There were three people at the table. The room is pleasantly dark. The table is lavishly lined with delicacies, the glare of burning candles play on faces, large drops of rain beat off the glass, raw firewood crackles in the fireplace, giving the dinner a homely and cozy atmosphere, and in the far corner Mozart is unobtrusively audible.
“No, gentlemen, after all, television is our most powerful weapon,” Ivan Ivanovich decides to break the ringing silence.
- Of course, every sandpiper praises its swamp. What's your television, Ivan Ivanovich? Well, the brain, of course, liquefies a little, but alcohol finally kills it, - Vasily Vasilyevich enters into an argument.
- What's your alcohol? Who would have thought of drinking this stuff if it weren't for my television? Yes, if we didn’t play "Irony of Fate" every time for the new year, who would even know that on holidays we have to poison ourselves with poison? - Ivan Ivanovich retorts slightly irritated.
- Completeness, gentlemen. Well, why is this controversy? All professions are needed, all professions are important. Who would need my sex industry if it had not been clearly explained to people on TV that sex is the meaning of life, and the alcohol industry of the highly respected Vasily Vasilyevich would not deprive people of the remnants of their minds? - Pyotr Petrovich decided to reconcile his opponents.
- Well, you are just a peacemaker, Petr Petrovich. Although in something you are right … - Ivan Ivanovich said thoughtfully, cutting pineapple slices with surgical concentration.
- However, it is worth noting, dear Ivan Ivanovich, that your system has been misfiring more and more often lately, - added Pyotr Petrovich.
- What are these misfires? - Ivan Ivanovich distracted from slicing pineapple and stared at his opponent.
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- Yes, the most unforgivable, Ivan Ivanovich! Take, for example, the film Peaceful Warrior. What is this anyway? What is this crazy old man teaching this gymnast? And sexual promiscuity is bad, and you don't need to drink beer, and generally an idle lifestyle is, they say, bad manners. Why, this philosopher proposes to refuse meat. Just think - from meat! Where have you seen this, Ivan Ivanovich? It is good that our "meat king" is not with us today, otherwise he would tell you how much this veggie sect brings him losses! - Pyotr Petrovich blurted out in one breath.
- Well, well, well, well … - Vasily Vasilyevich in a friendly way patted the flushed Pyotr Petrovich on the shoulder - However, it should be admitted that professional sports are well advertised in the film. Can you imagine how many fools will run to the gyms to ruin their health for the sake of Olympic medals and performances under a neutral flag?
- Yes … a spoonful of honey in a barrel of ointment, - Petr Petrovich waved his hand.
- I have to admit that you are right, Pyotr Petrovich - finally Ivan Ivanovich broke the silence. “Recently, there have been too many“wrong”films that bring people not exactly what we need. That way, what good they also start to think.
- Exactly! - Petr Petrovich said in annoyance.
- But we are already solving this problem. Have you seen how circus animals perform in a circus? Ivan Ivanovich asked mysteriously.
- If you please, Ivan Ivanovich? And we have here, by the way, a serious conversation. We lose money because of such directors.
- In no case. I'm quite serious. After each successfully completed trick, the animal is thrown some tasty treat, sugar or something else.
- Well? Are you offering us to retrain in the circus industry? - Pyotr Petrovich asked irritably.
- Not at all. We will build a cinema on the principle of the circus industry, - said Ivan Ivanovich with a smug look and leaned back in his chair.
“Excuse me, Ivan Ivanovich,” said Pyotr Petrovich impatiently.
- It's simple, colleagues. In cinematography there are various kinds of awards, awards, honorary titles and others like them. That is to say - sugar for the director. So, we will reward them only those who promote the concepts we need, and those who are trying to be clever, we will rip off the press, and thus the directors who create “wrong” films will simply be screened out - slowly and with pressure on every word was explained by Ivan Ivanovich.
- Yes, it's a utopia. Perhaps this motivates the directors to shoot "the right movie", but ordinary people will still watch everything. Utopia, - Petr Petrovich waved his hand in disappointment.
- Not at all, dear Petr Petrovich. Take Valeria Dudinskaya, better known as Valeria Gai Germanicus. Did you see what she's filming? - Ivan Ivanovich asked his interlocutors.
- God forbid, Ivan Ivanovich. This slag is intended only for cattle. Why should we look at this abomination?
- Exactly. She shoots well. And in general, he is a very necessary person in our business. After Internews school, she practiced filming at a porn studio. And in our business, lack of conscience and morality are the most important characteristics. Well, so - we have repeatedly awarded her for her work, and what - the popularity of her films is growing. And she herself, inspired by her successes, rivets her ideological shells at a breakneck speed, Ivan Ivanovich shared his successes.
- By the way, what about Kinotavr now? - asked Peter Petrovich.
- Why … everything is the same as always - we choose the most abomination from all films and reward. The year before last, for the film "Good Boy", even earlier, the film about lust, more precisely "About Love", was given an award. I, frankly speaking, did not watch them myself, because an abomination is rare, but "people", which is called "hawala", - Ivan Ivanovich said with disgust.
- Yes, this people will eat whatever we feed him. The main thing is to feed him correctly, the candy wrapper is prettier, fanfare in the press. Otherwise, God forbid, he will start thinking, - added Pyotr Petrovich.
- Yes, come on, Pyotr Petrovich. Today's youth from the first grade know that only "nerds" think a lot. And to be a "nerd" is … as we instilled in them … forgot the word … well, it is from the criminal jargon. How can he … - Ivan Ivanovich snapped his fingers, trying to remember the word.
- "Zapadlo!" - Pyotr Petrovich exclaimed happily.
- Exactly. And they believe in it - Ivan Ivanovich finished.
- Well, maybe a brandy, colleagues? - Vasily Vasilyevich entered the conversation.
- Eh, Vasily Vasilyevich, you are a golden man, you do not take care of yourself at all, you began to talk. Who in their right mind will drink your ethanol?
- Let the cattle drink, but we do not need anything - summed up Ivan Ivanovich.
- Expands blood vessels and is good for the heart. And they do believe, you idiots, - Pyotr Petrovich laughed.
The rain beat on the windows, the cool night breeze threw open the covered window, rushed in and, extinguishing the candles, flew out. Mozart, having played the last chords, fell silent, and a heavy, ominous silence hung in the room.