Karabasov. I heard his wife died last winter.

Khorkov. Right. The girl lost her mother. And now she is our only chance to make the mayor of the city work for the welfare of your construction company.

Karabasov. Khorkov. I need this land!

Khorkov. I’ll do everything, boss.

A group of people enter the yard: Malyshev, Nyuta, a local newspaper reporter, city representatives.

Malyshev. Okay, let me see, Karabasov. What do you have here?

Karabasov. Good afternoon, mister Mayor. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming. Our construction company has been engaged in building up and development of this district for three years now. There was a time when it was a slum area. This is the place which spawned all the organized crime activity. With our company coming to this area, everything changed. We straightened things out and made these streets safe for the citizens.

A round of applause from the city representatives.

Karabasov. Thank you, my friends. Mister Khorkov, our house manager, will give you a tour around the new apartment block. The upper floors of this building command a wonderful view of the river and the forest, and I hope that one day the latter will become our new construction site.

Malyshev. Let us not rush on, mister Karabasov. The city administration has not given its consent to the building up in this forest plot.

Karabasov. Yes, I understand this, mister Mayor.

Malyshev. Trees are the lungs of our city. I don’t intend to lay down environment and citizens’ health at stake for the sake of building of another shopping mall.

Karabasov. All in its proper time, ladies and gentlemen. Maybe we will manage to find a compromise solution one day.

Khorkov. Well then, ladies and gentlemen, I would like you to follow me.

Everyone follows Khorkov to the entrance of the apartment block.

Nyuta. Dad, may I take a walk here?

Malyshev. Alright. Just don’t leave the yard.

Nyuta. Come back soon.

All the adults enter the building. Nyuta is left alone. Yumi comes out of hiding.

Nyuta. Hey, doggo.

Yumi (to himself.) Stop! Danger. A human.

Nyuta. Don’t be afraid, little one. Come here.

Yumi (to himself.) Right, a likely story. Suppose you bite me?

Nyuta. Here you are, take it.

Yumi. Woof!

Nyuta. A goodie.

Yumi. (to himself.) What is a goodie? It smells so nice.

Nyuta. So?

Yumi. Woof!

Nyuta. Don’t be afraid.

Yumi (to himself.) Stop! The third rule: never trust people.

Nyuta. Mmm… so tasty.

Yumi. Woof!

Nyuta. Here, take it.

Yumi (to himself.) If you are treated to something tasty, it’s a trap! Mmm, this smell.

Nyuta. Take it!

Yumi (to himself.) I will just try a tiny bit.

Yumi comes to Nyuta and takes a biscuit out of her hands.

Nyuta. Well done.

Yumi. Woof!

Nyuta. Whose are you?

Yumi. Woof!

Nyuta. Take one more.

Yumi gulps down everything Nyuta gave him.

Nyuta. You are so hungry. What is your name?

Yumi. Woof! (He fawns upon Nyuta.)

Nyuta. It tickles, you silly. I have nothing left.

Yumi. Woof!

Nyuta and Yumi are playing together. Malyshev, Karabasov, Khorkov and other adults go out of the apartment block.

Malyshev. Nyuta! Look out. This dog can bite you.

Nyuta. Dad! It is a puppy. He is so funny.

Yumi. Woof!

Malyshev. Move away from him.

Yumi. Woof!

Nyuta. Dad. Don’t frighten him. He’s nice.

Reporter. That’s some nuisance, mister Mayor. We informed the district administration about the pack of stray dogs, which had made this wasteland their home, many times.

Malyshev. We’ll take care of it, ladies and gentlemen.

Malyshev. Mister Karabasov, how can you explain it?

Karabasov. We will put everything right, mister Mayor! Khorkov, deal with it.