Caravan, Inc. American Distribution Company
Committee on Cinematographyof Russian Federation
Courier Film Studio of Mosfilm Studios
BORIS GILLER presents
Lights on.
Rudder button.
Screens.
Emergency lights off.
And we’re ready for takeoff.
I’m flying.
Annie, get down from the copter.
- I can’t, Mom, I’m flying. - Make a landing and get out.
Good little girls all sleep at this time.
Come on, honey, please let’s go to bed.
Where’s it you fly every night, honey?
Is it to see your father?
It is, isn’t it?
Annie, sweetheart, I hate to have to remind you,
but you’re a big girl now and you know your father is dead.
Shall I stay a while?
No, I’m gonna sleep.
Okay, goodnight, then.
ALLISON WHITBECK VLADIMIR MASHKOV
in a film by KAREN SHAKHNAZAROV
AMERICAN DAUGHTER
Screenplay by
Alexander BORODYANSKY Karen SHAKHNAZAROV
Directed by Karen SHAKHNAZAROV
Director of Photography Vladimir SHEVTSIK
Producer Boris GILLER
Annie, you forgot to kiss your mommy goodbye.
Be a good girl now.
Joseph, after classes, take Miss Simon to the Italian ice cream parlor.
I’ve promised her that.
Yes, Mrs. Simon.
Here, eat. Have you found her?
I have.
There she is, our princess.
What do we have there? Look.
Look at the one standing over there.
Is she a schoolgirl too?
She’s as much a schoolgirl as I’m a Japanese geisha.
She must be a teacher. Oh, what a lay.
- Give it to me. - Lay off.
- Look, she’s alone. - I see.
Go to her.
Don’t sit here. Go.
- Why are you back? - I’m scared.
- Scared of what? - What if she doesn’t recognize me?
How can she not recognize her own father?
She was only 3 when they took her away.
Listen, Alexei! Go to her.
That guy is back.
What do you care? She’s your daughter, you’re her father.
Stop playing the fool, Lyosha.
I can’t. Let’s come again tomorrow.
It’s been four years. How do I know what she’s like now.
She may be another person now, not the girl I used to know.
She might not remember me, she probably hates me. How do I know?
Maybe you’d better see your ex first?
After all she has done? I’ll just bloody her mug.
No, don’t do that. In America broads have big rights.
One even cut a man’s dick off.
- What d’you mean, cut off? - With scissors.
At night she cut it off and threw out the window.
Luckily, the cops found it. Thank God, they sewed it on.
They were showing it on TV for a week.
The dick?
No, the man and his broad, and the place where they found the dick.
Now she’s suing him for driving her crazy and making her do it.
No, Lyosha, with women here you must be very, very correct.
You should talk to her husband. He’s a respectable man.
- I’ll bloody his mug, too. - What for?
Didn’t he know when he married her
that she’d run away from her husband taking their daughter along?
Perhaps he didn’t.
I don’t know, maybe he didn’t. But I don’t need to see him.
I need to see Anyuta.
I must tell her everything.
She must know everything.
I’m feeling, I’m sure she remembers me.
- What? - A woman answered.
- Your wife. - No.
A housekeeper, a nurse. I don’t know what kind of help they have.
You call.
- What’ll I say if they ask who it is? - Her classmate.
- Right, an 8-year-old boy. - I don’t understand English.
Give me your cigarette, or you’ll begin to cough. Come on.
May I speak to Ann?
- Who’s calling? - It’s her classmate, Bobby.
Bobby, what can I do for you?
I forgot our assignment in astronomy.
Astronomy? Ann never said you were studying astronomy.
That was the first day, ma’am.
Bobby, are you a foreigner?
No, I’m an American.
It’s your accent that’s a bit strange.
I’m from Oklahoma, ma’am.
I see.
Excuse me, ma’am, may you call Ann?
Yes, of course. I was just thinking you must miss Oklahoma?
You have nightingales singing there and grains ripening.
Yeah.
- Old whore. - I don’t understand, Bobby?
That’s just an old Oklahoma expression.
I wish I could see Oklahoma.
Why don’t you go there, you won’t be sorry.
Thank you, Bobby, you’re a nice boy.
Thank you.
- Goodbye, Bobby. - Goodbye, ma’am.
- She hung up on me, bitch. - Call again.
It’s Bobby again.
Yes, Bobby?
- I want to speak to Ann. - Of course. I’ll get her.
She’s getting her.
Hello? Who is it?
Anyone there?
I knew you weren’t dead, I knew you’d come.
Excuse me, would you mind telling me who you are?
This is my daddy, Mrs. Bonk.
I thought Mr. Simon was your father.
This is my real daddy, the Russian one.
Let’s invite your guest to our library. You’ll be more comfortable there.
Here we go.
Mrs. Simon, please. This is her daughter’s teacher.
What? I don’t understand.
What you saying? I don’t understand. Can you say it in Russian?
You don’t remember?
You forgot everything? Remember how we lived?
There was a park with a swing near our house. You loved that swing.
Do you remember your grandmother?
We often talk with her about you. She’s alive and waiting for you.
I’m papa. Papa.
- Papa. - Papa.
I have a mama.
I don’t mean your mama, damn her, I mean my mama, your grandma.
- Baba? - Baba.
- Baba? - Babushka.
- Babushka? - Babushka, yes.
- Babushka? - Yes, she’s waiting for you.
She sent you something. Look.
- It’s from your grandmother. - Babushka?
It’s not babushka, it’s a doll.
Look, she can close her eyes. See?
- Doll? - Doll.
Her eyes are closed. She sleeps.
- Sleeps? - Sleeps.
Mama, papa, babushka, sleeps, vodka.
Right, vodka. You remember Russian?
Hair.
Hi.
You look fine.
Thanks.
Alexei, let’s meet tonight.
We’ve something to discuss, don’t we?
Yeah.
Where are you staying?
With Arnold. Remember him?
That drunkard you played at the restaurant with?
- He lives here? - Yes, here, in San Francisco.
Call me at three.
And now tell Anyuta to go with me.
Ann, we’re going home now. You’ll see your father tomorrow.
Your father has business for today.
Go with your mother, Anyuta.
She asks if you’ll come tomorrow.
Sure.
Goodbye, Anyuta.
What were you talking with him about, Annie?
Which him?
Your father.
Why did you lie to me, Mommy? Why did you tell me he was dead?
You see, Annie, it’s all really very complicated.
When you grow up, you’ll understand.
You’ll know that I did it all for you.
I wanted you to be happy, to live in a beautiful house,
to have a lot of wonderful toys.
My daddy was mean to you?
No.
Not really.
Listen, honey, David is your daddy now.
He’s the one who looked after you all these years.
He’s the one who bought this house, all your toys.
This is David, my husband.
- Is this your first time in the States? - Yes, for the first time.
- How do you like it? - He likes it.
What will you drink? Vodka?
Whiskey.
Here’s a little souvenir for you.
- What is it? - You may look.
If I’m not mistaken, it’s your size.
Nice jeans. Where did you get them?
At Saks.
Great store.
You know, I’ve put on weight, I’m sure they won’t fit.
What did he say?
He said he put on weight and they’ll be too small for him.
It was a bad idea, honey. Let’s forget it.
What are you going to eat?
Nothing. I’m short of time, so let’s get down to business.
What are your plans about Ann?
I want to take her home with me.
It’s impossible.
Why not?
I won’t give her to you.
I don’t have to ask you.
According to the court’s decision, I have the custody of our daughter.
I’m not interested in your court’s decision. I wasn’t there.
Of course. You stole our daughter and ran away to America.
I advise you to choose your expressions.
This is America, not, what d’you call it, CIS. The laws are different here.
If your laws permit any whore to steal a child,
I don’t give a damn for them.
- You’re going to answer for “whore”. - Don’t try to scare me.
Don’t point your finger at me, you’re not at home!
He’s just a bastard, that’s the matter.
I understand how you feel and I respect your feelings.
But first of all we have to consider Ann’s future.
Your country’s facing grave problems.
I’m sure you’d agree that it would be better for your daughter
to live in the States and be an American.
I don’t have any problem with you visiting your daughter.
You could see her, say, once a year.
David is prepared to bear all expenses involved.
If you’d agree,
we can regard this visit of yours as part of our deal.
David can write you a check for 3,000 dollars.
What did he say?
Maybe it’s not enough for you?
- Did you talk? - We did.
And what?
Let’s go to their place, I need to see Anyuta.
Let’s go!
Excuse me, sir, I’d like to see your ID.
Any problems, officer?
No problem, we just want to see his ID.
- Show them your passport. - What for?
Show the passport.
- Are you Mr. Varakin? - Yes, Varakin, that’s him.
You’re not allowed to approach this house closer than 15 feet.
And you’re not allowed to come closer than 15 feet to any of its residents.
What did he say?
He can’t see his daughter?
He’s not allowed to see her due to the complaint of Mrs. Simon
who is acting in the interests of her daughter, Ann Simon.
What did he say?
You can’t see Ann.
I can’t see my daughter? That bitch called the police?
My daughter is here. Do you have a daughter?
Explain to him that if he doesn’t leave, we’ll have to arrest him.
Let’s go. Let’s go, please, Lyosha.
Papa!
Anyuta!
What did she say?
She said, I’ve come to you, Papa.
How you found us?
- You work at “Yellow Cab Company”? - Yes.
- Cab number 2753? - Yes.
I wrote it down and I called the dispatcher.
Anyuta.
You left home, yes?
Yes.
You want to live with me?
She wants to go to Russia, she wants to see her grandmother.
Now let’s get down to business. Will you translate, please?
We shouldn’t go by plane because we’ll be arrested at the airport.
So we should go by way of Mexico.
What did she say?
She says that you should first go to Mexico.
Right, because they’ll bust us at the airport.
Lyosha, we should take her home.
I’m not going home. We’ll go to Mexico, right, Daddy?
Of course.
Lyosha, come here.
This is no joke.
We may end up in prison for this. Please, don’t be crazy.
Arnold, I’m very grateful to you.
If you can, take us out of San Francisco. If not, I’ll understand.
No, I can’t. I’ll be in big trouble then.
I understand.
This is your bus.
It’ll take you to Phoenix. From there, Mexico is just around the corner.
Thank you, Arnold.
- I got to go. - All right.
It’s nice meeting you. I hope we’ll meet again.
When you’ll see your granny, say hello for me.
Good luck to you.
The hunt for the kidnapped child could go around the world.
The police is looking for Ann Simon, daughter of Helen Simon,
Russian-born wife of a San Francisco businessman, David Simon.
Ann was allegedly kidnapped by her Russian father.
Mrs. Simon believes he’s suffering from a mental problem.
The Simon family offers a generous reward to anyone
who might help bring the girl home safely.
What?
I don’t understand.
Money?
That’s all.
Where are you going?
How would you like your hair cut, honey?
As short as possible, please.
You have such beautiful long hair. You sure you want a short cut?
There’s this problem at school.
All the kids got such tiny lice. Awful, isn’t it?
Awful. What kind of school is that?
It’s very expensive. Really.
Used clothing
I hate to go shopping.
What do you want, boy?
- Here, this is for you. - Anyuta, is that you?!
I’m taking you as far as Vegas, all right?
Yes, Bill, thank you.
From Vegas I’ll go to Cincinnati, and you’re heading south, right?
Yes, Bill, we’re going south.
I should be going south too, but I want to spend a day in Cincinnati.
I got a girlfriend there, she misses me so much!
That’s her. Isn’t she cute?
Yes, she’s a babe.
So here’s a question: Should I marry her or not?
- Why not? - I already made that mistake once.
A man who was married before knows he must be on guard with women.
Give them a popcorn, and they’ll eat popcorn and peanuts, too.
They’re not all like that, Bill.
All of them, boy.
I don’t know about that… All men are not great, too.
Oh! You’re talking like my ex.
As for you, you are not the most talkative man in the world.
He’s mute.
Mute? That’s why he isn’t saying anything.
Was he born like that?
I can’t say really…
He hasn’t said a word since I remember.
You know, kid, you’re lucky.
He is not lecturing you.
When my old man yelled at me, I thought, “May you go mute!”
What about your mother? Can she talk?
No, she’s mute too, and so is my grandmother. All the family’s mute.
Holy shit!
- So you’re the only one who talks? - That’s right.
How do you make yourself understood? With gestures?
He understands everything, he just can’t talk.
I got it. I have a dog just like your father.
He understands what I say, but he can’t say anything.
He sits there and stares at me.
How about some refreshments?
No, thanks, Bill. We’ll wait in the truck.
Come on, it’s on me.
Help yourselves.
Poor Russian bastard. What was he thinking about?
Maybe it was her idea.
Maybe it was, but it doesn’t matter. They’ll get them anyway.
Thanks for the food, Bill. We’ll wait in the truck.
Are you leaving?
Yes, Officer. You can have our seats. We’re finished.
You from Texas?
He can’t talk, sir. He’s mute.
- Is he your father? - Yes, sir.
Where’re you headed?
We’re on our way to Louisville.
He’s my brother, and the boy my nephew.
Our sister died in Louisville. We’re going to the funeral.
Keep the change.
Have a nice day.
- What are you having, Frank? - Coffee.
Thank you, Bill.
Don’t mention it.
That’s my turn off, and you need to go straight.
There’s a motel back there. Spend the night there and then take this route.
Thanks for everything, Bill.
Good luck.
Thank you.
Me?
I?.. I don’t understand.
I?
Cut hair?
Car? Drive a car?
I?
Profession? My profession?
I profession?
I sing.
Yes. I play the guitar.
In a band. Big band.
Many people sit…
At the restaurant, remember?
He… plays the drums.
Yes, drums. And I play the guitar and sing.
Yes, in an orchestra.
Right, orchestra.
Do you remember how I lost you once?
Remember?
I and you…
You and I went to the zoo.
You were little, you little, yes, little.
You and I went to the zoo.
To the zoo, with animals.
There were animals. There was an elephant, with a trunk, with ears.
Elephant, elephant.
Elephant, yes, elephant. What else? Monkeys.
Monkey. Monkeys.
Remember the zoo? Yes, zoo.
Who else was there? Penguins. Yes, penguins.
Remember the penguins?
I went… I went to have a beer.
I went away. And you went to look at camels.
A camel, like this. With a lip.
And with a hump.
Camel, right.
You were looking and I went to drink.
I had a beer, and then I came back.
I came back.
Back, I came back.
And you went away. Where are you? I can’t find you.
Where are you, Anya? You’re not there. Remember?
Do you remember how this is in Russian? This?
Nose, nose, like Pinocchio’s. This is nose.
And these are ears. Ears.
These are lips. Lips.
And these are eyebrows.
This is hair.
Hair. These are hands. Hands.
These are legs. Legs.
Legs. What is this?
Finger. What?
Finger, right.
I… I walk. I walk.
I walk. I jump. Jump.
I… I dance.
I run, I run.
Sand.
What? Sand, sand.
This is…
Ocean. Ocean!
Ocean! I swim.
What?
I swim. And this…
What?
Sky! Sky!
All this… All this is earth!
Round earth! This, where I stand.
What?
Yes, earth!
Birds!
Look, there! Look, seagull!
What?
Look over there!
Look there, house! House!
What else do we have here?
Fog! Fog! This is fog! You can’t see anything.
Phoenix.
Thank you.
Phoenix?
What town is it?
This Phoenix looks so small.
Hey, buddy, want to earn a few bucks?
What does she say?
Doing what?
Just carry this beer into the bar.
Want a beer?
Yes, he’d love some. Do you know how we can get to Mexico?
Mexico? 0 Canada is closer.
We don’t need Canada. We’re going to Mexico.
Then you need Phoenix, Arizona. And this is Phoenix, Oregon.
What does she say?
We’re in the wrong place.
This is not Phoenix?
It’s Phoenix, but another one.
- What are you, Russians? - Yes, we are.
We missed our tour bus. So we need to meet our group.
Russians like vodka. Want some?
We had decided to rob a pawnshop.
I didn’t feel like doing a wet job.
I winked at Yeryoma, myself went in,
On the lookout was our only Georgian man.
The Georgian, the dog, he fell asleep on the lookout,
It took a cop no time to take him out.
Anyuta.
Anyuta!
Anya!
What a beautiful day for your trip.
I used to hitchhike myself when I was younger.
Went all over America. It was fantastic!
Want some Coke? It’s in the icebox.
Go ahead, there’re sandwiches there, too.
Yes, what a beautiful day!
Look, I have to stop at a friend’s house.
It will only take me a few minutes.
This is it, fellas. We’re here.
Does your father understand English?
No, sir.
Did he kidnap you?
No, it was my idea.
Would you mind asking your father to take off his belt and shoelaces?
Why?
Those are the rules, Ann.
I’ll have to take your father to the cell until they come for him.
I said, your father.
I’m going with him.
Papa…
Take him to the cell and put a chair for her outside next to it.
A chair? For her?
You heard me.
Anyuta.
Maybe we should give him money?
Maybe I’ll give him money?
Why?
So that he let us go.
He won’t take money.
Ours don’t take money.
That depends on how much it is. He won’t take 20, but he may take 100.
Don’t, Daddy.
Call your boss.
Please, call your boss here.
Chief. Here. Thank you.
You go, Brian. We need to talk.
Here’s a hundred.
That’s all I have, honest.
Listen, friend…
Let us go, please.
Move over, kid.
You can come out now.
You’re being transferred.
The chief will take you there.
You know, Ann, when I was a young cop,
once I had to take a prisoner from one town to another.
During our trip I got really sick,
so I stopped the car and dashed off for the bushes.
I hardly made it.
And when I came back, there was no one in the car.
He vanished.
At first they wanted to fire me from the police,
in the end, it turned out alright.
That’s really happened, Ann.
Do you feel another tummy ache coming on, sir?
I’m afraid so, girl.
I think I need the bushes.
What about him?
Holy shit…
Rain.
Train?
Song? Song about train? I don’t remember.
What is “fog”?
- Fog. - Fog?
Fog!
Fog?
Rain? Fog?
A lilac-colored fog
All over us rises,
A shimmering midnight star
Shines high above the train.
Conductor makes no haste,
Conductor realizes
That I part with a girl
To never see her again.
This song?
You look into my eyes,
You hold my hand shyly.
I’m leaving for a year,
Or maybe even two,
Or maybe it’s for good
You’ll lose your friend entirely,
There goes a final hoot,
And I am leaving you.
Papa, you and mama…
…will you…
…be together?
No.
You won’t.
That’s all.
Anyuta.
Are you sick? Do you hear me? Anya?
We’ll go to Mexico, Dad. After a while, okay?
Hi.
- How’s Anyuta? - She’s all right now.
- She feels all right? - Yes, she’s all right.
Thank God.
Why are you staring?
Well. I’ve never expected to see you in an American prison.
You see me now. Do you like me?
Don’t put ideas into your head. You know how many years you can get?
It doesn’t matter, they’re all mine. It doesn’t concern you.
Why did you come?
You’re not so sentimental as to have come just to look at me.
Look, Alexei, please listen to me calmly, all right?
You’re in for 4 years.
David and I can arrange for you to be released.
And you could leave for Russia.
I see. What do you want in return?
I got a paper here, drawn up by our lawyer.
It’s about your renouncing all rights for your daughter. Read it.
- If I sign it, I’ll be released? - As early as tomorrow.
Are you offering me a deal?
Yes, I’m offering you a deal.
You’re offering me to renounce my daughter, right?
You know…
I don’t like this deal.
- You know what? - What?
Can you tell Anyuta what I’m going to say?
Depends on what you’re going to say.
Tell her that I love her.
All right. I’ll tell her.
Hey, how are you today?
Alex, we live in some good time. People get really closer.
Three years ago, could I ever believe
that me, a regular American inmate, would be doing time with a Russian?
- Amazing, isn’t it? - You bet.
Look, what’s the Russian for it?
Of course.
When I’m out, Alex,
I’ll come to see you in Russia.
- At that time I’ll be still here. - That’s okay.
I can wait.
Anyuta…
Hey, Smith, where d’you think you’re going?
Guys, ready?
- Where’re we flying? - To Russia, to see my granny.
We go to Russia! We have a granny there!
Starring
Anya – Allison WHITBECK Varakin – Vladimir MASHKOV
Helen – Maria SHUKSHINA Ardov – Armen DZHIGARKHANYAN
With
David – Steven EPP Police Chief – Johnny HAYES
Bill – Malcolm BROWNSON Jane – Jennifer DAVIS
Martin – Dale MORRIS Smith – Teddy LANE JR.
Hairdresser – Mariann CAROTHERS Brian – Brian LAWRENCE
Screenplay by
Alexander BORODYANSKY Karen SHAKHNAZAROV
Directed by Karen SHAKHNAZAROV
Executive Producer Boris GILLER
Director of Photography Vladimir SHEVTSIK
Production Designer Devon DERBY
Music by Anatoly KROLL