Collaborators by John Hodge

Author:John Hodge
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grove/Atlantic, Inc.

Act Two

The set is as before.

Grigory, Anna, Vasilly, Praskovya and Sergei are all gathered round the table, dressed up for the big dinner, sipping champagne.

Yelena helps Bulgakov with his bow tie near the bed.

Enter Vladimir and his wife Eva, also dressed up for dinner.

They cross the stage, followed by Stepan, who is dressed the same as usual.

Vladimir Relax!

Eva I am.

Vladimir Just because he’s show-business – it doesn’t mean he’s better than us. Socially, I mean. We’re not punching above our weight here. I am a respected representative of the organ of state security and you are my wife. We are not intimidated by fancy-pants intellectuals.

Eva I know that.

Vladimir We can hold our own.

Eva Yes.

Vladimir You play the piano. I was in the school show at the age of ten. We’re not strangers to his world.

Eva I know that, dear.

Vladimir Just try not to be too gushing.

Bulgakov Vladimir! Please, come on in.

Vladimir So kind of you to invite us! We never expected – I mean it’s not like we gave you the job just so we could, you know, come round socially and . . . Gosh! Is it hot in here?

Bulgakov takes coats from Vladimir and Eva.

Stepan keeps his on throughout.

Yelena Well, I’ve been hearing so much about you.

Eva The same here.

Vladimir Nice place, Bulgakov. Warm too. All right for some.

Bulgakov In paradise, Vladimir, everyone is equal –

Vladimir But in Moscow . . .

They all laugh. Apart from Stepan.

Bulgakov Come on in. Sit down. Set to!

They sit. They eat. They chatter.

Then Grigory is talking to Vladimir.

Grigory So they want me to write a self-criticism. They say if I don’t, then all my work will be banned. And if I do, it’ll probably be banned anyway.

Vladimir That is such nonsense. I’m sorry to hear it – young guy like you.

Grigory Yeah, so I’m going to write one. I’m going to admit to my failings: too talented, too handsome, too successful.

They laugh.

Vladimir If there’s anything I can do . . .

Grigory They don’t scare me.

Vasilly You know, I had news from the old estate the other day. What do you think of this? Troops came to collect the grain. But the harvest has been poor. There isn’t enough to meet the targets that have been set. The peasants were willing to hand over their surplus, but they need to keep some for themselves and their families. But the soldiers wanted all of it. There was a struggle. Gunshots. Some men were killed. The grain was taken. So now they starve.

Yelena That’s terrible.

Vasilly Yes. And what I hear is that there have been instances of men, women and children eating other men, women and children.

Sergei That’s not true.

Vasilly Isn’t it?

Sergei No. We’re not savages. This is the twentieth century. Those things don’t happen here.

Vasilly Well that’s all right, then.

Bulgakov Vasilly – it may or may not be true, but surely you’d have to accept that . . .

Vasilly What?

Bulgakov Well . . . that it’s not easy. To govern, I mean. It’s tough, it must be.

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