Several days have passed since Andrei's "release" from the hospital. (After he protested at being detained to his hospital bed, Andrei obstinately marched out the hospital. He is now staying with a friend at an apartment, and finds himself listless and restless. The frosty weather, now giving way to the Spring thaw, has him feeling invigorated, evoking those memories of his boyhood when he and his father would watch the Don thaw and break up its ice. After seeing the Moskva river in the midst of its thawing, Andrei ventures over to a kiosk at a nearby park, trying to distract his mind from some painful longing awoken by his memories. As he opens the paper he just bought from the vendor, he peruses through its seemingly meaningless prints.

Approaching the kiosk from his left, is a young woman, dressed in a coat and hat, as the weather remains chilly enough to see one's breath.

Rustling the paper, Andrei is suddenly engrossed by a certain account of recent tensions between the State and its "enforcement" of censorship. His eyes are fixed on the article, and he remains oblivious for second of the young woman behind him. When he finishes the article, he tsks harshly between his teeth. He is about to fold his paper and walk away when he hears the voice of the young woman next to him, as she purchases her paper.

He lowers his paper, and stares directly at the woman. It's the Luneva girl! Katya!

He blinks several times, astonished they meet again in this expansive city.

Katya does not recognize him as she finishes purchasing the paper and prepares to leave. She looks less tired than he had last remembered her and looks oddly determined to do whatever is on her mind.

Andrei: Hey- devushka! *smiles a small smile, crooked with surprise*

Katya sees him for a split second and then turns, not acknowledging him. She leaves, holding the newspaper.

She seems to be walking faster than usual.

Andrei: *realizes she is walking away- did he frighten her off? He wonders. He folds his paper in a dash and follows her* Wait, Devushka! Wait, don't run! *calls after her, following her*

Katya doesn't seem to hear him or is pretending she didn't hear him. She walks faster and tries to disappear into the crowd.

Andrei: Damn! *to himself* Must have scared her off! *Calling to her* Wait, Ekaterina Timofeevna! Wait-*reaches her, and reaches out to hold her hand to stop her from disappearing into a large swell of a crowd emerging from the streetcar that just stopped near them on the sidewalk.*

Katya: *looks shocked as he grabs her* What are you doing?! Get off me! Don't touch me!

Katya looks like she's going to scream. She looks very angry as she looks in his direction, unable to understand why he would suddenly grab her like this.

Katya: if you don't let go of me, I'm going to scream. You know what means?!

Andrei: I just held your hand before you disappeared! Don't you remember me?! Stop that, devushka!

Katya: I need to go somewhere! I don't have time!

Andrei: What the hell do you think I am? Some wolf preying on a lamb? Don't you remember me on the train?

Katya: I don't know what you're talking about. You must be drunk.

Katya looks at him coldly, wondering why he is chasing after her like some unicorn.

Andrei: *is genuinely piqued and wounded she forgot about him*

Katya: I need to see my sister and meet her somewhere. And then after that, we're meeting a friend of ours. He's an important person.

Katya grabs her hand and wipes it, sorely, irritated that Andrei had the gall to grab her like that.

Andrei: Like hell I'm drunk, devushka. Then you don't remember me on the train? After your father's funeral?

Katya: It doesn't matter. What happened a few weeks ago doesn't matter anymore. I'm a new person. *shuddering as she speaks, like she can't believe what she's seeing in front of her*

Andrei: So much for thanking me after saving your neck. Ah, that's gratitude for you!

Katya growls, unsure what to say.

Katya: Alright, thank you. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be a new person.

Andrei: So you're a new person! Did your memory vanish?

Katya: Thank you for saving this wreck of a person! No, I'm just a stronger person now who doesn't have all those fucking issues you thought I did. I hate being seen as this weak, innocent little thing! And I know you think I am. I have things to attend to.

Andrei: Ah, so you DO remember me, then? I'd think my ugly mug was memorable enough to remember a bit. I certainly remember your face. And your grief, too. *voice grows less mean and rough*

Katya: I don't think we have anything in common, anyways. That was one awkward conversation we had on that train. I wanted it to end as quickly as possible.

Katya holds her head high.

Katya: I'm over my grief. I'm making myself a better person. I've taken care of my father's funeral. It's over with.

Andrei: Well, that conversation is over. let's start a new one. Maybe it's fate that had us encounter one another? *teases her*

Katya: I'm sorry for making myself seem like some victim that day. There, does that sound better? That's what I've wanted to say all these weeks.

Andrei: Devushka, you're ornery as a she-wolf. What has you so riled?

Katya: Why are you so desperate to talk to me? *small smile, feels a bit flattered despite her tone, she wants to test him more* Why, am I special to you?

Andrei: Curiosity! A person can be curious, or did they make a crime, too? Everything is a crime today, you know. *sighs*

Katya: Nothing, I'm just high on the prospect of my new job and I'm ready to leave the past behind. I don't want people to think I'm weak, or pitiable, or anything like that.

Andrei: So you got your position, after all, devushka?

Katya: I shouldn't have cried that day in front of you. I should have talked to you normally. Then you wouldn't remember me. It's all because you pity me, isn't it?

Her tone softens, and she trembles a bit.

Andrei: No, I remember people because I want to. I don't believe in pity. Pity kills people.

Katya: It's fine. I'm used to people pitying me. I'm just sick of people thinking that they can use that to suck up to me, though. You think you're some sort of saviour.

Andrei: Aren't you fighting? Still, it's good to see you like this. Passiveness will get you nowhere.

Katya: All that talk about gratitude.

Andrei: ME? A saviour? *laughs loudly*

Katya: I don't like it. I don't need a saviour. The only saviour I need is myself. And money, tons of it.

Andrei: Hell, no. I did that to tease you. You don't owe me anything. I just wanted to see if you remembered me- in a good way, that is. Ah, now here is the modern woman talking, then.

Katya: I'm a new person--I'm an equal opportunity forgetter. I've forgotten not only you, but numerous others. I only remember my father from the old days. No one else is worth remembering. The factory foreman, the various people I knew in the army, all of them...And my old friends. They're the only ones I still care about, other than my father! But everyone else has been consigned to the bin of dusty memories. And what's wrong with a modern woman? Does that threaten you? Why, because the State is seeking to create a new class of women who don't need men anymore?

Andrei: What are you, a poet? And a rather bad one at that. *laughs a bit dryly*

Katya: *a bit annoyed* No, I don't claim to be a poet.

Andrei: No, something like you doesn't threaten me at all, devushka. I find it humorous you fight so much.

Katya: Please leave me alone. I don't want to talk anymore.

Katya becomes quiet, sighs, and turns away. She tries to disappear amongst the crowd again.

Andrei: Wait. Do you really want to forget everything?

Katya feels disgusted with herself. She wanted to prove herself someone capable of breaking the barriers of meekness she had always imposed on herself in the past, but now she had made a true fool of herself.

Katya: Hey, I'm sorry. I m-misspoke. Maybe I was just being hopeful, huh? No one would remember someone like me, anyways, beyond being a boring curiosity. I thought. I didn't expect that you would actually come up and talk to me. I thought you wanted something from me. Something suspicious. *sighs and looks at him more seriously* I'm sorry.

Andrei: *tsks sharply* I'd feel better if you'd smash a bottle over my head. And enough of that talk! You always damn yourself, treating yourself so lowly, like you're some peasant.

Katya: I suppose this is done now. We should not talk to each other any longer? I suppose this has revealed that we have nothing to say to each other at all.

Andrei: I think a Turkish flunkie would have more pride than you would. That kind of humility should be a sin. No, it's revealed the opposite. We have a LOT to say one another.

Katya: I have more pride than you would understand.

Andrei: You do? You certainly don't show it, devushka? *tsks sharply and glares* Enough of that. I won't have anything to do with you if you keep tearing yourself down. You just bit me back, maybe you had a right to do that. You can't trust anyone, can you? No one can, really. You're smart. But don't everyone you meet. But I guess I had it coming. And enough about me saving you. Hell, all I did was grab you. Stop crushing your neck with your own heel, devushka!

Katya: Once again, I apologize for the way I have acted. I just wanted to show some remorse.

Andrei: *softens, face lessens its hardness, as he hears her remorseful tone* It's all right.Perhaps I scared you off too much. I won't torment you any longer, then. I won't keep you from your engagements, Ekaterina Timofeevna. Good luck to you. We might run into each other again- who knows? *tips his hat to her*

Katya: Wait. I don't have any engagements. But perhaps you do.

Andrei: *halts with a hesitant step, half-backing. He turns around slowly and glances over his broad shoulder* You don't, then, devushka?

Katya: N-no. I don't.

Andrei: I have to report to my superiors, send them a telegraph. I had to charge my way out of the damned hospital today. So you have nothing else for the day, then? Well, I guess we can tolerate each other for a bit longer, then. *softens more, though voice is more gruff than he intends it to be.* Well, are you rooted to the ground like a beet? Let's go to the park, away from the streetcars.

Katya: Alright. We'll talk just for a bit longer. So how are you feeling, now that you've been discharged from the hospital?

Katya feels ashamed that she's been so selfish and demanding, having had made the conversation entirely about herself. She feels truly disgusted by herself and her obsession with trying to be 'a new person.' Clearly this has worked against her.

Andrei: *grunts gruffly as they stroll- well, he sort of stomps with purpose out of instinct, while she strolls alongside him* *he glances aside, the resentment still lingering but wearing off. Noticing her crestfallen expression paining her face, he feels a twinge of remorse bite into him- he was too harsh with her as well. He tries to make amends by softening his tone attitude* Thank you for asking. I'm all right. The doctors wanted me to lie in bed all week. They took out the bullet four days ago.

Andrei: And how are you? You got the position, then?

Katya: I see. It's good that you managed to come out despite what your doctors advised. It's good to get fresh air and walk around. Freedom is important. I feel that you particularly, value your freedom. Yes, I am fine.

*They arrive at a small, metal-fretworked bench. Andrei motions gruffly for her to sit, his gestures are always an economy of manners*

Andrei: *nods* Despite all their damned orderlies and nurses trying to hold me back, I just left. I do value my freedom. So... what do you value?

She sits and looks pensively around.

Katya: I value happiness and being with people I value.

Andrei: *softens more so, almost becoming surprisingly relaxed. He looks at her thoughtfully, as though trying to read her without looking at her directly, grateful she looks pensively ahead not in his eyes. He can read people better when their eyes don't meet his, at times.* Who earns your value, then?

Katya: People who are intelligent and respectful, and have goals. Who do you value?

Andrei: *leans back on bench's back, propping one arm over the back of the bench and while crossing one leg over the other in a stern, confident fashion, like a stern man trying to find a position of repose* Similar to what you value. But I value people with some pride. I value people with boldness, a strong strain of defiance. People who like their freedom, like themselves, and who aren't afraid to bear their teeth when the occasion demands it. But I also value kind people. Sounds stupid, in my profession. But some kindness, it saves a soul from being totally dead.

Katya: I know you do. You've always wanted someone with spine. Because someone without a spine can't survive, and you value boldness to survive and be free.

Andrei: Hmm. Spine yes. But not only a spine. I said kindness, too. But in my field, kindness isn't an amenity valued or sought. But yes, without boldness, we can't survive. *looks down, shame gnawing on him like a dog on a bone*

Andrei: Devushka?

Katya: Yes?

Andrei: I- I'm sorry *voice is gruff, despite trying to soften it, remorse makes it rougher than his intention* I'm sorry about barking at you, and scaring by chasing you like that earlier. It's in my nature to be like that.I can't get rid of it, so I'm sorry. And I'm sorry for my words as well- they were probably too harsh. *looks ahead, brow furrowed in a mix of self-reproach, remorse and masking stern stoniness*

Katya: You have nothing to be sorry about. The situation was uncalled for in general and took us both by surprise. It was no one's fault.

Andrei: You're very forgiving. Thank you. *tries to glance aside at her, trying to meet her eyes. He notices they seem lighter than before. They seem more greenish.*

She looks at him more intently now and sighs.

Andrei: It's kind of you to put up talking with me, too.

Katya: I wanted to show myself that I wasn't always so weak, that I could talk back. I suppose that just made me seem even more ridiculous in the end.