VALENTIN (kindly): Oh! Congratulations!
YAKOV (sadly): Thank you, but… Somehow, this date does not add joy and optimism to me. You've seen how we are with her… My son is thirteen, an adult already. Then at school, then with friends-girlfriends. He doesn't come home, almost. But… It is understandable.
Valentin looks sadly at his friend, looks around, notices a bench – invites him to sit down with a gesture.
VALENTIN (kindly):
YAKOV (looks at his watch, shakes his head in resignation): Come on, I'm already late anyway.
They sit down on a bench.
VALENTIN (kindly): And where are you late? Something important?
YAKOV (sadly): Yes, it's my mother's birthday today. Here, my wife and I were going to look at the celebration, (she points to the package in her hand) we bought a gift and something for the table. Well… as you saw, it didn't come to a joint campaign.
VALENTIN (kindly): Yash, don't get upset. In this state, a holiday is not a holiday and life is not life. Tell me better, what happened with Susanna there? Why has family life brought you to such a state? After all, everything should be completely different? What's wrong? Where is the error?
YAKOV (sadly): Yes, if I knew where the mistake was, Valya, I would have corrected it a long time ago. And so… I'm afraid that my family equation is not at all with one variable. And it has not been possible for me to solve it for a long time.
VALENTIN (seriously): Wait a minute. But if everything is so bad, if everything is not a joy – so why not get a divorce?
YAKOV (sadly): Oh, Val. I hadn't thought of that. What a divorce. We have a son, and it makes sense to disperse. Who needs us now? When we were young-then there were still chances to build something with someone, and now… and it's wrong – divorce. No, I didn't think about it.
VALENTIN (seriously): So what? That's how you live, not because you want to live together, but because it seems like you just have to?
YAKOV (surprised): Well, yes. And what, someone lives somehow differently?
VALENTIN (seriously): Yes, many people live differently. For example, I live differently.
YAKOV (cheerfully): No, brother, I don't take you into account. You and Alla are still just having a candy-bouquet period. It will pass, and it will pass quickly, then you will understand me.