A messy dress maker's shop combined with a second hand shop. There is a lot of old furniture around, rag dolls on the shelves, broken antiques in crates. In a corner there is an old life-size puppet theatre and some puppets. There's a French door on the street-side, a door to the back rooms and a door to the basement. There are two large working tables. ALBERT and JAN enter in a lively discussion from the back rooms.

ALBERT:.. So some people are and some are not? What is it? A gift from God or something, eh?

JAN: But creativity is always something positive, isn't it?

ALBERT: You mean like the atom bomb?

. JAN: It wasn't good or bad when it was invented. It was a marvellous invention. It was used wrong.

ALBERT: You mean people are bad inside? So they turn ebery invention into something bad?

JAN: I'm not sure... What about penicillin? Anti biotics? What about the feminist movement, ethnic minority quotas and the euthanasia law? Eh?

ALBERT: Good! There's still hope in you.

JAN: ... So. What do you say?

ALBERT: About what?

JAN: The watch!?

ALBERT: You have to give me eight hundred marks first.

JAN: You'll get it tomorrow.

ALBERT: Hah! Tomorrow! Hah!

JAN: You dont trust me?

ALBERT: You know I don't trust anyone. You'll do fine if you do the same.

JAN: My mother already gave me the money.

ALBERT: And?

JAN: And what?

ALBERT: What did you do with the money?

JAN: Er, well, I mean. I owed the Hobby Shop for some paint and spare parts for the puppet theatre...

ALBERT: Do you think your mother trusts you?

JAN: Why not? Of cource she does.

ALBERT: First you sell me your Grandfather's valuable pocket watch and then you'll beg for the money from your mother to buy it back from me and spend the money on something else. is that fair? Eh?

JAN: That's not the point.

ALBERT: Yes, it is. Have a sip. (Offers a beer)

JAN: No, thanks.

ALBERT: Let me make you a proposition.

JAN: Ok. But nothing illegal this time.

ALBERT: Please, Jan. You're hurting my feelings. Would I ever do that to my favorite errand boy, would I?

JAN: Yes, you would. And I don't want to be your errand boy any more.

ALBERT: Oh, I see.

JAN: I'm tired of being pushed around. I'm a grown man.

ALBERT: I can't trust you. Your own mother can't trust you. What kind of a man is that? You have to really grow up, take some responsibilities in your life, get independent.

JAN: Give me a pill.

ALBERT: No way. This is merchandise. Have a sip instead.

JAN. So, what is it?

ALBERT: I have some Russian friends from St Petersburg...

JAN: No, I don't want to hear.

ALBERT: All is legitimite thsi time. Cross my heart.

JAN: So?

ALBERT: So, they want to breed soem race horses in Finland.

JAN: Why?

ALBERT: Because we're in the European Union.

JAN: But you don't do business with the Russians like with ordinary businessmen, you know that.

ALBERT: They want to sell sperm and little horses, whatever. Maybe they just want a front business inside the European Market, who cares.

JAN: So, now it's the Russian mafia, is that it? Eh?

ALBERT: The thing is, I showed them around and they are interested in buying Hepo-Valley farm...

JAN: What?! Are you insane?!

ALBERT: Don't get exited.

JAN: No, no. I'm sorry. You'll just get yourself killed here. I'm not exited at all. I'm just quitting, I'm out. I'm gone to Australia for as long as I'm alive. Thank you very much.

ALBERT: It's just that it's so near the Russian border, good connections all over and there are two stables and electricity and water and plenty of fields and it's been empty for years.

JAN: But it belongs to Granny. And she's in the hospital. You know that.

ALBERT: Right. That's where you come in.

JAN: What?

ALBERT: You have to get the old lady's consent to the deal.

JAN: No way.

ALBERT: I know she wouldn't sign over a power of attorney to me.

JAN: That's for sure.

ALBERT: But she might do it for you.

JAN: You're mad. Granny's dying, she doesn't know a thing about the world anymore. They're all dying in there...

ALBERT: Calm down... I just might forget that you haven't payed for the watch and give it back to you...

JAN: If I get Granny's signature?

ALBERT: Maybe you could prove yourself to be good as a junior partner, too.

JAN: You're trying to fool me.

ALBERT: Honest to God. Would I ever do a thing like that?

JAN: Allt the time. You're as crooked as a rustry nail.

ALBERT: You're being too kind. Thank you.

JAN: How about the hockey match tonight?

ALBERT: I only managed to get one ticket. Second row, behind the penalty boxes.

JAN: Oh, thanks a million. Thanks for telling me.

ALBERT: It's for you. I have a business meeting tonight with the Russians, you see.

JAN: Wow! And you remember to take care of yourself, will you.

ALBERT: I'm a regular Flash Gordon. I'll live forever.

Z JAN: Second row! Wow! You're an angel. Thank you Albert Hazel! Thank you so much.

ALBERT: Don't tell your mother.

JAN: When do you need Granny's power of attorney?

ALBERT: The day after tomorrow, Friday night, at eight.

JAN: I'll do my best. But no promises, ok.

ALBERT: No promises. Your best is good enough, my boy.

JAN: (looks at his watch) Mum's getting back from Tallinn. You must go before she gets here. see you on Friday then.

ALBERT: You'll have to buy your own popcorn this time. What a kid! (exits)

JAN: Second row! Wow!!

Later that day. JAN is alone in the shop making a doll at the other large table.

JAN: (While working) Once Scarface came up behind me at the Locks. I was fishing with hook and line. He tried to put his hand down my pants. I started to cry and ran home. Mum asked why I was crying and I told her about Scarface and she got angry with -me-! She screamed how I could allow something like that to happen and then she hit me staright in the face and dragged me by the hair to the coal cellar and yelled that I was a sick perverted bastard.

GRANNY: ("Appears" as JAN's fantasy like many times before) Your mother only meant well.

JAN: Hello Granny. You look pale today.

GRANNY: My blood pressure is down. They put tubes into my hands and nose. I look like the distributor cap of a racing car.

JAN: I should get your signature. It's about that abandoned Hepo-Valley farm you own by Lake Aava. You know, the run-down main building and the two stables with rotten roofs and some land around it all.

GRANNY: Your mother wouldn't like you to work with Albert Hazel. Neither would I. But I suspect he's the only adult father figure around. Is he going to share the comission with you? Sixty forty?

JAN: Yes. You mean I could get your power of attorney? That would be great, Granny. That would be my biggest deal ever, honest. And mother would save a good deal of money now that she wouldn't have to pay inheritance tax for the Hepo-Valley. I mean then, er...

GRANNY: The damned doctors< keeep pumping me full of cortizone every day.

JAN: I could finally get out of this shady neighbourhood. I'd buy a studio at the seaside and I'd put up my own puppet theatre.

GRANNY: Are you sure you want to be a puppet artist like your father was?

JAN: Absolutely.

GRANNY: Even if your mother doesn't like the idea at all?

JAN: You bet.

GRANNY: We used to rehearse hours on every day with your father. It was his whole life. Oh, well. I'm older now and he's gone to glory...

JAN: He never made any money of it, though. This jacket is about the only thing he had. (Takes the ELVIS-jacket out of a cupboard)

GRANNY: It was his rebellion against mediocrity. The silly jacket!

JAN: Do I look like him?

GRANNY: Of course you do. Very much like him.

JAN: One day, pretty soon, I'll be on my own for sure.

GRANNY: But you made almost twohundred thousand last year, didn't you? Most of it "tax free". With real estate and all that.

JAN: Yes, I mean, last year was exceptionally good.

GRANNY: You could have already rented a studio apartment by the seaside and started the puppet theatre, too, if you wanted, couldn't you?

JAN: Well, yes, but... This year doesn't look so good. I have to stand firmly on my own before going independent. You know what I mean.

GRANNY: Of course dear. What ever you say. Let's practice theatre now, please. (JAN puts on the ELVIS-jacket and a white scarf) So, let's see. (They perform the fairy tale of IRON JOHN or HANS with puppets. First they quickly read aloud what they had done the last time) The King asked a huntsman to shoot a roe deer but the huntsman never returned.

JAN: "He must have had an accident" the King said. So the following morning he sent two other huntsmen to find the missing man, but they also failed to return. On the third day he sent for his remaining huntsmen and asked them to search the entire forest until they found the three missing men. But not one of these, or their hounds, ever came back.

GRANNY: After a very long time an unknown huntsman presented himself to the King saying he was looking for work, and would be willing to enter the dangerous forest.

JAN: "Sire", the huntsman said, "I shall go entirely at my own risk. I am not the least afraid." Together with his dog, the huntsman set off into the forest.

GRANNY: Almost immediately the dog picked up the scent of an animal and was soon in hot pursuit. But the two had gone only a short distance when a deep pool blocked their path. Suddenly a naked arm rose from the water, grabbed the dog and pulled it under.

JAN: Alarmed by what had happende, the huntsman hastily returned to the palace to fetch three men with buckets to empty the water from the pool. There, at the bottom of the pool, lay a wild man, his body as brown as rusty iron, his hair so long it hung down to his knees. Binding him tightly with ropes, the wild man was carried back to the castle where everyone was astonished by his appearance.

GRANNY: The king oredered the wild man to be imprisoned in an iron cage in the castle cortyard, and forbade anyone to free him on threat of death. The key of the cage was entrusted to the queen.

JAN: Ok, this is where we stopped last time.

GRANNY: yes, the key was entrusted to the queen.

JAN: (Starts acting with puppets from there) The king's eight-year-old son was playing in the cortyard one day when he accidentally threw his gold ball into the wild man's cage.

GRANNY: "Give me back my ball", he cried.

JAN: "Only if you open the door for me," replied the wild man.

GRANNY: "I can't. The king has forbidden it", and off he ran.

JAN: But the following day the boy went back to the cage and asked once more for his ball.

GRANNY: "Open the door first".

JAN: But the prince would not do so.

GRANNY: On the third day the king went out hunting.

JAN: Again the boy returned to the cage.

GRANNY: "Even should I wish to open your door I cannot because I do not have the key.

JAN: "The key is under your mother's pillow. You can easily find it."

GRANNY: Under mother's pillow! That's a good one. Sorry, er. "The prince badly wanted to have his gold ball back, and throwing all caution to the winds, agreed to fetch the key.

JAN: The door of the cage was difficult to open, and in doing it the boy pricked his finger. As soon as the Wild Man came out, he gave the child his ball and hurried off.

GRANNY: The prince, suddenly terrified by what he had done, started howling loudly: JAN: "Oh, Wild Man, Wild Man, don't go or I'll be beaten by my father!"

GRANNY:Turning back, the Wild Man picked up the boy, swung him on to his shoulders, and strode swiftly off to the forest.

JAN: Whoops! (Sees RINA walking outrside)

GRANNY: As soon as the king returned he saw the cage was empty. Realizing what must have happened, the King, The Queen and the entire royal household went into mourning... Remember, Jan, practice makes perfect!

RINA: (Enters dressed well like a young lady) Hi!

JAN: Hi, oh, hello there... Oh, no! It's you, isn't it? Rina? (GRANNY disappears)

RINA: Yes. It's me. Yes, yes!

JAN: Christ! If it isn't really... I don't believe this! What can I say?

RINA: Try somewthing like "Hi, Rina, nice to see you".

JAN: Why haven't you called or anything... My God! You're actually here!

RINA: Nothing has changed. In the shop, I mean.

JAN: I suppose not.

RINA: Is that the fashion now in Helsinki? (JAN takes off the ELVIS-clothes and combs his hair)

JAN: How long has it been?

RINA: Only about a year.

JAN: Mum said you have grown apart from us. That you're doing fine in the slums, I mean, abroad.

RINA: Past is a faraway country. I'm thinking of moving back to Helsinki. You know how it is. Home sweet home and all that. How you've been?

JAN: I'm doing some serious business with Albert Hazel. I mean real business. Mother doesn't know about it.

RINA: But you haven't managed to get away from here yet, eh?

JAN: I have. i mean soon. Once I'll make this fabulous deal and get the money to rent a place to myself.

RINA: D'you remember how we used to dream about Italy and Vertona?

JAN: No!... I don't think I do.

RINA: You wanted to move to Italy where the puppet theatre is still appreciated. That's where your father always dreamed of going.

JAN: Ah, that! No. I mean it was a long time ago. (lies) I don't dream about such things anymore. I'm an aspiring businessman.

RINA: Do you remember, by the canal, when I was mad at my mother, just before she died, eh? When I let you, you know, for the first time...

JAN: Oh, no, no. I've forgotten all about that.

RINA: I haven't.

JAN: Er, so how's life? I mean what are you doing here now? Surely not just to see me.

RINA: (Takes a doll in her hand) They are so pretty.

JAN: Look at her eyes.

RINA: Beautiful.

JAN: No, I mean the colour.

RINA: Brown, oh, I see. The Blue-Eyes now have brown eyes, eh?

JAN: Yes.

RINA: But why?

JAN: I painted them, and this and this and this. All brown.

RINA: I don't get it?

JAN: They are supposed to be blue, yes. But I paint them brown. Like yours.