This sunny corridor, tucked away from the bustle of the office, now serves as a classroom where Vila holds classes for the children.
Art, physical education, and the Foundation's general education courses.
Vila: Alright, children.
Vila: Please repeat the rules one by one, starting with our comrades at the front.
Vila: Comrade Pyotr?
Pyotr: First, no running, no horseplay!
Pasono: Second, don't climb out of the window.
Vila: A rule made very specially for you, Comrade Pasono.
Vila: Next, Comrade Nina.
Nina: Third, always raise your hand to ask questions.
Vila: Exactly. Comrade Avgust?
Avgust: Do not wander away without your comrades.
Avgust: Don't look for Vila on your own.
Vila: That's right, Comrade Avgust. Going out all alone is dangerous, even in a safe place, like the Foundation.
Vila: There is no place that is perfectly safe, and no place stays safe forever.
Vila: Besides, I'll always be right here with you, so why would you be looking for me?
Avgust: Did you stop writing, Vila?
Avgust: Mr. Raccoon isn't here today.
Vila: Mr. Name Day has his own work to do, so do we.
Vila: And our work today is to play chess, fold sea swallows, read books, and explore our own interests.
Vila: Dismissed!
Like a rocket, at her word, the kids launch upwards, bouncing against the walls, until only two remain.
Avgust stands beside Nina, looking at her. The little girl wears a worried face. Vila brings herself to them.
Vila: What's wrong, Nina?
Nina: Ms. Vila ...
Nina: When are we going back to Rayashki?
Nina: I asked Mr. Name Day the same question, and he said "soon." But how soon is soon?
Avgust: "Soon" means tomorrow.
Avgust: Mom always said "soon," "it won't be long," "everything will be fine when you wake up tomorrow."
Avgust: So, I think they have the same meaning.
Nina: But it's already tomorrow. It's been a lot of tomorrows, and we're still here.
Nina: I don't understand. And I miss mama.
Vila: I think "soon" means that we will go home. That is for certain. And we could be on our way there at any moment.
Nina: But, when will that be?
Vila: ...
Vila: I'm sorry, Nina. I shouldn't have said that.
Vila: Honesty is important, so honestly, I don't know.
Vila: But I am sure that we will return home once it is safe. Mr. Name Day has been helping us with just that.
Vila: Though he shouldn't have to do these for us.
Avgust: Mr. Raccoon keeps going in and out.
Avgust: He left through the front hall, but he brings fewer things back every time.
Pasono: Ms. Vila!
Pasono: Avgust always says it's a sea swallow, but I say this is a paper plane.
Pasono: It's not as powerful as a real fighter jet, but I made it with our last piece of paper.
Pasono: Rare things are always more valuable, like canned meat and sausages.
Suddenly, the paper plane in Vila's hand becomes heavier than a real jet.
Pasono: I'm sure you will be able to take us home with this.
Is it folded paper or military-grade steel? She can't tell.
And nothing seems to fit as an answer.
Vila: Thank you, Pasono.
Vila: This is indeed a well-made plane.
Avgust: This is a sea swallow, an "eternal soul"! It will fly far, far enough to reach the town.
Nina: Can it take us all back too?
Nina: I miss everyone. I miss Rayashki.
Vila: We will go home.
Pasono: Yay! I've practiced my paper folding. So I can make real good stuff now!
Pasono: I want to make one for Uncle Knut too.
Pasono: But we're running out of the paper Mr. Name Day brought us.
Avgust: Vila, Pasono says we're running out of "eternal souls."
Avgust: Could we give him other things that are like an "eternal soul"? Something he can fold into more sea swallows and other things.
Vila: Okay. I'll see what I can do.
Pasono: Why do you call paper "eternal souls"? Souls are for people, not paper!
Pasono: I once read a story about a Rusalka princess to my sister. The princess traded her fish tail and her voice for a pair of legs, but she didn't get what she wanted and turned into foam.
Pasono: I don't like that story. That princess is like Ivan the Fool. She doesn't make sense.
Avgust: Vila is not Ivan the Fool.
Pasono: I'm not referring to Ms. Vila! She's not a princess. Besides, the book says Rusalki will eventually turn into foam because they don't have an "eternal soul."
Pasono: That's not Ms. Vila's case. She must have one.
Avgust: No, paper is the name we give souls, Vila told me ...
Amused by their discussion, Vila decides it best not to intervene.
Pyotr, though, is anxious. As the oldest boy, he feels he must break up any fights, to keep everyone in line. Vila gently taps him on the shoulder to reassure him.
The sound of the telegraph and typewriter harmonizes, echoing in this little room.
Wearing headphones, Name Day is listening to the telegram and transcribing it through the typewriter.
Name Day: "I wish to hold your hand tightly."
Name Day: Why is it in reversed order?
Name Day: "Your most loyal yet worst friend,"
Name Day: "Windsong."
Name Day: Hmm?
Familiar footsteps approach, followed by a knock.
Name Day concentrates fully on the incoming telegram, having no idea of the coming intrusion.
???: Mr. Name Day, are you in there?
???: Hmm. This should be the place.
???: Mr. Name Day, are you in there?
???: Hmm. This should be the place.
???: This is where he stores all his "collections."
???: That sound. Is that a typewriter?
Name Day: Shoot!
Name Day: It's Ms. Vila!!
He silently screams, realizing it's too late to hide either the letter or the telegraph.
Name Day: No, she must not see—
Vila: Mr. Name Day? I heard your voice. Sorry to bother you now, but I really need to know ...
Vila: When can we ...
"It won't be the town you remembered or the utopia we tried to build."
Vila: Go back to Rayashki?
Vila: Go back to Rayashki?
