with a halt, it will be dark soon, we will still have time to go some distance before the night. We roll up, and go. Go-go-go-go!!!
The girls begin to gather quickly. Everyone cleans up, zips up their backpacks, gets up, puts them on their shoulders and continues their move.
Music.
ZTM.
Scene 4. Ermolai's House
A modest but well-maintained house. Evening lighting.
Table. There's a note on the table, an untouched note left by Callista.
Ermolai enters the house, smiles, carries a box with some provisions in front of him.
Ermolai (in a pleased voice). Daughter! I'm at home. Lost an old man, I suppose?
Puts the box on the floor, looks around the hut. His smile is still in force.
Ermolai (in a pleased voice). Callista, my dear! Are you at home?
He takes off his shoes, stretches his back, looking at the box contentedly.
Ermolai (stretching, addressing his daughter, believing that she is at home). I say, lost me, probably, yeah? I went out into the yard in the morning, and there my relatives came to Mitrofan right in the morning, do you hear? They saw each other through the spinning wheel, did not immediately recognize each other. His brother came from the capital, but I knew him from an early age. So he didn't forget me either. I've brought some goodies here, and I've prepared them for our share.
Ermolai walks through the hut, looks into the rooms, looking for Callista.
Ermolai (walking slowly, stretching his sides). That's how I stayed at Mitrofan's. They sipped, as usual, on the fourth occasion. Once, yes, the second time.
He looks around, can't find his daughter, the smile gradually fades from his face.
Ermolai (not so happy anymore). Well, where are you, daughter?
His gaze falls on the table on which the note is lying. Ermolai frowns, goes to the table, takes the note, squints, with an old man's limping gait (because something comes into his leg) goes to the locker, finds glasses there, returns to the table again, reads the text carefully. Reads aloud.
Ermolai (slowly reads Callista's letter aloud with a gasp). Dear Dad, don't lose me, please, I went to the forest in search of Mom. You know how many years this question has been bothering me. I shared it with you. I remember that you also said that there is some kind of ridiculous hope in you that somewhere else my own mother's heart is still beating. I couldn't tell you in advance, I'm sorry, I know I wouldn't let you in.
I know you've been looking for her many times… I know everything. But I just can't stifle this inner call in myself.
Ermolai with the second hand "grabs the heart"
Ermolai (continues to read aloud slowly with some shortness of breath). Something is leading me into this damned forest, folder, and pulling, and dragging.
Don't worry about me, I've got everything in store. I have everything I need for a hike. I know that you will worry anyway, of course you will. But I couldn't do otherwise. I hope you understand me. I know that you will understand, even if not immediately. And… you will forgive sometime.
Your daughter, Callista.
A tear-breaking melodic composition sounds.
Ermolai turns the letter over with a shaking hand, looks to see if there is anything on the back. But there's nothing there.
He awkwardly nervously takes off his glasses, does not know where to step, what to do.
His condition is understandable and adequate to this situation. He literally starts pounding from the realization of what happened.
Ermolai tries to control himself. Takes a few steps in one direction, then slowly turns around, takes a few more steps in the other direction. Thinking.
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