Day 86: Bathroom Schedule in a Kommunalka
In a communal flat in Saint Petersburg, an elderly resident knocks on the bathroom door, where a young drama student has been for forty minutes.
How to study this lesson 3 steps
- Read the situation under the title.
- Read the dialogue and its translation. The audio for this lesson is coming soon.
- Spend at least 30 minutes listening to native Russian audio, for example from the Resources page. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it yet.
Dialogue
Audio for this lesson is coming soon. For now, read the dialogue and its translation.
Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day
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A
Милостивый государь, вы занимаете ванную уже сорок минут. Извольте объяснить, что там можно делать столько времени.
My dear sir, you have been occupying the bathroom for forty minutes. Would you kindly explain what one can possibly be doing in there for so long?
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B
Простите, Эдуард Борисович, я монолог репетировал. Тут акустика хорошая, а у меня завтра прослушивание.
Sorry, Eduard Borisovich, I was rehearsing a monologue. The acoustics are good in there, and I have an audition tomorrow.
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A
Акустика, значит. То-то я из-за двери слышу «Быть или не быть», причём уже раз двадцатый.
Acoustics, is it. So that's why I keep hearing "To be or not to be" through the door, for about the twentieth time.
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B
Давайте по-соседски составим график: я в ванной до семи, вы после, и никто никого не ждёт.
Let's draw up a schedule, as good neighbours: I have the bathroom until seven, you after that, and nobody waits for anybody.
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A
Извольте. Только «быть или не быть» вы произносите так, будто спрашиваете, где соль.
As you wish. Only you say "to be or not to be" as if you were asking where the salt is.
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B
А как надо? Вы что, сами в театре служили?
How should it be said, then? Were you on the stage yourself?
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A
Сорок лет на подмостках Александринки. Гамлета, между прочим, играл в семьдесят девятом году.
Forty years on the boards of the Alexandrinsky. I played Hamlet, if you must know, in seventy-nine.
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B
Да вы что! Эдуард Борисович, а может, послушаете мой монолог, хоть разок?
No way! Eduard Borisovich, maybe you could listen to my monologue, just once?
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A
Раз такое дело, давай на ты, коллега. Жду тебя на кухне в восемь, а ванная до семи твоя, по графику.
In that case, let's drop the formalities, colleague. I'll expect you in the kitchen at eight, and the bathroom's yours until seven, as per the schedule.
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