The Waiting Room (1998)
Synopsis
A 'runaway' homeless man, once a renowned athlete, finds himself marooned in the small, snow-covered town of Zarechensk. Victor lands a job at an orphanage, where he soon meets a young teacher who becomes both a compassionate friend and the love of his life. However, fate doesn't play out simply as good or bad; it unfolds in a way that makes the hero realize one cannot run away from oneself. Consequently, it is in Zarechensk that a train carrying a film crew from the capital, on their way back to Moscow, is compelled to delay their journey for a few days. Remarkably, Zarechensk becomes the place where a director finally discovers the perfect actress for his leading role and encounters a man who has fled from her love. Meanwhile, a producer makes the ultimate decision to select this town as the filming location for her upcoming movie.
First Air Date: 1998-03-16
Last Air Date: 1998-03-26
Number of Seasons: 1
Number of Episodes: 10
Networks: Channel One
Top Cast
- Mikhail Boyarskiy as Seleznyov Viktor Nikolaevich
- Vera Glagoleva as Semyonova Mariya Sergeevna
- Olga Ponizova as Sokolova Irina Semyonovna
- Vyacheslav Tikhonov as Zaitsev Mikhail Borisovich
- Mikhail Ulyanov as Fyodorov Semyon Petrovich
- Nina Usatova as Konovalova Galina Vasilyevna
- Nikolay Eryomenko as Skvortsov - polkovnik militsii
- Andrey Sokolov as Karetnikov Vladimir
- Igor Kostolevskiy as Zimin Aleksandr - bankir
- Gennadi Svir as Seva Samoshin - leitenant militsii
Seasons
Miniseries (1998)
A 'runaway' homeless man, once a renowned athlete, finds himself marooned in the small, snow-covered town of Zarechensk. Victor lands a job at an orphanage, where he soon meets a young teacher who becomes both a compassionate friend and the love of his life. However, fate doesn't play out simply as good or bad; it unfolds in a way that makes the hero realize one cannot run away from oneself. Consequently, it is in Zarechensk that a train carrying a film crew from the capital, on their way back to Moscow, is compelled to delay their journey for a few days. Remarkably, Zarechensk becomes the place where a director finally discovers the perfect actress for his leading role and encounters a man who has fled from her love. Meanwhile, a producer makes the ultimate decision to select this town as the filming location for her upcoming movie.
Episodes:
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Ep. 1: Episode 1
A strange man arrives in the provincial town of Zarechensk: he knows no one, lives nowhere, and tries to find odd jobs at the local market. Meanwhile, in a coastal city, a film festival is coming to an end. All the residents of Zarechensk, including the mayor, the inhabitants of the orphanage, and the local police, watch the closing ceremony of the film festival on TV. They dream of one day seeing these famous, cheerful people with their own eyes...
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Ep. 2: Episode 2
The train carrying the participants of the film festival is moving towards the city of Zarechensk...
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Ep. 3: Episode 3
The festival train arrives in the city of Zarechensk, and the townspeople, led by the mayor, pour onto the platform. Director Maria Semyonova sees Victor. In the homeless man, she recognizes her former husband, Victor Seleznev, an Olympic judo champion...
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Ep. 4: Episode 4
Victor tells Irina that 15 years ago he left Maria because he couldn't forgive her infidelity. Morning comes. Police officer Samoshin continues the search for the mysterious criminal. Konovalova decides to fly to Moscow by helicopter, but upon seeing Zarechensk from above, she realizes that this is the city she needs. Semyonova meets with Sveta and comes to the realization that the girl is very suitable for her new film...
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Ep. 5: Episode 5
Irina comes to the realization that she's in love with Victor and wants to marry him. Meanwhile, Maria Semyonova, spotting Lieutenant Samoshin at the train platform, shows him a photograph of her ex-husband and requests his help in locating him. She shares Victor's story with Samoshin. In a twist, Samoshin concocts a sinister plan – he decides to frame Victor for deliberately causing the train's stop.
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Ep. 6: Episode 6
Maria Semyonova decides to give Sveta a role in her new film. Although Sveta dreams of a film career, she is reluctant to lose her beloved Kostya and faces a tough decision. At the orphanage, the children's tears are hard to calm. This leads Victor to arrange a meeting with Maria, hoping her influence can convince Konovalova to drop her scheme. Despite their efforts, Konovalova remains steadfast. Amidst these events, a significant encounter between Masha and Victor takes place, sparking jealousy in Irina.
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Ep. 7: Episode 7
Lieutenant Samoshin, upon hearing from Irina about Seleznev's efforts to convince Konovalova to spare the orphanage and its residents, plots to use the former Olympic champion in a sly plan to boost his political ambitions. He orchestrates a rally at the market, proclaiming to the townsfolk that the arrival of Moscow's celebrities will corrupt Zarechensk. In the meantime, Sveta, energized by the newfound prospects, ventures to the train station at night, where she encounters the film star Karetnikov. Meanwhile, Seleznev finds himself deep in thought, grappling with a dilemma over who means more to him: Masha or Irina.
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Ep. 8: Episode 8
Seleznev outsmarts Lieutenant Samoshin and refuses to lead a popular uprising against the Moscow captain. In response, Samoshin spreads rumors throughout the town about Sveta and Karetnikov. Meanwhile, Zarechensk sees the return of the main contender for the role Maria gave to Sveta - the star Larisa Koretskaya. Sveta's dreams crumble - her fiancé is lost, and so is her role. While Seleznev is sorting out his feelings, Irina receives a visit from her ex-husband, a successful novelist.
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Ep. 9: Episode 9
Irina rejects Filimonov's invitation to Hollywood, choosing integrity over material gain. The orphanage becomes a hub of activity with a high-profile event attended by local celebrities, including Maria Semyonova and Konovalova. Amidst the mix of poetry and emotions, Sveta lashes out at Kapitoshka, revealing her deep-seated resentments. The situation intensifies as Kostya, drunk with his friends, disrupts the gathering, leading to a chaotic brawl and police intervention. In a startling development, an unexploded wartime bomb is discovered in the orphanage.
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Ep. 10: Episode 10
The drama reaches its peak with Victor's false accusation of terrorism leading to his arrest. Kostya, showing significant personal growth, sobers up and makes amends with Alexei Starkov. Sveta, after a period of confusion, comes to terms with the reality of her situation with Karetnikov, marking her emotional maturity. The story wraps up the intricate web of relationships among the characters, each facing their future with newfound understanding and resilience.
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