The acting space is a room in a one-roomed flat in a new apartment block. Almost all the furniture is new. There is one large armchair, which is not new. Over the table there hangs an orange lampshade, which is also not new.

PART ONE

Dina Fedorovna is showing slides of herself using a projector and the wall. In the pictures she wears an attractive swimsuit and is against the background of a dark blue sea. The bell rings. The woman freezes. A moment later the bell goes again. She switches off the projector, puts on the light and goes towards the intercom.

 

Dina Who’s that?

Voice Hello, Dina Fedorovna.

 

Pause.

 

Dina (glancing at her watch). I didn’t hear you. Who is it?

Voice Is that Dina Fedorovna?

Dina Who is it, who are you?

Voice Are you Dina Fedorovna?

Dina No; first what about you? Who are you?

Voice I don’t know…How can I say…

Dina A straight answer to my question.

Voice I’m Vitia …Viktor …

Dina Viktor who?

Voice I don’t understand …

Dina Your father’s name?

Voice Peter…So?

Dina Interesting. So you’re Viktor Petrovich. Please go on.

Voice I’m sorry. Maybe I’ve got the wrong flat?

Dina  Please go on.

Voice If you are Dina Fedorovna – maybe you could let me in, I’m soaked through, it’s raining out here…

Dina If it’s raining out there, why did you bother coming out? If you’d stayed at home you wouldn’t have got wet.

Voice I see. I’ve got the wrong address. I’m sorry.

Dina I am Dina Fedorovna. Please go on!

Voice I’ve come to see you Dina Fedorovna, please let me in!

Dina What for?

 

Silence.

 

Let’s suppose I let you come in. What will happen then?

Voice I’m not a prophet; just dripping wet.

Dina The rain’s that heavy?

Voice Yes. Your doorstep’s flooded.

Dina You could’ve taken shelter in the porch. There’s a little porch…

Voice That’s flooded too!

Dina So you are Viktor Petrovich? From the chemist’s?

Voice Yes. That’s me. Is something wrong?

Dina The one from the chemist, who … well … carry on …

Voice Carry on with what? I don’t know what’s next. In fact nobody knows what’s next. Maybe to start with we can get to know each other and then…all will become clear…Should we get to know each other?

Dina Getting to know each other doesn’t mean rushing into things. You still haven't gone on. Go on.

 

Silence.

 

Who sent you?

Voice Zhora and Anya Tonkoshein … Zhora and Anya Tonkoshein!

Dina Viktor Petrovich, please come in. (She rushes to the mirror, adjusts the scarf on her head, puts on some powder, goes back to the door, opens it and lets the man in.)

Viktor I’m sorry if I’ve come at the wrong time. If I’ve disturbed you.

 

The woman quizzically looks the man up and down.

 

Sorry … I haven’t disturbed you have I?

Dina Are you kidding?

Viktor Me?

Dina Pretending you’re modest and shy and sensitive. When you’re quite different.

Viktor I’m not pretending. Can a person pretend?

Dina Of course. Everybody  pretends … at the beginning. Later on they show their true colours. So you’re  …  are you worse than everyone else?

 

The man is silent. He’s probably pondering if he’s worse than other people.

 

Why did you show up half an hour earlier than you were supposed to? I  agreed on eight o’clock with Anya. Right now – if I’m not mistaken – it’s twenty-five to.

Viktor Sorry. That was my decision … Anya said give or take a few minutes … if you want I can wait somewhere out there for twenty-five minutes … In the entrance to the building, perhaps, or …

 

The woman is silent.

 

Of course you’re right, I just didn’t realise … I’m sorry. (He heads for the exit.)

Dina Well it’s good that you’re not a lout. I don’t like loutish men.

Viktor Surely Zhora and Anya told you I’m not a lout?

Dina Of course. But I didn’t fully understand. It was a little vague. They told me that I’d see for myself. Of course, until you have seen for yourself … How tall are you?

Viktor How tall? In what … sense?

Dina Just how tall. I’m asking you how tall you are.

Viktor Oh, tall, I didn’t understand, I’m sorry my height – Well, I’m average height – about 1metre 76.

Dina I like one eighty-three

Viktor But I …one eighty-three? Why’s that? What is it …? Well, you see, I fluctuate within 5-6 centimetres of one seventy-six …sometimes I go up by as much as seven, so you see … I gave you an average, because it fluctuates …

Dina Up to one eighty-two?

Viktor Sometimes, up to one eighty-two. Sometimes up to one eighty-three. On some occasions to one eighty-three …

Dina On some occasions what?

Viktor On some occasions to one eighty-three. More often to one eighty-two.

Dina (she looks the man up and down in a sceptical way): But you’re clearly not that tall today.

Viktor I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. Probably …I haven’t slept so well the past few nights. When I sleep badly, I literally sink into the ground.

Dina Why?

Viktor It’s probably just the way my body is.

Dina Do you often sleep badly?

Viktor Not often …Well, sometimes … sometimes it happens that for whatever reason you don’t sleep – and that’s it. You know how it is … sometimes …

Dina You’re hiding something.

Viktor No I’m not. I’m serious!

Dina  I hate it when people lie. Don't lie to yourself! It’s sickening. I don’t lie - not to myself. I used to lie and then I decided – enough. However long I live I will live without lies. I don’t want lies. And so I say I didn’t sleep because of this or that.

Viktor I’d say that too if only I knew. How can you know what the reason really was – there are so many possibilities … It’s complicated.

Dina You're not telling the truth, again.

Viktor I’m not lying, Dina Fedorovna.

Dina You are.

Viktor No, really, I’m not …

Dina I know that you’re lying.

Viktor: I don’t know …

Dina You do know …

Viktor (sighs). Well… Let’s not argue, I hate arguing …I don’t know how to … I’ll be off.

Dina You want to run away?

Viktor Me – run away? Dina Fedorovna, where to? … You know what, I’m telling you straight … I’ve nowhere to go. (He turns, and is about to take a step towards the door, then stops.) There are fifteen minutes left before eight o’clock. I’ll wait. Downstairs if I may … I took ten minutes from you, shall I add them on to the remaining fifteen, or is that not necessary?

Dina Why are you slouching? Why don’t you stand up straight? Like a man?

Viktor (straightens up his shoulders). I’m not slouching. It seems like that – but it’s an illusion. It’s the muscles in my back.

Dina What are you talking about? You slouch!

Viktor It’s the muscles in my back – you can check for yourself.

Dina So it’s possible to check?

Viktor When I was young I did a bit of weightlifting

Dina (checks if he really has back muscles). Interesting …

 

She keeps checking. The man suddenly laughs. The woman moves away a little.

 

Why are you laughing?

Viktor You’re tickling me.

Dina You know what … you shouldn’t lift weights. I don’t like people who slouch, it shows what kind of character they have. I like people who stand up straight, who have a nice shape.

Viktor Well, what can I do?

Dina Can you straighten up?

Viktor (straightens up). Like this?

Dina A bit more?

 

The man straightens up some more.

 

Off you go then.

Viktor (suddenly slouching) For good?

Dina What do you mean for good?

 

The man is silent.

 

You came here for something? Didn’t you?

Viktor I did.

Dina Well, off you go then. And come back in fifteen minutes. No need to add minutes on.

Viktor I’ll come back. Thanks.

Dina Not at all.

Viktor I’ll come back.

Dina Please do.

 

The man leaves. The woman closes the door, goes back into the room and puts out the light. She switches on the projector, looks again at the slides of herself in a swimming costume against the background of a dark blue sea. She puts on the light and moves decisively towards the telephone.

 

Is that you Zhora? Is that you? You sound as though you’re sitting in a shed – well, put Anya on. Leave a message – what do you mean she’s washing? …Will she be long? She’s just got in? She’s washing her hair? Tell her to phone me when she’s finished. Tell her to call right away, I’m waiting. (She puts down the phone and at that same instant it rings.) Yes. All clean already? Well, he came. No. You already know what he’s like, what’s the point of telling you? … He’s not ugly, but he’s not not ugly. He’s so-so. Anya, stop it, I have a right to my ideals. I’ll have you know that I’ve not yet reached the stage when I can’t have any. That’s my business, stop it. This one’s not too bad. I’m just saying that there are better. Seraphim? Don’t remind me, stop it. Let's not; and stop it. I’m telling you, I have my ideals … stop it. Stop it, I’m telling you … All right then, don't stop. (She hangs up.)

 

The telephone at once rings again.

 

Hello. We’ll have a chat tomorrow, stop it!

 

She goes over to the wardrobe, takes out a dress and changes; she takes out her rollers. She does her hair at the mirror, puts on eyeliner, puts on powder; after that she neatly places on the table a bottle of wine, a small bowl with apples and sweets; she goes back to the mirror and again looks carefully at herself    - she leaves the room. The door lock clicks.

 

Viktor Petrovich, please come in, I’m  ready now. Sorry to have kept you waiting …Where are you? Well, please come on in!

 

Again the door slams. The woman comes back into the room. She stands for a short time; she is obviously confused, distracted; suddenly for some reason she looks all around, as if hoping, maybe, to find somebody…She goes slowly to the mirror – sees herself in it. She walks decisively to the phone.

 

Is that you Anya? What’s going on? No, I’m asking you, what’s going on? No, excuse me, I’m asking you … no, not what’s happened, but who you’ve sent me. Are you going to make a fool of me and then laugh at me as usual? You’re surrounded by idiots and blockheads! Yes, because think about it, I’ve never seen a normal man with you!

 

Bell rings. Rings again.

 

Don’t hang up, there’s someone at the door! … (She puts the receiver down beside the phone and goes to the intercom.) Yes

 

Voice Dina Fedorovna, it’s me.

Dina So

Voice It’s me again, Dina Fedorovna. Sorry …

Dina Go on

Voice Well, what do you want me to say? What?

Dina Tell me where you went.

Voice You’ve got a security device on your doors. I went out to smoke in the little porch, at the entrance, I thought maybe you didn’t like people smoking in your house …The door slammed shut after me and so … I had to …

Dina And that’s it?

Voice Dina Fedorovna, don’t torture me. If you want to, let me in; if you don’t, then say so …Well …Well, I’ll be off …

Dina Come in. (She goes out of the room and the lock is heard clicking; she returns, followed by the man.) Has the rain stopped?

Viktor No, it hasn’t.

Dina So it’s still raining?

Viktor No, it hasn’t stopped, it’s still raining.

Dina So, it’s raining and you …What's the matter then?

 

The man obviously doesn’t understand what this is about.

 

Pretending again? You’re lying again. I hate liars! …You didn’t want to smoke – you  wanted to leave. Why lies again? What’s wrong with me? My lips, my eyes, this? This? What’s wrong?

Viktor Dina Fedorovna, you’re fine.

Dina I know I’m fine! … I know what I’m worth and don't try calming me down!

Viktor I went out to smoke. In the porch.

Dina What porch? You don’t come across women like me that often!

Viktor The door slammed, what was I …

Dina (flares up). You don’t like me – do you? … not much?

Viktor Dina Fedorovna…

Dina So what  don’t you like? My outside? my inside? What? Wait … Did I say something wrong? Which word was wrong? No … You’re to blame. You came early … my hair wasn’t done, I wasn’t dressed and I wasn’t ready inside – you disturbed me, I was confused. You couldn’t possibly understand, you’re a  man …(She walks to the mirror and looks at herself – then glances  at the man. She again looks at herself in the mirror, before again looking at the man.) A woman might want to think twice about you.

Viktor Yes, I know, I understand …

Dina I can get any man I want … with muscles – in their backs, their arms – not  slouching. A good body! Any man! Plenty to choose from. … But I don’t choose like others, because I need a man …who’s …

Viktor When I came in I realised I wasn’t the man you needed.

 

                                                    A pause.

 

Dina Why not?

Viktor I don’t know. Some inner feeling. A guess. How can I …

Dina What feeling? What guess? I didn’t say that.

Viktor There are some things you don't have to say. And for about five years I’ve had the feeling, that for about ten years, women, you know, don’t much …

Dina Like you?

Viktor Not much.

Dina And do you like women?

Viktor Not all of them, but – yes. Though I feel they don’t like me much at all.

Dina So what? You still have to try. You’re not so handsome, but there are men worse off than you. A lot worse off. What’s best? I think a man, should be just a little bit better looking than … a hedgehog.

Viktor You think so?

Dina I do.

Viktor I’m happy to hear that, Dina Fedorovna. I also think that … I used to think,  and still do, that beauty is important, but it’s not everything. There is something … something else … Do you agree?

Dina The most important thing is to be a good person. A good person – that’s my ideal.

Viktor You are so right. So deeply right … People have always loved beauty – and still do generally … I love beauty too. Very much! Only it seems to me that in the life of two people it’s more important … that they find a proper way of communicating … and a proper way to feel about the world … d’you understand?

Dina Of course. We all feel differently: you feel this, I feel that and somebody else feels completely otherwise. What do you feel?

Viktor It’s complicated, Dina Fedorovna. It’s very complicated.

Dina If you don’t know, then it’s complicated. But if you do know, it’s not – then it’s sickening.

Viktor Why sickening?

Dina Because it is. Either it never turns out as you want. Or it turns out as you don’t want. Or it doesn’t turn out at all.

Viktor That's happened to me.

Dina It happens to everybody.

Viktor You want one thing, you get another.

Dina Or you get nothing at all.

Viktor Or nothing at …

Dina Are your eyes green or …Why are you stuck over there? Come closer to the light. There’s no need to be frightened, I don’t bite.

 

The man comes a little closer to the light.

 

Don’t squint like that … (She looks sceptically at the man. Tutts.) And your hair’s …

Viktor If it’s not cut for a long time … three or four months …

Dina You simply don’t have much!

Viktor I had it cut recently; it was unfortunate. Generally if I don’t have it cut for a long time, then it …looks a lot better

Dina Yes?

Viktor Yes.

Dina Try not cutting it for a long time.

Viktor You would like it … a bit longer?

Dina I’d like it … (She shows how she’d like it.) And do you know what else you need … (She looks thoughtfully at the man.)

Viktor What?

Dina How old are you?

Viktor You wanted to say that I need … something important …

Dina Forty one?

Viktor You wanted to say that I should try, have a try. I do, generally I do, but the result … What kind of  try should I have?

Dina Older? Forty two?

Viktor Did Zhora and Anya not tell you?

Dina They did. Forty four?

Viktor Dina Fedorovna, does that matter now?

Dina Not now it doesn’t.  But if I marry you, then every year …You know after the age of forty, a man’s chance of building a happy life for himself decreases each year by two or three times. I read it in a magazine. And so it makes a difference – forty four or forty five – not to mention forty six.

Viktor And you … Interesting … I mean …You would … marry me?

Dina Marry? Right away?

Viktor Not right away … no, I understand … I was asking generally, hypothetically.

Dina I’m not marrying hypothetically. I'm tired of hypothetically. I want to have everything, like other people, and not hypothetically.

Viktor Me too.

Dina Just a normal life. No rows. No humiliation. No divorce. Get married and live life. Have kids – one or two. Kids with a proper father – not living without those things. Then grandchildren would come along and …

Viktor Me too.

Dina Have a seat.

Viktor Thanks. (He stands.)

Dina Sit down. You can’t think standing up.

Viktor (Takes hold of the back of the chair and stands, deep in thought.) There’s so much sense, simplicity and wisdom in what you’ve said; a normal family life, like everyone’s … without humiliating each other …

Dina Do you need a life like that too?

Viktor Very much!

Dina Why are you still standing? Sit down, don’t be afraid, it won’t fall apart. It’s new, just a week old. A new life – yes – I’m beginning one as well.

Viktor A new life? A new life – it's … I’ve tried, I’ve had lots of tries at … nothing came of it. Most likely it’s really nice – a new life, probably it’s very … Can I sit in the armchair?

Dina I hope there are good times ahead for you. Why don’t you sit in the chair?

Viktor We keep putting things off and life slips away. I could sit on the chair but in the armchair I’m more … is that’s alright?

Dina Yes – of course.

 

The man settles down in the armchair.

 

Comfy?

Viktor Yes. Thank you.

Dina Not at all. The armchair isn’t new.

 

The man leaps up, he looks around.

 

I bought it with my first student grant from a second-hand shop. It was cheap, but I’m very fond of it. I had a sofa, but I left that in my old flat – for my old neighbours. I was able to take the armchair (and they don’t make them like that anymore), but a sofa takes up so much room. I told my neighbour ‘I don’t need an old sofa in a new life’. Am I right?

Viktor (looking around). Dina Fedorovna …

Dina Of course I am. In a new life everything should be new. Isn’t that so?

Viktor I don’t know …Yes, that’s probably true …

Dina And there’s this lampshade. I exchanged it for the sofa. What a lovely shade … (She looks with pleasure at the lampshade.) Not many people have them nowadays … Very few … Hardly anyone … People haven’t a clue … (She looks at the man.) Sit down. Why did you jump up?

Viktor It felt like … (He sits down.) Thanks.

Dina Not at all. Do you have a lot of furniture?

Viktor No … actually … Furniture? Not much furniture.

Dina Why?

Viktor I’ve got enough. Because … I’ve got enough. Really, enough. I could probably get rid of some of it …

Dina Don't throw anything out. I know from experience that you may have enough now, while you … do you live alone or with anybody else?

Viktor Didn’t Zhora and Anya tell you anything?

Dina You’re a strange one … I want to hear it from you! … Who cares what others say? … Their tongues wag, what does it matter … let’s do the talking ourselves.

Viktor I live alone, Dina Fedorovna. The fact is that somehow … my private life, you know …

Dina Didn’t work out.

Viktor No. Did Anya tell you?

Dina I can see.

Viktor How can … what …is it really that obvious? How did you know?

Dina (fills glasses with wine.) I can sense a lonely man a mile off.

Viktor That’s quite a distance. Amazing. How do you do it?

 Dina If I knew how I did it – I wouldn’t be able to do it. It’s impossible to learn. It’s a gift of nature. Here. (She offers him a glass.)

Viktor (accepts it). Thank you.

Dina Not at all. Don’t spill it, I filled it too full … take a sip.

 

The man takes a sip.

 

A quick look at a man and I know in a flash if he’s lonely or not.

Viktor And did you feel that about me?

Dina The moment you walked in I knew it.

Viktor That’s amazing …

Dina Why amazing?

Viktor It’s amazing because … I don’t know, it’s absolutely amazing. Because … It’s the truth.

Dina Yes, it’s the truth. I can’t explain it either – but it’s the truth.

Viktor You can’t explain it? … That’s a pity … It would be interesting if you could … but  you’re right … it’s hard to explain … to explain it … is really

Dina You understand … a thing like that?

 

The man, so it seems, tries to grasp this – but he just does not understand.

 

Well there’s …  there’s something … there’s this … there’s a …this … and in a flash you feel … he’s lonely. Doesn’t matter if he’s single or married. Could have been married a hundred times … still I sense … lonely. (She looks at the man who seems deep in thought.) How many times have you been married?

Viktor Two.

Dina So I was told.

Viktor And both times … (He sighs.)

Dina Drink your wine. It’s good.

 

The man drinks the wine.

 

D’you like it?

Viktor It’s fine.

Dina You don’t like it?

Viktor A fine bouquet, soft, – I like it. ( He refills his glass.)

Dina Do you like wines with a fine bouquet?

Viktor I don’t know, Dina Fedorovna, I like … I like whatever ... it’s all the same to me …

Dina How was I to know what you’d like? Anya told me you don’t drink much … hardly anything …

Viktor Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. It depends … if people are around … who it’s pleasant to drink with …then …

Dina I thought to myself … a man over forty who doesn’t drink? … A man who doesn’t drink? … I’ve never met a man who doesn’t drink! … And one over forty? Why not have a drink from time to time. Now and again … Unless of course you’re ill …

 

The man drains the glass.

 

Was that good?

Viktor Sometimes I like a drink. And honestly up till now my health …

Dina Are you healthy?

 

The man shrugs his shoulders.

 

In good health? You’re joking! Where can you find yourself a really healthy man today?

Viktor Dina Fedorovna, I can’t complain about my health.

Dina (touches the table.)  Touch wood.

Viktor Why touch wood? I’m in good health.

Dina You must; touch wood. (She touches the table.)

Viktor No … I don’t believe in all that … superstitions … signs …

Dina I’m telling you to touch wood.

Viktor Dina Fedorovna … it’s rubbish … an old wives’ tale. Alright … alright, only don’t look at me like that … alright

Dina What’s your problem? Is it so hard for you to touch wood? You’re so stubborn!

Viktor I’m not stubborn, but what’s the point? If I don’t see the point of it, why should I do it?

Dina You’re stubborn. I can see you’re stubborn. And you’ve got trouble with your kidneys.

Viktor No I haven’t.

Dina The bags under your eyes?

 

The man feels under his eyes.

 

Can’t you see them?

Viktor Maybe … I’ve had them since I was a student. From tiredness. I used to have to work hard. I worked at night … It was that kind of a time … now I only read at night. It’s quiet, you’re not disturbed, you can concentrate, you can think … I love thinking. It’s not my kidneys, Dina Fedorovna, it’s … I would feel it if there was something

Dina That’s it! You said you had insomnia and didn’t know why …You do know. You love thinking. It turns out you think at nights. Daytime isn’t enough for you?

Viktor Think during the day! I’m at work. All kinds of things come up. Distractions all the time. What’s wrong with it? I’m on my own …

Dina I don’t know. Personally, I like to sleep at night.

 

The man jumps up again, he looks around.

 

I refused to do night shifts – I so love sleeping at night. You’ve jumped up again.

Viktor It’s strange … (He looks into one corner and then into another.)

Dina What’s wrong? You’re walking sideways. Are you neurotic? 

Viktor (looks around.) Dina Fedorovna, someone called out my name.

Dina When?

Viktor Just then … and before, as well …

Dina Impossible, you’re hearing things.

Viktor A woman’s voice …

Dina I didn’t call out your name.

Viktor That's just it, it wasn’t you …

Dina (looks around.) You’re kidding!

Viktor I couldn’t have been mistaken the second time … My name … My name twice, and something else about … Such a …

Dina Look at me.

 

The man looks at her.

 

What name? Look at me! Don’t look away. Look me in the eyes – what name? … Are you delirious? Calm yourself, sit down.

 

                                         The man is silent and sits down.

 

Now listen to me. Very carefully. And concentrate … I’ll wait. (She waits.) Are you concentrating? Now remember, in this flat … in this room … (She stares at him.) in this room you never – can you hear me properly? – you will never hear another woman’s voice. As long as I’m alive!

Viktor But the voice? I heard a voice …

Dina I said and I repeat again: Not unless you outlive me! Is that clear?

Viktor What … what do you mean?

Dina Don’t pretend!

Viktor I’m not pretending, Dina Fedorovna, I heard a woman’s … Maybe I …

Dina Stop it! Just stop it please! I beg you, stop it! Stop it! (She cries.) You don’t like my voice? … No-one’s forcing you to stay! ...  I’ll manage! … Get out and go to hell … I’m used to this! … (She sobs.)

 

The man is taken aback; he gets up; what is he to do – nobody is preventing him from leaving – he’s been told she’ll manage … He stands there as though lost. He makes as if to go and then he makes as if to stay. Gradually the woman calms down. She sobs and shakes in turn…

 

Viktor Please don’t be angry. Because … perhaps I’m not worth it and your crying is wasted. You’re a lovely woman …you can…you know how to live …Whereas I …It was probably stupid of me to hope … But you see, you can’t run from hope …The moment you recover from past disasters – you start hoping again … I shouldn’t have come. I’m sorry.

Dina (sits down, fills her glass and drinks.) I’m hoping too … Fool that I am, I keep on hoping and hoping … (She looks at the man.) Are my hopes wasted? … It’s best you don’t say anything. You don’t look too hopeful.

Viktor I’d like you to hope.

Dina I’m not twenty years old, Viktor Petrovich. I might die soon.

Viktor Let’s not talk about death. What we know of it is sad and incomprehensible…

Dina But I have a sense of foreboding.

 

The man takes out a cigarette; he thinks.

 

You’re not saying anything …Of course you’re not saying anything …You’re right.

Viktor Run away.

Dina Where to?

Viktor We’re people we need ties. Otherwise we die. We can’t survive. So I’m not suggesting we try to run. What I’m suggesting, is … is people go to the chemist’s for medicine which is – useless. Useless, Dina Fedorovna. Do you want to know what I really think? I think that if we treated each other like human beings, pharmacists would have little to do … yes … I used to think we needed more medicine …whereas now … in a word … ties.

Dina (looks closely at the man.) Sit down.

Viktor Thanks. I’m not tired. (He looks around and then sits down.)

Dina Sit in the armchair – you didn’t much like the chair.

Viktor Dina Fedorovna, thank you, but I’ll sit on the chair.

(He moves into the armchair.)

Dina (fills the glasses.) Let’s drink. (She looks attentively at the man; who takes the glass.) Wait. Don’t hurry. Let’s take our time. What shall we drink to?

Viktor You suggest something … I don’t know … I agree already …

Dina Down with hypocrisy! No objection?

Viktor No.

Dina Right then. (She drinks.)

 Viktor (is not drinking and he looks at the woman.) And is it possible? You think it’s possible?  A simple, kind relationship?  Not false, not cruel. You believe in that?

Dina What to believe, who to believe. They tell you one thing today, tomorrow you discover it’s different. I drank to ‘down with hypocrisy!’ Drink to it if you want to, if not go home. Personally I …

 

Without pausing for breath the man drains his glass.

 

Was it good?

 

The man shrugs his shoulders and nods his head.

 

 You can smoke if you really want to.

 

The man gets out his matches and strikes one.

 

I’ll have to air the room anyway after you’ve gone.

 

The man puts out the match without having taken a light from it.

 

I’ll eat an apple. (She eats an apple.) Did you come here to marry me? No need to look at me with those wide eyes; we’ve already drunk a toast to ‘down with hypocrisy!’

 

There’s a pause.

 

Why don’t you say anything? Well? To marry me or not to marry me? Or did you just come here to amuse yourself, have a bit of fun – is that it?

Viktor No, not at all.

Dina The woman’s got a flat, she’s got furniture, you can come and go as you please is that it? … To marry or not to marry?

Viktor You mean what’s the … the final goal? Honestly … I don’t know … maybe … somehow … we should get to know each other a bit better?

Dina And then get married? Yes or no?

Viktor Let’s … I don’t know, let’s … Let’s …Well let’s!

Dina I’ll tell you, honestly. I’ve been fooled enough in this life. How much can a person take? You can’t go on and on with it. You get fed up. Aren’t you fed up?

 

The man thinks about whether this bores him.

 

Personally, I can’t take it any more. You meet full of joy and you part full of hate. I’m fed up with it, Viktor Petrovich, with this kind of ‘pleasure’… I give all my affection to scum. All the tenderness I have – turns out he’s married. After two months I open his passport and … there it is. You believe in people! …  I was six months with another one! … already loved him, felt as though we were made for each other! … The swindling sod had kids already! Only had change left from his salary – talked as though he’d a million and a half! … A lout. I offer you, he says, my hand, my heart and something else …What do I want with his hand? What the hell can I do with his heart? I need a man beside me and not … (Suddenly she stops short and looks at the man.) We’re not children any more, I propose we skip several stages. Let’s say we’ve already met, we’ve got to know each other and we like each other – you like me, I like you, we’ve paid compliments to each other, we keep on meeting, we keep on meeting  and … what happens next?

Viktor Next? …

Dina Next.

Viktor Maybe … You suggest.

Dina Do you like me? ‘Down with hypocrisy!’ – we drank to it.

Viktor I’ve already liked you for a week.

Dina Are you serious?

Viktor Yes. I’m telling you honestly: it’s been easier for me, because I didn’t come to you blindly. You see … please, don’t be angry with them: Zhora and Anya showed me your photograph.

Dina Which? The one with me in the swimsuit?

Viktor You‘re standing, there’s dark blue sea behind you.

Dina (puts out the light and switches on the slide projector; she is on the screen and behind her is the dark blue sea.) This one?

Viktor (looks carefully). No…in the one I saw you were, I think …sideways on …

Dina (changes the slide) This one?

Viktor (looks carefully) No, in the one I saw you were, if I’m not mistaken … I actually remember it very well, Dina Fedorovna,  in the one I saw you were turned … like this … towards me … as if … showing your other side … But this one … these ones I like them as well.

Dina Alright then. (She puts on the light.) I remember: I gave that photograph to Anya myself. So they didn’t send someone in vain. A man should know who he’s headed for, and what he’s coming for. How do you feel?

Viktor I …Well, you know …

Dina What?

Viktor I think I feel fine. Thank you.

Dina Not at all. Would you like something to drink, some sweets?

Viktor No. Well I … you know … I hardly ever drink … sometimes, yes

Dina Then drink. (She fills his glass and hands it to him.)

Viktor Thank you. I really don’t want ... (He takes the glass.)

Dina And a sweet. Drink. Drink …Come on ...To get over our initial embarrassment. Alright?

Viktor Thanks. (He drinks)

Dina And the sweet.

Viktor Thanks.

Dina How is it?

Viktor Thanks.

Dina Don’t mention it. You feel relaxed? I feel relaxed.

Viktor You’ve got a nice place, I like it. Thanks, I feel relaxed.

Dina The first step’s the hardest of all. Have an apple.

Viktor No I don’t want one, thanks, please don’t worry … (He takes an apple and bites into it.)

Dina I’ll help you, is that alright? It doesn’t worry you?

Viktor Very much…No, thanks!

Dina Not all people are loutish. Sometimes you meet a modest person, a shy person. You have to help people like that. I’ve got some good music, we can dance.

Viktor I agree, one should help. But it’s difficult. You have to have a gift for it. As with everything.

Dina (near the music centre). Who said it was easy? It’s what experience is for. We don’t live for nothing after all … do you want quick or slow?

Viktor I don’t know … it’s all the same.

Dina I like slow.

Viktor I like slow too.

Dina And how do you like to dance – close together, apart? Nowadays people dance – he’s over there, she’s over there, there’s a distance between them – they get no pleasure from their partner. What's the point of dancing if you don't enjoy it?  People didn’t used to dance so far apart; they were closer to each other. (She switches on the music.) No, it’s too fast … (She changes it.) This one is sort of …

 

Magical music is heard, very well known, ‘Love Story’.

 

Viktor Leave it on, please!

Dina You like it?

Viktor Very much! … May I?

Dina Of course.

 

They dance.

 

Viktor (elevated and tactful). A long time ago, when this tune was very, very popular …There was a radio repair shop upstairs … I was working as a pharmacist in a chemist’s which was on the floor below the radio repair shop … Can you imagine, from morning till night for a year or more they played this beautiful, this …Whenever I hear it, I have a feeling of longing for … I feel that this music is love itself! … If love exists in the world then this is what it is like …

Dina You don’t feel the tune like you should. I’d better lead. (She puts her arms round him and leads with great feeling.)

 

They dance. The music finally stops. They both stand, clinging to each other and not moving. She doesn’t move and neither does he. She sighs very, very deeply and sadly. He sighs very, very deeply and thoughtfully.

 

I haven’t danced with a man for ages …

Viktor Me neither.

Dina If you were to kiss me – it would be perfect.

 

There is a pause.

 

Viktor May I?

 

The woman closes her eyes and offers her lips. He kisses her.

 

Dina What? (She looks at the man in surprise.)

Viktor What?

Dina I’m not your sister...

Viktor (laughs awkwardly). I’m sorry … I don’t understand … is something wrong?

Dina Who was it you were married to, that you kiss like that?

Viktor I’ve always kissed like that, what’s …?

Dina Come here, just come here … (She pulls him over.)

 

The man offers his lips. The woman kisses him – and it’s not the kiss of a sister. She then looks at him attentively.

 

Well?

 

The man sighs very, very deeply.

 

What’s the matter with you, Viktor Petrovich?

Viktor I’m crazy for you! (He embraces the woman very decisively.) What a woman you are!.. (He kisses her.)

Dina You don’t think we’re going too far? (She kisses the man.)

Viktor Suddenly I feel so good. So warm … (He laughs.)

Dina (smiles). No more women’s voices?

Viktor No more!

Dina Can you see me properly?

Viktor Dina Fedorovna, I’m dazzled and I see nothing! You’re so beautiful, so wonderful, thank you!

Dina Not at all. Do you like me a lot?

Viktor Very much! I haven’t liked anyone so much for ages …Thank you.

Dina Not at all.

Viktor Can I put the same one on again? (He quickly goes over to the music centre.)

Dina (restrains him.) No. (She herself goes over and ‘puts the same one on’.)

 

Music

 

Viktor (comes over quickly and embraces her). How wonderful love and music are!

Dina Do you like it?

Viktor Like is not the word.

Dina Then you lead when we dance.

Viktor I will!

 

Beautiful love and music are in the air. The man and the woman have a wonderful time – they are dancing.

 

Dina Are you longing for …?

Viktor Yes …Thank you.

Dina Not at all.

 

They dance.

 

Viktor Dina Fedorovna …

Dina What?

Viktor Shall we kiss?

Dina Yes.

 

They kiss.

 

Viktor Thank you.

Dina Not at all.

 

They dance.

 

Viktor Dina Fedorovna …

Dina What?

Viktor This is wonderful …

Dina It is.

Viktor Don’t you think this is amazing?

Dina I do …

Viktor (sighs). Me too … May this go on for a long, long time.

Dina Absolutely.

Viktor On and on, ending - never, never falling apart, on through the tests of time, on through daily boredom, on through life, – may it go on?

Dina Of course.

Viktor I like you very much. I like everything about you Dina Fedorovna, but most of all your optimism! How beautiful your optimism is. Optimism, Dina Fedorovna, is the most important thing in life – I realised that recently. Let’s kiss again – it’s such a pleasure!

Dina Let’s.

 

They kiss.

 

Viktor Look at me and smile at me, just like that, forever. If it’s not too difficult. That smile suits you so well … No, Dina Fedorovna, not like that, that’s ever so slightly … coquettish. But before you gave me a smile … that one’s nice, I like it, it’s very nice, but the playful one – that’s it! Smile like that! …

Dina (smiles ‘like that’) Shall we kiss?

 

They kiss.

 

 Again.

 

They kiss again.

 

Viktor The music’s finished.

Dina You’re not bored with it?

Viktor Not at all! It could go on forever! … Our accountant resigned, she couldn’t stand it. She wrote: ‘This love story has already finished me off. Free me from my position before I go mad’.

Dina Silly woman.

Viktor For me it could go on forever, it doesn’t bore me, it doesn’t distract me.

Dina (switches off the music centre). It’s overheating. Let it rest a while. And you take a rest. Then we’ll dance again.

Viktor (flops down into the armchair). The music is beautiful, love is beautiful, everything is beautiful! …

Dina Why not just tell me that you like me, you feel good with me, and that’s why the music and everything else ... is beautiful.

Viktor You’re surprising … beautiful …a very wise woman. Don’t get angry … but we could’ve wasted so much time on all the so-called stages. And how long would that have taken, but thanks to you …

Dina Of course. When you’re twenty and you don’t know more than that, you can stretch things out take your time … but I won’t waste it ... I know there’s no value in these stages … none! You’re conning each other. It’s revolting. And what’s it for? This disgusting cabaret. The words seem normal. While you’re listening – normal Think about them … so stupid. They make me want to throw up. Why say them? Why listen? Well, alright, you have to do it with somebody! So you go to the cinema, the theatre, a restaurant. Not always a restaurant – not everyone’s got the money for that! Walks. To the park, the country or somewhere else. So what! What’s it for? You can’t get to know someone like that! Not a chance. Till you live with him. Till you see close up what kind of a louse he is. It’s all useless!

Viktor That’s interesting. But I still think …

Dina You get to know him, once you live with him … oh yes …

Viktor I was seeing my first wife for a year and eight months, before …

Dina That’s a lot!

Viktor Well, it was … some time ago …

Dina And when did you first kiss?

Viktor The thirteenth month …

Dina That took a long time. My first husband was already kissing me after about two days.

Viktor Dina Fedorovna it’s not in my character to … when I was … when I’d just finished college and actually … to be honest, while I was a student I wasn’t with anybody. At that time. During that … period … what mattered was to study. Maybe it was just me? Maybe it was the time? Most probably it was both. Yes, both the time and me … and other things … and then after college it was harder still … I saw what women feel about a man who works in a chemist’s. A man in a chemist’s? A woman in a steelworks? Maybe the complexes were mine, or I exaggerate, or I’m out of date. But whatever the reason, I was embarrassed. I hid what I did – and if it hadn’t been for my mother, my friends …

Dina You’d finished college and you were 22?

Viktor 23.

Dina 23. You weren’t interested in girls till you were 23! You had low blood pressure?

Viktor I had perfectly good blood pressure!

Dina Good? … Good? … I simply… I mean … what does it mean … waiting thirteen months?

Viktor With my second wife I only waited seven!

Dina Some people have children in seven months. I find it strange to hear that anyone has so much time!

Viktor Dina Fedorovna: I must tell you, I have an extremely high regard for women. I don’t know myself why it is, but I’m scared of offending a woman by a premature advance. It’s innate and probably there’s nothing … every time it’s the same: Maybe she doesn't like me? Doesn’t like my advance? … while I … how can I … when I don’t know?

Dina How can you know before you advance if a woman likes your advance or not?

Viktor Well, that’s just it, I don’t know!

Dina Then advance and find out!

Viktor But how can I advance if I don’t know!

Dina What kind of man are you?

Viktor I can’t go against my own nature! I’m made the way I’m made … I’m not forward … I can’t do …

Dina You have to change. You have to be stronger.

Viktor I know that. But I can’t be, it’s not me, and I don’t understand … how …

Dina Understand what? Even a boy can … Aren’t you ashamed? A chemist too! Get up.

The man stays sitting.

 

Come on. (She moves away from him.)

 

The man gets up reluctantly.

 

You’ve got up? Right, forget everything. We didn’t kiss, we didn’t do anything else. We’ve just been introduced. You are Vitia and I am Dina. Okay?

Viktor Dina Fedorovna.

Dina Drop the Fedorovna. Or should I call you Victor Petrovich.

Viktor For you – I’m Vitia.

Dina Well then – I’m Dina. For you. Vitia and Dina. Alright?

Viktor Alright

Dina Right, now you don’t find me unattractive?

Viktor (smiles). Let’s suppose not.

 Dina Suppose what? We’ll not be doing any supposing! I’m either attractive or unattractive. You find me unattractive?

Viktor I find you very attractive.

Dina I’m not unattractive then. Fine. Now we have to discover if I find you attractive or unattractive.

Viktor Well, you don’t find me unattractive.

Dina Stop fidgeting and stand still. I’m staging an experiment so you’ll not be so ignorant in future. Don’t smile. Stand up properly as though it’s for real. And say something.

Viktor What should I say?

Dina Whatever you like. Any rubbish. Say what everyone says – there’s no need to be original. The words don’t matter – what matters is how you … emotionally … infect each other … so mumble something.

 

The man is silent.

 

Come on, something, even if it’s stupid

Viktor Now …

Dina Yes, come on!

Viktor Dina Fedorovna …

Dina Oh! (She falls back and throws up her hands.) You! What a fright you gave me! Just keep away from me! I need to get my breath back. How dare you frighten me like that? What right do you have to go round frightening people like that – people aren’t pigeons! …

Viktor But, Dina Fedorovna …

Dina (blowing her nose noisily). What are you mumbling about, I don't have time. (She looks at the man who seems to be depressed) That was a brief encounter. You’d have to be a blockhead not to realise I don’t find you attractive. So how do you feel?

Viktor Very …

Dina You bet! You felt it at once didn’t you? That I’m not attracted to you? Totally unattracted.

Viktor You were transformed, I didn’t recognise you. If you’d been like that with me at the beginning, I’d probably have …

Dina Now I’ll show you – attracted. Say something. Go on, say something. No wait. Wait a moment. (She runs over to the mirror. She does her hair, puts on powder and lipstick and then returns and with a tender look of expectancy glances at the man.)

 

The man is amazed at the change. The woman seems confused. He laughs. She smiles.

 

Viktor Dina Fedorovna ...

Dina (She stays in the same place, but nevertheless she is rushing toward him.) What? You called my name? You did call it didn’t you? Or did I only imagine it?

Viktor Dina Fedorovna, you even …

Dina So you did call my name – Don’t speak you wonderful man! … No speak, speak again. I like it so much when you – especially you – pronounce my name with your lovely lips – you make it something so special. Say something else. No better stay silent!  No say something else. Well will you? You and nobody else but you. Will you speak my name over and over again – I’d be so grateful. I’ll listen with attention and hope for a better future, till I get tired of it. (She goes close to the man and blissfully closes her eyes.) Sing to me, sing to me. Love has wings like a bird – yes, yes …

Viktor Dina Fedorovna …

Dina What?

Viktor May I kiss you?

Dina Me? … (She opens her eyes wide and stares at the man as though seeing him for the first time.) What day of the week is it tomorrow?

Viktor Tomorrow … day of the week … May I …?

Dina Tomorrow is Sunday, because yesterday was Friday.

Viktor I don’t know, I can’t remember … So what? What does it matter?

Dina It matters a lot. I want to know if the Registry Office is open on a Sunday. It should be, after all it’s people’s day off – a great time to get married. What do you think?

Viktor What do you mean, get married? …

Dina Get married like everybody else. Why did you come here?

Viktor I thought …

Dina What?

Viktor I don’t know …

Dina You don’t know – then …

Viktor (quickly) I don’t know if it’s open or not!

Dina Why are you shouting? We’ll find out right now. (She walks over to the phone and sees that the receiver is lying beside the phone; she listens and blows into it.) Hello. Is anybody there? Anya … so you’ve been listening to everything? You heard  … what?… Alright, later, not now, we’ll talk tomorrow. (She puts down the receiver.)

Viktor Anya? Our Anya?

Dina Ours. Who else’s could it be. She heard everything, she says congratulations. She’s happy for us. Oh, why did I hang up, I wanted to ask her … (Dina calls back.) Why did you hang up? What? No … it’s not me hanging up, it’s you … alright don’t make such a fuss, just tell me … I said don’t make such a fuss, Anya, you were putting the receiver down and I was trying to ask you …Will you let me get a word in? Yes, I’ll consider it, but just let me speak. Thanks, I won’t forget, but just tell me is the Registry Office open on Sundays? … it is? …You’re sure? How do you know for sure? … Okay, tomorrow we’ll have a chat, I said tomorrow. (She hangs up the phone.) Her good friends Liusia and Mstislav got married the Sunday before last, so it’s definitely open. Are you pleased? (She looks happily at the man; he, it seems, is thinking over whether he is pleased or not.) Are you strong enough to lift me?

Viktor Now?

Dina You should be able to – you said you used to lift weights.

Viktor I haven’t for a long time. Shall we give it a try?

Dina Alright.

 

The man lifts the woman in his arms. He holds her.

 

Will you be able to walk with me?

Viktor I think … (He walks round the table.)

Dina It would be interesting to see how many times you can carry me round.

Viktor I don’t know, I’ll give it a try … I’ll try it … (With a laudable effort he goes round and round the table.)

Dina Two … three … four … try to keep going, it’s tough in training, easier in a fight … five … Do you like having me in your arms? Six … I want you to carry me out of the Registry Office, out of the Registry Office and into the car … Ow!

 

The man unexpectedly stumbles and both of them fall to the floor.

 

Viktor Dina Fedorovna!

 

The woman does not stir at all.

I stumbled, Dina Fedorovna, it was an accident, believe me, an accident, are you alright?

 

The woman does not answer.

 

Are you hurt? … Please forgive me, are you hurt? … (He looks all around, lifts her, takes her over to the armchair; he takes her pulse; incidentally, in his agitation, he puts his ear to her breast.)

 

The woman affectionately strokes the man. He carefully listens to the beating of the woman’s heart. She strokes the man with both hands.  He calms down and is all ears.

 

Dina D’you feel good, Viktor Petrovich?

Viktor (afraid even to make the slightest movement). Yes. And you?

Dina Did you get a fright?

Viktor I did ... If anything happened to you …

Dina Would you be sorry?

Viktor It would be my fault … I don’t know how … For me, the grief would …

Dina Darling … (She strokes the man.) You’re a darling … (She strokes him.) Perhaps I’m attracted to you … (She strokes him.)

Viktor I’m attracted to you so, so much …

Dina You’re a good man – I felt it at once … (She strokes him.)

Viktor And you are a good woman … from the outset  you seemed … but actually you’re very, very …

Dina My darling, darling, my very own darling pharmacist … How attractive you are …

Viktor As a person you are very attractive … As a woman you are very attractive …

Dina I think you’re a very attractive person too …

Viktor You are divinely attractive … In this world there are not many as attractive as you …

Dina I’m not used to this … I’m so touched by all this … so pleasantly attracted …

Viktor I too … am so pleasantly attracted … Thank you …

Dina It’s a pleasure …

The light slowly dims.

 

 

 

 

                                             

PART TWO

 

 

The same place several hours later. The woman is sitting on the sofa. She wears a pretty dressing gown. The man wears no jacket, trousers or tie but has his socks on. He is also on the couch but lying down. His head rests in the woman’s lap and he is smoking with obvious pleasure. He hardly inhales – brings the ashtray right up to his nose and deftly flicks  ash into it.

 

Dina Men are children! …

The man blows blue smoke rings into the room. At first the woman admires them, then she frowns.

Vitinka that’s the third you’ve smoked in a row. Go on like that and you’ll die too soon. We haven't lived yet ...

Viktor (He takes the ashtray from her and puts out his cigarette.) Sorry,

(He hides the ashtray under the couch.) I’m used to … living carelessly. (Again he blissfully stretches.) I’ll try to smoke less. Yes, definitely now I’ll …

Dina You should give up completely. That’s what they say you should do in the papers, so you should. Smoking Can Seriously Damage Your Health … don’t try being smarter than everybody else. (She carefully takes his head from her lap and gets the ashtray from under the couch.) I’ll empty this. I hate it sitting there poisoning everything. (She goes out.)

 

The man with great pleasure stretches again and smiles blissfully. He laughs quietly, probably at something private. Gets up, puts on his trousers, sorts out his shirt, goes over to the window and takes a deep breath. The woman returns.

 

Viktor Ah! (He embraces her.) The rain will never stop! ...

Dina (laughs). Darling, you’re choking me … Please be more gentle, I like gentle men …You’re so inexperienced …

Viktor I’ll learn. The beautiful and endless rain! …

Dina Don’t worry, it’ll end. Everything ends in the end. The rain will end.

Viktor You’re a philosopher, Dina Fedorovna.

Dina Dina (Drop the Fedorovna)

Viktor Dear Dina, you are my little philosopher.

(He looks at his watch.)

Dina Yes I’m a philosopher. And you know what, my love? Some of my philosophy makes people sick.

Viktor That’s a shame…

Dina What?

Viktor It’s getting late.

Dina I won’t let you go. Where are you to go? You’re lonely. Tomorrow we’re getting married, and it’s night, and …

Viktor You see … (He looks at his watch.) I feel so good! (He kisses her.)

Dina (She moves away a little.) It’s good that you feel good. I’m pleased you feel good. And you should feel good! Even when things are bad – you should still feel good.  (She tickles the man with her little finger.) I won’t let you go. You’re all mine now. You’re caught.

 

The man sneezes loudly. The woman is afraid, then laughs. He smiles, confused. She laughs.

 

Well, what? …

Viktor Tonight, just now, I realised, it takes so little to be happy! …

Dina (through her laughter). What’s that? What did you say?

Viktor We live, and … often we don’t know what it is we want …but we want … (He sneezes loudly.)

Dina Bless you

Viktor  It turns out we want love.

Dina Doesn’t matter what we want.  What matters is what we’re given.

Viktor It’s given to each of us, me … you. One simply has to want it very much. Very much. Love – it’s … it opens your eyes to everything in a new way. Isn’t that so?

Dina And closes them.

Viktor No – it opens them to yourself. You discover hidden in yourself, revealed to yourself, yourself. We don’t know ourselves. We don’t love ourselves. We know nothing. Do we? Does not loving mean knowing nothing of ourselves? It seems to me that you can live your whole life … and about yourself, know … Do you feel good? I want to realise who I am. I want you, and also, you know … Do you feel good?

Dina Good, good, but don’t talk so much. The evil eye, Viktor Petrovich.

Viktor Vitia

Dina Yes, Vitia

Viktor But you understand – don’t you?

Dina I do.

Viktor What?

Dina I understand everything. I don’t talk about it – but I understand it. Everything you need to understand I understand.

Viktor  I don’t understand a thing! …

 

They kiss.

 

Mmm!

Dina Aah …

Viktor Feel good?

Dina Mmm …

Viktor No, please tell me. Spit it out.

Dina What?

Viktor Do you feel good with me?

Dina (tries to get out of it.) Mmm …

Viktor Please answer, it’s important to me … are you feeling good?

 

A pause.

 

Bad? Good? Not bad? Not good?

A pause.

Maybe you feel nothing or just alright?

Dina Men …you always want to know so much so soon. If I indulge you, I'll regret it.

Viktor  Regret what? Are you afraid that I … But I  …

Dina What? D’you think I’d know a man for two or three hours and tell him everything?

Viktor Please don’t treat me like everybody else. It would be better, really. I don’t understand. Why you are afraid to tell me something that it would be a pleasure for me to hear?

Dina Listen to him!

Viktor Are you feeling good? Tell me ... Will you tell me or not?

 

Pause. The man and the woman look at each other.

 

If you don’t, I’ll suffer. The moment I leave, the moment I’m alone … please tell me.

Dina I don’t get it. What’s the hurry?

Viktor That’s it! Ok! Look at me like that and don’t turn away.

 Dina Well? (She looks at him ‘like that’.)

Viktor I’m not afraid to give you what you deserve. I’m not hiding anything.

 

As before, the woman, not relaxing, looks at him ‘like that’.

 

I like you very, very much. Very, very much.

 

She is silent and keeps looking.

 

Now tell me.

 

Dina What?

Viktor You know.

Dina I don’t know anything.

Viktor You know or you don’t know? Or you just don’t want to?

Dina I won’t tell you.

Viktor Why not?

Dina Because I won’t. That’s enough. I’m afraid.

Viktor But why? Why? …I don’t understand what you’re afraid of.

Dina Viktor Petrovich, I’m afraid of everything.

Viktor And, Dina Fedorovna, does that include me?

Dina Don’t complicate things.

Viktor You’re really afraid of me?

Dina Now you’re not a stranger – I have to fear you …

 

Silence.

 

Viktor Are you serious? ... Or joking? …

 

The woman moves her finger over his lips, his chin and then she turns and does not look. She settles down on the armchair. She sighs heavily.

 

You’re not joking? ...Then should I get lost? To the four corners of the earth? Just get lost ...

Dina (looks at him, narrowing her eyes). Excuse me, are you a fool?

Viktor An idiot.

Dina Keep on being such an utter fool and you’ll certainly end up a total idiot. If  I could …(And she stares at the man.) I’d tie you up, very, very tightly…

Viktor Me?

Dina …your arms and your legs …

Viktor Me?

Dina … I’d keep you here close to me, right here, my whole life…Right up to the moment of my death. You’d lie here, so nicely, so close to me that I’d always … and never go nowhere!

 

 Silence. Suddenly the man jumps on to the sofa, flops down on his stomach, puts his hands behind his back and breathes heavily. The woman looks at the man in amazement.

 

Viktor If what you said … is the case … genuine! … if it’s the truth! Then tie me up! … Tie me up! … I’m fed up of  being lonely! … I’m fed up of everything … come on … tie me up … swaddle me … as you wish … as hard as you can … I’m ready … as long as I’m … damn, damn, damn …(He starts to sob, face down on the cushion, he trembles and twitches; finally he calms down.)

 

                      The woman contemplates the conquered man in silence. Then she gets up, goes to the wardrobe, takes out a belt and tests its strength.  She walks over to the man and strokes him tenderly on the back of his head. She then carefully places his hands together, strokes him again and whispers softly: ‘Shush, Shush…’  She ties his hands tightly behind his back. The man is silent. He hadn’t quite realised that his request would be carried out so simply. He lifts his head and turns it, probably trying to see over his shoulder. But, sadly, he can’t see anything…

 

Dina (tying carefully). It doesn't hurt?

 

The man gives a short and nervous laugh.

 

Don’t move or I can’t do it (She goes on tying). Well, how’s that?

 

 

The man helplessly turns his head.

 

Satisfied?

 

Viktor My darling, are you serious?

 

The woman quietly checks her handiwork.

 

Ow!

 

Dina What is it?

Viktor You’ve made your mind up? To tie yourself  to me? In spite of …?

Dina (starts to sing) I want to be loved by you, just you and nobody else but you. (Unexpectedly she is severe.) I recommend you don’t think too highly of yourself.

Viktor To tie yourself …to me…that’s interesting …Why would you do that? you’re a surprising woman …

What do you need me for? … I’m a burden to everyone. On my way here … I was on my way to you and I was thinking: shall I tell her honestly, that with me … that from me …you can’t, do you understand?..

Dina  Of course I can! Shall I untie you?

Viktor No! You didn’t understand: I’m fine, I’m fine with you, it’s great with you and you’re amazing, but …

Dina I don’t get it. What are you not satisfied with?

Viktor Myself. Only myself!..

Dina Shall I untie you? Does it hurt?

Viktor I don’t know …

Dina If you’re going to be as vague as that!..

Viktor I won’t be! I need nothing else. I’ve decided, everything will be as you say, only … Your hand to your head … (Tied, he tries to indicate that he means his forehead.)

 

The woman puts her hand to her own forehead.

 

To mine! – What’s yours is mine and what’s mine is yours.

                              

She puts her hand to his forehead.

 

Thanks.

 

Dina Not at all.

There’s a pause.

 

Viktor (kisses her palm warmly and shouts.) I want to live so much! … At last I want to live!..

I like living and loving! I feel wonderful, I so want to …

Dina (closes his mouth.) Shush, Shush … Don’t shout like that, people will hear you.

Viktor Wonderful!

Dina Not so loud – we’ve got 25% audibility between these flats.

Viktor Let them hear at least 25%.

Dina Shush, everyone’s in bed.

Viktor People … are asleep … but we feel good. …They’re sleeping …but we’re feeling good …

Dina We’re feeling good, but that doesn’t mean they are.

Viktor They feel today like I felt before – not right. And do you know why that is?

Dina I do.

Viktor They don’t love as they should.

Dina Who doesn’t?

Viktor Everybody!

Dina Viktor Petrovich, how do you know how everybody loves?

Viktor I know from my own experience. Days without love – they are … I don’t know what they are – days without love … Fruitless, senseless, foolish …One can’t recollect them, they’re – empty …You know, I want to … I’m trying to recollect the past, but I can’t – it’s empty!..

 

Dina (strokes him on the back of his head).

Viktor No, I remember everything!..

Dina So you’ve remembered.

Viktor I remember that there was nothing … emptiness – A long waiting for something … something or other … or other or something or other…Life went past!..

Dina Oh dear, how we complain, how we feel sorry for ourselves …

(She strokes him.) It’s not all past, there’s still some left but … Some men are made so strangely. In the beginning everything feels good, and then they start to moan, just like children, so that you’ll comfort them. What’s wrong? Don’t cry, don’t frown, come here my little one, I’ll make it better …You’re so eager!

Viktor Our best years are down the drain ...

Dina Are your elbows numb?

Viktor Everything should be different, should have been different!..

Dina (leans over and whispers in his ear). I was asking, have your elbows gone numb?

Viktor Everything’s gone numb … my elbows, my life, my soul – everything!

 

 

                                                          Silence.

 

Pins and needles in my elbows … cold then hot.

Dina : You’re not bored just lying there?

Viktor Dina Fedorovna: I used to write poetry … No doubt you’ll say that everybody does – well, I myself know that everybody does, but even so … I dreamt of becoming a writer and ended up a chemist. Why did that happen?..

Dina It’s a good profession. Someone like yourself might even envy you – someone who dreamt of being a chemist and ended up a writer! I was asking you – aren’t you tired, just lying there like that?

 

The man is silent.

 

When you get bored with it, let me know.

Viktor I won’t get bored with it. I was bored. I want, at last, to be tied up. My hands and feet. Is there … in this house … Tie my feet … please …very, very tightly … so that I can’t  move! ... or twitch! …or fidget! – so that I can’t run!

Dina How can I refuse. (She goes to the cupboard and takes out a small belt and ties the man’s feet.)

Viktor (while he is being tied up he keeps saying in despair). That’s how … how I need it … I need it like that … it’s the only way with me … like that … tighter, tighter please …

Dina Maybe that’s enough.

Viktor Oh, it hurts …(He groans)

Dina Where?

 

The man rubs his nose against the couch.

 

What are you mumbling? I don’t understand.

Viktor A sharp pain in my back.

Dina Whereabouts?

 

He groans; she tries to find the place in the small of his back where the pain is.

 

Viktor No, not there …

Dina Further up?

Viktor More to the left…

Dina You have ribs like a radiator. Only cold.

 

A laughing fit seizes him and contorted, he almost falls on to the floor. She just manages to catch him. Just as quickly as he started laughing, he falls silent. He breathes heavily.

 

Is that funny?

Viktor Ha! Ha! Ha!

Dina I think so too. Ha! …

 

The man rubs his nose against the couch.

 

You’ll break your nose and you’ll be an ugly, noseless man. Here, I’ll scratch you a bit. (She scratches his nose for him.) Stay still! Like that, don’t fidget about or I’ll …(She scratches him.)

Viktor The wings of the nostrils … the wings, please …

Dina What do you mean wings? Are these what you call wings? … (She scratches what the man has called the wings of his  nostrils.)

Viktor That’s good … Everything’s good …

Dina Do you want me to scratch you anywhere else?

Viktor (sighs). No thanks.

Dina Alright then. (She sits down beside him and runs her hand over the back of his head.)

 

A pause.

 

Viktor Do you know what I’m thinking about?

 Dina Don’t think.

Viktor I’m thinking about …

Dina Don’t think about anything.

Viktor No, I want to think.

Dina Then think.

    

The man is silent.

 

Alright then, what are you thinking about? (She runs her hand along the back of his head as before.) I’m asking you what it is you’re thinking about.

Viktor Please carry on … please stroke me.

Dina (She takes away her hand.) First of all, tell me what you’re thinking about and then there’ll be more stroking. Well?

Viktor God knows! ... I’ve never made anyone happy! Alright … I’ll tell you what I’m thinking only please don’t think …

Dina I won’t.

Viktor No, don’t think that I’m not genuine … I probably don’t deserve your … thank you Dina Fedorovna

Dina Don’t complicate things

Viktor Thank you.

Dina And have you made anyone unhappy?

Viktor People can be unhappy by themselves – they don’t need any help from me. I’ve never made anyone happy. That’s abnormal. Please, on my back … put me on my back … it’s hard without eyes … I want to talk to you and to see your eyes – you have wonderful …

 

The woman turns the man onto his back.

 

Thanks, that’s fine.

Dina Not at all.

Viktor Now I can see … that’s fine. Thanks … It’s quite comfortable being on your hands – I didn’t realise that. … From now on I’ll always be like this … I’m fine, I’m looked after, I’m tied, I have attachment … I’m fine and … need … nothing.

Dina And you’ll stay here lying like this?

Viktor Like this – here – I will! ...

Dina For a long, long time?

Viktor For a long, long time!

Dina And I’ll feed you with a little spoon, three times a day.

Viktor I’ve never been fed so often – not even on honeymoon! …

Dina Every third day there’ll be meat, every fourth there’ll be fish and on the other days it’ll be milk, yogurt and vegetables. Alright?

Viktor I’ve never been so well …

Dina Right, tomorrow I’ll go to work and ask for my three days off. Oh, I forgot: tomorrow is Sunday and we’re getting married. Then we’ll have the statutory three days together and I can also take a further four. That means I won’t go back to work till next Monday and until then … But don’t think it’s easy to arrange - my job is … well there’s so much work …

Viktor    Oh …

Dina A telephone centre – the exchange! …Do you understand what that means? – the exchange!

Viktor Dina Fedorovna, may I ask …

Dina

Viktor Do you feel the importance of what you do? Feel the necessity of it … do you feel that?

Dina What do you mean?

Viktor Well …I don’t know … that without you it would be difficult for everyone … that what you do makes a difference … that without you, things wouldn’t be the same?

Dina My girls tell me straight: Dina Fedorovna – when you’re not here it’s not work, it’s hard labour. And the boss looks me right in the eyes and says – ‘we would die without you’. I know what he’s talking about. I can really talk to people, sort out all the complaints. What can I say! Without me they’d never see a bonus.

Viktor You Dina Fedorovna, are very lucky.

Dina Yes, of course!

Viktor I’ve been working for 22 years and I don’t have any feelings like that.

Dina Where on earth do you get your hair cut? Who cuts your hair?

Viktor I don’t know … I don’t remember … somewhere or other … I have a chronic feeling of unfulfilled destiny …

Dina Your hair’s been really badly cut.

Viktor And the years have flown past in vain …

Dina Don’t get your hair cut there any more. I’ll tell you where to go – in fact, I’ll take you there myself.

Viktor Where? …

Dina To the hairdresser’s.

Viktor What for?

Dina A decent haircut. Are you hungry? I’ve got some meatballs in the fridge.

Viktor I’ve already eaten meatballs today.

Dina So we’re going to be picky with our food are we? You had hot ones, these are cold.

Viktor I’d like to know what a human being needs to be happy …

Dina What a human needs or what you need?

Viktor What I need …what a human needs … What, am I  really not …

Dina I knew someone who used to repeat the same thing endlessly, over and over. ‘I want something. I don’t know what it is, but I want something.’ I want, I want. What do you want? ‘I don’t know what I want … something.’ Guess what he’s up to now?

 

The man is silent.

 

Lives with a friend of mine. She worked him out. She’s about to bring him something too – she’s in her eighth month already. For happiness you need one, a wife, two, a flat, three, children, and number four is everything else.

Viktor Scratch me, please, behind my left ear.

Dina (scratches him behind his left ear). So, Viktor Petrovich, live more simply.

Viktor Simply, simply Dina Fedorovna – but how?

Dina Like everybody else.

Viktor But suppose you have the things you mention and still don’t feel good. Then how?

Dina Don’t shout at me. Live more simply still.

Viktor But nobody … Dina Fedorovna, nobody lives simply. Sometimes you meet people and you think ‘They must be happy!’ Then you look more closely … and you see there are as many sufferings and joys as there are people … and so much of everything … How can you help a man whose wife no longer loves him? … Is there a medicine for that? Of course not. And such suffering is unbearable …

Dina Is he a good man?

Viktor I don’t know, we're neighbours … he’s probably good … all people are good, I don’t understand this good-bad thing … he’s probably good …

Dina I was asking how old he is, what he does, whether he’s attractive or unattractive, interesting or uninteresting … What kind of man is he?

Viktor He’s ordinary … An engineer … about – I don’t know how old he is …  fortyish … it’s not important – the important thing is it’s impossible to help.

Dina You’re frowning again. Big wrinkles on your forehead. An old man already. (She runs her hand over all the wrinkles on his brow.)

Viktor Forget about helping – I can’t even understand.

Dina Don’t frown.

Viktor (explodes as though he’s been thrown up from the couch). I want to understand what I am! …What I’m for, me in particular! … I can’t work it out! … Not for myself, not for others.

 

The woman tries to put him back on his back.

 

What can I be respected for? What can I respect myself for? What have I accomplished? And for what?!

She tries to calm him down. She strokes him.

 

My life is over … Dina Fedorovna …

Dina The best is yet to come. Hope and wait …

Viktor No.

Dina Yes.

Viktor No, Dina Fedorovna, at forty-five …

Dina Viktor Petrovich, shall I bring you the meatballs? Quickly – which eye did that eyelash fall from? Quickly!

Viktor Oh, I’m so sad! …

Dina You didn’t guess. (She picks up the eyelash and puts it under the lampshade, carefully moving it from hand to hand, looking carefully at it.) Look it’s grey, I didn’t know … eye-lashes went grey.

Viktor Nine hundred years ago people rarely lived to be thirty.

 

The woman slaps her hand from underneath.

 

Thirty years for a whole life … If you can you manage …

Dina Come on, fall! (She hits her hand with her other one.)

Viktor And I live as though I was going to live and live! … Maybe it would’ve been better for an ancestor to have had the extra years and for me to have been dead for at least ten or fifteen.

Dina What a stupid idea!

Viktor Dina Fedorovna, nine hundred years ago only a few people lived to be forty- five!

Dina I was wishing something, but the eyelash didn’t drop off. Of course it didn’t, because of your stupid idea! (She hits her hand.) Men amaze me, always thinking about death. Women never follow such a stupid train of thought. Women think  about how to stay alive so that their children will stay alive and yes, how that louse of a husband always thinking about death will stay alive.(She blows on the lash.) It’s stuck on. Even children, if they’re male … My Vovochka, growing up such a fool – don’t make a face, you’ll see for yourself – he asked me recently: Mum, it’s strange to think about but will I really die? … I touched his head and said to him why die, live, what’s wrong with your life? No, he said, not now, some time later! ... Oh, Vovochka, I tell him, we’ll all die some time later but in the meantime, live, I’m telling you, live! And he says: why was I born if I am to die? … (She sighs heavily.) such a little fool …

Viktor I’m such a little fool too.

Dina Well, not quite so little.

Viktor A huge old fool then.

Dina You’re not so old and you’re not the only fool: we all are, if you look closely, more or less.

Viktor Not all …

Dina Most

Viktor I didn’t know, Dina Fedorovna you had …

Dina Dina.

Viktor … that you have, I’m sorry … Dina Fedorovna … I didn’t know.

Dina You’ll like him, he’s a nice boy, studies at a technical college – communications. He’ll be a specialist like his Mum. Well? What are you thinking about? It’s a good profession to have: as long as people live they’ll need to talk with each other. Our boy’ll do well.

Viktor I didn’t know you … No, excuse me, I, it seems, I didn’t … I was used to you without a child and so suddenly thinking about you with a child … that suddenly …

Dina It’s not so sudden. He’s already 15, bless him. So what?

Viktor No, nothing, simply … He’s grown up … And where?

Dina What do you mean where?

Viktor Where is he?

Dina Right now?

Viktor Most of the time …

Dina In the cupboard. In a safe place. Don’t worry, he went off to spend the night with some friends in the student halls. He likes spending the night there. There’s a friendly, family atmosphere: boys and girls, girls and boys … Don’t worry, nothing will happen to your son.

Viktor To my son? But I have … I, you see, have, well – a daughter …

Dina I know … From your first marriage. Anya told me  – and married I believe?

Viktor She is …

Dina Sometimes you have to help out all the same – when she needs it. I still get something from my ex-husband for my son. It’s just peanuts, but still…it’s better than nothing, and from what mine gets, we can give something to yours occasionally. Although she’s married. What do you think?

Viktor I don’t know.

Dina What do you mean, you don’t know?

Viktor She doesn’t need anything.

Dina What do you mean she doesn’t need anything? Nothing at all?

Viktor Nothing. I don’t know, Dina Fedorovna, I don’t know. Let’s not bother with this! …I don’t know, don’t be angry, I don’t …

Dina What do you mean…you don’t know?

Viktor I don’t know because…God knows, she doesn’t need me. She doesn’t love me, she doesn’t know me, she doesn’t want me, and it’s better if we don’t talk about it! … She says: when you were young, you abandoned me and now you’re old, I don’t need you …

Dina She said that?

Viktor I didn’t abandon her. Her mother and I separated. I didn’t abandon her.

Dina How ungrateful! … Did you help her out with money?

Viktor It’s not that …

Dina No, tell me, did you help her or not?

Viktor I did help her, I did, of course … as much as I was able to, as much as I could help …

Dina Well, we won’t help her. We won’t help such a bitch!

Viktor And now that I’m old … I’m old? … How could I have abandoned her when I grew up without a father as well, Dina Fedorovna? … Dina Fedorovna, speaking as an expert, do I look very old?

 

The woman shrugs her shoulders.

 

I didn’t abandon her, you do believe me don’t you? … Am I old, am I very old?

Dina You’re just an ordinary man!

Viktor Are you saying this to calm me down?

Dina Ordinary. It’ll do for us, it’s fine. What matters most is if I like you. Well? You’ll do. You’ll do.

Viktor My daughter’s right: half my teeth have gone, the rest have fillings, my cheeks soon won’t have anything to support them. Are there bags under my eyes? (He moves and carefully tries to turn over on to his side.) You’ve already said so, bags … Yes, I can see, I’ve got bags …

 

She helps him to turn over on his side.

 

Not on to that one! The other one!..

Dina Hard to please, aren’t we … (She turns him round on his other side.)

Viktor My hand is numb! Completely numb – I can’t even feel it!

Dina Shall I untie you?

 

He is silent.

 

 

Your lips are trembling, you’re frowning … Are you offended?

 

The man is silent. She unties his hands.

 

There, there, my little one, are we in a bad mood?  You can tell me, I’ll take pity on you. Who else if not me?  My goodness, I’ve tied the knot too tight. Come on, my little one, over on your tummy … you’re not comfy like this … come on …

 

With her help he turns over on to his ‘tummy’.

 

Listen my boy … good little boy … silly little boy …

Viktor Fate has taken down my trousers and given me a good spanking!

Dina What did fate do to you? Fate’s not harmed you? You’re alive, healthy, well-fed, free. You’ve got a good job – you’re a pharmacist! You’ve got a roof over your head, you’ve had wives – two – and there’ll be more! Your daughter’s married, grandchildren will …

Viktor Daughters, roofs, grandchildren – all that’s terrible, all of it ..!

Dina Don’t make God angry, I don’t like it!

Viktor And you don’t understand me, Dina Fedorovna ..!

Dina I think I do understand you, Viktor Petrovich!

Viktor  No. Never! Nobody does! … I feel that nobody has ever, ever understood me, nobody, never.

Dina I understand everything! And people like you if you want to know … my goodness … you’re all the same!

Viktor That’s not true! We – are – all – different!

Dina How I despise you all!

Viktor (each word now comes with an effort, in spurts). A man, Dina Fedorovna! … Destiny! … Meaning! …

Dina What meaning do you have? What destiny do you have? Who are you? God Almighty? Why don’t you accept your place? What self-deceit! (She puts her teeth into the knot.)

Viktor No…Well, I don’t understand…You don’t want to understand, you can’t…Untie me and I’ll tell you ..!

Dina  Own!! (She gets up sharply, covers her face with her hands, turns away and stands as though frozen to the spot.)

 

Pause

 

Viktor What’s the matter? Dina Fedorovna? What’s the matter, tell me …What’s happened? Am I not attractive to you?  Why don’t you speak?

 

The woman leaves the room quickly. The man begins to twitch and shouts as loudly as he can after her.

 

It’s stupid! Ridiculous! I’m not God, but don’t I have the right to look into my soul?! My own soul!! Is that fair?!

 

In response there is silence. And the man calms down.

 

I want to know what I can, what I should, what I can hope for … (He turns round on his back.)

 

Silence.

 

The woman returns. She is covering her mouth with one hand, in the other she has a frightening kitchen knife. She stops and looks heavily at the man.

 

What’s the matter? Dina Fedorovna, what’s the matter? You’re pale, why, what’s…

Dina This isn’t convenient for me. On to your stomach.

Viktor I’ll leave if you don’t like me.

Dina Will I have to wait long?

Viktor What’s the matter? You look … Are you in pain?

 

She is silent.

 

Are you in pain? Because of me?

 

The woman is silent – in a threatening way. With unlikely strength the man quickly turns over onto his stomach.

 

Dina Don’t move or I’ll cut you. (She cuts the belt.)

Viktor Forgive me if I …

Dina What’s the use of forgiving you? Will it make me feel better?

Viktor (sits and rubs his numb wrists.) If it was because of me …Was it my fault?

Dina Shut up … (…She goes off under the lampshade and looks at herself in a small mirror.)

Viktor Dina Fedorovna …

Dina Go to hell! … What a man, I ask you!

 

The man tries to stand up. He can’t. He begins to untie his legs. The woman is under the lampshade, her eyes wide open and she is looking at herself in a small mirror. The man keeps trying to untie his legs but can’t. He looks at her. When she notices that he’s watching her, she turns her back on him in a deliberate way.

 

Viktor I’ve offended you … Forgive me …

 

Silence

 

I was talking about what tortures me, my doubts … Forgive me.

 

He reaches the table in little jumps and takes the frightening kitchen knife in his hands.

 

Dina (impulsively embraces him and presses herself to him). Take pity on me.

 

He stands up, spreading out his hands by his sides – he is afraid of cutting her.

 

Take pity on me. I’ve broken a tooth.

 

The man looks as though he has been crucified.

 

Ah … (She opens her mouth and shows him.) Can you see it?

Viktor (looks carefully) A filling …

Dina No, not there, further left – ah! … (She shows.) Ah!

Viktor (keeps looking.) You poor thing …

Dina Please take pity on me!

 

The man touches her shoulders slightly, she trembles and then she sobs.

 

Viktor Don’t …

 

She sobs more and more.

 

It’s not worth it.

Dina Please take pity on me …

Viktor Yes, Alright … (He carefully strokes her.)

Dina (sobs). Why does nobody feel sorry for me? (She sobs.) Why? (She sobs.) Because they think I’m made of steel, nobody pities me … (She sobs.)

Viktor You’re not made of steel, you’re human …

Dina Is it my fault that I’m like this?

Viktor You’re not to blame … Nobody’s to blame …

Dina I’ve had to do everything with my own hands … haven’t I?

Viktor You’re not to blame, of course not … of course not …

Dina Pity me, have pity on me!

 

With one hand the man comforts her but the knife still scratches the back of his head.

 

Nobody’s ever pitied me, nobody’s ever loved me properly …(She sobs.) God, why am I so unfortunate? What wrong have I done in my life – to anyone? Why is my life like this? I want to be pitied, but I … (She sobs.) Can you pity me?

Viktor (strokes her). You’re good, you’re not made of steel. You’re a brave, strong and persistent woman … (He strokes her.) You’ve overcome all difficulties and complexities on the path of life …

Dina All by myself.

Viktor All you want …you can do …

Dina I bought a flat in an apartment block … (She sobs.) A brick building, a balcony along the whole length of the flat, that you can go to any time … (She sobs.) I saved up for seven years, all by myself, and two to provide for, not a soul, nobody helped … (She sobs.) And the furniture? You see the furniture?

Viktor I see the furniture.

Dina All by myself, all …

Viktor All you want … (He strokes her.) You can do … (He strokes her.)

Dina (She sobs.) Is that normal?

 

The man’s hands fall down.

 

Take pity on me. Why don’t you pity me? You just won’t pity me! You’re so formal...

Viktor With all the tenderness in the world I pity you.

Dina I don’t feel that it’s with all of it.

Viktor Believe me, I pity you as much as I can.

Dina That’s not much! (She sobs.) Pity me! Pity me!

Viktor (He explodes.) I do pity you, I do! …

 

The woman looks carefully at the man. She moves away and sinks into the armchair. She hides her face. There is silence.

 

How else can I show it?

 

There is a pause.

 

I really don’t understand what I’m guilty of …Have I done something wrong? Did I not feel sorry for you properly … Should I pity you more? …

 

She stays quiet.

 

We hardly know each other … It’s hard for you to fully understand me … It’s hard for people who have known each other for a long time to do that … It’ll probably take time for you to understand that I … And do you think it’s a simple thing to pity someone? It’s a gift from God …

 

She raises her eyes. Her face is now calm and impassive.

 

Don’t you agree with me?

Dina The Indian Yogi. Who Are They?

Viktor Yogi?

Dina Who Are They?

Viktor They’re people …Why?

Dina And?

Viktor Are you serious?

Dina What?

Viktor Just why, I wondered … No. that’s rubbish …I get all mixed up in details and … maybe I’m mistaken and details are not just details, but the most important thing, and also the other way round … the most important things are details. Why yogi, … why not flying saucers?

Dina All evening you’ve been yelling at me as though I was your subordinate.

Viktor What do you mean yelling? (In a whisper.) I’ve never in my entire life yelled at anyone … it’s  not possible!

Dina (covers her ears). You’re yelling so much you’ll burst my eardrums!

Viktor (is really yelling). How can I burst your eardrums if I’m talking in a whisper?! You’re being very unfair to me! You are critical and pedantic. You’re capricious, your mood swings … I can’t keep up! … I can’t catch my breath! …We hardly know each other and you’ve constricted me so much. I feel oppressed! You’re no different from other women! …

Dina You fool.

Viktor You’re unfair to me, just like other women! …

Dina Well then, go to hell! (She gets up, seizes the knife from his hands and cuts the knots on his legs and returns to the armchair. She calms down.)

 

Silence. The man is free from the bindings but he is distracted. And it seems as though he is lost…

 

Viktor (quietly) You’re even chasing me away, like the other women …

Dina (explodes). I told you – go to hell

 ..!

He stands, with eyes cast down. What will he do – he is being chased out …He sorts out his shirt, fastens the collar, ties his tie. Goes towards the sofa, sits down and puts on his shoes.

 

He looks around in search of his other shoe. He looks under the sofa, he looks under the table and all around him, but cannot see it. He gets up and helplessly falls into the chair. He looks at the woman.

Viktor Have you by any chance seen my other shoe?

 

The woman looks unapproachable.

 

I’m sorry … It’s strange, I’ve got one of them, but the second one … Perhaps you’ve seen it?

Dina (absentmindedly shuffles round the flat and looks under the furniture). You ranted and raved like a madman! …I love, I love! …As though you were being hunted! …Good God, I’m not stupid! Do you think I believed a word of it? Do you? I’d sooner believe that I can’t trust my own senses …

Viktor (quietly) I said that I felt …

Dina Scum …

Viktor I said what I felt, I am not scum.

Dina Scum, you’re all scum!

Viktor You’re not fair to me, or the others.

Dina (in an articulate way). All men are scum and you are the first in line. (She sobs.) I haven’t a clue where your bloody shoe is – go and look for it yourself ..! (She leaves the room.)

 

Silence.

 

Viktor (shouts) If you’ve got trouble with your nerves, take some pills! …(He goes to the telephone and dials.) Taxi? (He puts down the receiver and dials again.) Hello, is that the taxis? Hello, I’d like to order a taxi, this … (He puts down the receiver and dials again.) Hello, information? Hello, a taxi number please …Sorry, I didn’t get the last two numbers …What was the number at the end? …Thanks. (He puts down the receiver and dials again.)

   

The woman appears at the door, throws a shoe at his feet and leaves. The man drops the receiver in surprise. He picks up the shoe, looks at it, measures it. He goes to the corridor and puts it in the doorway. He returns to the telephone.

 

Can I have a taxi please? Hello, hello, a taxi? Can you … Sorry, may I … Miss, please allow me to speak … for heaven’s sake let me order a taxi! Sorry, I don’t understand what you … How do you mean what for? Yes, I understand that it’s the middle of the night, but I’ve got to get home … To Alexander Blok St. …Where am I now? Now I’m, now … Now, just a minute, I’m not at home, in fact … (He takes some papers out of his pocket, looks at them, crumples them up; he obviously has not found the one he needs.) Now…this instant …Only please don’t hang up on me … (He puts the receiver beside the phone and walks to the door.) Dina Fedorovna…I understand that you …I can’t find where I wrote down your address …This shoe, excuse me … which you threw at me … it’s not mine … I’ve got light suede ones … Could you be so kind as to tell me your address? Where is it that you live? I irritate you – I understand that, I’m leaving, but …

 

Silence

 

(He explodes.) I can’t go out with just one shoe, people will think I’m a lunatic ..!

 

There is no reply.

 

And the streets are wet … (He goes back to the phone.) I can’t find my fucking shoe, Miss …Oh, I’m sorry, I mean address! …

Dina (appears at the door). Lev Tolstoy 15, flat 36, (She disappears.)

Viktor Lev Tolstoy St. 15, flat 36. The phone number? … Hang on a minute and … it’s unlikely, of course, but just a minute …(He shouts.) Dina Fedorovna, the phone number!..

 

Silence.

 

I already said … Miss do you really need the telephone number? You do? I’ll be downstairs, I’ll wait at the main entrance, as soon as the car comes I’ll get in, do you believe me? … And do you always do everything by the rules? That’s a pity … But what can I do if I don’t know it …that’s the way it’s happened. That’s the way it is Miss, and what can I do …

Dina (again she appears at the door). 335, 34, 33. (She disappears.)

Viktor (shouts straight away to the woman). 335 34 33. (He speaks to Dina.)Thanks. (Again speaking into the receiver.) What did you say? Lefelen. That’s my surname. Le-fe-len! I’ll spell it out letter by letter: L for love, E for exile, F for faith, E again for exile, L again for love, E for exile and N, at last, for nothing  Lefelen – that’s my surname! What do you need my first name for? …

Dina (appears and with a decisive gesture takes the receiver from him). Well, get on and send that car you fucking bitch! (She throws down the receiver.) Where do they get them from? The cow wears the shit out of you and only then sends a car!.. (She sinks down in the armchair and does not look at the man.)

 

Silence.

 

Viktor Forgive me, I …

 

They are silent.

 

Maybe I …Right …(He heads for the exit.) I’m just going … Sorry … (He leaves.)

 

Silence.

The woman gets up, she closes the door behind the man. She switches on the slide projector, looks at herself against the deep blue sea. In the light, the image is wishy-washy. She switches on music – the same as before … She stops near the lampshade, she pulls the fringe, it rocks, and down from it falls the suede shoe. She lifts this incomplete pair of shoes, looks at it…The bell goes. The woman slowly goes towards the intercom.

 

Dina Who’s there?

Voice Dina Fedorovna, it’s me again. You got it wrong, Dina Fedorovna: your address is Fyodor Dostoyevsky 15. You said Lev Tolstoy. The taxi will never come. There are puddles …

Dina A shoe's been found. It’s yours. It’s a suede one.

 

Silence.

 

You wanted a suede shoe and it has been found. Hello! Can you hear me?

Voice Yes.

Dina I said the shoe’s been found. A suede one.

Voice Thanks.

Dina Not at all.

Voice The music’s lovely …Thanks … Can I come in? …

 

There’s a pause.

 

No? ...

Dina Oh, for God’s sake, of course you can!.. (She goes out quickly and the lock is heard clicking in the door.)

 

There is music.

                                             

 

1978