Summary

A Russian circus visits the United States. A clown wants to defect, but doesn't have the nerve; his saxophone-playing friend, however, comes to the decision to defect in the middle of Bloomingdale's. He is befriended by the black security guard and falls in love with the Italian immigrant from behind the perfume counter. We follow his life as he works his way through the American dream and tries to find work as a musician.

Quotes

Vladimir
Excuse me.
Lucia
You must be Russian.
Vladimir
Yes, yes. I--I'm with the circus.
Lucia
Yeah, I know. We heard you guys were coming today. Let me tell you something. I wish for peace among all nations.
Vladimir
I--I'm looking for blue jeans.
Lucia
We had a nuclear demonstration this year, and I marched. "Make love, not war," we say.
Vladimir
Make love, for sure. I--uh--I look for blue jeans.
Lucia
Blue jeans, right? Designer jeans? Uhm--uh, Jordache, Calvin Klein--
Vladimir
Calvin Klein.
Lucia
Calvin Klein, OK. You go straight back to menswear, like where that pole is.
Vladimir
I'm Russian, no Pole.
Lucia
Yeah, I know. Well, anyway, you go straight, OK? And then you take a left. You can't miss the Denin Den.
Vladimir
Thank you.
Lucia
You're welcome. I hope you have a nice stay in New York.
Vladimir
Go--I go back to Moscow today.
Lucia
Ah, well. Goodbye.
Vladimir
Goodbye.
Lucia
Ciao.
Vladimir
Ciao.

Vladimir
I say goodbye to my saxophone.

Vladimir
F-B-I?
man
F-B-I?
Vladimir
K-G-B?
man
K-G-B? No. Oooh, no. G-A-Y.
Vladimir
Gay? Oh, no, no.
man
Sorry, you have a nice face and I thought we had a moment back there. I hope I didn't upset you.
Vladimir
No, it's ok, Mister. Thank you. Good luck.

Vladimir
You smell very good.
Lucia
Yeah?
Vladimir
Yeah.
Lucia
No, it's Charlie.
Vladimir
No.
Lucia
Yes, it is.
Vladimir
No, it's no perfume. It's you.
Lucia
I really like you.
Vladimir
Likewise.
Lucia
But I am--uh... I am--
Vladimir
You have boyfriend?
Lucia
No, no, no, I'm a free woman. I don't like to get involved.
Vladimir
Me too.
Lucia
What I mean is that if I stay here with you tonight I don't want you to think anything special about it. To exaggerate what it is. You understand?
Vladimir
Yes. I assure you as a former Soviet Socialist Republic I make no more thought about sex. I respect your new life.
Lucia
Thanks.
Vladimir
But I do desire you in a big way.
Lucia
Likewise.

Vladimir
Coffee?
Supermarket manager
Aisle 2.
Vladimir
Coffee line, please?
Supermarket manager
Aisle 2. No line, though.
Vladimir
Taster's Choice... decaffeinated... Maxwell House... El Pico... Chock Full of Nuts.. espresso, cappucino... Café Français... Sanka... Folgers... Cafe Caribe... coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee! Coffee!! COFFEE!!!