A House Made of Splinters (2022) Movie Script
1
Good morning, little ones.
Did you sleep well?
And here's another little cutie pie.
Maksim...
Good morning, sweetheart.
You woke up with the sun.
It's time to get up now.
High five! Are you awake already?
Gimme your ear.
Are you awake?
Are you the chief sleepyhead?
Zhenya, I know I need water
to get you out of bed.
Good morning. I came to wake you up,
you beautiful little thing.
Mrs. Irina!
- That's me. You know how I wake you up.
Yulia... ready to wake up?
Such good girls! You're up!
- I'm awake.
Wonderful, girls. Get dressed quickly,
and come out for our morning exercises.
Good morning, everyone!
Seryozha, reach for the sun!
One, two, three, four...
One, two, three, four...
The beetle came back to life.
Well done, everyone.
Here comes the locomotive:
"Choo choo!"
Push hard with both legs. One...
Push against me, Maksim.
...two... one, two...
Wave your legs in the air,
like a tree in the wind.
Now let's skip rope.
One, two, three, four...
Well done!
The number you have dialed
cannot be reached.
Please send a text or dial again later.
Yes.
Hi, Granny.
- Hello.
How are you?
- I'm good. All is good.
And how are you, dear?
- I'm fine. Is Mom drinking again?
I haven't seen her, Eva.
I haven't heard from her
for the past three days.
I called her,
but she doesn't answer.
She doesn't pick up?
- That means she's drunk again, right?
Damn it!
I need to get over there.
Okay, goodbye.
- Bye bye.
See you.
...the termination of parental rights,
which will be enforced...
We must terminate their parental rights,
because a real orphanage
isn't the best option for her.
She deserves a good foster family, right?
She deserves to live with a good family.
Well, yes. As I said, we'll try.
Okay. Thank you.
I'll be waiting for your call. Goodbye.
Here in Eastern Ukraine,
people still feel the echo of war.
Life has always been hard here,
but the war made things even worse.
So many people lost their jobs.
Now, every tenth door hides
a broken family.
When a family is broken due to
alcoholism, violence, or homelessness,
the social worker brings
the children here,
to our shelter.
The number you have dialed
cannot be reached...
Send SMS...
What's your mom doing?
- Drinking.
You miss her, don't you?
I want her to stop drinking,
so we can start all over again.
It can really happen.
The last time, she was sober
for five, or maybe three months.
These things do happen.
- Last year, she managed to change.
Do you hope that it
will happen again this year?
Yes.
Your mother is a good person.
Drinking is her only flaw, right?
Eva is here for the second time.
This shelter is a temporary solution.
Kids can stay here
for up to nine months,
while their cases are processed
by the court.
During this time, we provide them
with a warm bed and six meals a day...
and we make sure that they go to school.
Let's start with the hands.
One, two, three...
One, two, three...
Then like this. Watch:
One, two, three...
Is everybody ready?
All the men keep their eyes
on the dance floor,
While I dance there proudly, alone.
I play on the edge.
You caused me pain again.
I know that it is all my fault.
My body and soul are swollen.
That's how much I'm infected by you,
So that now I have a fever again.
The tracks at this disco
last no more than a minute,
and I'm starting to forget about you.
I tune in to a sad dance
and set our love free.
This is the only place
I'll dance through my pain.
Just like inside
an enormous web,
I can scatter my memories of you.
The gossip in the neighborhood is
that I'm your girlfriend. It's bullshit.
I love you. I love you so much...
Please, love me back.
Eva is blushing.
Look how nicely we prepared
everything for them.
Girls, girls...
Girls...
Dear Mom!
Dear Mom!
Don't be scared.
Boys, go to your room.
There's a...
Well?...
- Just don't read it out loud, please.
This is for you.
- So?
- Dudnik, Yulia is in love with you.
- I don't love anyone!
I'm such an idiot!
Is it dark?
- I'll just shut it.
Okay, switch it on.
Boys, imagine that someone
is under our bed now!
No one's there.
- Imagine it!
What if he crawls out?
Imagine that he kills you at night!
Once... This is the scariest story.
My dad went on a binge once.
Whenever he drinks too much,
he beats my mom or...
... he beats me.
Once, when I was little,
my mom got paid that day.
He'd been drinking a lot and said
he wanted to pick a fight with her,
so he stabbed her in the chest!
- With a knife?
Yes.
Was there a lot of blood?
- Yeah, a whole pool of blood.
She started gasping and
fell down crying, that poor thing!
Five years later, he asked for
a pardon and was released.
He went down on his knees,
begging her to forgive him.
When she did, he bought
a bottle of champagne
and a cake. He got drunk again
that very same day.
Drunk dads are all crazy,
and he's always drunk.
Nasty!
- Yeah.
I have a story about my dad too...
He also got drunk...
Eva has been here
for nine months already.
If the court deprives her mother
of her parental rights,
Eva will be sent to an orphanage.
Oh, my God! Oh, my God!
That's really something. Oh, my!
We still have a chance
to find a relative or foster family
willing to adopt her.
Our last hope is
that Eva's grandmother
can become her guardian.
Hello.
- Hello.
Hi.
- Hi, sweetie.
So, how are things?
- I met a young man.
A young man?
Only 31 years old.
That's way too young for you, Mom!
Eva, I feel bad when I'm alone.
I feel bad when I'm alone, too.
My daughter, let's make things
like they were before.
How?
I'll find a job, and
everything will be fine at home.
I want you to come back to me.
Run away from there,
and come back to me!
Are you crazy?
- Just run away.
If Dad was still alive,
this never would have happened.
Stop it!
Eva, don't start.
Eva, daughter,
why must you drive me to my grave?
What about me,
crying here by myself?
I'm all alone.
No one comes to see me.
What would you prefer:
living with Mom, or with Grandma?
Grandma.
- With Grandma, right?
Because Mom hasn't changed.
- No, she hasn't changed at all.
This is how it works: There will be
a preliminary court hearing.
Your mom will be summoned.
I think she already received a paper.
- Yes, a subpoena.
But she was too lazy to go
to the post office to get it.
Too lazy to pick up the subpoena?
I see.
She's not getting her act together.
She doesn't want to change at all...
...won't get back on her feet.
You called your father, right?
- Yes.
He'll come.
But he already missed
multiple visits,
so tomorrow, you're going
to the orphanage.
Which one?
- Kremenskoye.
Listen to me. How many times
did you call your dad this week?
I don't know.
- Once or twice?
Two or three times.
- Two or three times,
and your father didn't visit you?
- No.
I understand.
But please tell me, do you know
if Eva Majinskas's grandmother
went to see social services?
Did you have the hearing on
the termination of parental rights?
I want to stress
that time is running out,
and we have a grandmother,
who does come visit her.
It's being processed...
- Yes, I know.
Okay, so we might hear more tomorrow?
- Yes.
Mrs. Marharyta.
- Come in.
Do you remember our talk yesterday?
We talked about Grandma.
- Yes.
I'll pin my hair up...
- I keep trying to fix your bangs.
Yes, I'll pin it up.
- Good.
Today, I called Mrs. Anjelika
from Social Services.
I have some good news for you.
Grandma will take you back home
tomorrow. Everything worked out.
She'll come get me tomorrow?
- Yes, tomorrow. It will all be fine.
Everything will be perfect.
- I had a feeling that might happen.
Grandma appeared
in my dream last night.
I'm shivering, I can't...
Everything is fine.
Everything is fine.
Is it true?
- Yes, it's true. I wouldn't lie to you.
I'm so happy I could die!
Do you know when you're leaving?
- At around 1 p.m.
Close your eyes!
- And open my mouth?
No, and open your eyes now.
This is for you!
Wow! Thank you.
Oh, Eva.
- Yes.
You made me blush... Thank you.
The bear will look after you.
Are you nervous?
- Yes.
Just remember that you can call
anytime, day or night.
Do you hear me?
- Yes.
Don't forget us.
I won't.
Remember, you can do anything.
Be the same, easygoing girl
you are now.
You always reminded me of a butterfly.
Don't cry, Eva,
or I'll start crying too.
Do you understand?
- Yes.
My darling Eva,
I'm taking you home today!
Everything will be okay.
Grandma's here to take you home.
Don't cry.
- Get out of here!
I can't believe that
she is allowed to take me.
That's it, dear. Bye bye.
Where are you going?
- Back home! Bye!
Eva...
- Bye, Eva.
I'll call you my daughter now, okay?
- Okay.
We'll be home soon.
Did you miss home, Eva?
- Yeah.
This is a nice blouse.
These jeans are very trendy!
Oh, sure, with holes.
Really trendy jeans!
All grannies say the same thing!
- Yep, all grannies say the same thing.
Don't rush. We need to do this slowly.
- Slowly, slowly, Eva. Slowly.
When one child leaves,
another one arrives.
Due to winter and war,
we are more crowded than ever.
Quiet, kids.
The next one is for Burdina, Alexandra.
- They mean Sasha.
Here you go.
- Thank you.
Sasha was skipping school.
No one saw her for a long time.
Her mother suffers
from severe alcohol abuse.
She often left Sasha
home alone for days.
Sasha had to cook
and take care of herself.
Katenka, sing us a song.
Katenka.
- I love you very much.
I already miss you so much.
Then sing me a song.
What's wrong with her?
Katenka, will you sing me a song?
I didn't catch that. Please repeat it.
Sing us a song!
- Yes, of course.
- Let's be friends.
- Yes.
Or maybe not!
What will you do,
if I say "yes" or "no"...
Katenka?!
I feel so lonely.
Oh, well. I probably won't
be friends with you...
It's such a pleasure
to hear that.
But I said I won't be friends with you.
I'll stay far away from you.
I will!
I won't be your friend
for an entire day!
You really are fucking around with me!
I didn't catch that. Please repeat it.
Again?! Will you sing us a song?
Give me something to eat, please.
Hello. Mrs. Anjelika.
Sasha came to me recently.
Sasha Burdina came to me.
Do you happen to have
her mother's phone number?
She really wants to talk to her mom.
- No.
- She hasn't even tried to contact us.
- She hasn't?
No, she hasn't.
No, not even once.
Not since her child was taken away.
A lot happened, none of it good,
from what I understand.
This is a fucking disaster!
That's it. I cleaned the door
and scrubbed the handle.
Kolya, you have to stop
drawing on the doors.
- Do we have a deal? Kolya?!
- Yes.
That's how you get off the hook!
I'm afraid of the dark, but when I ran
away from the shelter, it was snowing.
It was very, very bright all over,
but I wasn't afraid,
because I was with Vlad.
About 7 police cars passed us,
but they didn't stop.
Vlad is so tall, they probably
thought he's an adult.
We separated near
the stadium and Bogatyr Park.
I rushed inside, saw them, and thought,
"Thank God, I'm home."
Then Vanya, my stepdad, shouted,
"Kolya ran back home."
That's when the shit hit the fan.
I only got to spend an hour at home
before the police showed up.
I kind of expected that.
I only ran away to see my mom,
my siblings, my stepfather,
my granny and granddad... that's all.
I didn't care about anything else.
Kolya often runs away from home.
He wanders the streets while
his mother and stepfather go drinking.
The police caught him
with two younger siblings,
rummaging through a junkyard
to find something to sell.
Whoops! I missed the target!
You really want to go home?
- Sure! I'll even go to school, damn it.
Don't talk like that!
- Okay, I won't.
How many classes did you skip?
- Me?
A rough count of how much I skipped...
- What's a rough count?
How many days did you skip?
- Classes or days?
I came one day,
but skipped a few classes.
Rub it off, Kolya.
- Why?
Why draw bad things on your hand?
- It's cool.
It's gone now.
- What does it say, Kolya?
Nothing.
- Show me.
What does it mean?
- I don't know.
- Then why did you write it?
- No reason.
- I plagiarized it from the other guys.
- You did what?
I plagiarized it.
From Vlad?
- No. I'm not a snitch.
Then who?
- We don't betray our people!
Are you some old man
who spent his life in prison?
Does writing "Joker"
help you get back home?
Yeah, it's my souvenir
from the shelter.
Kolya, you're talking to me
like I'm some little girl.
How will bad behavior
help you go home?
Mrs. Anjelika, the social worker,
will get lots of complaints.
I'll drive her so crazy
that she'll send me home.
You think you have it all worked it out,
but it's not true.
I'm begging you. Rub it off.
Kolya?
You're the oldest kid.
You're the oldest.
Who can your mom rely on?
On me.
- So...
Listen! I don't want you staying here
more time than necessary.
Don't you think I care about you?
What do you think?
I don't know.
- You don't know?
Okay, Kolya, tidy yourself up
and clean your hand off. Deal?
Can I have my marker?
- Show me a clean hand first.
- How do I clean it? That's cruel.
- How? With soap.
- Come back and show me.
- This is an atrocity!
Hi, Mom!
- Hello, darling Zhenya.
How are you, sweetheart?
- I'm okay.
I miss you all so much.
- I miss you too.
I'll try to visit you tomorrow,
if I can.
That would be great.
Kristina wants to talk to you.
Give her the phone.
- It's me, Mom.
Hello, sweet Kristina!
- Hello.
How are you, honey?
- I'm okay.
You're okay?
Are they beating you there?
Yeah, they are.
A boy named Zhenya beats me.
What? Our Zhenya beats you?
- Hi, Mom. They fight so much!
They fight so hard, Mom.
It's awful.
They just started fighting again!
Hush, you!
Why are they fighting?
They argue about how much time
I spend with each of them.
Oh, I see. And you play the role
of the big brother, as always?
Yes, as always!
- Mama, Kolya...
So, it's better there than at home?
- What?
Mom, Zhenya beats me...
- Hush! What?
Is it better there than at home?
- Of course not! Well, Mom, see you.
See you soon, son.
I'll visit tomorrow.
Good night.
Okay, kids. Say goodbye to Mom.
Bye!
- Bye, kittens!
Bye, Mom!
Kristina!
That's it.
Go put your shoes on.
Hello!
How are you doing here?
- I'm fine. You reek of alcohol, Mom.
It's not too strong, but it's there.
- How are you, honey?
I'm fine.
- Let's take a seat.
I punched half the people in the face.
- Is that a bruise under your eye?
Yes!
- Who did that to you?
I had a fight.
- Boys will be boys, but that's no good!
I've been working on some drawings.
I'll show you.
Do you know what this sign means?
- Please don't!
It's the sign of a thief. I made lots.
Take a look.
He has a dirty hand.
- Yes, I see. He has nothing to do.
Look.
- Zhenya!
What was that? Tell me!
- It's nothing.
What's wrong with you?
- It was nothing.
Tell me then.
What are those cuts on your hand?
Come here, please.
What?
- Have a seat.
Are those cuts?
Did you do that to yourself?
Never do it again.
I need you.
I couldn't live without you.
I'd miss you.
I can't make it on my own.
Do you understand me?
Do you understand?
- I do.
Look at me. You're a man now,
so wipe those tears away.
You're my little big man.
The others are just kids,
but you're a man now.
Kiss me.
Listen to me.
I never want to see that again.
Promise?
- I won't do it again.
Do you promise?
- Mom... Tell me the truth.
Do you drink?
- I had a beer.
Don't do stupid things, okay?
Do you want to take a photo?
- Uh huh.
You filled the entire photo
with the flash.
Promise not to laugh.
- I won't.
I want to tell you that you're...
It's okay. Just say it.
What?!
- Do you want to be my best friend?
Do I want to be your friend?
- Yes.
I don't know...
You're so beautiful.
- What?
Talk normally. I can't hear you!
- You're beautiful and smart. That's all.
Well? Is that it?
- Yes. Now it's your turn.
I like the way you act.
That's it.
But you have to behave well
and not misbehave...
I won't...
- Then I'll consider it.
Fine. Then let's be friends.
I'll tell you a secret.
Back home, I love to...
You do?
You really like drinking alcohol at home?
Tell me the truth.
- No. Do you drink beer?
Tell me the truth, and I'll tell you.
- I tried it... once.
Okay, I also tried it once.
My mom lets me drink it.
- My mom too.
It was more than once too.
- I also drank it more than once.
Sasha?... Do you like it?
- Do you?
No... but I love fighting.
- Me too.
I want to fight with you.
- What?
I want to fight you right now.
- I don't want to.
Enough already!
Or I won't be your best friend!
You're crazy!
I won't be your friend anymore.
Let's try this. You let go of me,
and I let go of you.
You let go of me, and I let go of you.
- No!
Fuck off!
That's it! I'm not your best friend.
You're braindead!
I have to say, you're totally crazy!
Okay, let's make peace.
- Yeah, a truce.
Come in.
I'll tell your future.
Look into the crystal ball.
I see...
Your parents will stop drinking.
You'll have a hearing in court.
and you'll go back home soon.
It will happen. You'll see.
All I'm telling you is true.
Is someone sitting inside?
- Yes.
Who?
- Shhh!
Sit down, girl.
Look into the crystal ball.
I see that your mother will die.
That's what I see.
Then, you'll be adopted
by a foster family.
They'll make you a slave.
I see...
you'll have a bad time, girl,
a very bad time.
You'll marry and start working.
I see that you will drink heavily.
Your kids will live in an orphanage.
I see your life ending badly.
You'll be homeless.
That's all. That's your future.
I see nothing more.
Assistant!
Alina, come out.
Your mom forgot about you.
- No.
She forgot herself.
- I don't think so.
She forgot about you and herself.
- No, she hasn't forgotten me.
Sometimes I remember her,
and sometimes I forget.
She'll come visit me.
Your mom doesn't visit you,
but mine will visit me.
Stop it!.
- Leave me alone, or I'll smack you!
When you've worked here
for a long time,
you start to notice
an underlying pattern.
A vulnerable child is removed
from a broken home and brought here.
Parents, who cannot better themselves,
eventually lose their parental rights.
Time flies.
The girl grows up
and becomes a mother herself,
but times are hard.
She also starts drinking.
She copies what she saw
in her childhood.
One day, she returns to our shelter,
but now, she's here to visit her kids.
We meet again, and she asks:
"Do you remember me?"
Yes, I do.
I wish I didn't, but I do.
Come on! Try it!
Kolya, are you crazy?
- No! I'm smart!
It looks like the monkey
is a bit too aggressive.
Try... Try to push the door.
Got it!
- Hurry up!
The main thing is to not get busted!
It's good that they don't
lock the teachers' room.
Jeez, the door opened.
Don't smoke so quickly.
It's cool to be outside!
- Yeah.
Who's got the longest cigarette now?
They're the same size.
- That's cool.
I have a feeling that Anjelika,
the social worker, will be back soon.
Yeah, she'll probably take me
away from here.
We'll need to smoke
one last cigarette together.
Quickly! Come on!
Go, go, go, go!
Where are you going?
- Where to?
Get inside.
Why did you steal again?
It's the fourth time.
I came here three times
already to tell you:
"Boy, you'd better
come to your senses."
We're not here to keep silent.
Look. You understand
that the adult world outside the shelter
doesn't forgive mistakes.
Stealing is a serious crime.
You can go to prison once you turn 14.
When kids go to prison, they're locked
in a little room like this
and sit there for a few years.
It's scary.
You're doing this to yourself.
What did you steal this time?
- Money.
How much?
- 75 hryvnias.
75 hryvnias. Are you kidding?
You really want to go to prison
for stealing a handful of small change?
Do you understand what I'm saying?
- Yes.
Change your behavior
before it's too late.
Wow! Look at your nails!
The girls will be jealous of them.
- No.
Let's cut your nails.
- Okay.
Be careful, okay?
- Where will you cut them?
- Right here.
I heard a cop came here yesterday.
- Yeah, it was fine.
What do you mean, "fine"?
- He talked a lot of bullshit.
What did he say?
He gave me one more warning.
Next time, he'll send me to prison.
I don't give a damn.
I'm not afraid of the police.
If they send me, they send me.
I'm not scared.
Look at me.
Don't act so tough.
Kolya!
You act more badass
than you really are.
This is your second time here.
- Yes, my second.
You really need to grow up.
You seem to think that the worse
you behave, the better. But who benefits?
Me?
Remember,
your future belongs only to you.
You have so much potential too.
Hello?
Hello?
- Hello.
I'm telling you straight out,
Mom isn't here.
Only our stepdad, Vanya, and
he's dead drunk... He passed out.
Ask her to call when she gets back.
- But she just went out.
Just tell her to call me back.
- Okay.
"All Cops Are Bastards"
Was it scary in court?
Well, yeah.
We went into the court,
and the woman asked me:
"Do you want to go back to your mom?"
I said "No."
The lawyer showed photos of my room.
It had cockroaches,
dingy wallpaper...
I was scared. I thought
they would start shouting at me.
I'll tie it.
I'll scare all the children!
They'll never sleep at night.
We'll kill everyone.
I'll eat you up!
We'll slaughter them all!
Let me help you.
- No, it's not necessary.
I should keep it on.
Aren't you scared?
No. What sort of a thread did they use?
The thread? Well, it's black.
They stitched you up?
They just stitched it?
- Yes.
That's impressive!
- It didn't even hurt that much.
Alina!
Only a few cases get resolved
faster than expected.
This only happens
when the case is severe.
In Alina's case, we found
a foster family for her.
The first time
I talked to my new foster mom,
she asked if I wanted a new mom.
I said: "Yes. Yes."
We talked over the phone.
I really like her.
I want her to be my mom.
Do you remember how much fun we had?
I'll never forget it.
I'll cry when you leave. You're my
best friend in the whole entire world!
You're such a little fool.
Here we are.
Kids, come here! All of you!
Why?
- Because!
Are we in trouble?
You're small,
so you're going for a walk, sweeties.
You sit down.
Hello, my darlings.
A lot of you are going
to an orphanage today.
The ones going are
Artyom, Vlad, Vika, and Zhenya.
Kyryl and Milana are
going to another orphanage.
That's it. No crying now.
Please pack your things by 9 a.m.
Okay? Go pack!
Kyryl, Zhenya, and Milana
have until 10 a.m.
You can refuse this shit, Kyryl.
Fuck, Zhenya! It sucks to be you!
Fucking hell!
What can we do?
- It's easy. Just say no, you idiot.
You're staying with the little kids?
With the babies!
Collect all your things.
You're not coming back here.
You're leaving this fucking place forever.
Kolya isn't going anywhere.
He has to pack his shoes.
You pack your mug.
Guys, the bus is here.
Say goodbye.
See you!
Say goodbye.
We'll be in touch.
Put your bags in the back.
How do you feel?
- Okay.
What do you mean by "okay"?
Are you bored without them?
- So-so.
Were you surprised?
Did you cry?
Did the guys cry too,
when they were leaving?
What's next for you?
- I don't know.
I've told you so many times
that I want to see you change.
Stop doing things that make
the police come looking for you.
Just be yourself. Kolya...
- Got it.
You can be yourself!
Let's say I go to that orphanage,
while Kristina and Zhenya stay here.
I'd never leave them!
May I come in?
- Have a seat.
I wanted to talk to you.
Listen, Sasha dear.
I called you here to talk.
You can't stay here forever.
You know that, right?
Yes.
- This is just a temporary home.
Would you like to live
with a foster family?
Yes, I would. I'd like to live
with a foster family.
So you'd like to live with an adoptive
family? Your mother hasn't shown up...
All she does is drink.
She doesn't want me.
So you're sure you'd like
to live with a foster family?
Today...
someone special will come visit you,
she's only coming to meet you.
The two of you can talk a bit.
Then, you can think it over
and tell me tomorrow...
whether you like her or not,
and what you decided.
Okay?
- Yes.
Let's brush your hair a bit.
You're our pretty girl.
Let me see.
Nice! Very nice!
You've got a visitor.
- Hello.
Please tell us your name.
- My name is Sasha.
Sasha... That's a good name.
Why don't you tell Sasha about yourself?
- Sasha dear, I live not too far from here.
I live on Polyova Street. I have a yard
and a dog. I love him very much.
His name is Bonka.
He's small and fat.
He's a dachshund.
Have you ever seen a dachshund?
They're small and long, like a banana,
and their front legs are twisted.
She probably likes flowers.
- I have lots. I love gardening.
You do too, Sasha, don't you?
You already have something in common.
If I had a daughter or granddaughter,
we'd look after them together.
But I don't have any...
Do you help the staff here?
- Yes.
She's a girl of many talents.
- What a good girl you are!
Oh, your smile...
Sasha darling, you're so sweet.
Do you have good teachers
on staff here?
I hope you aren't tired of me?
- No, I'm not.
Sasha, dear, shall we let our guest go?
You can tell me tomorrow
what you decide,
and we'll call Aunt Lena,
if you'd like to see her again.
Okay?
- Okay.
You go play then, sweetie pie.
- Bye, sweetie.
The Scorpion wanted to cross the river,
but he didn't know how to swim,
so he asked the Frog
to take him to the other side.
"No," said the Frog.
"You'll sting me, and I'll drown!"
"I won't sting you. I promise,"
the Scorpion replied.
Close your eyes.
So, the Frog let the Scorpion sit
on her back and swam across the river.
Halfway there,
the Scorpion stung the Frog.
"You said you wouldn't sting me!
Now we'll both die!"
"Why did you do it?"
The Scorpion answered:
"It's my nature."
The End.
What did you learn from this fable?
One shouldn't lie to people.
No!
Never trust people!
All done?
- Yes.
Look, Kristina!
What's this thing starting with A?
Hello. How are you doing?
- Good.
Kolya dear, I was looking for you.
- Why?
Why? We're going today.
- Where?
- To Novoaydar orphanage.
- I'm not going.
Kolya!
- Yes?
Let me explain the situation.
Turn and face me.
You know it very well, don't you?
- Yeah.
Your mom... I haven't heard from her.
Why?
- I don't know.
I called her numerous times.
She doesn't answer my calls.
Did you tell her to come see me?
- Yes, lots of times.
She hasn't shown up once
at Children's Services.
It's a state orphanage.
- Uh huh.
If you're in a state orphanage,
your mom has the right to take you home
on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
- Uh huh.
Kolya, believe me, it's a good place.
I'm giving your mom one more chance.
One more chance, Kolya.
I'm not taking away her parental rights,
but this is her last chance.
What's the point?
She won't come anyway.
She doesn't even come here.
- Kolya!
If she doesn't visit there, would you go
to a foster family with your siblings?
I don't want to.
I want to go home.
But your mother doesn't get in touch
with us! Do you understand?
Let's go get ready.
Come on, sweetheart.
Just don't cry.
The number you have dialed is unavailable.
Unavailable?
- No.
I'm giving you the jeans.
Kristina!
I'll miss you.
Nothing will happen to you.
I promise.
Kolya...
Give Zhenya a kiss and a hug from me.
Tell him I said hi.
If he asks, tell him I went
to the state orphanage. Got it?
Okay, bye.
Okay, Inna Ivanovna, goodbye.
- Bye...
Goodbye.
- Good luck, honey.
Are you drawing Kolya?
- It's Kolya carrying presents.
Our shelter is a house built of sorrow,
but hope still flickers here.
Every child leaves a lasting mark
on the shelter's worn-out walls,
on us, and on the friends they make here.
I hope this means something.
As the saying goes,
"Hope dies last."
Here you are. Hey!
How you doing, stupid?
Fuck! We got wasted with this dickhead!
Hello, good afternoon.
- Good afternoon, Mrs. Marharyta.
We have an issue.
There's this one child.
Can you take him in?
- Yes, we can take one more child.
You can bring him.
- Okay.
Can you tell me more about the child?
Good morning, little ones.
Did you sleep well?
And here's another little cutie pie.
Maksim...
Good morning, sweetheart.
You woke up with the sun.
It's time to get up now.
High five! Are you awake already?
Gimme your ear.
Are you awake?
Are you the chief sleepyhead?
Zhenya, I know I need water
to get you out of bed.
Good morning. I came to wake you up,
you beautiful little thing.
Mrs. Irina!
- That's me. You know how I wake you up.
Yulia... ready to wake up?
Such good girls! You're up!
- I'm awake.
Wonderful, girls. Get dressed quickly,
and come out for our morning exercises.
Good morning, everyone!
Seryozha, reach for the sun!
One, two, three, four...
One, two, three, four...
The beetle came back to life.
Well done, everyone.
Here comes the locomotive:
"Choo choo!"
Push hard with both legs. One...
Push against me, Maksim.
...two... one, two...
Wave your legs in the air,
like a tree in the wind.
Now let's skip rope.
One, two, three, four...
Well done!
The number you have dialed
cannot be reached.
Please send a text or dial again later.
Yes.
Hi, Granny.
- Hello.
How are you?
- I'm good. All is good.
And how are you, dear?
- I'm fine. Is Mom drinking again?
I haven't seen her, Eva.
I haven't heard from her
for the past three days.
I called her,
but she doesn't answer.
She doesn't pick up?
- That means she's drunk again, right?
Damn it!
I need to get over there.
Okay, goodbye.
- Bye bye.
See you.
...the termination of parental rights,
which will be enforced...
We must terminate their parental rights,
because a real orphanage
isn't the best option for her.
She deserves a good foster family, right?
She deserves to live with a good family.
Well, yes. As I said, we'll try.
Okay. Thank you.
I'll be waiting for your call. Goodbye.
Here in Eastern Ukraine,
people still feel the echo of war.
Life has always been hard here,
but the war made things even worse.
So many people lost their jobs.
Now, every tenth door hides
a broken family.
When a family is broken due to
alcoholism, violence, or homelessness,
the social worker brings
the children here,
to our shelter.
The number you have dialed
cannot be reached...
Send SMS...
What's your mom doing?
- Drinking.
You miss her, don't you?
I want her to stop drinking,
so we can start all over again.
It can really happen.
The last time, she was sober
for five, or maybe three months.
These things do happen.
- Last year, she managed to change.
Do you hope that it
will happen again this year?
Yes.
Your mother is a good person.
Drinking is her only flaw, right?
Eva is here for the second time.
This shelter is a temporary solution.
Kids can stay here
for up to nine months,
while their cases are processed
by the court.
During this time, we provide them
with a warm bed and six meals a day...
and we make sure that they go to school.
Let's start with the hands.
One, two, three...
One, two, three...
Then like this. Watch:
One, two, three...
Is everybody ready?
All the men keep their eyes
on the dance floor,
While I dance there proudly, alone.
I play on the edge.
You caused me pain again.
I know that it is all my fault.
My body and soul are swollen.
That's how much I'm infected by you,
So that now I have a fever again.
The tracks at this disco
last no more than a minute,
and I'm starting to forget about you.
I tune in to a sad dance
and set our love free.
This is the only place
I'll dance through my pain.
Just like inside
an enormous web,
I can scatter my memories of you.
The gossip in the neighborhood is
that I'm your girlfriend. It's bullshit.
I love you. I love you so much...
Please, love me back.
Eva is blushing.
Look how nicely we prepared
everything for them.
Girls, girls...
Girls...
Dear Mom!
Dear Mom!
Don't be scared.
Boys, go to your room.
There's a...
Well?...
- Just don't read it out loud, please.
This is for you.
- So?
- Dudnik, Yulia is in love with you.
- I don't love anyone!
I'm such an idiot!
Is it dark?
- I'll just shut it.
Okay, switch it on.
Boys, imagine that someone
is under our bed now!
No one's there.
- Imagine it!
What if he crawls out?
Imagine that he kills you at night!
Once... This is the scariest story.
My dad went on a binge once.
Whenever he drinks too much,
he beats my mom or...
... he beats me.
Once, when I was little,
my mom got paid that day.
He'd been drinking a lot and said
he wanted to pick a fight with her,
so he stabbed her in the chest!
- With a knife?
Yes.
Was there a lot of blood?
- Yeah, a whole pool of blood.
She started gasping and
fell down crying, that poor thing!
Five years later, he asked for
a pardon and was released.
He went down on his knees,
begging her to forgive him.
When she did, he bought
a bottle of champagne
and a cake. He got drunk again
that very same day.
Drunk dads are all crazy,
and he's always drunk.
Nasty!
- Yeah.
I have a story about my dad too...
He also got drunk...
Eva has been here
for nine months already.
If the court deprives her mother
of her parental rights,
Eva will be sent to an orphanage.
Oh, my God! Oh, my God!
That's really something. Oh, my!
We still have a chance
to find a relative or foster family
willing to adopt her.
Our last hope is
that Eva's grandmother
can become her guardian.
Hello.
- Hello.
Hi.
- Hi, sweetie.
So, how are things?
- I met a young man.
A young man?
Only 31 years old.
That's way too young for you, Mom!
Eva, I feel bad when I'm alone.
I feel bad when I'm alone, too.
My daughter, let's make things
like they were before.
How?
I'll find a job, and
everything will be fine at home.
I want you to come back to me.
Run away from there,
and come back to me!
Are you crazy?
- Just run away.
If Dad was still alive,
this never would have happened.
Stop it!
Eva, don't start.
Eva, daughter,
why must you drive me to my grave?
What about me,
crying here by myself?
I'm all alone.
No one comes to see me.
What would you prefer:
living with Mom, or with Grandma?
Grandma.
- With Grandma, right?
Because Mom hasn't changed.
- No, she hasn't changed at all.
This is how it works: There will be
a preliminary court hearing.
Your mom will be summoned.
I think she already received a paper.
- Yes, a subpoena.
But she was too lazy to go
to the post office to get it.
Too lazy to pick up the subpoena?
I see.
She's not getting her act together.
She doesn't want to change at all...
...won't get back on her feet.
You called your father, right?
- Yes.
He'll come.
But he already missed
multiple visits,
so tomorrow, you're going
to the orphanage.
Which one?
- Kremenskoye.
Listen to me. How many times
did you call your dad this week?
I don't know.
- Once or twice?
Two or three times.
- Two or three times,
and your father didn't visit you?
- No.
I understand.
But please tell me, do you know
if Eva Majinskas's grandmother
went to see social services?
Did you have the hearing on
the termination of parental rights?
I want to stress
that time is running out,
and we have a grandmother,
who does come visit her.
It's being processed...
- Yes, I know.
Okay, so we might hear more tomorrow?
- Yes.
Mrs. Marharyta.
- Come in.
Do you remember our talk yesterday?
We talked about Grandma.
- Yes.
I'll pin my hair up...
- I keep trying to fix your bangs.
Yes, I'll pin it up.
- Good.
Today, I called Mrs. Anjelika
from Social Services.
I have some good news for you.
Grandma will take you back home
tomorrow. Everything worked out.
She'll come get me tomorrow?
- Yes, tomorrow. It will all be fine.
Everything will be perfect.
- I had a feeling that might happen.
Grandma appeared
in my dream last night.
I'm shivering, I can't...
Everything is fine.
Everything is fine.
Is it true?
- Yes, it's true. I wouldn't lie to you.
I'm so happy I could die!
Do you know when you're leaving?
- At around 1 p.m.
Close your eyes!
- And open my mouth?
No, and open your eyes now.
This is for you!
Wow! Thank you.
Oh, Eva.
- Yes.
You made me blush... Thank you.
The bear will look after you.
Are you nervous?
- Yes.
Just remember that you can call
anytime, day or night.
Do you hear me?
- Yes.
Don't forget us.
I won't.
Remember, you can do anything.
Be the same, easygoing girl
you are now.
You always reminded me of a butterfly.
Don't cry, Eva,
or I'll start crying too.
Do you understand?
- Yes.
My darling Eva,
I'm taking you home today!
Everything will be okay.
Grandma's here to take you home.
Don't cry.
- Get out of here!
I can't believe that
she is allowed to take me.
That's it, dear. Bye bye.
Where are you going?
- Back home! Bye!
Eva...
- Bye, Eva.
I'll call you my daughter now, okay?
- Okay.
We'll be home soon.
Did you miss home, Eva?
- Yeah.
This is a nice blouse.
These jeans are very trendy!
Oh, sure, with holes.
Really trendy jeans!
All grannies say the same thing!
- Yep, all grannies say the same thing.
Don't rush. We need to do this slowly.
- Slowly, slowly, Eva. Slowly.
When one child leaves,
another one arrives.
Due to winter and war,
we are more crowded than ever.
Quiet, kids.
The next one is for Burdina, Alexandra.
- They mean Sasha.
Here you go.
- Thank you.
Sasha was skipping school.
No one saw her for a long time.
Her mother suffers
from severe alcohol abuse.
She often left Sasha
home alone for days.
Sasha had to cook
and take care of herself.
Katenka, sing us a song.
Katenka.
- I love you very much.
I already miss you so much.
Then sing me a song.
What's wrong with her?
Katenka, will you sing me a song?
I didn't catch that. Please repeat it.
Sing us a song!
- Yes, of course.
- Let's be friends.
- Yes.
Or maybe not!
What will you do,
if I say "yes" or "no"...
Katenka?!
I feel so lonely.
Oh, well. I probably won't
be friends with you...
It's such a pleasure
to hear that.
But I said I won't be friends with you.
I'll stay far away from you.
I will!
I won't be your friend
for an entire day!
You really are fucking around with me!
I didn't catch that. Please repeat it.
Again?! Will you sing us a song?
Give me something to eat, please.
Hello. Mrs. Anjelika.
Sasha came to me recently.
Sasha Burdina came to me.
Do you happen to have
her mother's phone number?
She really wants to talk to her mom.
- No.
- She hasn't even tried to contact us.
- She hasn't?
No, she hasn't.
No, not even once.
Not since her child was taken away.
A lot happened, none of it good,
from what I understand.
This is a fucking disaster!
That's it. I cleaned the door
and scrubbed the handle.
Kolya, you have to stop
drawing on the doors.
- Do we have a deal? Kolya?!
- Yes.
That's how you get off the hook!
I'm afraid of the dark, but when I ran
away from the shelter, it was snowing.
It was very, very bright all over,
but I wasn't afraid,
because I was with Vlad.
About 7 police cars passed us,
but they didn't stop.
Vlad is so tall, they probably
thought he's an adult.
We separated near
the stadium and Bogatyr Park.
I rushed inside, saw them, and thought,
"Thank God, I'm home."
Then Vanya, my stepdad, shouted,
"Kolya ran back home."
That's when the shit hit the fan.
I only got to spend an hour at home
before the police showed up.
I kind of expected that.
I only ran away to see my mom,
my siblings, my stepfather,
my granny and granddad... that's all.
I didn't care about anything else.
Kolya often runs away from home.
He wanders the streets while
his mother and stepfather go drinking.
The police caught him
with two younger siblings,
rummaging through a junkyard
to find something to sell.
Whoops! I missed the target!
You really want to go home?
- Sure! I'll even go to school, damn it.
Don't talk like that!
- Okay, I won't.
How many classes did you skip?
- Me?
A rough count of how much I skipped...
- What's a rough count?
How many days did you skip?
- Classes or days?
I came one day,
but skipped a few classes.
Rub it off, Kolya.
- Why?
Why draw bad things on your hand?
- It's cool.
It's gone now.
- What does it say, Kolya?
Nothing.
- Show me.
What does it mean?
- I don't know.
- Then why did you write it?
- No reason.
- I plagiarized it from the other guys.
- You did what?
I plagiarized it.
From Vlad?
- No. I'm not a snitch.
Then who?
- We don't betray our people!
Are you some old man
who spent his life in prison?
Does writing "Joker"
help you get back home?
Yeah, it's my souvenir
from the shelter.
Kolya, you're talking to me
like I'm some little girl.
How will bad behavior
help you go home?
Mrs. Anjelika, the social worker,
will get lots of complaints.
I'll drive her so crazy
that she'll send me home.
You think you have it all worked it out,
but it's not true.
I'm begging you. Rub it off.
Kolya?
You're the oldest kid.
You're the oldest.
Who can your mom rely on?
On me.
- So...
Listen! I don't want you staying here
more time than necessary.
Don't you think I care about you?
What do you think?
I don't know.
- You don't know?
Okay, Kolya, tidy yourself up
and clean your hand off. Deal?
Can I have my marker?
- Show me a clean hand first.
- How do I clean it? That's cruel.
- How? With soap.
- Come back and show me.
- This is an atrocity!
Hi, Mom!
- Hello, darling Zhenya.
How are you, sweetheart?
- I'm okay.
I miss you all so much.
- I miss you too.
I'll try to visit you tomorrow,
if I can.
That would be great.
Kristina wants to talk to you.
Give her the phone.
- It's me, Mom.
Hello, sweet Kristina!
- Hello.
How are you, honey?
- I'm okay.
You're okay?
Are they beating you there?
Yeah, they are.
A boy named Zhenya beats me.
What? Our Zhenya beats you?
- Hi, Mom. They fight so much!
They fight so hard, Mom.
It's awful.
They just started fighting again!
Hush, you!
Why are they fighting?
They argue about how much time
I spend with each of them.
Oh, I see. And you play the role
of the big brother, as always?
Yes, as always!
- Mama, Kolya...
So, it's better there than at home?
- What?
Mom, Zhenya beats me...
- Hush! What?
Is it better there than at home?
- Of course not! Well, Mom, see you.
See you soon, son.
I'll visit tomorrow.
Good night.
Okay, kids. Say goodbye to Mom.
Bye!
- Bye, kittens!
Bye, Mom!
Kristina!
That's it.
Go put your shoes on.
Hello!
How are you doing here?
- I'm fine. You reek of alcohol, Mom.
It's not too strong, but it's there.
- How are you, honey?
I'm fine.
- Let's take a seat.
I punched half the people in the face.
- Is that a bruise under your eye?
Yes!
- Who did that to you?
I had a fight.
- Boys will be boys, but that's no good!
I've been working on some drawings.
I'll show you.
Do you know what this sign means?
- Please don't!
It's the sign of a thief. I made lots.
Take a look.
He has a dirty hand.
- Yes, I see. He has nothing to do.
Look.
- Zhenya!
What was that? Tell me!
- It's nothing.
What's wrong with you?
- It was nothing.
Tell me then.
What are those cuts on your hand?
Come here, please.
What?
- Have a seat.
Are those cuts?
Did you do that to yourself?
Never do it again.
I need you.
I couldn't live without you.
I'd miss you.
I can't make it on my own.
Do you understand me?
Do you understand?
- I do.
Look at me. You're a man now,
so wipe those tears away.
You're my little big man.
The others are just kids,
but you're a man now.
Kiss me.
Listen to me.
I never want to see that again.
Promise?
- I won't do it again.
Do you promise?
- Mom... Tell me the truth.
Do you drink?
- I had a beer.
Don't do stupid things, okay?
Do you want to take a photo?
- Uh huh.
You filled the entire photo
with the flash.
Promise not to laugh.
- I won't.
I want to tell you that you're...
It's okay. Just say it.
What?!
- Do you want to be my best friend?
Do I want to be your friend?
- Yes.
I don't know...
You're so beautiful.
- What?
Talk normally. I can't hear you!
- You're beautiful and smart. That's all.
Well? Is that it?
- Yes. Now it's your turn.
I like the way you act.
That's it.
But you have to behave well
and not misbehave...
I won't...
- Then I'll consider it.
Fine. Then let's be friends.
I'll tell you a secret.
Back home, I love to...
You do?
You really like drinking alcohol at home?
Tell me the truth.
- No. Do you drink beer?
Tell me the truth, and I'll tell you.
- I tried it... once.
Okay, I also tried it once.
My mom lets me drink it.
- My mom too.
It was more than once too.
- I also drank it more than once.
Sasha?... Do you like it?
- Do you?
No... but I love fighting.
- Me too.
I want to fight with you.
- What?
I want to fight you right now.
- I don't want to.
Enough already!
Or I won't be your best friend!
You're crazy!
I won't be your friend anymore.
Let's try this. You let go of me,
and I let go of you.
You let go of me, and I let go of you.
- No!
Fuck off!
That's it! I'm not your best friend.
You're braindead!
I have to say, you're totally crazy!
Okay, let's make peace.
- Yeah, a truce.
Come in.
I'll tell your future.
Look into the crystal ball.
I see...
Your parents will stop drinking.
You'll have a hearing in court.
and you'll go back home soon.
It will happen. You'll see.
All I'm telling you is true.
Is someone sitting inside?
- Yes.
Who?
- Shhh!
Sit down, girl.
Look into the crystal ball.
I see that your mother will die.
That's what I see.
Then, you'll be adopted
by a foster family.
They'll make you a slave.
I see...
you'll have a bad time, girl,
a very bad time.
You'll marry and start working.
I see that you will drink heavily.
Your kids will live in an orphanage.
I see your life ending badly.
You'll be homeless.
That's all. That's your future.
I see nothing more.
Assistant!
Alina, come out.
Your mom forgot about you.
- No.
She forgot herself.
- I don't think so.
She forgot about you and herself.
- No, she hasn't forgotten me.
Sometimes I remember her,
and sometimes I forget.
She'll come visit me.
Your mom doesn't visit you,
but mine will visit me.
Stop it!.
- Leave me alone, or I'll smack you!
When you've worked here
for a long time,
you start to notice
an underlying pattern.
A vulnerable child is removed
from a broken home and brought here.
Parents, who cannot better themselves,
eventually lose their parental rights.
Time flies.
The girl grows up
and becomes a mother herself,
but times are hard.
She also starts drinking.
She copies what she saw
in her childhood.
One day, she returns to our shelter,
but now, she's here to visit her kids.
We meet again, and she asks:
"Do you remember me?"
Yes, I do.
I wish I didn't, but I do.
Come on! Try it!
Kolya, are you crazy?
- No! I'm smart!
It looks like the monkey
is a bit too aggressive.
Try... Try to push the door.
Got it!
- Hurry up!
The main thing is to not get busted!
It's good that they don't
lock the teachers' room.
Jeez, the door opened.
Don't smoke so quickly.
It's cool to be outside!
- Yeah.
Who's got the longest cigarette now?
They're the same size.
- That's cool.
I have a feeling that Anjelika,
the social worker, will be back soon.
Yeah, she'll probably take me
away from here.
We'll need to smoke
one last cigarette together.
Quickly! Come on!
Go, go, go, go!
Where are you going?
- Where to?
Get inside.
Why did you steal again?
It's the fourth time.
I came here three times
already to tell you:
"Boy, you'd better
come to your senses."
We're not here to keep silent.
Look. You understand
that the adult world outside the shelter
doesn't forgive mistakes.
Stealing is a serious crime.
You can go to prison once you turn 14.
When kids go to prison, they're locked
in a little room like this
and sit there for a few years.
It's scary.
You're doing this to yourself.
What did you steal this time?
- Money.
How much?
- 75 hryvnias.
75 hryvnias. Are you kidding?
You really want to go to prison
for stealing a handful of small change?
Do you understand what I'm saying?
- Yes.
Change your behavior
before it's too late.
Wow! Look at your nails!
The girls will be jealous of them.
- No.
Let's cut your nails.
- Okay.
Be careful, okay?
- Where will you cut them?
- Right here.
I heard a cop came here yesterday.
- Yeah, it was fine.
What do you mean, "fine"?
- He talked a lot of bullshit.
What did he say?
He gave me one more warning.
Next time, he'll send me to prison.
I don't give a damn.
I'm not afraid of the police.
If they send me, they send me.
I'm not scared.
Look at me.
Don't act so tough.
Kolya!
You act more badass
than you really are.
This is your second time here.
- Yes, my second.
You really need to grow up.
You seem to think that the worse
you behave, the better. But who benefits?
Me?
Remember,
your future belongs only to you.
You have so much potential too.
Hello?
Hello?
- Hello.
I'm telling you straight out,
Mom isn't here.
Only our stepdad, Vanya, and
he's dead drunk... He passed out.
Ask her to call when she gets back.
- But she just went out.
Just tell her to call me back.
- Okay.
"All Cops Are Bastards"
Was it scary in court?
Well, yeah.
We went into the court,
and the woman asked me:
"Do you want to go back to your mom?"
I said "No."
The lawyer showed photos of my room.
It had cockroaches,
dingy wallpaper...
I was scared. I thought
they would start shouting at me.
I'll tie it.
I'll scare all the children!
They'll never sleep at night.
We'll kill everyone.
I'll eat you up!
We'll slaughter them all!
Let me help you.
- No, it's not necessary.
I should keep it on.
Aren't you scared?
No. What sort of a thread did they use?
The thread? Well, it's black.
They stitched you up?
They just stitched it?
- Yes.
That's impressive!
- It didn't even hurt that much.
Alina!
Only a few cases get resolved
faster than expected.
This only happens
when the case is severe.
In Alina's case, we found
a foster family for her.
The first time
I talked to my new foster mom,
she asked if I wanted a new mom.
I said: "Yes. Yes."
We talked over the phone.
I really like her.
I want her to be my mom.
Do you remember how much fun we had?
I'll never forget it.
I'll cry when you leave. You're my
best friend in the whole entire world!
You're such a little fool.
Here we are.
Kids, come here! All of you!
Why?
- Because!
Are we in trouble?
You're small,
so you're going for a walk, sweeties.
You sit down.
Hello, my darlings.
A lot of you are going
to an orphanage today.
The ones going are
Artyom, Vlad, Vika, and Zhenya.
Kyryl and Milana are
going to another orphanage.
That's it. No crying now.
Please pack your things by 9 a.m.
Okay? Go pack!
Kyryl, Zhenya, and Milana
have until 10 a.m.
You can refuse this shit, Kyryl.
Fuck, Zhenya! It sucks to be you!
Fucking hell!
What can we do?
- It's easy. Just say no, you idiot.
You're staying with the little kids?
With the babies!
Collect all your things.
You're not coming back here.
You're leaving this fucking place forever.
Kolya isn't going anywhere.
He has to pack his shoes.
You pack your mug.
Guys, the bus is here.
Say goodbye.
See you!
Say goodbye.
We'll be in touch.
Put your bags in the back.
How do you feel?
- Okay.
What do you mean by "okay"?
Are you bored without them?
- So-so.
Were you surprised?
Did you cry?
Did the guys cry too,
when they were leaving?
What's next for you?
- I don't know.
I've told you so many times
that I want to see you change.
Stop doing things that make
the police come looking for you.
Just be yourself. Kolya...
- Got it.
You can be yourself!
Let's say I go to that orphanage,
while Kristina and Zhenya stay here.
I'd never leave them!
May I come in?
- Have a seat.
I wanted to talk to you.
Listen, Sasha dear.
I called you here to talk.
You can't stay here forever.
You know that, right?
Yes.
- This is just a temporary home.
Would you like to live
with a foster family?
Yes, I would. I'd like to live
with a foster family.
So you'd like to live with an adoptive
family? Your mother hasn't shown up...
All she does is drink.
She doesn't want me.
So you're sure you'd like
to live with a foster family?
Today...
someone special will come visit you,
she's only coming to meet you.
The two of you can talk a bit.
Then, you can think it over
and tell me tomorrow...
whether you like her or not,
and what you decided.
Okay?
- Yes.
Let's brush your hair a bit.
You're our pretty girl.
Let me see.
Nice! Very nice!
You've got a visitor.
- Hello.
Please tell us your name.
- My name is Sasha.
Sasha... That's a good name.
Why don't you tell Sasha about yourself?
- Sasha dear, I live not too far from here.
I live on Polyova Street. I have a yard
and a dog. I love him very much.
His name is Bonka.
He's small and fat.
He's a dachshund.
Have you ever seen a dachshund?
They're small and long, like a banana,
and their front legs are twisted.
She probably likes flowers.
- I have lots. I love gardening.
You do too, Sasha, don't you?
You already have something in common.
If I had a daughter or granddaughter,
we'd look after them together.
But I don't have any...
Do you help the staff here?
- Yes.
She's a girl of many talents.
- What a good girl you are!
Oh, your smile...
Sasha darling, you're so sweet.
Do you have good teachers
on staff here?
I hope you aren't tired of me?
- No, I'm not.
Sasha, dear, shall we let our guest go?
You can tell me tomorrow
what you decide,
and we'll call Aunt Lena,
if you'd like to see her again.
Okay?
- Okay.
You go play then, sweetie pie.
- Bye, sweetie.
The Scorpion wanted to cross the river,
but he didn't know how to swim,
so he asked the Frog
to take him to the other side.
"No," said the Frog.
"You'll sting me, and I'll drown!"
"I won't sting you. I promise,"
the Scorpion replied.
Close your eyes.
So, the Frog let the Scorpion sit
on her back and swam across the river.
Halfway there,
the Scorpion stung the Frog.
"You said you wouldn't sting me!
Now we'll both die!"
"Why did you do it?"
The Scorpion answered:
"It's my nature."
The End.
What did you learn from this fable?
One shouldn't lie to people.
No!
Never trust people!
All done?
- Yes.
Look, Kristina!
What's this thing starting with A?
Hello. How are you doing?
- Good.
Kolya dear, I was looking for you.
- Why?
Why? We're going today.
- Where?
- To Novoaydar orphanage.
- I'm not going.
Kolya!
- Yes?
Let me explain the situation.
Turn and face me.
You know it very well, don't you?
- Yeah.
Your mom... I haven't heard from her.
Why?
- I don't know.
I called her numerous times.
She doesn't answer my calls.
Did you tell her to come see me?
- Yes, lots of times.
She hasn't shown up once
at Children's Services.
It's a state orphanage.
- Uh huh.
If you're in a state orphanage,
your mom has the right to take you home
on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
- Uh huh.
Kolya, believe me, it's a good place.
I'm giving your mom one more chance.
One more chance, Kolya.
I'm not taking away her parental rights,
but this is her last chance.
What's the point?
She won't come anyway.
She doesn't even come here.
- Kolya!
If she doesn't visit there, would you go
to a foster family with your siblings?
I don't want to.
I want to go home.
But your mother doesn't get in touch
with us! Do you understand?
Let's go get ready.
Come on, sweetheart.
Just don't cry.
The number you have dialed is unavailable.
Unavailable?
- No.
I'm giving you the jeans.
Kristina!
I'll miss you.
Nothing will happen to you.
I promise.
Kolya...
Give Zhenya a kiss and a hug from me.
Tell him I said hi.
If he asks, tell him I went
to the state orphanage. Got it?
Okay, bye.
Okay, Inna Ivanovna, goodbye.
- Bye...
Goodbye.
- Good luck, honey.
Are you drawing Kolya?
- It's Kolya carrying presents.
Our shelter is a house built of sorrow,
but hope still flickers here.
Every child leaves a lasting mark
on the shelter's worn-out walls,
on us, and on the friends they make here.
I hope this means something.
As the saying goes,
"Hope dies last."
Here you are. Hey!
How you doing, stupid?
Fuck! We got wasted with this dickhead!
Hello, good afternoon.
- Good afternoon, Mrs. Marharyta.
We have an issue.
There's this one child.
Can you take him in?
- Yes, we can take one more child.
You can bring him.
- Okay.
Can you tell me more about the child?