles.
Farewell, our rubles.
All right, go and do it.
Tell that ballet master
that the girls are recommended
by the police.
He'll admit them to dancing classes,
or I'll have him drummed out
of the Veriyski Quarter!
It has been a pleasure.
Bravo!
Papa! Papa! Look who is here!
I wish happiness to your home.
May it come here by your prayer.
A Merry Christmas!
On December 25, Jesus was born.
The stars had shone on Eden.
The shepherds glorified God,
and fed the pigeons.
The Magi were feasting,
rejoicing at the Mother.
On December 25, Jesus was born.
I put my hand in the basket,
But found nothing in there.
If I am not lucky,
May the Lord send you.
The sun of truth, the column of light.
He'll smile upon our sadness,
Our hearts are full of gladness.
We'll always sing together
A merry Christmas song.
And may a little shepherd
Wake up us at dawn.
- Alissa.
- Merci.
We've come to bring you
a Christmas present.
We will admit your girls
to our dance classes.
Yes.
Thank you, but...
And the money?
Money isn't everything.
You see, this town
is full of people
who dream of
making your girls happy.
- Yes.
- Yes.
Here.
Honored guests, ladies and gentlemen!
|‘m happy to say».
To all Tiflis people today,
That our class in ballet
ls now under way.
Our class in ballet.
It's open to all,
To short and to tall,
To all who can fall.
To the spell of Art's call.
Honor and fame both you await.
Dancing is life, so don't hesitate.
A life of joy
ls a life of art.
A life-long love.
That will never part.
Don't be sad,
You'll be so proud.
When the crowd are cheering loud.
To the dazzling heights.
They'll dance away.
But it's for their daddy.
They dance today.
Art is life,
And dancing‘s joy!
So dance now,
Every girl and boy!
The End
in a film by Georgy SHENGELAYA.
MELODIES OF THE VERIYSKI QUARTER
Screenplay by.
Georgy SH ENG ELAYA
Anzor SALUKVADZE.
Music by Georgy TSABADZE.
Director of Photography
Alexander MGEBRISHVILI.
Production Designers - Vakhtang RURUA
Eduard LAPKOVSKY.
Choreography by Yuri ZARETSKY.
Lyrics by Moris POTSKHISHVILI.
Starring
lya NINIDZE Maya KAN KAVA
David ABASHIDZE
Erosi MANDZHGALADZE.
Zurab KIKALEISHVILI.
Alisa FREINDLIKH.
Kakhi KAVSADZE Ramaz CHKHIKVADZE.
Georgy GEGECHKORI
Georgy KAVTARADZE
Boris TSIPURIA Baadur TSULADZE.
A GEORGIA-FILM Studio Production.
Rub-a-dub, rub-a-dub,
Not for profit, not for gain,
Rub-a-dub, rub-a-dub,
Night and day, sunshine and rain!
Starch and soap and rinse and wring,
We'd make heaven a bright clean
thing.
Happiness is like a bubble.
It simply isn't worth our trouble.
Rub-a-dub, rub-a-dub,
When the sky is gray above,
It really is a work of love.
We work for one, we work for all!
Everybody, great or small!
Policeman, soldier, doctor too!
Chemist, barber, even you!
Student, merchant, family man.
Clean them up as best we can.
We wash for all:
For poor people, their socks.
For the rich, their togs,
For a clergyman, his cassock.
We wash for a baker,
A workman and a dressmaker.
And even a noble lord
Cleanliness won't hurt.
Rub-a-dub, rub-a-dub,
Night and day, sunshine and rain.
Starch and soap and rinse and wring,
We'd make heaven a bright clean
thing.
When the sky is gray above,
It really is a work of love.
We work for one, we work for all!
Everybody, great or small!
Soap and water,
The best cure.
Not one medicine can do more!
Cleanliness and hygiene both.
Are more than the Hippocratic oath!
So all hail to cleanliness,
And to those.
Whose clothes.
Are neatly pressed!
Clean and bright,
You're an angel of light.
With a neat negligee,
You're worth what they pay.
Dirty clothes mean misery.
When they're clean, a man feels free!
But when the soul has got a stain,
Washing won't take it out again.
Good morning, little butterflies!
Good morning!
Auntie Vardo, have a seat.
What's this strange dance?
The Quadrille!
Maro watched the rich people
dance it, and taught me to.
Our mother always said
she'd like us to be ballerinas.
You're real artists, a spot of
makeup and you'll be the real thing.
Today the dancing class opens.
Papa said he'd pay to send us there
if they think we're talented.
The Professor's an Italian.
His name is lnnocenti.
So Maro and I learned this dance,
just the way they dance it.
Come on, watch us!
Look what I've got here.
Oh, it's lovely!
And whose are they?
It's none of your business, whose.
All you have to do is
try not to tear and spoil them.
Wear them
when you go to your audition.
We're all just visiting here,
When we're gone, others will appear.
We should bring joy to each other,
What else is there to do?
Oh, I hate so much.
Cunning and hypocritical men!
I won't accept bread from such,
I'd rather die of starvation.
When the table is being laid,
My soul feels happy.
For a glass of wine,
I'd give all worldly treasures.
I'll make myselfa plough,
In it I'll harness a fish,
I'll plough and sow in water,
And harvest in the sea.
What a man! He can do anything!
You bet!
Papa. Papa! Come here! Hurry!
Papa, have you forgotten
that today's our dance examination?
And who are these young ladies?
So lovely and all dressed up.
Auntie Vardo says that we
look like the Czar’s daughters.
So it's her who dressed you up
like this?
Where‘re you going, Pavle?
Don't leave like that. Have another
for the road.
All the best!
My little butterflies are waiting
to take me home.
Grazie.
Quadrille!
Bravo! Bravo! Bravissimo!
Beautiful! Beautiful!
Now do itjust as I tell you.
Point, point, point.
Good.
Your hand, your hand, there!
Alissa!
Yes, yes, absolutely charming!
- And where‘re your parents?
- Yes, yes.
Papa. Papa!
What are you waiting for?
Come in! Quick!
I think they liked us!
Excuse me, who are you?
|‘m the father.
So these charming talented
creatures are yours?
Yes, they grew up without their
mother. They really love dancing.
Yes, they can dance, that's obvious.
Only these classes cost money.
How much money?
Courses in ballet are...
Fifty rubles.
That's a minimum.
Excuse me.
My mistake.
You misunderstood us.
We would do it with great pleasure,
but you must understand...
We admired your girls, but...
What did they say?
The higher you go up the ladder,
the farther there is to fall.
Good evening, Auntie Vardo.
Well, my little grasshoppers,
did he like the two of you?
He praised us.
We danced very nicely
and your dresses looked great,
but anyway...
What do you mean?
They won't accept us,
it's so expensive.
Papa could never pay it.
He says he can't make
that much in all his life.
Wait. How much do they want?
As much as 50 rubles,
and not a kopeck less.
Oh, fifty rubles!
So if you don't have any money
you're not supposed to dance?
Right, Auntie Vardo.
And you're not supposed to make
your bed, too?
And not supposed to wash the dishes?
And clean up the house?
Catch it!
This is for you
and this for you.
Where's your father?
We haven't seen him
since he brought us home yesterday.
I've wandered everywhere
in search of happiness,
But found nothing but sorrow.
There's so much trouble in the world.
That the sky would have turned black.
The wheel of fortune is turning...
Time flows, time flies,
Time turns us to dust.
Who will understand us?
Who will heal our wounds?
The wheel of fortune is turning...
Where am I to look for the answer?
O Lord, open Your eyes!
Take a look at my life,
And You will burn with shame.
Good evening, Papa dear.
What's going on?
Why aren't you at the landownefls?
|‘m not going back to Aha-Georq again.
What are you saying?
Don't even think of it!
Lam not, I'd rather be dead!
All that wood |‘m supposed to
carry around is just too heavy!
What's that?
They make you carry wood?
Yesterday night some wood
was brought to them,
and they unloaded it by the fence.
When Aha-Georq saw it,
he got mad and said:
“Even if you have to work all night,
you'll put it all in the shed.“
It was too heavy,
I only moved half of it.
Was I supposed to overstrain myself?
So I gave up, and I ran back here.
Yes, Vardo, whatever you tried,
it didn't get us anywhere.
Every hand is against us,
even the hand of God.
Don't blame the Almighty, Pavle!
He looks down even
on poor people like us.
And why should a man with
two daughters like yours complain?
One of these days they may get
the better of the Czar’s children.
Moon in the sky,
are you angry with me?
You're cold and serene.
What do you know of the state |‘m in?
You can't understand my sorrow.
You'd better throw light on my way.
And protect me from the evil eye.
Yes, I have to take a sin
upon my soul,
In order to do a good deed.
Your cold light.
Cannot dry up human tears.
You better hide behind the clouds.
And not betray me.
Look the other way.
And don't ask why |‘m sinning.
And if the Lord calls me to account,
I won't be making excuses.
Maro, wake up! Look at the huge
fire burning in the hearth!
Oh, how lovely! It's so warm!
Look at all the snow outside!
So beautiful!
And look at all the logs
on Papa's cart!
Enough to get through all winter!
We'll be so nice and warm!
Oh, it's so good!
Father brought us wood.
No one else has such a father!
It's so bright, it's so warm!
Oh, it's so good!
Papa brought us wood!
No cold will get to us,
Sitting by the hearth is so nice,
Listening to the wood crackle.
Papa dear! Papa dear!
Who will saw? And who will cut?
Oak and elm, And pine and nut?
Into quarters, and into sticks,
into fives and into six.
- Who is it?
- It's me, laundress Vardo.
Ah, Vardo, is that you?
- Good morning.
- Come on in.
What little breeze blew you in?
And what's that?
Have you caught a bird?
- Where did you get that?
- At the butcher's.
- You mean it?
- Absolutely.
I came in, there was no one there.
That damned Mikhaka was asleep
behind the counter, so I took it.
You'd better bite your tongue,
or the whole street will soon know it.
Oh, Vardo, you're just
a jack-of-all-trades!
I never realized it before!
I thought you only
had talent for washing.
How much do I owe you?
I want a fair price, notjust peanuts.
Two rubles. It's the 4th one
|‘m buying today.
- What are you doing?
- |‘m taking it back to the butcher.
Take your hands off! I may as well
add 20 kopecks, and that's it!
- Five rubles.
- Where are the police looking?!
It's the first time in 20 years that
I've been asked that much for a calf.
Five rubles!
Lfl add five more, I can buy
a fur coat I've been dreaming about.
I have to go to the mountains today,
to drive back the cattle I bought.
What kind of coat are you keen on?
Some good quality.
You can get it for 10 or 20 rubles.
Ah, Aha-Georq got a nice one!
I would've given 50 for one like his.
And you wouldn't even bargain?!
No. I swear
by my departed father!
All right, enough about the coat.
Let's get back to the calf.
All right, I'll give you
3 rubles, and that's a deal.
After all, you didn't have to buy it,
so you're losing nothing.
I told you 5 rubles
or it's no deal!
Don't touch it!
You're insane! Five rubles!
Five rubles!
You're cutting my throat!
Talking of cutting,
hand me that knife there.
What knife?
What do you want a knife for?
You're a religious man, aren't you,
Pankes?
So you know that when you buy stolen
goods, you should give to the poor.
Well, a piece of liver or spleen.
L‘ll look in at the church on the way,
and l‘ll leave it there for the poor.
I'll say it's Pankes‘s little
contribution to charity.
You'll do good by sating them,
and save your sinful soul.
Thanks, beautiful.
What a woman!
Who'll believe that Pankes.
Doesn't mind his interest!
That he's not only wheeling and
dealing,
But to the poor he's also giving!
Don't worry, sweetheart,
If |‘m untrue.
I buy and sell.
As rich men do!
Tamro, what a smell!
That delicious smell!
We'll have a wonderful dinner!
Super wonderful!
What a father! Isn't he sweet!
He's brought us a joint of meat.
No one else has such a father!
Roast it well and serve it hot!
It's better than a rich man's got!
Let's lay our table neat.
And add some spices to the meat.
We'll wake our papa up,
And like rich men we'll sup!
Silence!
I can see you there, Dzibo.
So come out!
My nose is so frozen that it may
fall off. What terrible weather!
I wanted to warm up in your house,
but I thought you were still asleep.
You weasel, been spying around again?
Wait, why are you in such a hurry?
Pavle, the police chief
wants to put me on his payroll.
It's my duty now to register
everything that may be wrong.
And what do you want here?
Such a nice smell.
So I came to find out
what's cooking here.
Smells like meat.
- It's a hare.
- With nice long ears?
- How did you come by that?
- Easy.
I opened the lid,
and the hare jumped in!
Everything is possible.
When dreams come true.
If yours is a lucky lot,
A hare will jump in your pot.
Everything is possible.
When dreams come true.
That hare’s a treat.
Salts himself,
Peppers himself, Ready to eat.
Stop it, Pavle!
Are you out of your mind?
Proud of the uniform we wear,
Serving with ardor and with zeal!
We're the guardians of the law,
All for the sake of a decent meal.
Innocent and guilty too,
Arresting them, arresting you!
Equal rights are law's decision,
Equal rights to go to prison.
Report, then.
Chief, during
the course of last night
with reference to our precinct
there's nothing to report!
Bon appetite!
How about the local workers?
What's Dzibo saying? Ls any
revolution or mutiny on the way?
Don't you worry! Peace and quiet on
that sector, and thank heaven it is.
Wonderful!
Take it away! Go on.
Someone stole an entire side
of veal at the butcher's.
- Has it been found?
- No, |‘m afraid it's been eaten.
Go on.
The landlord Georq was robbed
of a large quantity of wood.
I can understand pinching meat,
but a truckload of wood!
What are you talking about?
An entire truckload! They couldn't
carry it away in a sack, could they?
That wood is enough to drive
anyone crazy!
They take it on their backs,
on donkeys, anyhow.
How can one tell if it's
stolen property or their own?
Excuse me, Chief, but Mikhaka
the butcher would like to see you.
Send him in!
Good day, Your Honor!
I bought a calf for 5 rubles yesterday.
I cleaned it and gutted it and
hung it up on a hook.
And how was it stolen?
Lfl knew that I'd know
who it was that stole it.
And where did someone
steal this calf from you?
I already told you, in my shop.
And where were you?
Right there, sir,
sleeping behind the counter.
- Sleeping!
- Sleeping, eh?
Was there anybody with you?
The delivery boy perhaps?
He'd been there, but I sent
him out on an errand.
And someone stole my calf!
Enough about your calf!
- I've paid 5 rubles for it!
- 5 rubles are immaterial.
Stop talking about the calf!
But I keep thinking about it
all the time.
You have only yourself to blame!
You were asleep!
- But why...
- Please go away.
The Chief has more important things
to decide than your meat.
Have you no fear of God?
My meat is important, too.
|‘d prepared the calf and gutted it
and hung it up on a hook.
It's clear!
You killed the animal!
Gutted the animal! Roasted it!
Then you probably ate it,
and you run over here
and accuse someone of theft!
|‘m not an idiot, you know?
I know the trick you're
trying to play on us.
Miscreant bloodsucker!
A stain on the name of our quarter!
Charge him.
Why charge?
I insist on my rights.
What? Are you
questioning my authority?!
- Try to stay calm, sir.
- Throw him out!
Into the sweat hole!
One or two days down there
will fix him!
Where are you dragging me?
It's not Christian!
|‘m an honest man!
I bought a calf, I gutted it,
and I hung it up on a hook!
Shut up!
You locked him up?
Yes sir!
- How much is he giving?
- Five rubles.
He doesn't have any more on him.
He's nearly screaming the place down!
- Take the money and let him go.
- I already did. Right here!
Yes, Chief!
One second, Chief.
There you are, Chief.
Law and order, Made to order.
A gold piece here
And the case is clear.
That |‘m no saint, you can see.
I play cards,
I like a drinking revelry.
|‘m unfaithful to my wife,
I take many a bribe.
Remember if you've
money to spare.
Even a policeman needs his share.
And one thing I don't want
to see,
ls trouble in the quarter run by me.
That's all I care about!
Bravo! You really have
the Midas touch, Chief!
My respects to you, gentlemen.
May I help you?
I came here to bother you about
a question of stolen wood.
I dropped in to see you yesterday,
but you were out celebrating somewhere.
What's your name?
You don’t know my name?
I would hardly have believed it!
You don't have to believe it.
Please, give your name.
We have to put it in a report.
Put it down. Georq Georqov.
Profession?
A workman, as you can see.
Stop playing the fool!
If you know, why do you ask?
He's the owner of a house.
Many, not one!
So your Wood's been stolen.
Where was it stolen?
In the garden, close to the fence.
Might it not have been
on the road, outside?
In the garden! On my property!
I told my girl-servant to bring it in,
and she left it outside.
I demand a compensation
from her parents!
Why do the girl's parents have
to pay compensation to you?
Do you suspect her?
I didn't catch her red-handed,
but she is to blame for the theft.
Someone has to pay me.
All right, we will see to it.
I'll have them watched carefully.
I'll study the situation
and find the perpetrator.
Latest news! It's not so good.
Somebody‘s been stealing wood!
If the thief doesn't get away,
There‘|| be an execution day!
Latest news I have to tell,
A calf has been stolen as well!
If the thief doesn't get away,
There‘|| be an execution day!
Someone’s taken a fur coat, so,
That's three crimes now in a row!
If the thief doesn't get away,
There‘|| be an execution day!
The thief is clever in this case.
Leaving neither clue nor trace!
The Police Chief has no way of knowing
whether he's coming or he's going.
A coat, a calf and half a tree!
Where the devil can they be?!
The verdict is brief:
Lock up the thief!
Shoot up the thief!
Yes? What is it?
I need to see the man
who's in charge here.
|‘m in charge here.
What do you want?
It's about two little girls
that auditioned for you.
And their father...
You know, the one on a cart
with a whip.
- With a whip?
- Yes.
Oh. Yes, yes, yes!
- We remember now.
- Yes.
And so?
The girls danced beautifully,
didn't they?
Yes, I've rarely seen better.
We said as much to their father, only...
Yes, yes, I know.
I brought the money.
Here are the fifty rubles.
Take it.
Thank you.
And who are you...
to those children?
Oh, nobody. Just a stranger.
I beg you
not to tell anyone
who's paid for them.
Madame Incognito!
Bravo!
Please.
- Katamadze!
- Yes sir!
That's enough! You shameless man!
No tricks of yours in my house!
Watch out!
Come on, children.
Yes! Yes!
Katamadze, over there!
The ladder.
Hold this!
Now we shall see.
As I explained to you already,
Chief Constable, the thief
could get into my house
only through this main entrance.
Even a fly can't get into my house!
Wait!
We'll have your house watched and
we will get to the bottom of this.
No one doubts that you'll watch
and get to the bottom.
Only listen to this.
Get your men search
through Pav|e‘s house.
Because his daughter, Maro,
had the keys to my mansion.
Lfl understand right, my dear,
on account of a fur coat and some wood
|‘m to stir up the Veriyski Quarter,
search all carters,
close all shops,
send some to prison
and some to exile.
Try to recall
who came to see you yesterday?
- To see me?
- Yes.
Other than the laundress Vardo,
no one else was here.
Va rd o?
Vardo!
It can't be Vardo!
Everyone knows that Vardo is
the soul of honesty and hard work.
Even two men at a washboard
couldn't wash faster than Vardo.
No! No!
Such a version is to be discredited.
Pardon me!
The local citizens
want the bloodhound to be sent.
Send it!
It's found it!
Oh, damn it!
Pigs.
Good morning!
- What is it?
- My respects.
Anything new on the troublemakers?
Everything3 fine with them.
|‘m watching them,
but about what happened yesterday,
that cartload of wood and calf.
You have reasons to worry.
It's none of your business.
One second... One second!
|‘m doing it with all my heart.
You're my benefactor.
|‘m already
trying on new epaulettes.
If only you see it fit
to promote me...
I'll do my best
to do you a favor.
We know your kind.
So what have you got to tell us?
May I sit down?
From what |‘m given to understand,
this log here is one of
the cartload stolen from Georqov.
Yes, that's the one.
Where‘d you find it?
Where? The Lord is my witness!
If someone told me that,
or if I hadn’t watched it
with my own eyes,
I wouldn't have believed it.
Well, we all are conceived in sin.
If the devil wants it, he can
lead even a saint into evil ways.
You mean to say you picked
that log at the church door?
You're right, sir. I swear
your Grace I found it at the door.
Whose door?
You know Pavle, the carter?
Have you found the fur coat too?
Fur coat? No fur coat.
But he's got the wood.
And there's a very pleasant odor
around there, like cooked veal!
My dear.
We came to inform you
that your charming girls have
been accepted to ballet classes.
Yes, yes, yes.
Thank you, thank you.
But I got no money.
Please do not worry about money.
You see...
well... there‘re people in this town...
who care for your children.
What's this?
Tie them all up!
What are you taking us for?
Leave me alone!
It hurts!
Give me my hat!
Give me my hat!
I'll show you!
What are you doing, you fool?
Let our father go!
May I report, sir? The operation
has been successfully concluded!
The carter Pavle and his band
have been safely isolated.
I'll be complaining...
- Search him!
- Yes sir!
You have no right!
What are you doing, gentlemen?
You can't! Oh, my God!
Turn around!
You sack of hay!
What do you need the kerchiefs for?
Why?
What are you doing?
- Eureka!
- That's my money.
- Fifty rubles.
- Put it away.
- Wait!
- Yes sir.
This lady...
I had better search her personally.
All right, you scallywag!
Tell us how you stole
that meat and wood etcetera.
I've never stolen anything in my life.
He's lying, that's obvious.
|‘m not lying, |‘m saying the truth.
The other day I woke up
and I saw it'd been snowing.
The fire was burning in the hearth,
and a pile of wood on my cart outside.
And that's not all -
I woke up yesterday,
there's another fire
under the pot
and big pieces of
liver and spleen cooking.
And today he awakens
in a fur coat, I suppose?
No, nothing like that,
I won't say that.
You won't say?
Down below!
A day or two in there, and you'll
be in the mood to talk!
Arrest him!
Why, Your Honor? What did I do?!
Where did you get these 50 rubles?
They were presented to us
by an incognito woman
who refused to give us her name.
She gave it to us so that
we would teach European dances
to the daughters of the man
that you have just locked up.
The fee for our ballet classes
is exactly the sum of 50 rubles.
What a terrific story!
I shall arrest you, too.
And tomorrow you will tell me
just how that blackguard sold the coat
and gave you the 50 rubles.
Arrest him!
What?
You have no right, gentlemen!
|‘m a foreigner, do you understand?
A foreigner!
And she's my wife! My wife!
I already said it.
I will attend to your wife personally.
How dare you?!
Oh, my darling wife!
Don't give in, Alissa!
Please.
Auntie Vardo! Auntie Vardo!
- What's the matter?
- Papa's been arrested!
They took Papa to the police station!
No, it can't be.
I hope you're satisfied now?
|‘m more than satisfied,
|‘m greatly impressed!
The Lord has endowed you
with the gift of foresight.
L‘ll never forgive myself for
doubting your ability.
I'll proclaim from every rooftop
that you're a genius of investigation!
- Where do you think you're going?
- Let me through!
Vardo! Ls anything the matter?
I don't really know how to reply.
You all look so important here.
Why would you want to listen to me?
On the contrary, to me every your
word is worth its weight in gold.
Believe me,
poor old Pavle never stole anything!
You have arrested the wrong man.
That's only your innocent mind.
If you never steal,
you think others are the same.
Only you're wrong, Vardo.
Except you, all are thieves here.
Lam the thief!
You don't believe me?
I stole a calf from Mikhaka,
a coat and wood from Aha-Georq,
with my own hands.
These are just words.
You have no proof.
Proof? As you wish.
Call Policeman Shanshe here.
Ask him when the wood was stolen
and whom he saw on the cart that night.
Call Mikhaka in here
and ask him who came into his
shop, Vardo or Pavle?
And find out
who came to the ballet master
and gave him 50 rubles
to pay for classes for the girls.
Excuse me, Chief,
allow me to bring that police...
ballet master.
Are you out of your mind?
If this should be corroborated,
I'll have to send you down there.
I don't care.
All the misery‘s
for the ordinary people.
And all the pleasures are for
fine gentlemen like this one here.
They get everything: Dry wood, warm
fur coats, and even dancing classes.
- Easy!
- Take your hands off!
Hello! You recognize me?
I was wearing a hat, remember?
Madame Incognito!
I did tell you that it was an unknown
lady who brought the money!
Did you hear? That's how it was!
Arrest me, and release an innocent man
whose children are waiting for him.
Arrest me. Someone else
will help them through life.
Do I arrest her, Chief?
No other way. She asked for it.
Who'd you sell my fur coat to?
I'll leave you
to find that out by yourself.
Look who buys stolen things in this
quarter and you'll find your coat.
Come out of there!
Move it!
You may go.
What are you doing here, Vardo?
Let's not talk about it, Pavle...
As the saying goes, “heaven
helps those who help themselves“.
The fur coat, the meat, and the wood?
It was you?
I thought I'd help your children.
But as they say,
thieves never prosper.
When you build happiness on a lie,
The sand won't hold the water.
You have to pay the price.
And your dreams die.
When you see a young tree die,
You can't but help it.
When light borders on dark,
Good never wins.
Don't build your happiness on a lie.
See how talented she is?
Take care of her.
Such a woman loves you!
You scarecrow!
What fur coat?
There‘re only old rags here.
What's that?
- A bird, Gulnara.
- What?
- Katamadze!
- Yes sir!
And how about this pack here?
Who gave this money to Vardo?
How should I know? I've never
seen so much even in a dream.
You haven't?
Then you won't see it in reality.
My dear Chief!
A very dear Chief!
Now listen.
You've got three days to think.
After that you'll either
return his fur coat
or you'll get put down below
and you'll pay the coat 5 times over.
Why should I be deprived
of my coat for 3 more days?
What?!
I've turned the whole quarter
back to front on account of you!
To oblige you, I've imprisoned
an honest woman - Vardo.
And you still have the gall
to be complaining?
That's enough!
I wash my hands off this terrible
business!
Water!
Bloodsucker!
Morning, noon and evening too,
We've done the dirty clothes for you.
We've had just about all we can take,
So do your own.
Till your backs break!
Vardo‘s our friend, a girl of worth,
There's not a better one on the earth!
Why should she suffer, when all she
did.
Was think of the happiness of his
kids?
Goodbye, starch!
Goodbye, the tub!
Goodbye, Soap!
No more rub-a-dub-dub!
The laundry’s closed!
Mister Police Chief.
Thank you.
Mister Police Chief,
you put and end to stealing.
But a new misfortune has fallen
upon us now.
The whole quarter wears dirty clothes.
Shocking!
I got so lice-ridden that I can
think of only one solution.
I suggest that, if it's not too late
already, you free Vardo.
Even a cinder can burn a house.
Today all the washen/vomen
refuse to work.
And tomorrow they may
go out on the street.
- Revolt?
- It looks like it.
Revolt!
- It's very probable.
- Revolt!
Just look what's going on in the world!
- Germany.
- Germany?
- Paris.
- Oh my god!
Warsaw. The Siberian gold mines.
First they go on strike,
then they go into the streets
and set up barricades!
A nightmare!
And moreover...
If you remember,
tomorrow is Christmas.
Imagine the situation that our upper
classes are going to be in.
They'll have to celebrate Christmas
in an utterly unholy condition.
What will our clergy think?
Oh God, what our clergy
is going to think!
Katamadze!
Ready, sir! Just like new!
TO hell with all that!
Release the laundress Vardo now!
The laundress Vardo?
This is an order!
Go and open Vardo‘s cell!
- Yes sir!
- Fonlvard!
Halt! Come back!
Oh, those little girls, I forgot!
What little girls?
Pav|e‘s daughters.
Yes, so what?
Take them to the dancing school,
or we won't stand a chance!
But where do I get the money?
They want 50 rubles.
Farewell, our rubles.
All right, go and do it.
Tell that ballet master
that the girls are recommended
by the police.
He'll admit them to dancing classes,
or I'll have him drummed out
of the Veriyski Quarter!
It has been a pleasure.
Bravo!
Papa! Papa! Look who is here!
I wish happiness to your home.
May it come here by your prayer.
A Merry Christmas!
On December 25, Jesus was born.
The stars had shone on Eden.
The shepherds glorified God,
and fed the pigeons.
The Magi were feasting,
rejoicing at the Mother.
On December 25, Jesus was born.
I put my hand in the basket,
But found nothing in there.
If I am not lucky,
May the Lord send you.
The sun of truth, the column of light.
He'll smile upon our sadness,
Our hearts are full of gladness.
We'll always sing together
A merry Christmas song.
And may a little shepherd
Wake up us at dawn.
- Alissa.
- Merci.
We've come to bring you
a Christmas present.
We will admit your girls
to our dance classes.
Yes.
Thank you, but...
And the money?
Money isn't everything.
You see, this town
is full of people
who dream of
making your girls happy.
- Yes.
- Yes.
Here.
Honored guests, ladies and gentlemen!
|‘m happy to say».
To all Tiflis people today,
That our class in ballet
ls now under way.
Our class in ballet.
It's open to all,
To short and to tall,
To all who can fall.
To the spell of Art's call.
Honor and fame both you await.
Dancing is life, so don't hesitate.
A life of joy
ls a life of art.
A life-long love.
That will never part.
Don't be sad,
You'll be so proud.
When the crowd are cheering loud.
To the dazzling heights.
They'll dance away.
But it's for their daddy.
They dance today.
Art is life,
And dancing‘s joy!
So dance now,
Every girl and boy!
The End