Nikolai Fedorovich POGODIN
KREMLIN CHIMES
A play in four acts, eleven scenes
Table of contents:
Characters
Act one
Picture one
Picture two
Picture three
Picture Four
Picture Five
Action two
Picture one
Picture two
Act Three
Picture one
Picture two
act four
Picture one
Picture two
________________________________________________________________
Characters
L e n i n.
D z e r zh i n s k i y.
Rybak o v - a sailor.
Zabelin is an old engineer.
Z abelina - his wife.
Masha is their daughter.
C u d n o v is a peasant.
A n a - Chudnov's wife.
Roman is their son.
L and za - their daughter-in-law.
M a r u s i,
S t e p k a - their children.
Kazank is a village bell ringer.
Senior,
B o r o d a t y,
Handy - workers.
N i s ch a i s t a r u ha.
An old woman with a child.
D a m a c e
D a m a and frightened,
S k e p t i k,
About p t and m and s - the guests of the Zabelins.
K u k h a r k a Z a b e l y n y x.
P r e d e n t e l d o m o m a.
Military.
L e n i n a s secretary.
Glagolev is an expert.
M a sh i n i s t k a.
H a s o v shch i k.
English p i s a t e l.
T o rg o v k a k u k l a m i.
R a s n o a r m e ts.
P r o h o g and y.
Spirituality.
S e c u l a n t.
Trade
Woman.
T about rg about in to and.
H e l o v e k in with boots.
FIRST
S e c o n d s p r i z o r n i k.
T h e t r i n d i n t h e s p r i z o r n i k
Passers-by, salesmen, cadets.
Act one
Picture one
Iberian Gates in Moscow. Chapel with inextinguishable lamps. April evening. A fat, red-faced woman sells dolls. Here, a man in a bekesh runs back and forth - with a p e u l a n t. Pass
m about with to in and h and. They are dressed gaudily and poorly. They live on a starvation diet.
T o rg o v k a k u k l a m i. Satin, silk, brocade dolls. The best gift for children. Any doll - seven hundred and fifty thousand. An irreplaceable gift for children!
The spiritual face passes. He walks slowly, his eyes downcast.
Spiritual (quietly, but distinctly.) Gold, cast, old crosses I exchange for flour.
P r o h o g and y. Do you change bells?
D u h o v n y. What if there is a buyer?
P r o h o g and y. You will sell the Iberian Mother of God, Herod!
T about rg about in to and. Lace, Brussels, Chantilly... Lace, Brussels, Chantilly...
Speculator (cold and drunken voice). Shrapnel ... shrapnel, decent grain, foreign, the best, pleasant, fragrant ... Only for things, only for things ...
PASSING WOMEN. Will you take a scarf?
Spekulya n t. It depends on what.
Woman. Orenburg, not worn.
S p e c u l i a n t. And where is your handkerchief?
Woman. Where is your cereal?
S ecu l a n t. Not far. Don't be afraid. I won't deceive you. I am an honest trader.
The women and the speculators leave.
T org o v k a s a l o m. Salo, lard, who needs Poltava lard! I brought fat from Poltava. Let's exchange fat for gold.
H o l o s a:
- Belts, belts!
- Saccharin, academic tablets, completely replace sugar, fragrant sensations. No expenses!
T about rg about in to and. Lace, Brussels, Chantilly. Lace, Brussels, Chantilly!
A man of indeterminate age appears. On it are varnished
boots-pipes, a checkered winter jacket and an English cap.
H e l o v e k in with boots. Who is interested in the new anti-religious literature? Dostoevsky's posthumous work: "What does a wife do when her husband is not at home"! One hundred jokes and anecdotes from the sex life of Count Sologub with illustrations!
FIRST SPIRIZORNIK. Stop! You have an ace from another deck.
The second demon is a ghost. I swear by freedom! ..
The homeless are fighting.
F irst spurious. Put the money back!
The second demon is a ghost. Don't fight, I'll put it down.
FIRST SPIRIZORNIK. Will you play without cheating?
The second demon is a ghost. I swear by freedom!
Card game.
T about rg about in to and. Lace, Brussels, Chantilly!
The second demon is a ghost. I go to any half of the lemon.
F irst ghost. I hear a voice, but I don't see the money. Show answer.
The second demon is a ghost. There is an answer.
THIRD SPIRIORNER. Boys, look, an engineer is coming, who sells matches.
Zabelin's voice: "The matches are sulfuric, safe, Lapshin's factories."
The first homeless child. Now we will take money from his pocket, take cigarettes, and he will cry for us.
Zabelin appears. He is clean-shaven. His graying temples and mustache are carefully trimmed. He is wearing a cap and a uniform jacket under an old coat. Zabelin wears starched collars and expensive vintage ties.
Hello engineer.
Z a b e l and n. Hello!
F irst s prizornik. How do you live?
Z a b e l and n. How are you bad.
FIRST SPIRIORNIK. So you live at home, and I live in the asphalt boiler.
Z a b e l and n. And I will soon move into the boiler.
FIRST SPYZORNIK. When you move in, then speak up. Did you trade a lot?
Z a b e l and n. Don't know. Didn't count.
F irst ghostless. We'll count now!
Z a b e l and n. How do you think?
The first ghost child. I was the first student in arithmetic at the gymnasium. In!.. Look! Trade, engineer, we'll come to you again! We run, boys, to Tverskaya in the dining room, ask for porridge.
Homeless children leave with a song:
"Steamboat on the Don,
water rings,
Let's feed the fish
Volunteers."
Z a b e l and n. Matches pre-war, sulfur, Lapshin factories.
T o rg o v k a k u k l a m i. The best gift for children. Satin, silk, brocade dolls... Dolls, dolls...
Near the merchant of dolls, a red-haired soldier stops.
R a s n o a r m e ts. How much are these dolls?
T o rg o v k a k u k l a m i. Seven hundred fifty thousand.
R a s n o a r m e ts. Disgrace! .. What are you taking money for? For a doll. Is this a thing?
T o rg o v k a k u k l a m i. You don't need it, so don't be interested.
R a s n o a r m e ts. Why is it not necessary? Need to. Talk business, how much will you give?
T o rg o v k a k u k l a m i. Seven hundred fifty.
R a s n o a r m e ts. Do you want any half?
T o rg o v k a k u k l a m i. If you want to joke, then go somewhere else.
R a s n o a r m e ts. Take half a million ... Well, think for yourself, this is not a horse, but a doll ... a toy!
T o rg o v k a k u k l a m i. If you don't understand anything, then don't speak! Why are you pawing them? (She got angry.) Well, why are you pawing them?
R a s n o a r m e ts (peacefully). OK. Choose which one is bigger.
Z a b e l and n. Well ... do you buy them by weight?
R a s n o a r m e ts. Eka... And you can't figure out what he paid for... (He follows the doll dealer.) You, godfather, don't stick this curve to me!
T o rg o v k a k u k l a m i. Silly you. It is not a curve, but with a facial expression.
R a s n o a r m e ts. Once you trade without a discount, then give the goods the first grade. (To Zabelin.) Am I right?
Z a b e l and n. Why do you need a doll?
R a s n o a r m e ts. They will also tell me. I'm taking the girl, daughters. From the front I'm going on an indefinite vacation. I'm bringing a gift. Why matches?
Z a b e l and n. I trade at regular prices.
R a s n o a r m e ts. Do they light up?
Z a b e l and n. I have never deceived people.
R a s n o a r m e ts. You never know what... I bought a loaf of bread yesterday. He took a bite, and he is bitter. I threw it to the dog, and she refused to eat. If you trade with a guarantee, then for this yard of money I will take sernichki in reserve. And then in the village on the fire, too, hunger. Oh, now everyone is hungry. (Unwinds a ribbon of cash coupons.) But we live richly ... in hundreds, thousands, we bathe like cheese in butter!
Z a b e l and n. How long did you fight?
R a s n o a r m e ts. I went from imperialist to civil.
Z a b e l and n. So ... He won a little, soldier! A doll and a pack of matches!
R a s n o a r m e ts. Whatever it is, but a gift. Talk to you, and the train will leave. Do you know the time?
Z a b e l and n. Don't know. The Kremlin now does not strike the clock.
R a s n o a r m e ts. What are they? Spoiled?
Z a b e l and n. Yes, brother, the main clock in the state has deteriorated. The Kremlin chimes are silent. Bon voyage, soldier. Take the doll home.
R a s n o a r m e ts. You won't knock me down. I'm grated. And for such hints you can be leaned against the wall.
Z a b e l and n. Do you think it will be better? It won't get better.
R a s n o a r m e ts. I don’t know - it’s better, I don’t know - no, but it wouldn’t hurt to put you against the wall. Well, goodbye. I am busy.
Z a b e l and n. Matches are sulfuric, pre-war, safe, Lapshin's factories! (To the merchant.) The Kremlin chimes are silent ... What do you think about this, ma'am?
T o rg o v k a k u k l a m i. My alarm clock fell off my dresser and stopped. Whom to fix, I do not know.
Z a b e l and n. I'm sorry, you said something stupid.
T o rg o v k a k u k l a m i. If you're smart, don't mess with stupid ones... The best gift for children, the best gift for children!
Z a b e l and n. Matches are sulfuric, pre-war, Lapshin's factories!
Returned with p e c u l a n t.
Spekulya n t. Shrapnel ... shrapnel, the most nutritious cereal! Only for things, only for things!
Z a b e l and n. Listen, grain merchant!
Speculator. Listen, Your Excellency.
Z a b e l and n. If the chimes on Westminster Abbey in London fell silent, what would an Englishman say?
Speculator. I can't know, Your Excellency!
Z a b e l and n. An Englishman would say that England is over.
Speculator. Free business, free business!
Z a b e l and n. This, the cereal merchant, is a paroxysm of the heart.
Speculator. You, Your Excellency, better talk about this with your wife at home, but you shouldn’t talk to us.
T o rg o v k a k u k l a m i. If you want to go to the Lubyanka, then you should go there, but we don't want to at all! What are you pretending to be a cadet on the street? Why are you allowing my customers to campaign against the Kremlin? If you are against the regime, then roll to Wrangel in the Crimea. You are not an honest Soviet speculator! I shave you, but you are silent, showing pride. Jesus was also found without apostles! (Goes.) The best gift for children! (Exits.)
Z a b e l and n. I only tell everyone what I think, and you are afraid.
Spekulya n t. Of course - I'm afraid. For such conversations, Your Excellency, they can force, excuse me, the outhouses to be taken out. Here is the abbey. (Exits.)
Dukhovny (who was watching this whole conversation from the sidelines). I look at you and think - great fire wear in your heart!
Z a b e l and n. I'm sorry, I never entered into relations with priests.
D u h o v n y. This is from delusion, my friend! Well, they plunged the priests into dust ... and what happened?
Z a b e l and n. And even more so, talking to you must be very disgusting.
D u h o v n y. You don't have your own shore. Drown, gracious sir.
Z a b e l and n. I repeat, I do not enter into relations with priests and crooks.
D u h o v n y. You are a demon... a demon!
Z a b e l and n. Get out of here, you old rascal!
D u h o v n y. I hear from a scammer!
Z a b e l and n. I'll give you a neck.
D u h o v n y. You are possessed by the devil, you have crazy habits, I assure you!
While the spiritual person leaves, Zabelina appears. This is a woman in her forties. Looks younger. Once she was very pretty, and now she has not withered or fallen at all. Well dressed
in winter. On the head is a white woolen scarf.
Z a b e l i n a. Anton Ivanovich, you should go home.
Z a b e l and n. I live on the street.
Z a b e l i n a. Who makes you live on the street? Who is driving you outside? Nobody.
Z a b e l and n. Soviet authority. It does not fit into your concepts. We will talk to you the moment your understanding expands. In general, I would advise you to take a closer look at your daughter. And I don't need care.
Z a b e l i n a. Well, Masha is not a child either. She starts an independent life.
Z a b e l and n. Yes it's true. If she becomes a street girl tomorrow, I won't be surprised.
Z a b e l i n a. Anton Ivanovich, fear God. You said that about Masha, about our daughter.
Z a b e l and n. Do you know that an hour ago your daughter went to the Metropol Hotel together with a man?
Z a b e l i n a. Metropol is not a hotel. A second House of Soviets was set up there.
Z a b e l and n. I don't know what the House of Soviets is. "Metropol" hotel. Your daughter goes to a hotel. I saw it myself.
Z a b e l i n a. You are my husband, divorce me, but don't you dare say such things!
Z a b e l and n. If within three days this gentleman is not with us, then I will take my measures ...
Z a b e l i n a. Good, good ... We began to live hard, Anton Ivanovich ... Bitter!
Z a b e l and n. Now all of Russia lives hard and bitterly.
H e l o v e k in with boots. Count Cagliostro, there is half a dish of moonshine, would you like to join the share? Sorry.
Z a b e l i n a. Anton Ivanovich, your hands are frozen. Go home. You haven't eaten anything since morning. Let's go to.
Z a b e l and n. I don't eat anything every morning. Go where you went.
Z a b e l i n a. Oh, how hard we began to live, how bitter. (Exits.)
Z a b e l and n. Matches are sulfuric, pre-war...
General revival of traders. Behind the scenes, the singing of the Red Army.
Merchant in a salo. Shove the maine, women! (Runs away.)
They pass with the singing of the kursa n t y.
Picture two
A room in the Metropol Hotel. This room has long lost its hotel look. There are a great many newspapers and books spread out in disorder. On the table is a spirit lamp, black bread, a teapot, a glass and packs of cartridges. Above the bed on the wall is a carbine, a saber, a revolver in a holster. Masha Zabelina in a coat and cap is standing at the door. Rybakov, in the back of the room, is leafing through some book. Masha for a long time with a grin
is watching him.
Masha. Why did you lock the door?
R y b a k o v. Then, so that no one enters here.
Masha. Not true...
Rybakov is silent.
Open the door. I'll leave.
R y b a k o v. I won't open.
Masha. In general, are you trying to imagine what you are doing?
Rybakov is silent.
That's disgusting! Like a crook, they locked the door and hid the key. You smile, and you smile disgustingly, I assure you... I want to leave. You hear?
R y b a k o v. I hear.
Masha. So what?
R y b a k o v. I won't open the door.
Masha. I'll jump out the window.
R y b a k o v. Jump.
Masha. In this insignificant act, all of you. If a familiar girl came to you, then, according to your concepts, first of all you need to lock the door.
R y b a k o v. This is not an insignificant act.
Masha. Disgusting!
R y b a k o v. Vice versa!
Masha. A vile act.
R y b a k o v. I decided to talk to you.
Masha. Behind closed doors?
R y b a k o v. What should I do?
Masha. And you dare say you love me?
R y b a k o v. No, you tell me what should I do? How many times I was going to talk to you, and you bowed to me with a mockery and left. Now try to bow and leave. Nothing will come of it.
Masha. So this is a trap?
R y b a k o v. That's right, a trap. Sit down.
Masha. Where does this tone come from? Are you trying to order me?
R y b a k o v. Sit down.
Masha. I won't sit down.
R y b a k o v. Well, I don't care, stay at least until the morning.
Masha. That is, how is it - until the morning?
R y b a k o v. Until morning means until morning.
Masha. Rybakov, are you drunk?
R y b a k o v. I've had enough of your tricks, Maria Antonovna. I am not your toy. And just like you, man! You are better educated than I am, and your upbringing is in no way equal to mine, but for some reason you behave terribly rudely with me. Fine. Like you, so do I! Until I get an answer from you, these doors will not open, and you will not leave here!
Masha. Fine! Speak...
R y b a k o v. What can I say ... you know everything very well.
Masha. You were about to speak. Speak, I'm listening!
R y b a k o v. All this is not good, Maria Antonovna!
Masha. For the hundredth time, I ask you not to call me Maria Antonovna. I gave you permission to call me Masha a long time ago.
R y b a k o v. Masha! There is nothing for me to talk about. Everything has been said for a long time.
Masha. Dear Rybakov, I will not be your wife.
R y b a k o v. Why?
Masha. I won't be all. Take it easy. Goodbye. Open the door.
R y b a k o v. This is not an answer. This is not the way to say it.
Masha. This is the correct and final answer.
Rybakov (suddenly, with despair). But why is your face not someone else's? When a person is refused, can't there be such kind, such cheerful eyes? Or are there really girls in whom their tenderness and beauty do not prove anything? "Beautiful, like a heavenly angel, like a demon, insidious and evil!"
Masha. My God! Didn't you know? Well, of course, I'm a demon... I'm cunning and evil!
R y b a k o v. Why are you having so much fun?
Masha. You are a hero civil war... Ridiculous... Shameful...
R y b a k o v. Ah, I understand! The hero of the civil war, in your opinion, is not a man?
Masha. I didn't say that.
Phone call.
Rybakov (on the phone). Rybakov is listening... Yes... From the Council of People's Commissars? Rybakov is listening... Tell Vladimir Ilyich that the task has been completed... Yes... All right...
Masha. Think what time we live in! You visit Lenin...
R y b a k o v. Speak incorrectly, Maria... Speak incorrectly, Masha! We are not Puritans...
Masha. How do you know about Puritans?
R y b a k o v. Why am I reading all night long?
Masha. What did you read last night?
R y b a k o v. "Hero of our time"
Masha. But yesterday?
R y b a k o v. "Letters from afar".
Masha. Would you like me to guide your reading?
R y b a k o v. Masha, sit down for a minute!
Masha. Open the door.
R y b a k o v. I won't open.
Masha. This is not appropriate. You humiliate me.
R y b a k o v. Is it okay to laugh at a person?
Masha. I don't laugh at you.
R y b a k o v. You will sit here for three days and three nights: until you answer me seriously, sincerely, I will not let you go.
Masha. I said.
R y b a k o v. This is not an answer.
Masha. Because you don't like him?
R y b a k o v. Not because.
Masha. There will be no other.
R y b a k o v. You will sit.
Masha. Okay, I'll sit.
R y b a k o v. Great.
Masha. Please stop smoking and open the window.
R y b a k o v. Sorry.
Masha. Why don't you use weapons? Take a Mauser... scare me!
R y b a k o v. I don't want to scare anyone.
Masha. My friend was ordered by her boss to marry him within three days. And if not, then he said that she and her parents, as former bourgeois, would be exiled.
R y b a k o v. Such a scoundrel should be shot.
Masha. But how are you different from him?
R y b a k o v. I'm different.
Masha. With what?
R y b a k o v. I love you.
Masha. What?
R y b a k o v. I love you. You know.
Masha. Don't you dare talk to me about your love. I hate listening to you.
R y b a k o v. Disgusting?
Masha. Yes.
Rybakov (opened the door and flung it open). This is a real answer... sincerely and honestly.
MASHA (bewildered). What's to be offended?
R y b a k o v. At least it's human... Go away.
Zabelina appears at the door.
Z a b e l i n a. May I enter?
Masha. This is mom. How are you here?
Z a b e l i n a. At the entrance to the House of Soviets, I found out where citizen Rybakov lives.
Masha. Why did you come? What's happened?
Z a b e l i n a. Let me in...
R y b a k o v. Yes, yes, yes! .. Please! ..
ZABELINA (entering Rybakov). Hello Young man. See what kind of mother-in-law you will have?
Masha. Mom, where did you get this?
Z a b e l i n a. I know everything. Otherwise, would my visit here be possible? How bad it is with you, young man, how much rubbish! Then - why so many newspapers? Read and discarded. You live badly. I know your name is Alexander. And the patronymic?
R y b a k o v. Mikhailovich.
Z a b e l i n a. I am also Mikhailovna. Lydia Mikhailovna. I know everything, Alexander Mikhailovich.
R y b a k o v. But I don't know anything.
Masha. Mom, I'm begging you, don't say anything!
Z a b e l i n a. I won't say anything. It is high time for you, young man, to come to us.
R y b a k o v. I wasn't invited.
Z a b e l i n a. I do not know that. He himself should have insisted and introduced himself long ago in our house. (To Masha.) Anton Ivanovich saw you with Alexander Mikhailovich and knows that you are here.
Masha. It can't be...
Z a b e l i n a. How did I know you were here?
Masha. My God! What did he say?
Z a b e l i n a. We, Mashenka, must hurry home. I'll tell you on the way what he insists on. And we invite you, young man, to be with us on Saturday, at seven o'clock in the evening. (She looked around again.) The room is good, but how did you run it! You live badly! Goodbye! Masha, let's go.
R y b a k o v. Maria Antonovna, what to do?
Masha. Do what you want.
Zabelina and Masha leave.
R y b a k o v. Never been so tired. That's what it means to love a girl from another class. Oh, when will it be, a classless society!
Picture three
Forest. On the edge of the lake. Hunting hut. The beginning of spring. Night before dawn. A lantern hangs at the entrance to the hut. Nearby, water is heated in a kettle on a fire. A peasant is busy near the fire - the huntsman Chudnov. Relying on
an old gun, there is a village bell-ringer Kazan
C u d n o v. Dawn, mother, turn out to be fine for us. Lord, I will pray to you. Oh god, please.
Kazan, Chudnov, there will be fog at dawn. I have clueless omens.
C u d n o v. And the sky is clear, the weather is clear ... I don’t understand where this fog comes from. Again, Comrade Lenin and I will not be able to hunt.
Kazan. It won't work. Do you remember, in the winter, when Ilyich came to hunt a fox, then because of a blizzard, the hunt did not come out either. We then went skiing into the forest with him. I will never forget those conversations in the forest.
C u d n o v. In my life I have seen a lot of all sorts of people, to me, brother, famous personalities went hunting, but why Lenin exceeds them all - I don’t know.
K azan o k. He is simple ...
C u d n o v. "Simple" ... And we saw simple ones! That, not that.
K azanok: What time is it now? Must be the fifth?
C u d n o v. Fifth. Well, Kazanok, you look, and I'll see where Vladimir Ilyich is. Look. (Exits.)
Kazank: Not small, I know.
A song is heard, then Rybakov appears.
Who's there?
R y b a k o v. Their.
Kazank: No, not ours.
R y b a k o v. I say mine, which means mine.
K azan k. Stop!
R y b a k o v. I stand.
Kazanka. You are not ours.
R y b a k o v. Whose?
Kazan. Alien.
R y b a k o v. Old man, you open the gun, maybe it shoots.
Kazank. Shoots.
R y b a k o v. Why are you aiming at my bowler hat?
K azan k. Who are you?
R y b a k o v. Mainly human.
Kazank: Where did you come from?
R y b a k o v. From Moscow.
Kazank: You are under arrest.
R y b a k o v. And then what?
Kazank. Hands up!
Ch u d n o v appears.
C u d n o v. This is his ... comrade Rybakov. Hey, how did you goof off, Kazanok? He is a military sailor, he came with Ilyich ...
R y b a k o v. The driver and I were busy around the car ...
C u d n o v. And you put him under arrest...
R y b a k o v. Moreover, I have a Mauser, and he has a simple berdan. But a sentry is a sentry, and besides, not one of the shy ones.
K azan. It's my business to know. Do not be offended.
R y b a k o v. And I don't hate you.
Kazank. You don't get offended, but snorted at me.
R y b a k o v. How not to snort if you grab the breasts.
KAZANOK. Such a thing. For what you grabbed, for that you hold. I am now a sentry, a government official. Farewell. I went around, and you look here ... (He leaves.)
R y b a k o v. Where is Ilyich?
C u d n o v. Went to the lake.
R y b a k o v. One?
C u d n o v. Don't worry, we've got guards all around. Sit down. Now the tea is ripe. Only I have carrot tea leaves, you won’t understand how it stinks. Oh, you, time, there is nothing: no tea, no sugar, no kerosene.
R y b a k o v. What are you complaining about? Don't I know?
C u d n o v. Rybakov, did anything like this happen in Moscow?
R y b a k o v. What - such?
C u d n o v. Something special...
R y b a k o v. Don't know. I don't think anything special happened. Why are you asking?
C u d n o v. So ... (Thinking.) Something Comrade Lenin came thoughtful ... We came here with him - he is silent. I lit the lantern, he fiddled with the cartridges and threw it away. He got up, walked around, and then said: "I'll go to the lake, don't look for me. I'll call you myself" - and left. I understand when he's thoughtful.
R y b a k o v. I don't know... He told us all the way about the village, about Russia. To be honest, I've never heard anything like it.
C u d n o v. How much do you live in the world?
R y b a k o v. Still twenty-six years old. Don't laugh, father, I fought, I passed Russia from Orel to the Caucasus! Why is Ilyich thoughtful? You go there, to the lake, and gently hint to him - tea, they say, is ready.
C u d n o v. And in my opinion, it is not necessary.
R y b a k o v. And I think it should. He forgot - and without tea will be left. It will chill. We arrived early.
C u d n o v. On a spoon. Stir the tea so that the carrots spread in it, and I, perhaps, will go. (Exits.)
Rybakov (sings some song, then he remembers poetry to himself). "The mermaid sits on the branches; there on unknown paths ..." What is Ilyich thinking now? Why did I send a huntsman? You didn't have to send! Of course, you don't have to... (Calls softly.) Chudnov, Chudnov! And if not without reason he painted Russia for us all the way. "And on unknown paths there are traces of unseen animals. The hut is there..." Carrot tea is nothing but thoughtlessness.
C u dn o v returns.
Called?
C u d n o v. If you need it, go call yourself. I didn't make up my mind. I saw him from afar. He is sitting there on something, whether on a stump or on a stone - I don’t understand, he leans on his elbows, looks at the other shore ... Maybe at that moment he is making some plans, but we, fools, don’t understand this and drag drink his tea.
R y b a k o v. Fine. Let's wait.
Train whistles are heard.
The steam locomotive breaks down.
C u d n o v. Hungry.
R y b a k o v. Serious situation - not allowed. Listen to how it rustles and whispers on the lake ... Oh, the night! .. Chudnov, don't you have mermaids here?
C u d n o v. Mermaids? Mermaids at this time sleep in the huts.
R y b a k o v. I ask you about those mermaids who sit on the branches.
C u d n o v. There are no such people in our province.
R y b a k o v. It's a pity.
C u d n o v. The richer, the more happy.
R y b a k o v. I think, Tikhon Ivanovich, how much we have done for everyone during the revolution, and the stars, as they were, are. An incomprehensible thing is eternity.
C u d n about in (from the threshold of the hut). And I think, Lexandra, it's time for you to get married.
R y b a k o v. It's probably time...
C u d n o v. Now you ask for mermaids, then you look at the sky ... Come after Easter, we will woo you a little mermaid.
R y b a k o v. I have mine.
C u d n o v. There is, but you walk without rest.
R y b a k o v. I got love, Tikhon Ivanovich.
C u d n o v. Sorry. Such a heroic sailor, and got caught, then. Look, I know these Moscow people! With them so, anyhow - you can’t cope!
R y b a k o v. I don't want to chop down a tree.
C u d n o v. I will also say that there is nothing to be afraid of them. In this case, fright, as in war - you will be lost! Let her be afraid of you, and you gogol in front of her.
R y b a k o v. No, Comrade Chudnov, I'm being serious... Look... Ilyich doesn't need to talk about this...
C u d n o v. What are you afraid of?
R y b a k o v. Well be afraid...
C u d n o v. You are afraid.
R y b a k o v. So what are we going to do, our tea is getting cold.
C u d n o v. Quiet, Rybakov. I hear his steps. He's coming here...
Chudnov is moving forward towards Lenin. Rybakov rises.
Picture Four
In Chudnov's hut. A clean half of the hut with three windows. In the aisle, by the senets, there is a Russian stove. Benches, a table, a shrine, and on the wall between popular prints and family photographs is a portrait of Lenin, a cheap and bad lithograph. The old woman Chudnova Anna and her daughter-in-law Liza are cleaning the hut. Children
Liza, Marusya, and Stepka are whispering enthusiastically.
A n n a (Lise). Liza, Liza, bring out the boots. Why do you have boots on the bench and stink of tar? The hunters are about to come, and we have jumble. (To the children.) I'll whisper to you! March in places, on the stove!
Liza takes away his boots, Kazan enters.
Kazank. Happy holiday to you, Anna Vlasyevna.
Anna. And you too.
GAZANOK: I came to warn you: Vladimir Ilyich will be here in a minute.
Anna. Oh you, fathers! Kazanok! Run to the bell tower.
K azan. Here's one for you! For what?
Anna. "Why", "why"... What a memory! Don't know.
L.A. enters.
Lisa! Went and disappeared. Liza, tell me, why does Kazanka need to be on the bell tower?
Lisa. Roman ordered the big bell to be struck in case of a rally.
Kazan. Let's strike! (Goes to the door.)
Lisa. Wait... Oh, he'll make a chime!
Anna. Wait, Kazanok!
Kazank: What do you want?
Anna. On the bell tower one must be quiet, nobly. You keep looking down the alley from there. We will send Styopka to you. Styopka will wave a pole to you from the lane - then you beat the big bell. Wait! You don't hit often, but rarely, like in the morning.
Kazank: It's not for you to teach me. Kazanok knows how to ring the bell for Comrade Lenin. (Exits.)
Anna. March on the stove!
Lisa. Why are you hiding your kids?
Anna. Think for yourself: to expose our anchutkas to such a guest? On keys. Take out the tablecloth from the chest, take mine, with fringe...
Lisa. Don't be afraid, for Christ's sake, what are you afraid of?
Anna. Bring a tablecloth, because the table is bare!
L and Z a leaves.
(Children.) And you - on the stove!
S t e p to a. Grandma, we know...
Anna. On the stove! And do not look out, do not laugh, do not grunt!
S t e p to a. Grandma, can you look at him when he won't see us?
L.A. enters.
Anna. I'll look at you with a belt on your ass!
Lisa. Lord, I wanted to put clean shirts on them, I looked, they can’t even be repaired.
Anna. Lizaveta, why are you chilling? Shall we hang icons? And then let, what is this pretense.
L and s was about to leave, but returned.
Lisa. They're coming!
Anna. Who and who?
Lisa. Lenin and dad!
Anna. Alone?
Lisa. Alone.
Anna. So our villagers did not recognize him. You stand at the door. See what to give, take. Cover yourself with a scarf, it's not good!
Enter LENIN and CHUDNOV.
C u d n o v (Lenin). This is my old woman, Anna Vlasyevna.
L e n i n. Hello.
C u d n o v (Lenin). And then the daughter-in-law is Lisa.
L e n i n. Good morning.
Anna. What did you come up with from your hunt?
L e n i n. Nothing, imagine. We are such famous hunters that for a pound of game we need a pound of gunpowder.
C u d n o v. Why build on yourself in vain? The fog was clouded with pure misfortune. I have never seen such a foolish fog... The lake was covered like a blanket.
LENIN (undressing at the door). Whose heel is this? (I noticed the children on the stove.)
Anna. Well ... embarrassed.
L e n i n. Who's there? Come on, comrade, come here! Excuse me, are there two of you? Come here two!
S t e p to a. Grandma, get down?
Anna. Get off... (To Lenin.) They are grimy, like anchutkas.
L e n i n. Nothing. (to Styopka) What is your name?
S t e p to a. Styopka.
L e n i n. Styopka... Why not Stepan?
S t e p to a. And Stepan and Styopka.
Lenin (Maruse). And you?
S t e p to a. And hers is Maruska.
LENIN (Stepke). Why are you responsible for it?
S t e p to a. She is fearful of us.
Lenin (Maruse). Are you afraid of me?
M a r u s i (fun). Not.
L e n i n. Aren't you afraid, but climbed onto the stove?
S t e p to a. They hid us from Lenin.
L e n i n. Well? And here comes Lenin.
S t e p to a. Where?
L e n i n. Here he is.
S t e p to a. Well, yes ... You are not Lenin.
L e n i n. Really? And who am I?
M a r u s i. You're just someone else's man... came to visit!
S t e p to a. Lenin is just not like that.
L e n i n. Which one then?
S t e p to a. Look at his portrait, then you'll see.
LENIN (going up to his portrait). This important, inflated gentleman is not a bit like Lenin.
S tepka (with irony). Maybe you are similar?
L e n i n. But I look like!
Anna. Styopka!
L e n i n. No, you do not interfere with us to bring the dispute to an end. (Stepka.) I claim that I am similar.
S t e p to a. You don’t look like a bit, but there is a real one, since it was printed by a machine.
L e n i n. No, I'm real and he's not.
S t e p to a. No he.
L e n i n. No, I am.
S t e p to a. Let's argue.
L e n i n. Let's.
S t e p to a. For what?
L e n i n. Whatever you want.
S t e p to a. For a piece of sugar.
L e n i n. Fine. (He took off his hat.) Well, now tell me, who is the real one?
Styopka looks at Lenin, then at his portrait, retreats to the adults.
Marusya was surprised.
And now? (Puts on a hat.)
M a r u s i. Now it doesn't look like it again.
LENIN (taking off his cap). And again?
S t e p to a. The real Lenin! Where can I get him sugar? (Suddenly, with great determination.) Grandma, run to the bell tower? (Runs away.)
L e n i n. Why the bell tower?
Anna. So he drills.
L e n i n. Nimble boy.
C u d n o v. Balovnoy, trouble.
L e n i n. I, too, in his time was nimble, it seems, and spoiled. Boys are a mysterious people, only we still do not know how to deal with them. Little skill. And we need to know a lot now. We can't help but know... (I saw the light.) The light, a real old light?
C u d n o v. Do you really know, Vladimir Ilyich, how they burn a torch?
L e n i n. I know something... But do you really have to light this contraption?
Anna. It's cracking. It's more fun with her than in the dark.
L e n i n. Yes, of course it's more fun.
Roman enters. In the hands of a bag, half filled with some
easy things. Roman did not expect to find Lenin's house at that moment.
C u d n o v. And this is my son Roman. Chairman of the Council and more ... In general.
L e n i n. Hello Chairman! What's in your bag?
Novel. Props.
L e n i n. I wonder what kind of props. Can I see?
ROMAN (stammeringly). Can.
L e n i n. Cylinder ... (He took it, turned it, snapped his fingers on the cylinder.) Atlas ... A wonderful thing. So you have your own theatre?
Novel. Proletcult.
L e n i n. And what is this - Proletkult?
Novel. I don't know well myself. This is, how to say, proletarian culture.
L e n i n. Where did you get the cylinder from?
Novel. Bought in Moscow on Sukhareva.
L e n i n. Who will play in it?
Novel. I.
L e n i n. Who will you represent?
Novel. Banker.
L e n i n. Banker? Is it difficult to represent a banker?
Novel. No.
L e n i n. I wouldn't take on anything.
C u d n o v (hotly). Pure trouble, Vladimir Ilyich.
L e n i n. Why is it trouble?
C u d n o v. A man-man came from the army - and suddenly he began to imagine! Children grow up, and father is an artist!
L e n i n. And it's wonderful to be an artist. For example, I don't know how to represent a banker, but he can. You and I, Comrade Chudnov, are old-fashioned people.
C u d n o v. Except... old-fashioned.
Kazan runs in.
Kazank. In the name of the father and the son and the holy spirit...
L e n i n. What-oh?
Kazanok: Oh, what have I suffered... It's me, Pantelei Kazanok, the local bell-ringer and public fireman. Remember, in winter, in a snowstorm, I went skiing with you into the forest?
L e n i n. Still ... of course, I remember!
Kazank. He remembers... He came to show himself! I'm alive... (To others.) I'll be in my place, don't hesitate! (To Lenin.) We are glad... all the people! I will now call not according to the charter, but from the bottom of my heart ... That's the whole Kazanok, what's on it, then in it - all out. Farewell, excuse me, I'm in a hurry to the place. (Runs away.)
L e n i n. Why did he run away?
Anna. He is simple... unsophisticated...
Novel. Allow me, Vladimir Ilyich... allow me, Comrade Lenin, to ask you to speak at our meeting. And also ask you to have some tea in Proletkult.
Anna. No, Vladimir Ilyich, don't go to Proletkult to drink tea. They don't even have a decent samovar.
L e n i n. And what? Maybe you shouldn't go to Proletkult? We'll drink tea here too, huh? Let me stay here. And it would be good for us to do without the rally.
Rybakov runs in.
R y b a k o v. Shot! I shot three birds ... (Shows ducks.) I waited for a breeze from the field and was not deceived ... under the wind all the waters opened. (To Chudnov.) Here is the fog for you.
LENIN (contritely). Tikhon Ivanovich...
C u d n o v. I realize, Vladimir Ilyich...
L e n i n. Ducks... Real wild ducks. You and I were philosophizing about the causes of fogs, bad weather and other elements, and he shot...
Anna. What are you, huntsman! Embarrassed.
C u d n o v. Don't talk, mother! And you, Vladimir Ilyich, as I understand it, have not been hunting at all these days.
LENIN (surprised). Really?
C u d n o v. That's how it seemed to me.
L e n i n. Did it seem? Or maybe it's true. I was a very bad hunter today, comrade Chudnov, but... But not a hunter - a sailor.
R y b a k o v. So, did I upset everyone?
L e n i n. Of course, upset. What hunter wouldn't get upset? Veterka waited from the field and mended the old hunters. Appreciate, Tikhon Ivanovich, beautiful ducks! You hide them so that the cat does not drag them away.
A bell ringing is heard.
Nabat? Nabat...
Anna. After all, Kazanok could not stand it.
C u d n o v. Ah, the goblin, here is the goblin!
ROMAN (at the window). Well, nothing can be done now. The whole village got up.
L e n i n. If so, then we'll go. Ah, the bell-ringer, the bell-ringer rang for me. That's why he, of course, is a bell ringer. Comrade Chudnov... (Stops at the door.)
C u d n o v. As?
L e n i n. But is it restless to live with the Bolsheviks?
C u d n o v. Rest easy, Vladimir Ilyich.
L e n i n. Who knows what they will come up with tomorrow.
C u d n o v. You are right, Vladimir Ilyich.
L e n i n. We must, Comrade Chudnov, worry and disturb, otherwise we will disappear, they will eat us. Let's go, comrades, to the street, otherwise he will smash the whole bell tower with such delight.
Nabat.
Picture Five
Kremlin embankment and boulevard. Night. Rare weak light of lanterns. Rybakov sits on a bench under a tree. First he whistles, then
starts to sing.
Rybakov (sings diligently).
Spring will not come for me
And the nightingale will flood in the gardens,
And the poor heart beats
Not for me... Not for me...
(Thinks, gets up.) If I find Mars without a pipe, then yes ... If I don’t find it, then no ... (Looks at the sky for a long time and hums.)
An old woman appears.
N and shch and I. Cavalier, treat a wretched, sick old woman with a cigarette.
R y b a k o v. Please.
N and shch and I. Thank you, young cavalier. (Exits.)
Len and n appears. Recognizes Rybakov.
R y b a k o v. Vladimir Ilyich?
L e n i n. Sasha Rybakov, what are you doing here?
Rybakov (woke up). Why are you alone, without protection?
L e n i n. And I ran away from them.
R y b a k o v. How do you run away from them?
L e n i n. I won't tell you this. The secret of the old conspirator. I had a very long meeting, you see, and I have now disappeared to take a little walk. I forgot my watch on the table. My appearance here, so to speak, is legitimate. And yours? Why are you alone, at midnight... Do you count the stars?
R y b a k o v. I think ... I will not deny.
L e n i n. Have you fallen in love, Comrade Rybakov?
R y b a k o v. Fell in love.
L e n i n. Let's go for a walk together, Comrade Rybakov.
They go slowly.
Our time is cruel, terrible, now it seems that there is no time for love, but do not be afraid ... Love yourself to your health, since this happened. I just want to give you one piece of advice. You don't try to love again. Love the old way, Comrade Rybakov. I heard about this new relationship. So far, apart from ugliness and licentiousness, nothing is working.
R y b a k o v. I have seen the ugliness.
LENIN (suddenly stopped, took Rybakov by the elbow, asked quietly, intimately). Is it good to love? Feeling amazing?
R y b a k o v. Yes, Vladimir Ilyich, amazing.
LENIN AND RYBAKOV leave. Three tram workers appear with
cart: bearded, handy and eldest.
Senior. Shine! Let's see what we're doing here. It's all right... Let's move on.
Others. Seen? Lenin.
B o r o d a t y. Seen without you. I know and shut up. You have to be more careful.
Lenin and Rybakov return.
L e n i n. Comrades, tell us what time is it?
S and rsh and y (handy). Shine on. (He took out his watch with the chain.) It's a quarter past three.
L e n i n. Thank you.
Senior. Before, it happened, the Kremlin beat. And now they are silent.
L e n i n. This is very bad. The clock on the Kremlin should never be silent. Sasha, find a watchmaker. Only here you need a master who understands the old mechanics.
R y b a k o v. Let's find it, Vladimir Ilyich!
L e n i n. Difficult to find. Many watchmakers undertook to start the chimes and gave in.
R y b a k o v. It is impossible that such a master could not be found.
B o r o d a t y. Stay with the working class, Comrade Lenin. Chat with us.
Senior. He's the only joker we have.
L e n i n. Are you up to jokes?
B o r o d a t y. Why grieve? We have defeated capitalism.
L e n i n. You won't be fed up with broken capitalism.
B o r o d a t y. Now let's start building socialism.
L e n i n. Do you know how to build it?
B o r o d a t y. The world is not without good people. Someone will say.
L e n i n. There are many good people. You don't believe everyone.
B o r o d a t y. We are parsing. Whom you believe is us.
L e n i n. Didn't Lenin ever make mistakes in people? Also wrong.
B o r o d a t y. But we were not mistaken in Lenin.
L e n i n. It is much easier to destroy capitalism than to build socialism!
B o r o d a t y. Really, Vladimir Ilyich?
L e n i n. We are the first to start, there is no one to learn from. Besides, we are poor people.
B o r o d a t y. What is true is true. We were impoverished.
L e n i n. You have to build ... no one will help.
B o r o d a t y. And what can the Soviet government not be able to do? Everything can. The biblical inhabitants wanted to build a tower to heaven in the city of Babylon, and nothing came of it. Why? Write, a mixture of languages. And I tell you, because then there was no Soviet power.
L e n i n. This is good.
B o r o d a t y. No kidding, Vladimir Ilyich, the Soviet government will be able to do whatever it wants.
L e n i n. And why do you believe so much in the power of the Soviet government?
B o r o d a t y. Let me draw a parable for you. Are you in a hurry?
L e n i n. I'm not in a hurry. Have a seat.
B o r o d a t y. There are three people in front of you. Moscow tram workers, night workers. Proletariat. Neither saints nor sinners... people. Under what other authority would these people work all night long for a miserable piece of bread? (He took out the bread.) No matter what. And now - let's fall, lie down, get up and solder again ... Therefore, I believe in the power of Soviet power.
Senior. We talked - and honor must be known. It's time. Let's go further, but there is no time.
B o r o d a t y. Sorry for the long conversation. How can I.
Senior. Good night, Comrade Lenin.
L e n i n. Good night.
The workers leave.
Do you love a Russian person, Comrade Rybakov?
R y b a k o v. I love, of course.
L e n i n. Live with mine, then love! If Tolstoy had not invented Tolstoyism, then no one would have presented us with a Russian person better than him. But the old man did not understand the workers. I don't want to go home. You are in love ... why don't I want to? Do not know? Well, I'll tell you a secret... sometimes I dream... I walk alone and draw unseen things in front of me. We will not build a tower to heaven, but with our people we can dare, we can dream ... (Aside.) Someone is coming ...
R y b a k o v. Who goes?
The old man returns.
N and shch and I. I'm going.
L e n i n. Who are you, sorry?
N and shch and I. Beggar. Serve, sir, to feed the sad old woman.
L e n i n. Sasha, do you have anything?
R y b a k o v. I have nothing.
L e n i n. And I don't have anything either. (Beggar.) Sorry.
N and shch and I. And also wear a good coat ... you yourself are worse than beggars.
R y b a k o v. Well, grandma, go to sleep!
N and shch and I. I don't sleep at night... I work at night... I go to tea shops and train stations.
L e n i n. Do you call it work?
N and shch and I. My work is no worse than any other. Now they all walk around hungry like dogs. You are a man, apparently, of mental labor, but how much did you bite today?
L e n i n. How is it - biting?
N and shch and I. El.
R y b a k o v. Let's go further, Vladimir Ilyich...
LENIN (to Rybakov). Wait! (Beggar.) And before the revolution, what did you do?
N and shch and I. She was also poor.
L e n i n. Why are you angry? You haven't lost anything
N and shch and I. No, my dear, our impoverished class has lost the most.
L e n i n. Why did you lose your class?
N and shch and I. Before the revolution, I lived as a godfather to the king. At that time, I went to the holy fool. I had three and a half thousand gold in my bank.
L e n i n. Where did you get them from?
N and shch and I. I had regular clients. I didn’t go below the merchant houses of the first guild! Now what is my profit? Who is giving us now? Lenin let the whole of Russia down the drain, and he himself, they say, lives starving in the Kremlin. He does not live and does not give to others. Move on, and I'll go about my business. (Exits.)
L e n i n. What say you, young man?
R y b a k o v. A sassy old woman, and nothing more.
L e n i n. The point is not the old woman, Comrade Rybakov, but she is right about something. If now we sit on an aeronautical apparatus and rise above our land, then under us there will be a black space without lights, like a huge desert. How ruined Russia! The village returned to the beginning of the nineteenth century, to the torch. At the factories of the Urals, in Zlatoust, for example, people are forced to manually set the mechanisms in motion. Donbass flooded by the Whites. (Long pause.) Can you dream, Comrade Rybakov?
Rybakov (indistinctly at first). I?.. Dream?
L e n i n. We must dream ... We must. But does a Bolshevik, a Marxist, have the right to dream? A? In my opinion, he has this wonderful right, and he should dream if he understands the dream as the growth of new tasks for his party, his people ... And yet, Sasha Rybakov, there is no need to be afraid of a discord between dream and reality, if you seriously believe into your dream, carefully peer into life and work tirelessly, scary, hellishly working on the realization of your dream. Back in the 1900s, we in our party dreamed of the future of Russia and made plans for electrification... We have to cut rations, implement severe austerity in everything, live poorly, stingily, hard, but we will carry out the electrification of Russia. Otherwise it is impossible. They will crush, crush, there will be a hundred years of slavery, a foreign yoke, a shameful life, oppression. How do you think, Sasha Rybakov, will electrification go now?
R y b a k o v. Vladimir Ilyich, you see a thousand miles ahead, but what can I say?
L e n i n. With our people you can dream, you can dare!
A curtain.
Action two
Picture one
Boulevard at the monument to Gogol. Sitting on a bench with an old lady, next to him
baby carriage.
S t a r u sh k a. That's where my boy fell asleep. Sleep, sleep, darling, sleep, my angel! (Calm down, doze off.)
Rybakov runs in. Looks around and droops.
R y b a k o v. Gone! Here's Gogol for you! (He took out his watch.) Gogol remains Gogol, and I was fifteen minutes late. Her character is a disaster. (Quickly, old woman.) Comrade nanny!
Old lady (offended). Young man, why do you think I'm a nanny?
R y b a k o v. I'm sorry, I don't care.
S t a r u sh k a. You don't care, but I don't.
R y b a k o v. Well, I see - a cradle, a baby ... I wanted to ask you ...
S t a r u sh k a. Don't make noise, you see, he is sleeping.
R y b a k o v. I'm sorry, I won't. I wanted to ask you: before my arrival, was there a young lady walking here?
S t a r u sh k a. Go, go, I can't hear what you're muttering.
Rybakov (takes the old woman by the hand). I beg you to give me an answer.
S t a r u sh k a. Where are you taking me? I will raise a cry.
Rybakov (draws the old woman away from the carriage). It's useless to scream. I am a detective. I ask you: have you seen the young lady here at the monument just now?
S t a r u sh k a. A young person? Yes, yes ... A girl was sitting next to me and admiring my grandson.
R y b a k o v. For Christ's sake, what is she? She must be very pleasant, simply beautiful ... Were there black gloves?
S t a r u sh k a. They were, I swear to you! Black.
R y b a k o v. How long has she been gone?
S t a r u sh k a. Now, this minute.
R y b a k o v. In which direction?
S t a r u sh k a. In that direction.
R y b a k o v. If I find her, I will remember you all my life. Thank you (Runs away.)
OLD OLD (trying to wake up). Detective! And in a crazy state. This is how, due to our weakness, with fear, you will destroy someone else's soul. What a terrible person! He flew like a kite. (She caught her breath, mentally said a prayer, crossed herself, sat down in her place. She looks in the direction where Rybakov had fled.) He caught up ... leads here ... Away from sin ... Save, Lord, and have mercy! (Exits with the carriage.)
Masha and Rybakov appear. They go apart.
R y b a k o v. It's my fault, but at least pay attention to me, I'm falling down. I scared an old woman to death here.
Masha. Enough, Rybakov, I know all your manners. This style of Cyclops can get boring. (Sits down.)
R y b a k o v. Cyclops... Let me be Cyclops. And who are you?
Masha. I don't know who you think I am. I thought about it a lot. From the day we heard about you in our house, I lost my balance in life, lost my strength. It doesn't matter whether you understand or not, but I must tell you that my hope is replaced by despair, I was waiting for your help, I didn’t close my eyes that night, but you don’t care! Great thing - a date with a young lady! Yes, and the young lady seems to have become limp: she herself calls for a date. During these fifteen minutes, I hated this monument. It was to me that they put him in mockery.
R y b a k o v. Masha, you don't let me say a word.
Masha. I'm telling you, but you don't understand anything.
R y b a k o v. If I am an oak, then there is nothing to interpret with me.
Masha. How could you not come on a day like this?!
R y b a k o v. How could I not come when I did!
Masha. Realize that this is not just a date. There, at our house, father, and you must come to him, introduce yourself, talk to him. You don't know what that means. He scary man, he can kick you out - and then the end.
R y b a k o v. And I won't leave.
Masha. So how?
R y b a k o v. I won't leave, that's all.
Masha. Here's one for you! All horrors really crumble with you. Everything is easy and joyful for you. Nothing is pulling you back. I haven't told you everything about my father. He sells matches to spite everyone! Engineer Zabelin walks around Moscow and sells matches!
R y b a k o v. Freak!
Masha. And he is dear to me, he is my father, I love him. And if you knew him like I did, you would love him too.
R y b a k o v. What's the matter? Let's love him together and bring him to the Christian faith.
Masha. The trouble is that it is terribly difficult to influence him. What am I saying - influence?! He can ridicule you evilly, insultingly, and in general I don’t know what will happen. I thought, since you did not come, it means fate ...
R y b a k o v. I'm on my third day on my feet. I was looking for a watchmaker.
Masha. So. Found the reason! Better to come up with something else. You had one concern - fix the clock!
R y b a k o v. That's right, one.
Masha. Thank you.
R y b a k o v. You, Masha, will be angry with me. I rushed here through wild obstacles. I sit down in a tram - a stop. Why? There is no current. I jump on the truck - they go to the boilers. I sit down on a cab, I pass a quarter with a whistle. What's happened? A driver without a number. Not registered with Tramot.
Masha. What are you saying? "Tramot", "cabin" ...
R y b a k o v. Tramot is a transport department, a span is transport. Understand, Masha, that I was instructed to find a watchmaker in order to set the Kremlin chimes in motion ...
Masha. Rybakov, you are an eccentric. Do you imagine that all people should know about it. I don't know anything!
R y b a k o v. You don't know anything, but you're offended. Why be offended here?
Masha. Well, did you find the master?
R y b a k o v. Found. But if you knew what it cost me. You can’t tell anyone what clock needs repair - everyone is frightened ... One ancient, unheard-of antiquity in a cap sat on the floor, covered his head with his hands and said: “Shoot, but I won’t go!” From Maryina Roshcha to Presnya, I probed old Moscow and finally found such a watchmaker that I myself am bewildered. He will be in the Kremlin today, but I'm afraid, I'm worried...
Masha. Why?
R y b a k o v. I hid from him which clock needed repair. He thinks, this is this, and this is in ... and there is a tower, hundred-pound weights ... chains ... If you only knew, Masha, what an impression I am under! By chance at night, when Moscow was sleeping, I met Ilyich. I can't figure out where this man's thoughts come from. I walk some kind of amazing to myself, as if I flew somewhere far ahead, where no one has been before. And I'm embarrassed. It's not me at all, but Lenin. Now I know for the rest of my life that there are people for whom nothing is far away, nothing is scary, nothing is surprising.
Masha. Sasha! Honey... it's very easy with you. Why, I don’t know, but all my drama finally blurred. What do you remember, today is Saturday? We are waiting for you. Will you come?
R y b a k o v. Necessarily.
Masha. And if your father attacks you, will you find him?
R y b a k o v. I'll find myself!
Masha. I pounced, you were not immediately found.
R y b a k o v. With you... with you I'm manual.
Masha. Is not it?
R y b a k o v. I love you. I write letters to you at night, and in the morning I tear them apart!
Masha. And you don't tear them. You would send them to the address.
R y b a k o v. Words are not enough. I think about love, I feel that I truly love you ... You see, truly, without a single extraneous thought ... But I can’t express it all in real words! Words are not enough...
Masha. That's what you expressed. I believe - and enough. Today, for some reason, I especially believe in you. But it's time to go home.
R y b a k o v. Masha, let me take you?
Masha. I would be glad, but I'm afraid that our father will meet us.
R y b a k o v. What kind of father is this? Is it really such an impregnable stronghold?
Masha. Wait, you will see. Well, come what may! I don't want to think. Take my hand.
R y b a k o v. Mercy.
MASHA (laughs). Rybakov, don't. Be who you are, without "merci".
R y b a k o v. Fine. With pleasure. I will always be the way I am. Without "merci".
Picture two
In the Zabelins' house. The office of Anton Ivanovich, where no one has been working for a long time. Evening. Zabelina and her guests are sitting in the office: the lady and her husband are an optimist, a lady and a fright a n n a i
and her husband - with k e p t i k.
Zabelina (continuing the conversation). Anton Ivanovich is becoming more and more impossible. The other day I saw him scolding some monk, and yesterday, I'm ashamed to say, he got into a fight with a gentleman he knew.
Skeptical. Did you get into a fight at home or in public?
Z a b e l i n a. At the Maly Theater at seven o'clock in the evening.
S k e p t and k. And who wins?
Z a b e l i n a. Anton Ivanovich won, of course. But if you think about the basis on which the duel came out. This gentleman was subordinate to Anton Ivanovich, and now, going to the theater, he allowed himself an indecent trick. He patted Anton Ivanovich on the shoulder and adopted a patronizing tone towards him.
D a m a and frightened. And this gentleman is not a Bolshevik?
Z a b e l i n a. Not a Bolshevik, but modern-minded.
D a m a and frightened. Anton Ivanovich runs the risk of being imprisoned in the Cheka.
C ep t and k. And who hasn't been sitting now? Everyone was sitting!
D a m a and frightened. But you didn't sit?
C ep t and k. I didn’t sit, so I will.
D a m a and frightened. Shut up, for God's sake! At least stop scaring me.
Z a b e l i n a. And I, looking at Anton Ivanovich, hold a bundle of linen. I'm starting to believe that he will be jailed.
About p t and m and s t. Anton Ivanovich expresses his moods emotionally, but they don’t put you in jail for emotion.
D a m a and frightened. But he beat the Bolshevik-minded gentleman. This is terror!
About p t and m and t. In any mode, they hit in the face, if necessary.
C e p t i k. They will imprison Anton anyway. Here you will see.
D a m a and frightened. This man can make you cry...
With a skeptic. Half of Moscow says: Zabelin went to sell matches! Do you think the Bolsheviks are idiots, they don't understand anything?
D a ma s s s o n e m. And our Volodya became a futurist. Now he spends whole days reading some terrible "Cloud in Pants".
Z a b e l i n a. What-oh? Cloud and... pants? Can such verses exist?
D a m a s s s i a n e m. They call it a poem. Volodka assures everyone that this is the greatest work. I can't tell you how indecent it is! There, the author in the first person offers the woman impossible things.
About p t and m and s. And Pushkin does not offer? Also offered.
Damask svyazanem. Pushkin offered in the framework of secular decency, and Mayakovsky - tactlessly.
About p t and m and s. All of them are smeared with one world. Let Volodya be a futurist. Still bread!
Z a b e l i n a. Do the Bolsheviks really give rations for poetry?
D a m a s s o n e m. I myself did not believe it, but, true, they give it.
C ep t and k. They will imprison Anton anyway, you'll see.
Z a b e l i n a. Dmitry Dmitrievich, even as a relative, croaking is bad and indecent.
D a m a and frightened. He brings me to tears. Morally, he is worse than the Inquisitor. He promises everyone prisons and executions.
Masha enters.
Zabelina (Masha). Has it worked so far?
Masha. Worked.
Z a b e l i n a. Go ahead and eat.
Masha. Don't want.
Z a b e l i n a. You don't look good. We need to refresh ourselves.
Masha. No need. I'll refresh myself later. (Greetings to guests.)
O p t and m and s. Where do you work, Masha?
Masha. In Pomgol.
About p t and m and s. And what is this - Pomgol?
Masha. We help the hungry.
O p t and m and s. Is it really so sad for us, as they say?
Masha. Very sad. Hunger develops like a global flood!
Scepter. Not world-wide, but all-Russian. Abroad, cattle are fed with white rolls, but here hunger cuts the population by half. Prove that I'm exaggerating.
Z abelin enters.
Z a b e l i n a. Forgive me, Anton Ivanovich, that we are located in your office. It's warmer here.
Z a b e l and n. I see. (Greetings.) There was an office, but there was a crypt. Well, what were they talking about?
About p t and m and s. What are they talking about now? Hunger, mortality, arrests... Native themes.
Z a b e l and n. The savages seized a civilized ship, killed all the white people, threw the crew overboard, gobbled up all the supplies ... Well, sir, what's next? The ship must be able to manage, but they do not know how. Socialism was promised, but no one knows from what end to start it. (To a skeptic.) Do you know, Dmitri Dmitrievich?
C e p t and k. I don’t know and I don’t want to know!
Z a b e l and n. I flew to the moon in my youth ... theoretically, of course, in my dreams. But the daughter for the Bolsheviks is ready for fire and water. All her sympathies are not on our side. We are a counter-revolution for her, bourbons...
Swiftly enters to y and r to a.
K u h a r k a. The sailor has come... Zabelins asks.
D a m a and frightened. Sailor? Why sailor?
SCEPTER: Do you know why the sailors come?
Z a b e l i n a. Oh, don't be scared, please! It's probably not a sailor.
K u h a r k a. I'm not blind... sailor as is... angry...
Skeptical. I don't have any documents with me. Shall my wife and I leave through the back door?
D a m a and frightened. I'm afraid to leave. The sailors might catch us and suspect us of running away.
Z a b e l i n a. Don't be scared, please... He's not a sailor, in our sense. (to Masha) What are you? Go meet!
Masha leaves. Silent confusion.
About p t and m and s. Anton Ivanovich, what is this, my dear?
Z a b e l and n. In all likelihood, it was our daughter's admirer. Hero of Aurora.
Skeptical. But why do you allow the heroes of the Aurora to become admirers of your daughter?
Z a b e l and n. And why did you, my dear cousin, want to run away from my house this minute?
S k e p t i k. Run away?
Z a b e l and n. Yes, get away. Until recently, you would not have allowed such a stupid idea that you need to run away from the Zabelins' house. We need to cry, and you are being ironic!
Masha and Rybakov enter.
Masha. Gentlemen... (stammered.)
Z a b e l and n. What did you shut up? Are you afraid that in front of your guest you called us gentlemen? Wait, I'll teach you how to speak. You say "comrades"... and your guest won't be shocked.
Masha (to Rybakov). I told you... dad always teases me. (To others.) Here is my friend, Alexander Mikhailovich Rybakov ... He fought ... he saw a lot of interesting things ...
SCEPTICK (greeting Rybakov). Immensely happy!
Lady and frightened (looking at Rybakov). I don't understand, are you a sailor or a civilian?
R y b a k o v. He was a sailor, but fought on the mainland. Now demobilized,
D a m a and frightened. Why are you wearing a sailor suit? We thought that we were being searched, and it was you who came to visit.
R y b a k o v. Why search? I never think that I'm being searched.
C e p t and k. This is understandable. You have conquered the mainland.
R y b a k o v. There is still a long way to go before complete conquest.
Z a b e l and n. And when will the complete conquest come?
R y b a k o v. Obviously under socialism.
Z a b e l and n. At what year?
R y b a k o v. I'm sorry, I can't tell you that.
Z a b e l and n. Can't reveal your secret?
R y b a k o v. I just do not know.
Z a b e l and n. Yeah.
Z a b e l i n a. Sit down, Alexander Mikhailovich... Here's an ashtray, would you like to see our family album? Look!
D a m a and frightened. Why are you giving a family album? Boring people there... (To Rybakov.) Look, these are views of Italy... Rome, the Colosseum, Vesuvius...
Z a b e l and n. Have you been, sir, in the Italian seas?
R y b a k o v. No, except for the Baltic, I did not see anything.
Z a b e l and n. Would you like to be a member of the Communist Party, sir?
R y b a k o v. I am. And what?
Z a b e l and n. It is interesting to know what a communist might think when he finds himself among us?
R y b a k o v. What is there to think? There is nothing to think about.
Z a b e l and n. Certainly. What do you think? We are bourgeois and scoundrels for you. And these bourgeois have worked all their lives like convicts. Capitalism for our work gave us prosperity and comfort, the remnant of which you can see in my office. And communism can offer me a pood of dog oatmeal. Good!.. I am ready to receive the food of the yard dogs, but they refuse me even!.. The new society does not need me, because I know how to build power plants, and they are now closed, my dear! I am unemployed. We don't care about electricity now. Bull steam has replaced electrical energy. And I, like Prometheus, distribute fire to people. From morning to night I stand at Iverskaya and sell matches.
C ep t and k. And you, like Prometheus, will be imprisoned for this.
Zabelin (to Rybakov). What do you say, sir?
R y b a k o v. I also don't understand why you haven't been jailed yet.
C ep t and k (enthusiastically). Have you heard? Listen.
Z a b e l and n. Go to the phone and report.
R y b a k o v. They don't need my instructions. But that's not the point. You are irritated against us ... but in vain! If I were you, I would have worked for a long time. Between ourselves, you are not Prometheus, but simply a saboteur!
Z a b e l and n. What's it like? The person who visited my house for the first time is surprised that they didn’t put me in jail, calls me the devil knows how and doesn’t blow in my mustache. He is pleased with himself. What kind of people enter our homes?
About p t and m and s. Our Volodka speaks in exactly the same way. Every day he calls me an uncut bourgeois. I tolerate.
Z a b e l and n. Volodya is your son. And who is this? (To Rybakov.) Do you have the slightest idea of ​​courtesy?
R y b a k o v. Amazing thing! You did not speak very politely about the Soviet system, but I did not spare my life for it. I didn't scream, I didn't lose my temper. I just said you were a saboteur.
Z a b e l and n. I told you the truth, sir!
R y b a k o v. Nonsense, not the truth! I told you the truth, not you.
Z a b e l and n. Wait! Is it true that I am unemployed?
R y b a k o v. Not true!
Z a b e l and n. That I'm thrown away by you like an old shoe, isn't it true?
R y b a k o v. Not true!
Z a b e l and n. Then that's what ... then, sir, go away from here! I didn't know you and I don't want to know.
R y b a k o v. And I won't leave.
Z a b e l and n. Ah, that's what... I forgot that you can requisition my apartment!
R y b a k o v. I didn't come to requisition...
Z a b e l and n. Stay! I'll leave!
R y b a k o v. And I won't let you. It's funny to me that you're mad. I think you are a wild man!
Z a b e l and n. Savage?
R y b a k o v. Savage.
Z a b e l and n. And you came to enlighten me?
R y b a k o v. What did you think? Certainly!
ZABELIN (laughs). The trouble is... Lord, he conquered me with his naive arrogance! No, what a goose! .. He wants to enlighten. I hear you, fellow missionary! Enlighten!
Included to y x a r k a.
K u h a r k a. The chairman of the house committee came.
Z a b e l and n. One?
K u h a r k a. No, not alone.
Z a b e l and n. Not alone?
K u h a r k a. Some military man is with him ... angry!
The chairman of the house committee often knocked on the open door. His voice:
"Can't you come in?"
Z a b e l and n. Can, can...
The chairman of the house of the committee enters, followed by the military
the form of those times.
P r e d e n t e l d o m o m a. Citizen Zabelin, they came personally for you!
Z a b e l and n. I've been waiting for a long time.
Military. If it's easy, hurry up!
Z a b e l and n. Long time ready.
Military. Please.
Z a b e l and n. Not more than one minute ... (Makes a general bow.) Your wife called you inopportunely ... Forgive me ... (To his wife.) Farewell!
ZABELINA (gives her husband a bundle). May God rise...
Z a b e l and n. Thank you. Well I went...
Military. The car is in the yard.
Z a b e l and n. Understand.
Z a b e l i n a. Anthony, you can't!
C h a i r i n g d o m k o m , military and Z abelin
leave.
Anton! I won't let him in!.. Take us too! Lead me! (Suddenly screams.) And the warrant? Bring back the chairman! Chairman!
The chairman of the house of the committee returns:
Did they give you a warrant?
P r e d e n t e l d o m o m a. Do not doubt. Everything is clean and correct ... A mosquito will not undermine your nose! (Exits.)
Z a b e l i n a. Well, Mashenka, we are orphans...
Masha (to Rybakov). Did you know that father would be arrested?
R y b a k o v. Didn't know anything. I have the impression that this is not an arrest.
A curtain.
Act Three
Picture one
Lenin's office in the Kremlin. L e n i n, D z e r zh i n s k i y. Lenin some
time works at the table, then calls. The secretary enters.
LENIN (to the secretary). Ask engineer Zabelin to come to me. And look for our expert engineer Glagolev... he's right here at the Council of People's Commissars.
The secretary leaves, Zabelin enters.
Engineer Zabelin?
Z a b e l and n. Yes.
L e n i n. Anton Ivanovich!
Z a b e l and n. Yes.
L e n i n. Hello. Please, sit down! Sit down!
Zabelin sits down. Silence.
So what, sabotage or work?
Z a b e l and n. I did not imagine that my personal problems could be of interest to anyone.
L e n i n. Imagine being interested. So we wanted to consult with you on one extremely large issue.
Z a b e l and n. I don't know if my advice can matter?
L e n i n. Who do you want to question: us or yourself?
Z a b e l and n. For some time now, they stopped asking me for advice.
L e n i n. So, people were occupied with other interests. What do you think?
Z a b e l and n. Yes. This is true. People had other interests.
L e n i n. Now I need your advice. What surprises you?
Z a b e l and n. I'm somewhat, so to speak... puzzled.
D z e r zh i n s k i y. The knot is bothering you. Put it somewhere.
L e n i n. Today is Saturday, bath time. Are you about to take a bath?
Z a b e l and n. Yes, of course... I was going to go to the bathhouse.
L e n i n. You still have time. We won't keep you long.
The engineer GLAGOLEV enters.
H a g o l e v. Hello.
LENIN (to Glagolev). Georgy Ivanovich, are you personally not acquainted with engineer Zabelin?
H a g o l e v. So far, we haven't had a chance to meet.
LENIN (Zabelin). Meet Georgy Ivanovich Glagolev - our expert.
Z a b e l and n. Yes. So far, we have not met him.
H a g o l e v. Engineer Zabelin in the know?
L e n i n. No, not at all. In my opinion, engineer Zabelin has no idea why we disturbed him. Well, let's not waste time. This is your area, dear comrade, please report.
H a g o l e v. It is difficult to report in this case, because people like engineer Zabelin do not need agitation on the part of Russia's energy development... (To Zabelin.) Is it?
Z a b e l and n. Come on!
H a g o l e v. But, however, you should know that we Bolshevik revolutionaries have always been concerned about the fundamental technical reorganization of the entire economy of Russia.
Z a b e l and n. But you... sorry to interrupt you... you are an engineer... and an old engineer, aren't you?
LENIN (smiling slyly). And what?.. You want to say that an old engineer cannot be a revolutionary? See, you can. (to Glagolev) Please continue.
H a g o l e v. As an engineer and as a revolutionary at the same time, I am ready with all my energy to put into practice the idea of ​​electrifying Russia.
L e n i n. And not in the distant future, but now... This is how the Central Committee of our Party puts the question.
Z a b e l and n. Well, sir... So what?
L e n i n. And let me turn this question to you.
Z a b e l and n. To me? Why to me?
L e n i n. But because you, as a specialist in the case, can help us. But the experts of the case, alas, are configured differently. Please continue.
H a g o l e v. There is an old version that Russia has no future for the development of electrification according to its natural resources. No further than yesterday, as now with you, we talked with one of the greatest scientists ... I will not name him. And what does he claim? "The relief of the country is flat... The flow of rivers is slow... In winter the rivers freeze..." We don't have Niagara Falls like in America. This means that we cannot build a single decent hydroelectric power station.
Z a b e l and n. Only an ignoramus could say so.
L e n i n. No, sorry, he's a respected scientist... A shareholder in an electric company.
Z a b e l and n. Or a scammer.
D z e r zh i n s k i y. This is another matter.
L e n i n. Why is it a scammer? You prove.
Z a b e l and n. May I ask for a map of Russia?
L e n i n. Yes, sure.
Glagolev lays out a map on the table.
Z a b e l and n. I undertake to point out to you a dozen places where we can now, under natural conditions, build power plants on white coal... So and so... but isn't it possible here?
L e n i n. What is this?
Z a b e l and n. Dnieper rapids.
L e n i n. Where can you build here?
Z a b e l and n. I believe that somewhere in the lower reaches, but not by the sea, of course.
L e n i n. But it would be nice to build a huge electric castle here, by the sea... Know our people!
Z a b e l and n. Take these peaty regions... Angara in the east... Elbrus in the Caucasus... What if we build a dam on the Volga?
L e n i n. Where on the Volga? It is very interesting. I'm a wolf.
Z a b e l and n. Yes, at the Zhiguli... I speak from memory, but according to my old calculations, the energy of the Volga will replace half of the Donbass coal.
L e n i n. Can you write us a general note on this topic?
Z a b e l and n. I find it difficult. I have not dealt with such issues for a long time.
L e n i n. What were you doing?
Z a b e l and n. Nothing.
D z e r zh i n s k i y. You are not telling the truth. Engineer Zabelin sells matches.
L e n i n. How - with matches?
D z e r zh i n s k i y. An engineer stands on the street and trades with his hands.
L e n i n. Do you wholesale or retail? By the box?.. Listen, this is a misfortune! It's a shame and shame, my friend! In our time, they trade in matches ... You should be shot for such things ... As you wish!
Z a b e l and n. Been ready for a long time.
L e n i n. What are you prepared for? To the adoption of a martyr's crown? .. Who forces you to trade in matches?
Z a b e l and n. I have nowhere to put my hands.
L e n i n. How is it - nowhere to put your hands? What are you telling me?
Z a b e l and n. Nobody called me.
L e n i n. Why should we call you? Did you sit before us and wait to be called? However, if you are not inspired by the idea of ​​electrifying Russia, then you can trade in matches. You can.
Z a b e l and n. I don't know... Can I...
Lenin walked away angrily and did not answer.
D z e r zh i n s k i y. Lagging behind life, right?
Z a b e l and n. I won't be a Bolshevik.
D z e r zh i n s k i y. And we do not invite you to the party.
Z a b e l and n. It is supposed to build socialism in Russia, but I don't believe in socialism.
L e n i n. And I believe. Which one of us is right? You think you are, and I think I am. Who will judge us? Well, let's ask Dzerzhinsky. He will most likely say that I am right and you are wrong. Is that enough for you?
Z a b e l and n. I understand. My words to you are child's play.
L e n i n. Are you a Menshevik-Sidek? Eser? Have you read Marx's Capital, studied the Communist Manifesto?
Z a b e l and n. Yes, of course, I'm not good at it.
L e n i n. How can you believe or not believe in socialism if you are not well versed in it?
H a g o l e v. Do you know Comrade Krzhizhanovsky?
Z a b e l and n. Yes I know.
H a g o l e v. And have you heard anything about his work in the field of our plans for electrification?
Z a b e l and n. I heard... it came...
L e n i n. He told me that you have vast experience as an electrician, that you know how to solve brilliant projects, and that you trade in matches. What a wild thing!
Z a b e l and n. I'll drop it. I won't.
D z e r zh i n s k i y. God bless!
L e n i n. What did you say, Felix?
D z e r zh i n s k i y. I said thank God.
Z a b e l and n. Apparently, I'm invited to take on the case?
D z e r zh i n s k i y. And the sooner you get down to business, the better.
Z a b e l and n. But you don't know me very well.
L e n i n. We know a little.
Z a b e l and n. Nobody from the Communist Party can recommend me.
L e n i n. Imagine maybe.
Z a b e l and n. I do not know who?
D z e r zh i n s k i y. I.
Z a b e l and n. How do you know me?
D z e r zh i n s k i y. On duty.
Z a b e l and n. Oh yes... I forgot.
D z e r zh i n s k i y. And who does not know the engineer Zabelin? And since I recommend you to the government, let me offer you some advice. Now you are confused...
Z a b e l and n. Completely beaten.
D z e r zh i n s k i y. Excited. All this is understandable. You need to collect your thoughts. Go home, think about what happened, and then give an answer.
L e n i n. Will you answer tomorrow?
Z a b e l and n. Yes.
L e n i n. Goodbye.
Zabelin bows and goes to the door.
D z e r zh i n s k i y. Forgot the knot.
Z a b e l and n. Damn, not a knot!
L e n i n. Bath, bath... still have time.
Z a b e l and n. No, I didn't go to the bath. Everyone decided that they were taking me to the Cheka ... and so my wife slipped a damn bundle.
L e n i n. Ah, that's how! This is another matter. Wait! (Calls the secretary.) We have a harsh time. Now you have grief, tears at home.
The secretary enters.
(To the secretary.) Send engineer Zabelin home in a car ... Send immediately.
Zabelin and secretary leave.
Hundreds, and thousands, and millions are still sitting idle with us. What a saboteur he is. Just went wild from idleness and went crazy. What do you think, Georgy Ivanovich, will engineer Zabelin go to work with us?
H a g o l e v. I think it will, Vladimir Ilyich.
L e n i n. It will do, but it will be difficult for him to get used to it, very difficult.
H a g o l e v. You don't need me anymore, Vladimir Ilyich?
L e n i n. No, Georgy Ivanovich, thank you.
H r a g o l e v goes away. The secretary enters.
I listen to you.
Secretary. The watchmaker has come... he was sent by Rybakov on your instructions.
L e n i n. Enter it here.
Secretary. This minute. (Exits.)
L e n i n. The chimes won't let me sleep... They're silent! You should definitely let them go!
H a s o v shch and k enters.
Hello comrade! Will you be a watchmaker?
H and with about in shch and to. Handicraft-loner.
L e n i n. Excuse me, I do not understand why - a loner?
H and with about in shch and k. Now such masters, which I have the honor to be, are called "a lone handicraftsman without a motor."
L e n i n. How is it - a loner without a motor?
D z e r zh i n s k i y. Obviously, the watchmaker was offended? Tell me who hurt you?
CHASOVSHCHIK: I do not take this opportunity to personally complain to Comrade Lenin. I never complain. I was invited to work.
DZERZHINSKII (intimately, cheerfully, nodding to the watchmaker). And you complain, complain frankly.
L e n i n. And now I'll ask for hot tea. (To the door.) Please tell us to give us tea. (To the watchmaker.) Is it difficult to live? Hunger, devastation, chaos? Tired? Starving?
H a s o v shch and k. Like everyone else.
LENIN (pointing to Dzerzhinsky). And our friend says that you have been offended. Is he wrong?
Chasovshchkin: I could not expect such questions. I was happy that they remembered me. After all, once, in the old days, I repaired watches for Count Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy.
L e n i n. Wow... this is not a joke!
D z e r zh i n s k i y. Tolstoy would not go to a bad master.
L e n i n. What was Tolstoy like?
H and with about in shch and to. In boots... Very interesting person. Are his portraits worth anything?
L e n i n. What did he talk to you about?
C h a s o v shch i k. Now I hardly remember what he was talking about. He liked to ask questions. He knew a lot about watches.
D z e r zh i n s k i y. And paid, of course, well?
H a s o v shch and k. No. I gave him a big discount, as Count Tolstoy.
L e n i n. And did he notice it?
H a s o v shch and k. In my opinion, I did not notice.
L e n i n. Why are you offended? We, too, suffer from this weakness of questioning.
H a s o v shch i k. I don't know how to tell you. Of course, I understand that "the connection of times has fallen apart," as Prince Hamlet says.
L e n i n. "To be or not to be?"
H and with about in shch and to. Precisely! A thousand times, exactly. They don't let me work!
D z e r zh i n s k i y. We have cooperative workshops... But things are probably not well organized there.
Chasovshchkin: I was ordered to work there, I went and took on a job that no one could do. I came across a striking example of an English clock. This is the real Norton. They are at least three hundred years old. They were made by a master with his own hands ... even before the invention of railways. I worked for a month and did. For this, they arranged a general meeting for me and said that I was eating bread for nothing. And in response I had the imprudence to bring them Aesop's fable.
L e n i n. Aesop? What did you tell them from Aesop?
Watcher: I told them about that fox who reproached the lioness for the fact that the unfortunate lioness gives birth to one cub. And the lioness answered her: "But I give birth to a lion." Aesop says it's not about quantity, it's about quality.
L e n i n. And what did they say to you?
Chasovshchik. The chairman of the meeting said that Aesop was a counter-revolutionary and an agent of the Entente, and I was Aesop's agent. And they kicked me out.
Lenin, leaning over the table, begins to laugh. Dzerzhinsky laughs,
the watchmaker himself laughs.
L e n i n. And you say that you were not offended. Of course they offended. Let us forgive them that they do not know Aesop's fables. In addition, they are now not up to unique hours. All this, as Tolstoy said, is formed. And I have an order for you.
H and with about in shch and to. This minute. I'm ready. (He takes and opens his bag, hurriedly puts on a magnifying glass.)
L e n i n. You see, your tools won't work here.
H a s o v shch and k. My instruments?
L e n i n. You will need keys of a different size...
D z e r zh i n s k i y. There, in my opinion, there are hundreds of pounds in the mechanism.
H a s o v shch and k. I am a watchmaker.
L e n i n. So you will have to repair the Kremlin chimes.
H a s o v shch and k. The Kremlin clock on the Spasskaya Tower?!
L e n i n. Yes, my friend, the Kremlin clock on the Spasskaya Tower. Will you take it?
Chasovshchik: People made them, people broke them, people must make them walk.
L e n i n. But when people made them, there was no song "Internationale". Now we need to teach the chimes to play the "Internationale". Teach?
H and with about in shch and to. Let's try to force.
L e n i n. Tomorrow, start work.
H a s o v s h i k. Can't I go there now? I don't want to wait any longer.
D z e r zh i n s k i y. And if they interfere with you, if there are difficulties, call this number.
H and with about in shch and to. Whom to ask?
D z e r zh i n s k i y. Dzerzhinsky.
H a s o v shch and k. And he will help me himself?
L e n i n. Yes, we will ask him about it. And agree on the conditions with our commandant.
H a s o v shch and k. What are the conditions? I am the first watchmaker in the world who will teach the Kremlin chimes to play "The Internationale"!
L e n i n. But the ration won't hurt you, will it?
H a s o v shch and k. Oh, yes, rations, of course, will not hurt me. Thank you for this order, for your trust. Excuse me, I'm upset. I will go to the tower. (Exits.)
L e n i n. Another thing has been moved. I believe that the chimes will play. But still, what do you think, Felix Edmundovich, will Zabelin come to work with us?
D z e r zh i n s k i y. I think it will.
L e n i n. I would rather raise such bears, hundreds of them hid. Rather, more quickly.
Dz e rzh and n with k and y leaves. Lenin bent over the work for writing
table.
Picture two
In Zabelin's office the same evening. The same, except for Zabelin,
Masha and Rybakov.
Skeptical. And I'm telling you that we were obliged to check the warrant for the right of arrest.
Z a b e l i n a. Check do not check - the result is the same.
D a m a and frightened. Never, even on my deathbed, will I ever forget that nightmarish evening. If I had dreamed all this, I would have jumped up and started screaming. And then they came in reality, didn’t say a word and took away.
Skep tik. Now she will suffer from insomnia for a whole month. Even patented American pills will not help. Go home. You are shaking.
Z a b e l i n a. Wait, now Masha will return.
Included to y x a r k a.
K u h a r k a. Lidia Mikhailovna, the house was cordoned off in no way. From those windows I look - soldiers. Of these - again the soldiers.
About p t and m and s. Soldiers ...
D a m a and frightened. Put out the light.
O p t i m i s t (looks out the window). These are ordinary soldiers.
C ep t and k. Do you think extraordinary soldiers will be sent for you?
About p t and m and s. They stand and wait for something.
D a m a and frightened. I beg you, put out the light!
C ep t and k. But in the dark you will become even more frightened!
D a m a s s i a n e m. But I am not afraid of anything, in my opinion, it is also better to put out the light and light an oil lamp. Lidia Mikhailovna, do you have lotto?
Z a b e l i n a. Lotto? For what?
D a m a s s o n e m. In case they come and begin to check, and we play lotto!
About p t and m and s. Just do not lose heart. Lotto is so loto. Bring the loto.
D a m a and frightened. But put out the light!
Z abelina (to the cook). Praskovya, bring the jar with the wick. (Extinguishes the light.) Now I'll get the loto. (Exits.)
Dark. Silence.
D a m a s i a n e m. I think that we should play for money.
D a m a and frightened. How you can for money ... how you can, because it's excitement!
D a m a s s i a n e m. Well, to the nuts!
S ce p t and k. Where can we get nuts?
D a m a s s s i n e m. Zabelina will find them.
Zabelina enters. In the hands of a smoker and loto.
Disassemble the cards. Who will call the numbers? Lidia Mikhailovna, do you have any nuts?
Z a b e l i n a. Ah, my dear, I don’t care about nuts!
D a m a and frightened. Give me a bag. I will announce.
Z a b e l i n a. Now Masha should come. I think she will know something.
D a m a and frightened. Twenty-two... six... ninety-one.
Included to y x a r k a.
K u h a r k a. Now they are opposite. They must be angry... They are looking at our windows.
Z a b e l i n a. Praskovya, look out of the dining room windows... If they come, say that we have guests.
In with e. No need!
Z a b e l i n a. No, you better not say anything.
D a m a and frightened. Forty-four... twenty-six.
About p t and m and s t. And I have an apartment.
D a m a and frightened. Thirteen... sixty-one... eighty-one...
K u h a r k a. Didn't go away. (Goes to the window.) No... They're here on the corner.
C e p t i k. With guns?
K u h a r k a. With guns.
The skeptic blew out the oil lamp.
D a m a and frightened. Twelve, thirteen, fifteen... Someone's coming... I can't take it anymore! Someone is walking over here! Light up the world!
The light is on. Zabelin stands at the door.
Z a b e l i n a. Anton!
In with e. Anton Ivanovich ?!
Z a b e l i n a. You?!
Z a b e l and n. I.
Z a b e l i n a. Anton... Why are you standing there? Sit down, please, my dear Anton Ivanovich! Masha! Where is she? Oh, I forgot everything!.. Why are you standing there, Anton? Let me kiss you! My dear Anton Ivanovich... (Hugs. Crying.)
Z a b e l and n. Do not Cry.
Z a b e l i n a. Sorry. I thought that you were dead ... And my hands completely dropped. What a cloud has passed over us, Lord! It's... What happened? Error?
Zabelin (with its own meaning). I have to answer this question tomorrow.
ZABELINA (looks at him). You have a strange face. You are strangely agitated, Anton Ivanovich. Where have you been?
Z a b e l and n. I do not remember.
Z a b e l i n a. And excited and again your manner: "I don't remember." You don't remember anything, you didn't see anything.
Z a b e l and n. I saw the ground slip from under my feet. (To a skeptic.) Who spent a whole year exhausting my soul by thread? Well? Planted? They know Zabelin! It was supposed to be shot, but they did not, because Anton Zabelin was alone. What are you watching? Am I not like myself? What is it like to be like yourself?
Z a b e l i n a. Anton, because your allegories are not clear to anyone.
Z a b e l and n. Don't be afraid, he understands me perfectly.
Z a b e l i n a. You tell me where have you been?
S k e p t i k. Where did they take you?
O p t i m i s t. You were away for exactly three hours.
Z a b e l and n. Not three hours, but three years.
Z a b e l i n a. Again ... allegories, riddles!
Z a b e l and n. I was made a field marshal and ordered to conquer India.
Masha runs in.
Masha. Dad! (Clings to him.)
Z a b e l and n. Don't cry, too... And your heart is beating like that... Feel sorry for the absurd father? Do you love?
Masha. I love ... I ran headlong. They couldn't tell me anywhere... I stood at the front door and I'm afraid to step over the threshold... I thought... My folder!
C e p t i k. But where have you been?
Z a b e l and n. In the Kremlin.
S k e p t and k. Is that all?
Z a b e l and n. And that's all.
Z a b e l i n a. You tell me the details.
Z a b e l and n. There were no details.
D a m a s s i n e m. I understand Anton Ivanovich. He appeared in the house so romantically that I alone see everything. Anton Ivanovich... you are enigmatic... you are romantic... I bow before you, Anton Ivanovich. You don't need to ask him.
Z a b e l and n. Lidia Mikhailovna, I haven't eaten anything since morning. You look, we have guests, but the table is not set. From our stocks you can make an old Moscow table. Get out our student wine, which we bought for fifty dollars a bottle.
Z a b e l i n a. I'll do everything. Please follow me.
Skeptical. But why did he attack me, as if I were to blame for this incident?
O pt and m and s. If it ends with a glass of student wine, then how can you be indignant, my most respected friend?
Everyone except Zabelin and Masha leave.
Z a b e l and n. Masha, sit down... I won't let you go anywhere. (Picking up a book.) Anton Zabelin. "Electrical engineering". Masha, you were still very young when I wrote this work. You used to come here and say: "Dad, are you writing? Well, I'll sit here ..." You sit here, and then you climb on my backs, and you and I rush around the office. And now I have you big, smart girl, and my father is shy in front of you. What is that dress you have on? Dressed up for your fan?
Masha. I wear this dress to work every day. And she never seduced fans with outfits. You said nonsense.
Z a b e l and n. Silly old man! By the way, where is Romeo?
Masha. Which Romeo?
Z a b e l and n. Modern, Soviet. Where is the sailor?
Masha. Why would you?
Z a b e l and n. I would like to talk to him now.
Masha. Dad, if you knew what happened... what I did. You see, when you were arrested, I thought it was him, and I told him about it. Now it's over.
Z a b e l and n. You're a fool, you're a fool, you didn't marry Captain Aleisky... Now I would live in Paris.
Masha. I was told that Captain Aleisky plays the balalaika in Paris.
Z a b e l and n. It is better to play the balalaika in Paris than to sell matches in Moscow near Iverskaya.
Masha. Why didn't you go to Paris? You were called.
Z a b e l and n. Because I'm Russian.
Masha. And who am I?
Z a b e l and n. You women are chameleons. Elena the Beautiful lived quite comfortably among the Trojans, the barbarian fell in love with Salammbo, you are a sailor. And I can't live without a turnip! There, in Paris, they feed frogs ... (Suddenly.) Has life really passed? My daughter, Mashenka, look at me - has life passed?
Masha. My dear, tell me, what are you thinking about? Can not be so. Why is life gone?
Z a b e l and n. Everything I said here is useless. Did you understand? You see, I was with them in the Kremlin... Why are you silent? Do you know what happened right now? I considered myself learned man, builder, creator. All my life I have been poring over, going crazy, putting forward problems, and all this is going to hell!
Masha. Dad, tell me what happened?
Z a b e l and n. They killed your Zabelin, slew it ... I did not immediately, but only along the way, understood the full scope of their ideas.
Masha. Tell me calmly, I don't know anything, I can't understand you.
Z a b e l and n. Don't rush Masha. Until tomorrow, we will think everything over to the fullest clarity. I have to answer tomorrow...
Masha (deep joy). Are you offered a job?
Zabelin (in a whisper). They tell you, and they tell you seriously. Now I will not sell matches. He gave the word.
Masha. God bless!
Z a b e l and n. And you - thank God! To me, Masha, from you, only from you alone, I need to know a secret: am I fit, in modern times, or out of the accounts?
Masha. Are you... are you asking? Of course you do! I give you my word of honor... Would they invite you to the Kremlin?
Z a b e l and n. Again, not that. They know Zabelin, you are the father.
Masha. Do you remember yourself on what grounds we almost did not reach a complete break with you?
Z a b e l and n. Again, you don't understand my question. Put a sailor next to me and think: will I get along with him? I ask you seriously. I'm not in the mood for jokes right now. Is a sailor and I on the same wheel possible? A? Can you imagine such a combination?
Masha (suddenly). Can. I have no words. I don't know what I'd give for you to believe me.
Z a b e l and n. Masha, what about Russia... samovar, steam-boiled... Do they want Russia on the side? What!
Masha. So what are you thinking about? .. What are you looking around? What do you feel sorry for?.. Go... Sell matches. (Mockingly.) "Sulfur, pre-war... safe..."
Z a b e l and n. Don't you dare mock me!
Masha. Tell me, my dear, what are you thinking about?
Z a b e l and n. Shh... I'll tell you.
Masha. Listen, dad.
Z a b e l and n. I just saw a man of genius in the Kremlin.
A curtain.
act four
Picture one
Huge, full stage, ancient hall. In the corner by the door there is a broom and a pile of rubbish, Somewhere against the wall is a market table, a black armchair and a simple stool. There is a phone on the table. Zabelin walks around the room, whistling. Moved the stool to the window, sat for a second under the window. He jumped up, took a broom and removed a cobweb from a corner. Dropped the broom. Again he began to walk around the room and whistle. Masha enters. She is here for the first time. He looks around in surprise.
Z a b e l and n. Watchman. Watchman, damned soul! Dear citizen watchman! .. He was, and the trace caught a cold. I'll take it and call ... who? At least to Dzerzhinsky himself ... in the Cheka. Great... And what am I going to tell him? That the watchman doesn't recognize me? Silly! Or that I'm hungry for the simplest working calculations with a slide rule? Also stupid... No, even I could not imagine such a situation. (Noticing Masha.) Ah! Came? Praise, applaud me. I was appointed the head of an all-Russian institution, they gave me a mansion, and the watchman ran away, does not want to sweep out the garbage, because no one pays him, and he leaves to sell junk.
Masha. Where does this strange chair come from?
Z a b e l and n. Now removed from the attic. Pure gothic style. Old rubbish. In the barn there is a carriage with a coat of arms. In this house, I myself feel like an exhibit. Rats run around here, fat and impudent, like speculators near Iverskaya. They despise me.
Masha. Just don't get angry.
Z a b e l and n. I'm not an angel or a simpleton who accepts existence as the greatest favor. Go home, you won't say anything new.
Masha. Okay, I'll leave, and what are you going to do?
Z a b e l and n. What can be done under these conditions? Play "King Lear", a frenzy scene. Amazing scene.
Masha. I really don't like you.
Z a b e l and n. But I love you.
Masha. How evil you are!
Z a b e l and n. How kind you are.
Masha. I know you, in this state you are able to quit, leave, write a terrible statement. Difficulties must be overcome.
Z a b e l and n. What an aphorism! Never heard.
MASHA (suddenly in the tone of his father). I am ashamed of you.
Z a b e l and n. How?
Masha. Bitter, shameful, disgusting! You gave your word...
Z a b e l and n. Well, yes ... I gave my word ...
Masha. And wait, wait, I know what to say too. You were glad that you agreed, you came to life before our eyes, your energy returned to you.
Z a b e l and n. You talk to me about what happened yesterday, and I talk about what is happening today ...
Masha is trying to say something.
Don't you dare interrupt me! How can you not understand that I am bursting with anger because I cannot immediately, as Lenin suggested to me, immediately, literally, start work. Yes, I gave my word and I'm ready to keep it... I want to, you know? I dream to do it. But I can do it through people, that is, in live communication with living beings, but they are not around me ... Ay! Do you hear? Echo... and nothing else.
Rybakov appears at the door, holding a typewriter in his hands.
Z a b e l and n. Look, it's him! Of course, it's him!.. Excuse me, have you agreed? Why are you silent? Agreed? So answer. You at least say hello, sir. To what do I owe the joy of seeing you again?
R y b a k o v. I was sent here to work with you.
Z a b e l and n. Are you sent here to work? Please, sit down, here is my chair, give orders.
R y b a k o v. In vain, honestly, you have such irony. I was sent to help you.
Z a b e l and n. What item did you bring? Typewriter?
R y b a k o v. On the way, in one place, I took ... that is, I borrowed ...
Z a b e l and n. Maybe he took it?
R y b a k o v. Not without it...
Z a b e l and n. Put it somewhere.
R y b a k o v. Now let's think of something. This is for now. You yourself understand.
Z a b e l and n. Not an old car... Remington. Excuse me, but who will work on it?
R y b a k o v. I borrowed it along with the typist. Will come now.
Z a b e l and n. Masha, look. It already looks like some kind of office ... (Thinking.) No, nothing looks like it.
Masha. I think it's time to leave.
R y b a k o v. It's trash! (To Zabelin.) Let me take out the trash. Ugly.
Z a b e l and n. Holy innocence! Who are you thinking of outsmarting?
R y b a k o v. Why - outwit? You can't open the room.
Zabelin (strictly). Young man, why do you make faces in front of me that you do not see each other, and hide from me like thieves?
Masha. Not true. I told you. You know... I'm not hiding. And I didn’t think and I don’t want anything at all. Farewell.
R y b a k o v. Can I tell you about this?
Z a b e l and n. As much as you want.
R y b a k o v. You can't chop a tree out of your own way. I am not offended that Maria Antonovna said that I, under the guise of love for her, was tracking you down. What was there to track down?
Z a b e l and n. Yes... Nuta-sir?
R y b a k o v. I am not talking about that. There is a big difference between us in education and upbringing. So I decided. Well, I'll take care of this little operation, otherwise it's not good. (Goes to the door.)
Masha. Rybakov...
Rybakov turns around.
You are right... There is a whole abyss between us. You have reasoned very wisely. I offended you undeservedly and I do not want to ask for forgiveness. But you have always been remarkably noble towards me. Now I will ask you to last time- Get out of here, get out of here. I must never hear from you. (Rushed away.)
Z a b e l and n. And he is standing ... Run after him, ask for forgiveness ...
R y b a k o v. I mean, I really run.
Z a b e l and n. What the hell is "that is"! Get on up...
The fish runs away.
What can you do? .. Life ... You are sharp, mother-life, with pepper, with wormwood, but you have to take it. Poor Masha, she loves. Who's there?
Zabelina enters. Judgment is in the hands.
Be healthy.
Z a b e l i n a. I brought you breakfast.
Z a b e l and n. Insanely happy. Thank you.
Z a b e l i n a. Sit down and eat! Take a napkin and eat as before in the service.
Z a b e l and n. Don't want.
Z a b e l i n a. I'm tired of your pirouettes. Sit down and eat.
Z a b e l and n. Lida, don't make noise... I sit down.
Z a b e l i n a. Shut up and eat.
Z a b e l and n. Eat.
Z a b e l i n a. Better chew.
Z a b e l and n. I'm chewing... Did you meet anyone on the street?
Z a b e l i n a. There are many people on the street.
Z a b e l and n. Certainly...
Z a b e l i n a. Anton Ivanovich, work, for God's sake, and don't fight with anyone.
Z a b e l and n. I won't.
Z a b e l i n a. Come to yourself. Calm down. And imagine that all this... setting... things... will look different.
Z a b e l and n. I imagine, I imagine.
Z a b e l i n a. If you only knew how much you want to go headlong into your business again.
Z a b e l and n. Enough babysitting me! I am not a baby! She wants! And I'm a bag of sawdust?! A pig without a soul? Thanks for the meal. Sat.
Masha enters.
Why are you again?
Masha. For mom ... to see her off.
Z a b e l and n. For mom...
Rybakov enters.
That's the holy family! But instead of Christ - a sailor!
Rybakov (offended, angry, flared up). In the end, I'm not joking. And I came here to work. Please, here is my appointment, read it. I was given strict instructions not to waste time. Let's discuss what and how.
Z a b e l and n. Let's discuss. Are you a power engineer, an electrician, or at least an electrician?
R y b a k o v. I know how to fix electrical plugs.
Z a b e l and n. To work on the electrification of Russia, this is too little.
R y b a k o v. I'll find a job.
Z a b e l and n. However, this is even more situational - then one blockhead whistled in an empty hall, now there will be two.
R y b a k o v. I won't whistle, and most importantly, I won't let you. First of all, what are you up to here?
Z a b e l and n. With nothing.
Rybakov (embarrassed). So... so what?
Z a b e l and n. Well, nothing! Got it? This is how the bible begins.
ZABELINA (she called Masha aside with signs). Masha, we can't leave... Let's go around the rooms...
Zabelina and Masha leave unnoticed.
Rybakov (looks around thoughtfully). As far as I can understand, you, me, and all this environment make up our organization. There is a phone. Did they give you a means of transport?
Z a b e l and n. Dali. There is a carriage in the barn. Without horses.
R y b a k o v. A carriage is useless without horses. There is no need to be surprised at anything ... Once I took the city, came to the city government and confiscated the cash desk. And in the cash desk of the city there were two copper kopecks. With two kopecks, I started Soviet power.
Z a b e l and n. Curious...how did you get started?
R y b a k o v. I called the petty, middle and big bourgeoisie to the theater and put a machine gun and an alarm clock on the stage ... And three hours later, at the sound of the alarm clock, they put three million on the table.
Z a b e l and n. Well, are you going to convene all the rest of the bourgeoisie in Moscow here too?
R y b a k o v. No... Can you tell me what you urgently need now?
Z a b e l and n. I desperately need engineers, technicians, draftsmen, theorists, scientists...
R y b a k o v. Well, let's get them involved.
Z a b e l and n. Well, you will go with a machine gun and an alarm clock around Moscow?
R y b a k o v. No, in this case you can't do anything with a machine gun. I will give a message to all the newspapers that Anton Ivanovich Zabelin has started work.
Z a b e l and n. A very simple thought.
R y b a k o v. I'm going to call journalists here now.
Z a b e l and n. But do they exist? Yes, yes, of course ... I just forgot what journalists are. But we have nowhere to take them, to plant them.
R y b a k o v. Nothing, stay. So, I will call the journalists, and you sit down to prepare for the report. You and I ... that is, you ... you personally ... no later than three days later, we must submit the promised report to Comrade Lenin.
Z a b e l and n. How - in three days?
R y b a k o v. Like this...usually.
Z a b e l and n. How do you know this?
R y b a k o v. I know very well.
Z a b e l and n. No, are you serious, my dear?
R y b a k o v. Very seriously.
Z a b e l and n. Why were you silent, sir?
Rybakov (calling a telephone number). You pounced on me and stunned me.
Z a b e l and n. You will dazzle!
Rybakov (on the phone). Twenty-two - twenty-three ... The editorial staff of Izvestia? ... The scientific secretary of a special commission is talking to you. We are developing a huge work on the preparation of electrification ... But you didn’t know ?! Poor work, yes ... yes ... Send us an employee. Sivtsev Vrazhek, seventeen.
ZABELIN (takes out a notebook). Here is the telephone number of engineer Vostretsov. I had a paradox with this gentleman ... in other words, I had a fight with him at the Maly Theater. I need to get a copy of my report at the Academy of Sciences from him. Call him.
R y b a k o v. Fourteen - forty five.
Z a b e l and n. Did the wife leave? Who asked to leave?.. Lidia Mikhailovna! Bring them back...
R y b a k o v. Fourteen - forty-five? .. Engineer Vostretsov at home? .. How - you don’t know, but who are you, wife? .. Where does he work? .. A special commission speaks ... Thank you.
Zabelina and Masha run in.
Z a b e l i n a. Sorry... we forgot the suki.
Z a b e l and n. Judgments... what judgments! Go home this minute and send me my pigskin suitcase from London; my best work is hidden there. Marya, you yourself find a breeder and take him. Again they are waiting. Is it clearly stated?
ZABELINA (goes up to her husband, quietly). And that briefcase... you know what I'm talking about... not needed?
Z a b e l and n. He is here with me.
Z a b e l i n a. After all, I understand ... I understand everything ... All life is at a glance. Let's go, Masha. (Exits.)
MASHA (at the door). Folder, how I love you! I love you too, Rybakov... (He kisses Rybakov, leaves.)
Z a b e l and n. Did you find Vostretsov? Let me, you are excited...
R y b a k o v. Of course, I'm excited... But I'll get this Vostretsov from the bottom of the sea.
The machine is included.
Here, Anton Ivanovich, is the typist I told you about.
Zabelin (to the typist). You are seconded to work with us... I am heartily glad. Zabelin. And don't be surprised if we urgently start working now. Have a seat. (Walks, thinks aloud.) An idea... an idea... No, we'll start like this. The electrification of Russia is the greatest idea of ​​our time for a long time... (To a typist.) May I?
M a sh i n i s t k a. All is ready.
Z a b e l and n. I usually dictate and walk while doing it. So, please, let's get started. "To the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars..."
Picture two
Lenin's office in the Kremlin. There is an English writer and a secretary in the office. They are sitting
against a friend.
A n g l i c h a n i n. May I see the illustrations in this magazine?
Secretary. Please.
LENIN enters.
L e n i n. Did I make you wait? (Holds out his hand.) Ulyanov-Lenin. Welcome!
The English writer bows ritually. Lenin invites him
sit down. Sat down. The secretary leaves.
I'm hearing you.
A n g l i c h a n i n. I certainly do not believe the stories that you are a Mason.
L e n i n. Are there still Freemasons in London? My God, what a game!
A ng l and ch a n and n (without losing dignity). But it seems to me that you do not know Russian life well. It's very difficult for you to get in. There are so many sentries here. How can you have a connection with your people?
L e n i n. Communication with the people does not depend on sentries.
A n g l i c h a n i n. I am going to write an extensive book against Marx.
LENIN (smiled). This is interesting.
A n g l i c h a n i n. He bored me.
L e n i n. Who?
A n g l i c h a n i n. I said who. I said Marx.
L e n i n. Well, go ahead!
A n g l i c h a n i n. What is it - go ahead?
L e n i n. Act... work!
A n g l i c h a n i n. I don't understand how you, Mr. Lenin, can divide the world into rich and poor. It's primitive, rude. Among the rich there are honest people, as well as among the poor. These honest people from the rich and the poor must unite and build a reasonable socialism. I can see in your eyes that you don't believe in this idea.
L e n i n. I don't believe in a penny.
A n g l i c h a n i n. I'm ready to argue.
L e n i n. I value your time too much to argue about such things.
A n g l i c h a n i n. Oh-oh... This is fanaticism - to believe in only one idea of ​​Bolshevik socialism!
L e n i n. Your government has spent a lot of money to prove the failure of our ideas with cannons.
A n g l i c h a n i n. I was one of those who protested.
L e n i n. Yes, yes, I know you are one of those honest ones, and it didn't help!
A n g l i c h a n i n. Did not help.
L e n i n. Why didn't it help?
A n g l i c h a n i n. Because they have power.
L e n i n. They have banks, they have guns... And you have honesty. What is your honesty compared to the worst gun? As soon as you are about to start your reasonable socialism, and they will put one of the worst guns, and bang on your dear socialists! Look, this is a very possible thing... what do you do then? Shoot back? But this is Bolshevism. Run? But what about socialism?
A n g l i c h a n i n. Mr. Lenin, this is ordinary red propaganda.
L e n i n. But I'm the real red!
A n g l i c h a n i n. Mr Lenin, I'm surprised...
At this moment, the sound of chimes is heard - two or three notes from
"International".
LENIN (listening). How?
A n g l i c h a n i n. You find humor in yourself, and yet it is easy for any impartial observer who comes from the West to notice that you are on the verge of death.
LENIN (seriously). Please tell us what you have noticed?
A n g l i c h a n i n. I noticed that people in Russia are very badly shaved.
L e n i n. Yes, they are not well shaved.
A n g l i c h a n i n. In addition, they are all terribly torn off ... Maybe this topic is unpleasant for you?
L e n i n. Please continue. I'm very interested in what you saw!
A n g l i c h a n i n. All people walk around with some kind of bundles. At first I could not understand what was the matter. And then they told me ... This is their food, rations ... They bring boiled porridge home in newspapers from their institutions. You don't have anyone walking the streets. Everyone is running somewhere. Maxim Gorky has only one suit.
L e n i n. Really? Did he tell you?
A n g l i c h a n i n. I was told by his relatives.
LENIN (as if to himself, thoughtfully). It's hard for everyone. It is also difficult for Gorky. (Suddenly, narrowing his eyes.) And how many suits do you have?
A n g l i c h a n i n. I don't remember... like any decent person... ten... twelve...
L e n i n. You have twelve, and Gorky has one ... See, what a difference! But please continue!
A n g l i c h a n i n. When I caught a cold, there were no medicines in the pharmacy.
LENIN (bitterly). This is terrible... I know it's terrible!
A n g l i c h a n i n. I have eaten bread that is not fit for food, but I have heard that somewhere along the Volga River, Russians are eating each other. Is it true?
L e n i n. Is it true.
A ng l and c a n and n (pathetically). Human forces are not able to stop this catastrophe! In Russia, soon there will be no one left, except for the village peasants. Railways will rust as your cities cease to exist. I see Russia in the mist, in the terrible mist of its end... catastrophe, death...
LENIN (simply, thoughtfully). Probably, we make a terrible impression ... "In the darkness" ... Probably, there is darkness. No, no, I'm not arguing, probably, it all seems so.
A n g l i c h a n i n. I heard that you are proposing a plan for the electrification of Russia.
LENIN (suddenly, in surprise). How did you hear?
A n g l i c h a n i n. I had a conversation with a gentleman who...
L e n i n. I know who you were talking to. What does this gentleman say?
A n g l i c h a n i n. He is a witty man, he jokes, he says - not "electrification", but "electrification".
L e n i n. Yes, he is a witty gentleman.
A n g l i c h a n i n. You are a dreamer, Mr. Lenin. In front of you is a huge, flat, freezing country, with an Asian rather than a European population, a country that emits a death cry ... and you dream of giving it electricity. You are a strange dreamer, Mr. Lenin!
L e n i n. Come visit us in ten years.
A n g l i c h a n i n. But will you be in ten years?
LENIN (cheerfully). We will. Don't believe? Come and see what we are. I'm a dreamer. It seems to me that in general we are forever.
A n g l i c h a n i n. If you believe so, then you have secrets that we do not know.
L e n i n. Oh, on the contrary, we are very frank...too frank!
A n g l i c h a n i n. If so, then tell me why you believe and dream?
L e n i n. So you get angry. You will say that this is the usual red propaganda. I believe in the working class, you don't. I believe in the Russian people, they terrify you. You believe in the honesty of the capitalists, but I do not. You came up with clean, sweet, Christmas socialism, and I stand for the dictatorship of the proletariat. "Dictatorship" is a cruel, heavy, bloody, painful word. Such words are not thrown to the wind, but otherwise one cannot dream of electrification, socialism, communism... History will show which of us is right.
A n g l i c h a n i n. Your faith can shock... or drive you crazy! It's impossible to understand! Before you is an abyss of misfortunes, horrors, and you are talking about electrification over the abyss ... I refuse to understand!
The chimes strike again - again two or three notes of the "Internationale".
L e n i n. Come visit us in ten years...
A n g l i c h a n i n. No, you are hiding something. You know something that we don't know in the West, but don't say it!
L e n i n. I give you my word of honor that we all speak openly to the end.
A n g l i c h a n i n. You are tired. I noticed it when you came in... Goodbye, Mr. Lenin! Thank you for the conversation. Maybe you are right and I am wrong. Future will tell. Goodbye!
L e n i n. Goodbye! And yet you come to us in ten years.
A n g l i y s k i y p i s a t e l leaves.
LENIN (thinking and suddenly laughing). What a tradesman!! A?! What a hopeless philistine!
The secretary enters.
Is engineer Zabelin waiting?
Secretary. Yes, Vladimir Ilyich.
L e n i n. Ask.
The secretary leaves. Z abelin enters.
Z a b e l and n. Hello, Vladimir Ilyich.
L e n i n. Hello Anton Ivanovich. How is your health, mood?
Z a b e l and n. Thank you. My mood... is progressing.
L e n i n. It's great if it's progressing... But, by the way, have you ever met philistines in your life?
Z a b e l and n. Philistines?.. What kind?
L e n i n. Ordinary, real, the very ones that the writer Maxim Gorky so vividly portrays ...
Z a b e l and n. Perhaps ... yes ... met.
L e n i n. You see ... We are all sure that the tradesman is a fossil creature. Lives in Kolomna, behind muslin curtains and wears a silver chain on his waistcoat. This is the greatest delusion. The tradesman is a world category. I just saw an exemplary tradesman in the face of a world famous writer. And he is like two drops of water similar to our Russian philistines, of whom there are a great many in all strata of our society.
Z a b e l and n. Yes, they are available in all layers, but I would not like to be among them. And I don't wear chains.
L e n i n. Don't wear?
Z a b e l and n. And I would have been killed... if I had been like them.
L e n i n. Oh no, no... We all have our faults, but you are not. Sit down. Where is your report?.. I read it with a pencil in my hands. Hardest work. How long did you work?
Z a b e l and n. The term was short. But I don't know how to work slowly if I've already set to work.
L e n i n. It affects.
Z a b e l and n. How does it affect? ​​.. Excuse me ... negatively?
L e n i n. Why must it be negative?
Z a b e l and n. You see, Vladimir Ilyich, for me it's like an exam... in my old age.
L e n i n. If we have an exam, then we will assume that you passed it with an A. Excellent work... magnificent, and passionately presented.
Z a b e l and n. I am happy, I am grateful ... This is my calling, which, therefore, I have found again. And in general, every energy scientist, if only he loves Russia, must admit that since the time of Peter the Great, such bold, such majestic ideas have not possessed anyone's mind. And yet can I ask you one very important question?
L e n i n. Ask, ask... You are a beginner and in this sense a young worker.
Z a b e l and n. My colleagues and I, who honestly come to work with us, do not doubt the victorious future of electrification ... but we still have a "but".
L e n i n. What? .. Very curious.
Z a b e l and n. I'll be brief - isn't it too early?
L e n i n. Is it too early to start electrification? I understood you.
Z a b e l and n. Frankly, this question torments me terribly.
L e n i n. And it hurts me terribly. But I am insanely tormented by the fact that our business is creeping extremely slowly. This is a huge, fundamental question of our development. Today we are three hundred years behind the civilized world. And all of us, young and old, are in the grip of this monstrous backwardness. As soon as any bold thought arises, then the fermentation of minds begins. Is not it too early? No, my friend, not early. If we came to power in 1905, we would immediately start electrification. Imagine where you would be now Soviet Russia?
Z a b e l and n. Of course I understand. I'm starting to get into politics.
L e n i n. What is politics? It's a concentrated expression of the economy. And our economy is such that it will take gigantic efforts, the sacrifices of entire generations, to make an unheard-of revolution in all areas of life. And by the way, doesn’t it offend you, Anton Ivanovich, that you were given sailor Rybakov as an assistant? A famous engineer, professor, and here you are - a sailor commissar?
Z a b e l and n. Just imagine, Vladimir Ilyich, not at all. Efficient fellow ... I liked him the first time.
L e n i n. I am glad.
Z a b e l and n. I understand your question, but, of course, some Marxist theorist would be more suitable for me.
L e n i n. Why do you need a theorist?.. Why?..
Z a b e l and n. You talk so cheerfully that I can take your questions as a joke.
L e n i n. I am not kidding. Why do you need a theorist?
Z a b e l and n. I am, as they say now, a bourgeois specialist. In all likelihood, I need to be schooled, huh?
L e n i n. But we didn't invite you to take courses in Marxism. We need you to work, and work hard, and that will be the best Marxism for both you and us. Sasha Rybakov is an unimportant theoretician, but a brilliant performer. And I sent him to you so that he would exercise the dictatorship of the proletariat under you. For without the dictatorship of the proletariat we will not carry out any electrification, and all your work will be in vain. Take your report, read the notes and get ready for the meeting of the Council of Labor and Defense. Goodbye, Comrade Zabelin.
Z a b e l and n. Goodbye, Vladimir Ilyich.
Enter Secretary, Dzerzhinsky, Rybakov and
h a s o v sh i k.
L e n i n. Wait a minute... Wait a minute!.. This is very important... very happy...
Secretary. Comrade Lenin, you ordered to invite a watchmaker at the moment when the Kremlin chimes...
H a s o v shch and k. Shh ... I beg you.
D z e r zh i n s k i y. Excuse me, Vladimir Ilyich, for this impetuous invasion, but... an exciting thing... a clock...
H and with about in shch and to (Dzerzhinsky). Please... one second left.
L e n i n. Did they start the clock?.. Sasha...
R y b a k o v. Like... now... now...
The clock starts.
Z a b e l and n. What is this? Clock on the Kremlin?.. Well, yes, they are.
D z e r zh i n s k i y. And you, probably, scolded us ... that the Bolsheviks and the clock on the Kremlin fell silent?
Z a b e l and n. Was.
D z e r zh i n s k i y. Strongly scolded?
Z a b e l and n. In any way.
L e n i n. Hear... huh? They play ... This is a great thing. When everything that we now only dream of, because of which we argue, suffer, will come true, they will count off a new time, and that time will witness new plans for electrification, new dreams, new daring.
A curtain.

"Kremlin Chimes" is the second part of Nikolai Pogodin's famous dramatic trilogy dedicated to Lenin. The action of this play takes place in 1920 in Moscow, at the time when a plan for the electrification of the country (the same GOELRO) is being developed. Naturally, the greatest need at such a moment is in specialists, in energy engineers. And one of them - Zabelin - instead of working in a direct specialty, demonstratively trades in matches practically near the Kremlin itself. He quite openly speaks out about his dissatisfaction with the existing order, the devastation that has swallowed up the country, and, as a result, says more than once that there is very little life left in such a country. In his speeches, he most often mentions the main clock of the country - the Kremlin chimes, which stopped, as if symbolizing the stoppage of time for the entire state. And so, they grab him and take him straight to Lenin. The finale is more than idealistic - life is getting better, Zabelin gets a job that is needed not only for him, but also for the country, young heroes (the love line of the play) find each other, and the ill-fated Kremlin chimes begin to go, counting down a new era of a great country ...

For the first time, the Moscow Art Theater showed its performance based on this play (director of the production - V.I. Nemirovich Danchenko, directors - L. Leonidov, M. Knebel) on January 22, 1942 in the evacuation in Saratov. In the same year, the production was awarded Stalin Prize. And now, fifteen years later, they decided to resume it, inviting Maria Osipovna Knebel for this. The Chimes had to be restored with a new line-up, and most importantly, with a new performer of the role of Lenin.

It was decided to restore the scenery created in the 40s by V. Dmitriev, and much could be done only from memory, since not only the scenery itself, but no materials were preserved.

Lenin was now played by Boris Smirnov, and in his performance, unlike the first version, the main emphasis was no longer on “similarity”. The director and actor sought to "feel the special nature of Lenin's thought", as Maria Knebel wrote. As a result, Smirnov succeeded so much that later he embodied this image in two more theatrical productions and several films, receiving the Lenin Prize for it.

As many have noted, the most interesting "new performer", in addition to Smirnov, was Boris Livanov, who was to play Zabelin after Khmelev himself. He played, first of all, a scientist, and a practical scientist, for whom the profession is an ongoing work. He needed to realize that now, for some reason, having been thrown out of a normal working life, he continues to work. And, selling matches, he did not play the fool, did not philosophize, namely, he worked. A huge internal struggle was played by Livanov in the scene where Lenin offers his hero cooperation. Not wanting to be led by the Bolsheviks, he, at the same time, like a real scientist, is more and more carried away by the specific questions proposed to him. “I don't know if I'm capable,” he says uncertainly, but it is already quite clear that he will not return to the match trade.

Actor Boris Petker, who played a very small role as a master watchmaker in all versions, became a kind of talisman of the Kremlin Chimes. Perhaps this was one of the most brilliant episodes of the entire performance. This image of an eccentric old man, created by Petker, was at the same time deeply romantic. He, like Shakespeare's Hamlet, sees that "the connection of times has fallen apart", and, in the case of Petker, he sees this clearly. But it is in his power to restore this connection.

The restored performance ran for many more years. He has been represented many times abroad. And now, it can be seen not on the old television tape.

Russian playwright, author of the play "Kremlin Chimes"

First letter "p"

Second letter "o"

Third letter "g"

The last beech is the letter "n"

Alternative questions in crossword puzzles for the word Pogodin

Soviet playwright, play "The Man with the Gun"

Russian historian (1800-1875)

Word definitions for pogodin in dictionaries

Wikipedia The meaning of the word in the Wikipedia dictionary
Pogodin - surname; has the female form of Pogodin. Famous carriers: Pogodin, Alexander Lvovich (1872-1947) - Russian historian and Slavic philologist. Pogodin, Alexei Ivanovich (1857-after 1919) - Head of the Naval Engineering School, Lieutenant General of the Corps ...

Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1998 The meaning of the word in the dictionary Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1998
POGODIN Mikhail Petrovich (1800-75) Russian historian, writer, academician of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1841). Published the magazine "Moscow Bulletin", "Moskvityanin". A supporter of the Norman theory of the origin of the Russian state. In his views he is close to the Slavophiles. Promoted...

Examples of the use of the word pogodin in the literature.

Godfather Ivan Nikitich also visited the Moscow house, on Devichye Pole, at Pogodin who, for some reason, fell in love and caressed him - saw the famous ancient repository, which after death Pogodin The servants torn their hands, saw with my own eyes Gogol's greasy waistcoat, saw Pushkin's frock coat, shot through in a duel, carefully kept by Pogodin in a glass case.

Pogodin and Kachenovsky were brought up on the scientific methods of Schlozer and under his influence, which had a particularly strong effect on Pogodin e.

In their belvedere - they lived in rooms under the very roof - at the table, in the study Pogodin where they sometimes managed to look with his children, they felt like strangers, hangers-on, parasites, and the nervous state of their brother, who suffered even more, was reflected in their condition.

His co-worker Rare, who became a professor at Moscow University, or Pogodin take him to T.

Finally, there is a circle of Polevoy's enemies, a circle formed from young scientists, like Pogodin and Shevyrev, one of the aristocrats distinguished by the seriousness of the leaven, like Khomyakov, then still only a poet, and Kireevsky.