The beginning of the next entry is written with great speed.
POPRISHCHIN V.O.
November Twelfth. At two in the afternoon...
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APARTMENT BUILDING - AFTERNOON
POPRISHCHIN stands in the archway of his building looking at Zverkov House.
POPRISHCHIN V.O.
I set off for Zverkov House with the firm intention of cross- examining Fido. Music Cue: "Zverkov House Theme". The theme is now played with the intensity of Shostakovitch. Poprishchin turns and exits SCREEN LEFT, walking away from Kokushkin Bridge and Zverkov House.
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AFTERNOON
The CAMERA LOOKS DOWN from high above the city street. MERCHANTS and PEASANT WOMEN walk along doing their business. In the middle of the block is a shop with thick steam rolling out of its door. Pumped with adrenaline, POPRISHCHIN is moving down the street with determination.
Poprishchin stops abruptly outside the window of the tiny shop, where thick steam rolls through an open door onto the street.
POPRISHCHIN
I cannot tolerate cabbage!
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POPRISHCHIN’S POV: Inside the shop window, a massive, burly CABBAGE COOK chops a head of cabbage and drops it into a huge steaming pot of borscht.
Cut to COOK’S POV: Poprishchin can not stand the stench. He holds his nose and flees from the cooking cabbage.
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POPRISHCHIN passes through a corridor where the MONGREL DOG is eating garbage scattered on the ground. The mongrel growls and then cowers as Poprishchin passes him. Poprishchin walks past the mongrel with a look of disgust.
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There is a sense of mounting pollution and danger as POPRISHCHIN crosses through a back alley. Garbage and steam litter his path. Poprishchin dodges a pailful of garbage that falls from a window above his head.
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POPRISHCHIN walks towards the CAMERA, with a look of disgust on his face. He sees something in front of him that is a personal affront to his noble position.
Poprishchin raises his arm across his face for protection.
The CAMERA PANS with Poprishchin as he walks towards a thick cloud of smoke that pours out into the street from an ash can. FOUR WORKERS are gathered around the can trying to keep warm. Poprishchin enters the cloud of smoke.
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Poprishchin breaks through the smoke and faces Zverkov House. The trumpet player is playing at his window.
The CAMERA TRACKS AROUND Poprishchin revealing his apartment behind him. His entire journey took him exactly 30 yards from the archway to his apartment. With stoic triumph, Poprishchin exits SCREEN RIGHT across Kokushkin Bridge.
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POPRISHCHIN ascends the first flight of steps in Zverkov House.
The CAMERA PANS with Poprishchin as he climbs the steps to the 1st floor.
As if ascending a stairwell designed by M.C. Escher, the CAMERA PANS LEFT to its original position to find Poprishchin climbing the same stairs again. The CAMERA PANS with Poprishchin as he passes the CAMERA and climbs the steps to the 2nd floor. The CAMERA PANS LEFT to its original position and POPRISHCHIN ascends the steps a third time. He is losing his breath.
The CAMERA PANS with Poprishchin climbs the steps to the 3rd floor. The CAMERA PANS LEFT to its original position and POPRISHCHIN ascends the steps a fourth time. He is still determined, but clearly winded.
The CAMERA PANS with Poprishchin as he climbs the steps to the 4th floor. The CAMERA PANS LEFT to its original position and POPRISHCHIN ascends the steps a fifth time. Poprishchin grabs his side in pain, his determination unwavering. The CAMERA PANS with Poprishchin as he passes the 5th floor landing.
ZVERKOV WOMEN #1 and #2 exit their apartment with FIDO. They are chatting away. Unseen by Poprishchin, they head down the stairs. The Zverkov Women and Fido descend the stairwell and exit SCREEN LEFT.
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HOUSE - AFTERNOON
POPRISHCHIN knocks on the door of the sixth floor apartment.
The ZVERKOV PEASANT GIRL opens the door. She looks nothing like Zverkov women #1 and #2. She is very small and chubby with dark hair and a plain face. The young girl is shy, and quite nervous by the appearance of this panting stranger.
POPRISHCHIN V.O.
I recognized her at once and quickly deduced: Looking for a husband, are we?
YOUNG WOMAN
What can I do for you?
Cut to OVER THE SHOULDER of GIRL: Poprishchin proceeds with his interrogation.
POPRISHCHIN
I must have a talk with your doggie.
Cut to OVER THE SHOULDER of POPRISHCHIN: The girl is at a loss for words.
POPRISHCHIN V.O.
The girl was obviously stupid.
SOUND: A small dog yaps furiously inside the
apartment.
Cut to OVER THE SHOULDER of GIRL: Poprishchin barges past the CAMERA into the apartment.
POPRISHCHIN
A-ha!
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GIRL/ZVERKOV HOUSE - AFTERNOON
EXTREME CLOSE-UP of a YAPPING DOG barking furiously. This dog bears no resemblance to Fido. In this tight shot he looks quite large and viscious.
Cut to: Poprishchin grabs the tiny
dog, lifts him up to his face and attempts to talk to him.
POPRISHCHIN
Where are they? The letters! The dog tries to bite Poprishchin in the nose.
Poprishchin tosses down the dog.
Poprishchin looks SCREEN RIGHT. The CAMERA TRACKS IN to a CLOSE-UP of Poprishchin. He sees the prize.
Cut to POPRISHCHIN’S POV: TRACK IN to the dog's basket.
As the CAMERA TRACK INS towards the basket, Poprishchin enters from behind the CAMERA and drops to his knees. Poprishchin feels around under the straw.
Poprishchin pulls out a small bundle of pee-stained newspaper. He has found "the letters"!
Poprishchin screams in pain.
Cut to: The dog is biting Poprishchin
on his calf. Poprishchin whacks the dog with "the letters". The dog releases his bite, whines and cowers at Poprishchin's feet.
Cut to: Poprishchin quickly gets up.
POPRISHCHIN
(to the dog)
Oh no, my dear, it's no use making up with me. I'll see you later! The CAMERA TRACKS BEHIND Poprishchin as he storms across the room towards the door.
Poprishchin leaves the apartment. The Peasant Girl, who looks like she was hit by a tornado, regains her senses and slams the door behind him.
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ZVERKOV HOUSE - AFTERNOON
The CAMERA looks up at Poprishchin as he stands triumphantly outside the door of the apartment. He begins to laugh.
POPRISHCHIN V.O.
I believe the young girl took me for a madman. Well, the slut did seem very frightened. Poprishchin proceeds down the stairs past the CAMERA.
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SOUND: Footsteps quickly descending the
stairwell. The CAMERA TILTS DOWN the outside of Zverkov House.
POPRISHCHIN V.O.
Now I'll be able to find out about all their plots and innuendoes. Now I'll understand everything. These letters will expose me to everything! Dogs are a clever race. They know all about political intrigue, and it's all bound to be written down in these letters...
POPRISHCHIN bounds out the front door of Zverkov House clutching the letters. POPRISHCHIN V.O. (cont’d) ...including a description of our Director, and his private life. So there's bound to be something about...
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AFTERNOON
POPRISHCHIN is standing outside the door to his apartment.
POPRISHCHIN
Never mind.
Poprishchin opens the door to his apartment and discovers MAVRA, on her hands and knees, scrubbing the floor. Poprishchin is furious.
POPRISHCHIN
AAAAAHHHHHH!!! Mavra turns towards Poprishchin with a look of exasperation.
Poprishchin slams the door and storms down the stairs, exiting SCREEN RIGHT.
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BLUE SCREEN MONTAGE: As the days remaining light begins to fade, POPRISHCHIN contemplates the letters which he holds tightly in his hands. He walks along the same streets on which he traveled to Zverkov House, but in the opposite direction. He is oblivious to the world and the obstacles that had bothered him only moments before. FOREGROUND: Poprishchin emerges from a cloud of smoke and walks calmly in front of a blue screen.
BACKGROUND: The CAMERA TRACKS BACK along the street where the workers stand around the ash can. DISSOLVE BACKGROUND TO:
BACKGROUND: The CAMERA TRACKS BACK along the back alley where steam pours out from the shops, garbage is scattered on the ground, and garbage falls from the windows. DISSOLVE BACKGROUND TO:
BACKGROUND: The CAMERA TRACKS BACK through the corridor where the MONGREL DOG eats garbage scattered against the wall. DISSOLVE BACKGROUND TO:
LATE AFTERNOON
FOREGROUND: Poprishchin continues to walk calmly as smoke rolls in front of him... BACKGROUND: The CAMERA TRACKS BACK along the street where the Cabbage Cook works.
FOREGROUND: Poprishchin passes through the smoke, stops in his tracks and looks SCREEN LEFT.
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POPRISHCHIN’S POV: The CABBAGE COOK looks at him as if to say "What?"
Cut to COOK’S POV: Poprishchin shows the Cook the "letters" he holds in his left hand. The letters begin to glow.
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