Cherry on Top
PROMOTIONAL FILM TRANSCRIPT — CHERRY ON TOP
[POLISHED, ASPIRATIONAL CORPORATE MUSIC]
[AERIAL FOOTAGE — A VAST, WINDOWLESS DATA-CENTRE COMPLEX]
NARRATOR (V.O.)
On the site of the former Ranevskaya-Gayef family estate, Lopakhin Data Infrastructure has created a major centre for digital storage and processing, supporting digital services used across the world.
[INTERIOR FOOTAGE — THE CAMERA MOVES BETWEEN SERVER HALLS INTO A CENTRAL VOID WITH THE FORMER NURSERY STANDING INTACT WITHIN IT]
NARRATOR (V.O.)
At its heart, the estate’s former nursery has been retained and opened to the public as the Cherry on Top Heritage Centre.
[OPENING-EVENT FOOTAGE — VARYA, WEARING AN EVENT-STAFF LANYARD, RECEIVES RANEVSKAYA, GAYEF AND ANYA AT THE RECEPTION TABLE. LOPAKHIN TAKES NO BADGE]
[LOWER THIRD: LYUBOV RANEVSKAYA — FORMER ESTATE OWNER]
[RANEVSKAYA TOUCHES THE OLD DOORFRAME]
LOPAKHIN
Do you recognise it?
RANEVSKAYA
Yes. The door. The windows.
[LOWER THIRD: LEONID GAYEF — FORMER ESTATE RESIDENT]
GAYEF
Will “Honorary Heritage Patron” appear?
INTERVIEWER
When you give your speech.
GAYEF
Very good.
[LOWER THIRD: VARYA RANEVSKAYA — FORMER ESTATE MANAGER AND OPENING EVENT COORDINATOR]
[VARYA COUNTS THE REMAINING CHAMPAGNE FLUTES AND HOLDS UP TWO FINGERS TO A CATERER]
VARYA
Two missing. Check the kitchen, please.
[LOWER THIRD: ANYA RANEVSKAYA — DAUGHTER OF LYUBOV RANEVSKAYA]
[VARYA HANDS ANYA HER VISITOR BADGE]
VARYA
You’re staying for the reception?
ANYA
Until six. My train’s at 18:42.
[ANYA LEAVES HER CHAMPAGNE ON THE TABLE AND SLIDES THE RETURN TICKET INTO HER BADGE]
[LOWER THIRD: PETER TROFIMOV — HERITAGE CENTRE MANAGER]
[TROFIMOV UNLOCKS A STORAGE CUPBOARD WITH HIS STAFF PASS AND TAKES OUT A BOX OF PROGRAMMES]
TROFIMOV
Programmes here?
VARYA
By the door, please. Two stacks.
[INTERVIEW — LOPAKHIN IN THE NURSERY. AN ORIGINAL PLASTER WALL MEETS THE HERITAGE CENTRE’S GLASS AND METAL STRUCTURE BEHIND HIM]
INTERVIEWER
The nursery is the only surviving part of the original house. Why did you decide to keep this room?
[LOWER THIRD: ERMOLAI LOPAKHIN — CEO, LOPAKHIN DATA INFRASTRUCTURE]
LOPAKHIN
People here knew the house, even if most of them had never been inside it.
[THE VIDEO CUTS TO EXPOSED BRICK BENEATH GLASS. A STEEL SUPPORT STANDS BESIDE THE ORIGINAL CORNICE. A FIRE DOOR HAS BEEN INSERTED INTO THE FORMER EXTERIOR WALL]
LOPAKHIN
Lyubov Andreyevna and Leonid Andreyevich knew this room. I wanted them to come back and recognise it. Clearing the site would have been simpler, but then I would have had to point to the floor and tell them where it used to stand. So we kept it and built around it.
[INTERVIEW — RANEVSKAYA IN THE NURSERY]
INTERVIEWER
You spent much of your childhood in this room. What was it like to come back?
[RANEVSKAYA LOOKS AROUND BEFORE ANSWERING]
RANEVSKAYA
Smaller. Rooms are always smaller when you come back. The windows were brighter, I think. Or perhaps there was simply more outside them.
[RANEVSKAYA STOPS BESIDE A CHAIR BEHIND THE BARRIER AND BENDS TO LOOK AT IT]
RANEVSKAYA
That chair wasn’t there. No, it may have been. Varya would know.
INTERVIEWER
Does the room still feel familiar?
RANEVSKAYA
Yes. Ermolai Alexeyevich has preserved it beautifully.
[REACTION SHOT — LOPAKHIN LOOKS DOWN, THEN BACK TO RANEVSKAYA, SMILING]
[INTERVIEW — TROFIMOV BESIDE THE SEALED NURSERY WINDOWS]
INTERVIEWER
You spoke publicly in favour of redeveloping the estate. What did you hope would change?
TROFIMOV
It was beautiful. But the people who worked here and looked after the orchard were hardly part of the story. I hoped whatever replaced the estate might be of some use to the local community.
[ARCHIVE IMAGE — A PLANNING ILLUSTRATION SHOWS DETACHED VILLAS, PRIVATE DRIVEWAYS AND ORNAMENTAL CHERRY TREES]
INTERVIEWER
Before the data-centre proposal, the estate was going to be divided into plots for summer villas. Why did you oppose that?
TROFIMOV
One private estate would have become forty smaller ones, most of them empty for half the year.
[THE VIDEO MOVES ACROSS THE DEVELOPMENT NAMES PRINTED ON THE ILLUSTRATION: CHERRY VIEW, ORCHARD LODGE]
INTERVIEWER
Why did you support the change to a data centre?
TROFIMOV
Well, it was designated as strategically important. It promised lots of jobs and a reason for younger people to stay. Compared with the villas, it seemed like a much grander vision.
[AERIAL FOOTAGE — THE WINDOWLESS DATA-CENTRE COMPLEX FILLS THE FRAME]
[INTERVIEW — LOPAKHIN]
LOPAKHIN
There were days when hundreds of people were working here.
[ARCHIVE FOOTAGE — A CRANE LOWERS STEEL ROOF SECTIONS. CONCRETE TRUCKS QUEUE AT THE GATE. WORKERS CARRY CABLE TRAYS INTO THE BUILDING]
LOPAKHIN (V.O.)
The hotels in town were full. One café started serving breakfast at six and kept doing it until the roof was finished.
[CUT TO PRESENT DAY — THE COMPLETED DATA CENTRE. THE ACCESS ROAD IS EMPTY]
[ON-SCREEN TEXT: HIGHLY AUTOMATED 24-HOUR OPERATION — SPECIALIST SUPPORT AVAILABLE REMOTELY AND ON SITE]
[TROFIMOV UNLOCKS THE SIDE ENTRANCE. HE TURNS THE HERITAGE CENTRE SIGN FROM CLOSED TO OPEN AND WALKS THROUGH THE EMPTY RECEPTION AREA]
INTERVIEWER
How many people are based here day to day?
TROFIMOV
At the moment, I am.
[THROUGH THE NURSERY WINDOWS — A DATA-CENTRE SERVICE CORRIDOR. NO ONE PASSES]
VISITOR (off-camera)
Excuse me, where are the toilets?
[CUT TO: EXHIBIT DEMONSTRATION — TROFIMOV OPENS A FOAM-LINED CASE OF STEREOSCOPIC GLASSES]
NARRATOR (V.O.)
The nursery’s original windows have been retained. Through a specially developed stereoscopic display, visitors can experience a reconstruction of the former orchard.
[TROFIMOV HANDS OUT THE GLASSES]
GAYEF
These won’t open.
[VARYA TAKES HIS PAIR, OPENS THEM AND HANDS THEM BACK]
[TROFIMOV PRESSES A CONTROL. A BLURRED DOUBLE IMAGE OF TREES AND BLOSSOM APPEARS ACROSS THE WINDOWS]
[INTERVIEW — RANEVSKAYA LOOKING THROUGH THE STEREOSCOPIC GLASSES]
INTERVIEWER
You knew the orchard from childhood. Does this feel like the place you remember?
[RANEVSKAYA WATCHES FOR SOME TIME]
RANEVSKAYA
No. Not really.
[SHE CONTINUES LOOKING THROUGH THE GLASSES]
RANEVSKAYA
The trees weren’t so even. And it was never all in blossom at once — not like this. But the light is right. I don’t know how they’ve done that.
[SHE LOOKS AGAIN]
RANEVSKAYA
It feels right. Perhaps that’s better.
[CUT TO LOPAKHIN]
LOPAKHIN
We spent a long time getting the light right.
[INTERVIEW — VARYA LOOKING THROUGH THE STEREOSCOPIC GLASSES]
INTERVIEWER
You helped provide information for the reconstruction. What did that involve?
VARYA
They sent drawings. I marked where the paths were, where the doors went, the old well. Then they sent revised drawings.
INTERVIEWER
Did they use your corrections?
VARYA
Some of them.
LOPAKHIN (off-camera)
More than some. Varya was very strict with us.
VARYA (pointing)
That's not where the well was.
LOPAKHIN
I know. You told us.
VARYA
Several times.
LOPAKHIN
Yes. You were very helpful.
VARYA (pointing)
And there wasn’t a fountain.
[LOPAKHIN STEPS INTO FRAME AND LOOKS THROUGH THE GLASSES]
LOPAKHIN
No. But there should have been.
[INTERVIEW — GAYEF LOOKING THROUGH THE STEREOSCOPIC GLASSES]
INTERVIEWER
As Honorary Heritage Patron, what do you think the centre has achieved?
GAYEF
It has brought two ages into the same room. Not reconciled them, perhaps — that may be too much to claim. But allowed them, at last, to acknowledge one another.
[LOPAKHIN LOOKS AT GAYEF. GAYEF ADJUSTS THE GLASSES AND CONTINUES LOOKING TOWARDS THE ORCHARD]
[INTERVIEW — ANYA LOOKING THROUGH THE STEREOSCOPIC GLASSES]
INTERVIEWER
What does it mean to be back?
ANYA
I don’t know yet. I only arrived this morning.
INTERVIEWER
You now work in several different cities.
ANYA
I work where the work is.
[TROFIMOV STEPS INTO FRAME BESIDE HER]
TROFIMOV
That is one of the freedoms her generation has. She isn’t tied to one place simply because she was born there.
LOPAKHIN (off-camera)
That’s what all this makes possible.
[ANYA REMOVES THE GLASSES AND FOLDS THEM]
[THE BLURRED ORCHARD FADES FROM THE WINDOWS]
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Firs worked in the household for many years. His voice, image and recollections have now been incorporated into an interactive guide.
[ON-SCREEN TITLE: ASK FIRS — A LIVING HISTORY EXPERIENCE]
[A LIFE-SIZED HOLOGRAPHIC PROJECTION OF FIRS APPEARS. HIS HEAD TURNS. HIS EYES FOLLOW A MOMENT LATER]
AI FIRS
Welcome to the Cherry on Top Heritage Centre. I hope you will enjoy discovering life at the old estate.
[HE SMILES. THE SMILE REMAINS]
[LOPAKHIN STANDS BESIDE THE PROJECTION]
INTERVIEWER
What happened to Firs after the household left?
LOPAKHIN
Firs never left. He’s a permanent resident now.
[ON-SCREEN PROMPT: ASK FIRS A QUESTION]
[A VISITOR STANDS BEFORE THE PROJECTION]
VISITOR
What was life like here?
[AI FIRS TURNS TOWARDS THE VISITOR. THERE IS A BRIEF PAUSE]
AI FIRS
The estate was a busy household in which everyone had an important role. Work followed the seasons, and traditions were passed from one generation to the next.
[TROFIMOV STANDS BESIDE THE DISPLAY CONTROLS]
TROFIMOV
At least this lets someone who worked here tell the story.
[VARYA STOPS BESIDE THE DISPLAY WITH THE EMPTY STEREOSCOPIC GLASSES CASE UNDER ONE ARM]
VARYA
He didn’t speak like that.
INTERVIEWER
What sounds different?
VARYA
Everything after “welcome.”
RANEVSKAYA
I thought he felt right.
[AI FIRS TURNS TOWARDS GAYEF]
AI FIRS
Leonid Andreyevich, your glasses are not sitting properly.
GAYEF
They are perfectly comfortable.
AI FIRS
Yes, yes. Tilt them slightly to the left.
[GAYEF TILTS THE GLASSES]
GAYEF
The voice is quicker. Firs never hurried anything. But the concern is there.
AI FIRS
The speeches will begin shortly, Leonid Andreyevich. You should sit down.
GAYEF
You see? He remembers.
RANEVSKAYA (off-camera)
Is there somewhere one can leave something for him?
[AI FIRS TURNS TOWARDS THE GIFT COUNTER]
AI FIRS
There is a donation box on the gift counter. Before you leave, you may also wish to try our traditional dried cherries, prepared according to the estate’s original recipe.
INTERVIEWER
Varya, is this the recipe you remember?
VARYA
No. Firs said it had been lost years before.
INTERVIEWER
Then where does this version come from?
VARYA
I don’t know.
AI FIRS
The cherries are available in two sizes.
[TROFIMOV WIPES A RETURNED PAIR OF 3-D GLASSES. HE POINTS A VISITOR TOWARDS THE LABEL BESIDE THE ORIGINAL DOORFRAME. HE SCANS A BOX OF DRIED CHERRIES AT THE TILL]
NARRATOR (V.O.)
As the centre’s manager and heritage interpreter, Peter Trofimov provides the personal knowledge that brings the exhibition to life.
LOPAKHIN
Peter answered hundreds of questions while we were testing the centre. We’ve used those recordings to begin developing a second interactive guide.
[GRAPHIC: ASK PETER — COMING SOON]
TROFIMOV
So that means I can answer questions about the estate even when I’m not here.
LOPAKHIN
Exactly.
[THE GUESTS GATHER IN FRONT OF THE LECTERN AND COMPANY BANNER. VARYA MOVES GAYEF ONE FLOOR MARK TO HIS LEFT]
LOPAKHIN
Thank you all for coming. We could not preserve the orchard itself. But thanks to the Cherry on Top Heritage Centre, it now blooms in every season.
[A FEW GUESTS LAUGH]
LOPAKHIN
And now I’d like to invite our Honorary Heritage Patron, Leonid Andreyevich Gayef, to say a few words and formally open the orchard.
[THE GUESTS APPLAUD. GAYEF STEPS TO THE LECTERN AND READS FROM A CARD]
GAYEF
This room — dear, venerable room — has borne silent witness to childhood, duty, sorrow, departure and return. It has survived years of neglect, the loss of the house around it and, more recently, a considerable amount of construction—
[HE REACHES THE BOTTOM OF THE CARD AND TURNS IT OVER]
GAYEF
The continuation appears to have been omitted.
AI FIRS
Take your time, Leonid Andreyevich.
GAYEF
Thank you, Firs. I require no assistance.
[HE LOWERS THE CARD AND CONTINUES WITHOUT IT]
GAYEF
Today this room assumes a new dignity.
[VARYA HANDS HIM A SMALL REMOTE CONTROL]
GAYEF
Ladies and gentlemen, if you would now put on your glasses.
[THE OTHER GUESTS PUT ON THEIR STEREOSCOPIC GLASSES. GAYEF POCKETS HIS PAIR]
GAYEF
The past, one might say, is now receiving visitors.
[HE PRESSES A BUTTON]
[THE BLURRED DOUBLE IMAGE OF THE ORCHARD IN BLOSSOM APPEARS THROUGH THE SEALED WINDOWS]
GAYEF (squinting)
Magnificent.
[THE GUESTS APPLAUD. VARYA TAKES BACK THE REMOTE. CORPORATE MUSIC SWELLS]
[INTERVIEW — ANYA]
INTERVIEWER
Do you think developments like this can bring more young people back to the area?
ANYA
I hope so. It depends whether there is work for them.
INTERVIEWER
Would you come back?
ANYA
I did.
INTERVIEWER
Would you stay?
ANYA
I don’t know. My train is at 18:42.
[CLOSING MONTAGE]
[ANYA PUTS ON HER COAT. VARYA COLLECTS THE VISITOR BADGES. TROFIMOV COLLECTS THE STEREOSCOPIC GLASSES]
[RANEVSKAYA LOOKS THROUGH THE GLASSES ONE LAST TIME]
[GAYEF STANDS BEFORE AI FIRS]
GAYEF
Goodbye, Firs.
AI FIRS
Goodbye, Leonid Andreyevich.
[GAYEF LEAVES]
[LOPAKHIN APPROACHES VARYA]
LOPAKHIN
You’re going?
VARYA
Everything’s finished.
LOPAKHIN
Yes. I—
INTERVIEWER (off-screen)
Ermolai Alexeyevich, one more photograph.
[LOPAKHIN TURNS AWAY. VARYA PUTS ON HER COAT]
[THE LAST VISITORS LEAVE]
[THE BLURRED DOUBLE IMAGE OF THE ORCHARD REMAINS VISIBLE THROUGH THE SEALED WINDOWS]
[TROFIMOV SWITCHES OFF THE ORCHARD DISPLAY. THE DATA-CENTRE WALL APPEARS THROUGH THE WINDOWS]
[VARYA LEAVES]
[THE AI FIRS HOLOGRAM REMAINS ACTIVE IN THE EMPTY NURSERY]
AI FIRS
Thank you for visiting. We hope to see you again.
[CREDITS ON BLACK]
CHERRY ON TOP
HONOURING OUR HERITAGE. HOSTING OUR FUTURE.
A FILM BY CHARLOTTA IVANOVNA
CAMERA: YASHA
COMMISSIONED BY THE CHERRY ON TOP HERITAGE CENTRE
[LOPAKHIN DATA INFRASTRUCTURE LOGO]
[MECHANICAL HUM CONTINUES. FADE TO BLACK]