Однажды в Одессе. Once upon a Time in Odessa. 2 Серия. Жизнь и приключения М. Япончика. StarMedia

STAR MEDIA presents

Yevgeny Tkachuk, Yelena Shamova

Aleksey Filimonov, Vadim Norshtein,
Sergey Marin, Igor Artashonov

Valentin Gaft, Vsevolod Shilovsky,
Aleksandr Ilyin, Rimma Markova

Anatoly Kot, Artiom Osipov, Aleksandr
Lazarev Jr., Artiom Tkachenko

Oleg Shkolnik, Irina Tokarchuk,
Yekaterina Kopanova, Valeriy Bassel

in ONCE UPON A TIME IN ODESSA based on
“The Odessa Tales” by I.E. Babel

Directed by: Sergey Ginzburg

Written by Maksim Belozor

Music by Vladimir Davydenko

Director of photography: Eduard
Moshkovich

Production designers: Nikita Chernov,
Yulia Sobinova, Svetlana Litvinova

Casting by Anastasia Leonova

Postproduction producer: Artiom
Yeliseyev

Рroduced by: Yelizaveta
Troitskaya

Executive producers:
Vitaliy Bordachev and Vlad Ryashin

Monsieur Barsky…

And it’s good that you see Mosieur
Barsky here. Misha, it’s no good not

to keep the door unlocked when the
time is so unhealthy.

How do you know this place?

And how do I know all things in the
world? When Yasha Palchik asked about

a flat in a quiet place, Barsky was
instantly approached and told that

Misha Yaponets decided to start a pad.

Are you here to talk about Gepner?

Old Mendel wishes that you do
Gepner.

What interesting you know about him?

Yovl Lazarevich Gepner is a man of… A
sugar refinery, two stone mansions, a

summerhouse at the Primorsky boulevard
- it’s number one…

What is my interest?

Your interest, Misha, is that Gepner
has made pretty money for sugar and

that Gepner distrust banks.

He distrusts banks?

Well, maybe he’s right to and one
should keep all his money home,

especially if one has a safe from
Goering & Co. And there’s 1 million in

it. And it will be kept there for two
more days and then it will be gone. So

Gersh thinks that it should not go in
vain.

I’ve heard you.

Misha, change the lock. Because what
you have attached there is ridiculous.

Are you nuts?!

You’re already dead, Mayorchik.

Good willing to see you in such a
marvelous place! When are you saying

the wedding will be? Ah, the day after
tomorrow.

So, bring in the gift. Be careful.
Yasha, where’s Sioma the Sailor?

Not sure. Hasn’t come.

Gentlemen! Hold it please! Yovl
Lazarevich, I have to say but I don’t

have any talent to say it in famous
worlds. So, I’ll say it from the

bottom of my heart. What can one wish
such a man as Yovl Lazarevich having

the head of gold when he has
everything needed? One can wish him to

have plenty. Not money! Friends! Who
did come to congratulate him on his

anniversary!

Mazal tov! My compliments, Yovl
Lazarevich. I beg my pardon. I have

honor to congratulate you on your
birthday. This is for you.

Yovl, what are you waiting for? Call
the police immediately!

Quiet, calm down, shut up! Misha,
although we never met before, I’m very

glad to see you in my house. Maybe,
you will put down what you’ve brought

and have a drink with us? Of course,
your friends are welcome too.

Misha, I’m, of course, sorry, but this
thing weighs 100 pounds.

Then put it down, why holding it?

Misha, you have intrigued all of us.
What’s in the box?

Yovl Lazarevich. Don’t scratch the
instrument. Kostik, open up.

I don’t understand.

You don’t? Kostik, the folks don’t
understand. Explain them what kind of

machine this is.

Well, it’s a machine by Hiram Maxim,
.303 caliber, rate of fire 500 rounds

per minute.

That’s the thing.

Why have you brought this thing here?
If you are here on some business, you

could have come and had a talk as
intelligent people do.

We will talk on business. A bit later.
But now we’ll talk about your

conscience. Ladies and gentlemen! How
can one drink and eat when the working

masses have nothing to put on the
plate. Given that they have dethroned

tsar and you have not.

It’s my birthday today.

My congratulations again! But what
should I say to the workers? We work.

Why is it so quiet here? Play
something.

You have birthday party,
don’t you?!

It’s no good. No good at all. Again
and again, day by day.

Monsieur Prul, you see the times we
live in, don’t you? You’d better stay

at home. Thanks.

You are welcome.

Well, mister…

Izya, Izya, give Dr. Morgulis’
chronometer back to him. Gynecologist

is proletarian much like my father.
And we don’t touch proletarians.

I apologize.

Merci.

Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for
your kind generosity. Your modest

donations will go to horny hands of
workers of Moldavanka and Peresyp.

Yovl Lazarevich, now we can talk about
our business, just as you advised.

Well, shall we go to another room?
Come on, please.

You have killed me. A year of work for
nothing! You are burying me alive.

Monsieur Gepner, take it easy. It’s
money, nothing more.

Izya, is it really money?

You have killed me, Misha.

Oh, come on, Yovl Lazarevich. Is it
the last year you work? Or you drink

tea with no sugar?

We’ve locked them all! We need to get
away.

Are there much money?

Yovl Lazarevich, we have cut your
telephone line, so, don’t even think

of sending a man to the police. That’s
going to be a big mistake. Ah, I

almost forgot… May I ask you for a
favor? Something’s got stuck inside

this machine, so it cannot fire at
all. Absolutely. So, tell the

metalworkers at your factory to see it
with their skilful hand.

And I will specially appreciate it.

I’m late. I beg my pardon.

Misha, it’s Gepner’s manager.

Where’s music? Music!

What are you doing?!

Help! Help!

Misha!

By my mother’s grave! You’ll be buried
next to him.

Misha!

Take him to the hospital to mend him
up like new one.

Who are you to bark here? Eh? You were
pissing in the cradle when I did jobs!

People know me! Got that? You son of a
bitch!

Yasha, clean here. Go figure out how.

What are you waiting? Take this scum
away.

And what will the world say? What?
That Misha Yaponets did a wet work?

And, Liova, which is the key, for no
reason at all. A bullet in the

stomach! How’s that?
In front of public!

And there were lots of people there.

You hanging about him again?

May I not?

I’ll pin your ears back when I see you
with him ever more. Got that?

Osya, why are you nagging at me? I’m
no little boy anymore.

Osya, are there any problems with
criminal elements?

Well, Gepner’s managers rumor that
someone’s taken their master’s safe.

Really?! And now’s Gepner?

Gepner keeps mum.

So that’s all to it. Why are you
looking at me like that? How do I have

to do with this? Maybe, the managers
lie?

Well, Misha, maybe they do. Only, why
did Gepner not leave for his factory?

And the doctor was called to his wife?

What is it with her?

A fit. Some trouble with her heart.

Oh no, she must have eaten something
bad.

And this guy who caught a bullet…

What guy?

Gepner’s manager. He served at the
dinner and caught a bullet.

Heard something? His name is Yosef. I
visited him in hospital.

What did he say?

Nothing.

Then that’s all to it.

He died.

How died?!

Badly. In
throes.

A good habit indeed to kill living
people! Damn that bloody gangster!

Madam Berchik, I’ve brought money for
you, Madam Berchik. As Yosif have been

serving at my refinery for entire 12
years. Here’s the money.

I put it right here. And God will punish this
Yaponets.

He will, like no one else on earth.

Monsieur Gepner.

Hooligan’s mug! Gangster! May the
earth spit you out!

A good habit indeed to kill living people!

Just stop waving your hands or you’ll
get cold. Aunt Pesia, it’s me, Misha.

Here! Aunt Pesia, if you need my life,
then you may have it. But everyone

make mistakes. Even God himself does.
It was a terrible mistake, Aunt Pesia.

Was it not God’s mistake to settle the
Jews in Russia where they suffer like in hell?

Would it be any worse if we
lived in Switzerland now where the

lakes are clean, the mountain air is
fresh and the French are all around?

But everyone make mistakes. Even God.
I didn’t kill Yosef.

I cry for him as for my own brother.

What impudence! What outrageous
impudence! He mentions God! He…

Shame, Monsieur Gepner, what safe
you’ve hidden your shame in?

You had heart to give those miserable 50
roubles to the mother of our late

Yosef, didn’t you?

But… But you have taken everything I
had from me. You have.

Everything? Well, maybe we visit your
refinery and I feel what remained out there?

Well…

100,000! You give her 100,000 in a
lump sum and shall pay a pension to

her to the end of her life, and may
she live 120 years and have funeral to

the highest standards! And if you have
something to object, then let us out from this room.

Geben zdoku. Geben zdoku. Gentlemen
Jews, give zdoku.

Jews! Food of mercy, true mercy, is to
give the last honor to the deceased.

As our sages said: “El drahim shein’l
sheur.”

I have to say a couple of words.

Well, speak up.

Ladies and gentlemen! I did not know
the deceased well, but I’ll say

wholeheartedly. What have our dear
Yosef seen in his life? He’s seen a

couple of trifles. What did he do? He
counted other people’s money. How did

he die? He died because of other
people’s foolishness. So, there are

people who know how to drink vodka and
there are people who know not, but

still drink it. And the first kind
takes pleasure in sorrow and in joy,

and the second kind suffers, not
knowing how to drink vodka, for the

ones who do. Therefore, ladies and
gentlemen, after we say our prayers

for Yosef, please give the last honor
to Sioma the Sailor who you don’t know

but who is already deceased. This
shallow man showed Yosef his way to

God. And God will seat Yosef beside
Him. And Sioma…

He will decide how
to treat Sioma the Sailor.

King indeed.

So, shall we?

No. I go alone. And you go home.

Home? And what about you?

I’ll somehow cope with it. And tell
Yasha to take the money from the

wallets and get round Moldavanka to
distribute them among the people.

Why should he?

Let him visit the poorest -
Kravchenko, Makhorsky too… you know

who he should visit. Let him say that
Misha Yaponets sends them the money.

Misha, I thought your talks of the aid
to the working people were nothing but tales.

Misha, why should we give away
the money?

Mayorchik, when people have nothing to
eat, one should not fear about the belongings.

All the more, if they are
someone others’. Just do that.

And the people will thank you.

Give this to your guys.

Ain't that a bit steep, Mendel?

The guys had their first job. Let them
enjoy themselves as they wish.

Sit down. You can work on.

Do we really need him? Gersh, do we
really need milksops like him?

I say you can work in town.

And I say do we really need milksops
like him?

Yes, he’s done Gepner, so what of it?
I could have done him as well.

I’ve got that many men that
there ain’t that much job for them.

There’ll be enough job for everyone at
the times like these.

One should stick up to his turf.

I don’t know why we need him.

Cut the cackle, Shark. Mendel’s said
his word…

So what? What of his word? Maybe, he’s
too old to make out a worthy cause

from zilch. Maybe, the company doesn’t
want that Yaponets.

Gypsy, you need that Yaponets?

Shark, you’re too noisy. You may work.
Or the company doesn’t want him to?

Gypsy?

He may work, Gersh. Let him work.

Grip?

Let him work.

What say you, Shark?

Let him work. But let him stay away
from Peresyp.

I won’t have anybody in Peresyp.
Hear what I say, Yaponets?

I’ve heard about Peresyp.

I told you to stop tailing me, haven’t
I? Are you stupid?

Tags after me just like a puppy.

Let him go, why forbidding him?

He’s pestering me with taking him to a
job. Just think of it!

No, you don’t need to take him to the
job.

That’s what I’m talking about. He even
learned to nip.

He did my cigarette case so gently,
that I didn’t feel he did.

He needs good bashing.

He does. Never mind. I know it’s Savka
who teaches him doing pockets.

What Savka? I’ll show this Savka when
I catch him…

Yeah, Savka needs bashing too.

Wait. Look over there.

Berchik, come here.
Come on, don’t fear me.

You boasted you’re a great nipper, eh?
See those young ladies?

The taller one with dark hair.
Can you do her purse?

Kidding?

Can you do that or not?!

Piece of cake.

Then go.

… or all tables at
Fanconi will be occupied!

They won’t be. All the more, we need
to buy Mesaxudi tobacco for Dad.

But Tsilia! Let’s get it after, eh?

Sofa, stop nagging.

Tsilia, they’ll be occupied indeed.

That way.

What a beautiful dress! It’s so nice!
Want one like this?

Whoops! Just look at this nimble lad!

Mister, let me go please! I’ll never
do that again!

You down-and-out! Just be gone.
May I give your purse back to you?

Thank you so much.

Ladies, how can you be so careless?
Nippers are all around here.

Well, I don’t know how… How he took it
out…

I have pleasure to introduce myself:
I’m Mikhail Vinnitsky. A businessman.

Nice to meet you. I’m Tsilia. And this
is my little sister Sophie…

Sophie.

Nice to meet you.

Me too.

Well, if you are on a walk, we’ll join you.
Or someone may steal something from you.

I’m not sure… Actually we’re going
shopping…

And to the café.

Café? We too are going to the café in
the Boulevard to have some pastries.

Let me introduce my friend: Lev
Maysky, reporter.

Nice to meet you. I’m Tsilia. - Lev.

Do you work for a newspaper?

I do for now. But actually, I’m a
writer…

Oh, it’s so interesting! Tsilia, lets go to
the Boulevard and have some pastries.

Well, beg your pardon, you yourself
look like meringues.

So what? You don’t agree? Eh?

Mr. Vinnitsky, could we meet somewhere
before? Could we?

You know, Odessa is a kind of city
where everyone met some day. Let’s go.

Let’s go.

Tsilia, let’s go. We go.

I beg my pardon. Wait for me here just
a moment. Liova, keep the ladies entertained.

I’ll be right back.

What do you write about?

Well… Eh… Different things…

And about love?

Sophie…

Tsilia…

Of course, about love too…

Do magazines print your works?

Well, I’ve sent them… To several ones…

So what?

Nothing. Misha…

This is for you.

Oh! It’s so beautiful! Tsilia, just
look how nice it is! Look here!

Oh, a watch! Is it for me?

Yes, it is.

Sophie, give this all back to Mikhail.

Sophie, no way. It’s from the bottom
of my heart.

Mr. Vinnitsky, we apologize, but we
cannot accept such an expensive gift.

Why not?

It’s improper.

Oh, come on! Let’s take a ride to the
Boulevard to have some Seltzer and

pastries and I’ll persuade you that
there’s nothing improper in it.

Tsilia, come on! Ouch, give it to me!
It’s fell down!

What would you wish? We have delicious
profiteroles and éclairs.

It’s something glorious. Also, Sheridan’s
and Cointreau liqueurs, Champagne,

of course, from the Prince Golitsin’s
winery, Clicquot, original one

of course, just delivered.

So? I beg you not to be shy. Don’t
stint, we have money.

I’ll be right back.

Misha, I go with you.

Bring it all… If you will excuse us.

Tsilia, like the watch, eh?

Just stop talking about the watch.
It’s improper.

Good afternoon, Sophie!

Oh! Afternoon!

Good afternoon. Yeah… What a gorgeous
cavalier. Yes, he is… Hem…

Does your father
know he courts you?

Why do you ask?

Well… Such a cavalier. Not a trifle.

What “such”?

You don’t know?

No, I don’t.

He’s Misha.

Yes, he is Misha.

He’s Misha Yaponchik.

Come.

Tsilia, wait, they are going to be
back right now.

I say, come. Excuse me, Naum
Solomovich…

Leave the doll
and the watch here.

Tsilia!

Just do what I say.

Good bye.

Excuse me once again.
Good bye.

Eh… Yes, the ladies left. Must be
having some business.

They even didn’t touch the treat.

What? Gone? I was right saying there
would nothing…

Just stop showing your wit, will you?

Don’t panic, Misha. I know what I’m
talking about.

He knows… I’ve remembered
her since my teens.

She was in my dreams
when in prison and everywhere.

Misha, of course I
understand you, but she…

What?

She will never marry to a raider…

Won’t she?

No, she won’t.

The point is what size
of that raider is.

Misha.

What, Monsieur Zhirmunsky?

I’ve got a matter to talk over with
you, one of extreme delicacy.

It’s about your last visit.
It wasn’t the last, was it?

Well, I’m not sure. Maybe, I’ll visit
you in a few days again.

Yep, just as I thought… I will speak
straight. The point is that my wife,

she’s young and her heart is weak, and
when the house is suddenly burst in

the midst of the night by the men like
you… I mean such likeable men like you

and your friends, she
gets nervous and I worry.

What do you worry about?

Misha, I worry about her, this is why
I am ready

to give you some
money in advance.

In advance?

Yes, Misha, in advance… So that you
don’t bother yourself, and she doesn’t

writhe in hysterics all night long. I’m even
ready to make further advance fees.

So that you don’t bother
yourself.

Aha. In advance?

In advance.

All right.

“So, let it rain, and let the sun rage.
A back to lean is not so bad.

When you are sound, you can be happy.
You have one sock, and have one galosh,

You have one sock, and have one galosh,

And some two pennies in the pocket,
When you are sound, you can be happy.”

Ladies and gentlemen! You know I
seldom cry with sorrow. What’s the

point? But I often cry with feelings
because it’s is the kind of man I am.

When I see a noble young man help the
grieving mother whose son died, I cry.

When I see this young man give money
to a widow so that she has stuff to

put in her kids’ plates for dinner, I
cry again. I cry and take off my hat

to this young man. - Misha! Well done,
Misha! - And now mademoiselle Rosa

will sing for this noble knight the
same in his native language.

Mayorchik, was the letter delivered?

Yes, by Marek.

And?

Nothing. It’s been three days now.

That’s a pity.

Maybe, it isn’t going to pan out?

What?

Making them pay of their own free
will? Raiding is another pair of

shoes: you come and take the dough and
the stuff. All’s fine and all’s clear.

But having them bringing money of
their own free will - nothing like

this ever happened before. This
Rukhimovsky thinks it’s been a joke

about 50,000.

Mayorchik, no, it hasn’t, but it will.
I’m no boy to run around them nights.

And they will feel easier too: once
you paid, you may feel free and safe.

But Ruknimovsky didn’t respond.

It was his mistake.

And if he plays Rothschild,
let him not weep when we come.

Hands up! Hands up!

Don’t shoot please!

Have you received the letter?

L-l-l-letter? What letter?

The one from Yaponets.

F-f-from Yaponets?

Are you a stammerer?
Did you receive it?

Y-y-y… Yes.

Then why did you not respond?
Did you prepare the money?

I thought it was a joke.

A joke… Nice way to joke indeed.

Tell me why 50,000? What for?!

For being safe and untouched. And now,
mind you, this is going at higher cost

for you. What are you waiting? Go
work.

The trinkets. And the money too.

Take them away.

Excuse me, you wrote: 50,000 and no
more.

But you didn’t respond.

No, I didn’t.

Look here, Rukhimovsky: you will fork
out 10,000 every month.

How so?

Stop howing. 10,000 are quite
reasonable for you.

10,000 reasonable?! 10,000 a month!
When the trade’s so low!

Then tell your riches to get prepared.

Ruvim Yakovlevich, no need to show us
the way. We’ll find it.

I see.

Ouch. Reboyne-sheloylem,
what for?!

Wait! It doesn’t give!

Then push it!

It doesn’t!

Push it!

I do, but this scum doesn’t give!

About to drop it!

We should’ve put a billet under it!

A billet! It gives, gives!

God help you.

My eyes almost burst. Come.

Shall I pin it?

Yep, pin it up! Motia, go and cook
something to eat.

Ah, our hands are
not so strong as before.

What’s that new trend to collect money
from people?

It came to my mind after a thinking:
let them pay.

We benefit and they feel safe.

We are no police to collect baksheesh
from the people.

No, Monsieur Mendel, we are no police;
we do better: we ensure order. Is it

really good running around at nights
like boys and making people worried?

What for? It’s better to come to deal.
We visit the ones who disagree only.

There hasn’t been such a thing in
Odessa before. I’ve lived a long life.

Well, that’s may be a good thing
indeed.

I won’t mind, but we need
to hear the company’s word.

Monsieur Mendel, the company’s going
to be satisfied.

A half of our collections
will go to the pool.

Really? “We’ll see”, said the blind one.
Motia, hide this away to some place.

I see the point when I pay to the
police; I see the point when I pay to

the customs office. I saw the point
when I had to pay to the gendarmes

when my Borie got into the mess with
those damned socialist

revolutionaries. But what should I pay
to the gangsters for?

It’s a thing unheard-of!

Yes, used to be robbed before Yaponets
emerged.

We did. And we used to be robbed
pretty well. Was there anyone who was

not robbed? But now we must pay in
advance. In advance!

No, this is hard to take in.

You pay, Monsieur Rukhimovsky, and
they will not come.

Aron Izrailevich, it’s easy for you to
say that! He doesn’t touch you!

You’re a gynecologist!

No, he doesn’t. This Yaponets is a man
of principles.

Principles… Monsieur Averman, have YOU
received a letter from Yaponets?

Gentlemen, I haven’t, you know. I
haven’t.

And I am surprised why I haven’t.

You haven’t?

No, I haven’t.

And he demands that I pay him 50,000,
as if I print this damned money out.

My good man, will you give me cognac?
The Shustov one. And some chocolate.

Monsieur Prul, say something. Have you
received any letters?

I have.

And?

20,000. They wrote a man would come to
me and I should give the money to him.

20,000? And he demands that I give him

Just cut that, Monsieur Rukhimovsky!
Don’t compare your income to mine!

Yaponets does know who is a
millionaire and who… well… yes…

Will you pay?

Gentlemen, it’s between you and me:
Captain Radziyevsky,

my brother-in-law,
serves with the police.

So, he tells an ambush should be laid.

You’re a brave man, Monsieur Prul.

I won’t give a penny to Yaponets.

Mr. Prul! Monsieur Prul! Mr. Prul!

Mr. Prul! Monsieur Prul! Mr. Prul!

May help you?

I have the honor to introduce myself:
I’m Ensign Korsakov.

Captain Radziyevsky sent me.

Just a minute, coming to let you in.

Vadim Bronislavovich told me to give
you instructions about the ambush.

Please, come in.

How can an owner of the pawn shop be
so unsuspecting?

Monsieur Prul.

Monsieur Prul.

Oh, Yasha…

Kostia, will you drop your tricks.
Monsieur Prul, no need in much

ceremony between us Jews.

If I had held you for idiot, I would
have lettered you as an idiot. But I

don’t know that about you - God forbid
that I know you as a one. You ought to

be ashamed: you were lettered as a man
of decency: “Dear Monsieur Prul,”

“Will you…,” “Would you be so kind
to…”,

and you hurried to
complain to the police!

Misha, it was a terrible mistake!

And, the main thing, you fancied out
some ambush…

I...

What?

I’m shocked!

All right, I turn a blind eye to this
for the first time. But God forbid

that you would conceive such a thing
ever again. Do you understand me?

I’m all understanding, Misha!

May I?

You may.

So, deal? Deal?

Of course!

5,000 every month.

Deal!

Good bye, Monsieur.

My understanding is that Yaponets is
an upright guy. He’s doing things with

good skill. He’s taken pretty money,
benefitted the company, arranged that

trade interest is paid in his part. So
others should pay too - in Peresyp,

Lanzheron, Fountain… Will you do that?

As you say.

Wait, Gersh. Why should he work in
Peresyp? Peresyp is my part.

I’ll lay all of hem under tribute so that
they’ll pay even more.

Yes, Peresyp is your part, but the
money there will be collected by

Yaponets. He will do that in such a
manner

that people will not hold any offence.

Whatever you say, Gersh, I disagree.
I disagree!

I don’t ask whether you agree or not.
The money will be collected by Yaponets.

Leсhaim!

Leсhaim!

Why sticking around like stupid?
- What? What? - Come.

What is it, bro?

That damned Yaponets. He aims at
Peresyp. Bastard.

I don’t get it. How?

Give me.

How so?

Yes, he does. And Gersh
fusses over him. Never mind.

Used to pit and bathed
in blood ones of better guts.