-Daddy, papa... What is this box ?
-Where did you find that, Sasha ?
-What is it, papa ?
-Sasha...
-I... I found it in the attic...
-Haven't you been told something about the attic, Sasha ?
-Yes, daddy, but this morning, you know, Tonya heard some footsteps... She was very afraid. So, I had to go ! It could have been a monster ! An ogre ! But I have been very careful in the staircase. I took the flashlight, and my sword !
-Your ... sword ? Oh, I see. So you went to the attic to defend your sister ? And how many monsters did you fight ?
-Well, er... there was no monster, papa. It was just May, with her kittens. But Tonya is a little girl... you won't mock at her, will you ? Promise me !... And... what's this box ?
-It is an old box, Sasha.
-Yes, I can see that ! But what is it, papa ? There is your name on it ! Papa ? Daddy ?
-I... I'll tell you... but not now. It's breakfast time, Sasha. Your mama is waiting for us.
-But, daddy...
-Later, Sasha. Give me the box.
-Good night, my Sasha. Sweet dreams !
-Papa ?
-Yes, Sasha ?
-The box... You've said you would tell me...
-It's too late, Sasha. I'll tell you tomorrow. Sasha ? Don't pout, boy...
-He looked for that all day long, Illya...
-Ell...
-Illya ?
-I can't fight both of you. Okay, I'll get the box.
-Here it is...
-Is that a plot ? And, Ell, don't giggle !
-You'll be lucky, Illyusha... I am going to read a story to Tonya...
-Make room for me, Sasha. Come here. Open the box, now.
-But I haven't the key !
-You don't need one. You see, right here, there is a quote...
-Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice. What does that mean, daddy ?
-Shhh, Sasha. It's a Chekhov's quote. Now, look at those numbers.
-18 - 14 - 41 - 5 - 9 ... Papa...
-It's a combination. Look : I am going to press each letter of the sentence, in this order.
-I want to do it, daddy ! Let me do, please !
-Enjoy yourself, my Sasha.
-You see, Sasha ? It's not a treasure. Are you disappointed ?
-No ! That's an old jazz record ! And a book ? Papa, it's a Russian book ! And... a dictionary, a ... tie ?, and what is this yellow triangle, with... 11 on it ?
-It's a sort of button. When I was young, I worked in a ... place where we used that.
-You were n° 11 ?
-No, this button isn't mine. My button was n° 2.
-Ah, yes... N° 2... that's close to n° 1 !
-Sasha, it wasn't...
-A pipe, daddy ! But you don't smoke !
-These are memories, Sasha. This is the pipe of a very, very good man. You have been named for him. Alexander...
-And... this is a photo. It's you, daddy. And who is this man ? Papa ?
-He is... he was a friend. My best friend, Sasha. I hope you'll have one like him...
-Daddy.. Oh, there is something written : « If you want to be happy, be ! »
-It's a quote from a Russian author, Sasha. Tolstoi. My friend wrote it for me.
-Papa... you look sad. Where is your friend ? Was he n° 11 ? Is he...
-Oh... no, Sasha. Well, I hope not. But I don't know. We parted twelve years ago... I had to leave my work. I never saw him, since... But we named your sister from him. One of his names was Anthony. Tonya...
-And why not his first name ?
-Your sister would never have forgiven us...
-But I don't understand, papa. He was your best friend ? And you were his ? Why did you never...
-Things were...complicated, my son. And we can't live in the past.
-But it makes you sad. You can't deny it. So tomorrow, we are going to look for him, daddy. I'll help you ! He must have children. A girl, as Tonya ! A boy... and perhaps they have cats...