The Conformist. City life scenes in four acts

Maxim Titovets

«В ежедневной суете мы не замечаем, как стареют наши родители. К сожалению, мы не замечаем, как меняются самые близкие нам люди, не видим и не слышим друг друга. И только в минуты горести начинаем обращать друг на друга внимание и прислушиваться к словам родных». Максим Титовец, 2017. Книга содержит нецензурную брань.

ACT 2

Scene 4

General Gromov’s countryhouse. It’s Monday, early morning. Leonid Fyodorovich and his wife are in the living room.

Gromov. Where could he be?

Lilia Vasilievna. Take your medicine, Lyonya. (She hands him some pills and a glass of water).

Gromov. My heart’s clenched. (Drinks) Dial him again.

Lilia Vasilievna. (Calls on her mobile) His phone’s turned off.

Gromov. Bastard! I’ll strangle him with my own hands!

Lilia Vasilievna. Will you stop your tantrum, sir?

Gromov. I’m sorry, darling. My nerves are frayed. Oh, Mitya, my Mitya…

Lilia Vasilievna. Could he get hold of a gun anywhere?

Gromov. Surganov says the shot was made from a gun. Now they’re conducting a ballistics test and taking data from the CCTV. My honorary weapon is in the safe, I’ve checked it. But it’s not a problem to find a piece in the city.

Lilia Vasilievna. Mitya couldn’t have done it. They’ve been friends with Nikolay since the third school year. They went to a language camp in London together. You know this well.

Gromov. Did you speak to Olga Vladimirovna?

Lilia Vasilievna. Yes, she’s shocked. She was on a business trip, but she came back at once and she’s now with him in the hospital.

Gromov. And this should happen right before the governor elections! I’ve been contacted by the central executive party committee. Take my car and go see her right now. Talk to her. I think Olga understands how serious this is. Nobody needs this fuss. We’ll deal with the media. Don’t give any comments or interviews. I’ll go to my office and make a few calls.

Gromov and Lilia Vasilievna leave.

Mitya and Katya come in. Both are cheerful.

Mitya. Mum, Dad, I’m home!

Katya. Don’t shout.

Mitya. Are they asleep? It’s still Monday morning and we haven’t slept a wink! We’ll wake them up. (He pulls Katya to him and kisses her)

Katya. You’re crazy! (She tries to release herself, laughing)

Mitya. I’m as hungry as a hawk.

Katya. Me too.

Mitya. My head’s splitting apart. I think I drank too much. What was that sour stuff you gave me?

Katya. It’s Spanish dry wine.

Mitya. Ugh!

They take out sandwiches, sweets, biscuits, pour some juice.

Mitya. Now I know what I really want!

Katya. What do you want, Mitya?

Mitya. Orlov told the truth yesterday. I’m the one to blame for my problems. As a child I never dreamt of becoming a loser, drug addict and a parasite. But I turned one when I was twenty-five. I’ve always blamed father for not being able to choose my own way, but in fact I did nothing to find that way.

Of course, my ex-girlfriends are at fault for deserting me just because I cheated on them, drank booze and took drugs… I’m not to be blamed! (He grins)

Now things are going to be different. I know exactly what I want! I want to change myself and change my life. I will work. Can you imagine, I’ve always been afraid that father will stop giving me money and will cross me out of his will. That’s such nonsense!

I am capable of providing for myself. I’ve graduated from a language gymnasium, so I can easily become a tutor or a translator from English and German. When Aglaya Lebedeva was presenting her thesis, I did translate a few of her articles into English.

I can start working for my father… but no, I’d be better on my own… There’s a lot I can do!

I want to live so much! (Excited)

And you? Katya?

Will you stay with me? I need you so much!

Katya. I’ll stay with you, Mitya.

Mitya. Remember this day! Today a new life was born in us! Let us live, Katya! Let us live!

Katya. Somebody’s coming.

Gromov enters.

Mitya. Hello, dad! This is Katherine.

Katya. Hello, Leonid Fyodorovich.

Gromov. Hello, Katherine. (Turns to Mitya, threatens him) What have you done?

Mitya. What’s happened?

Gromov. He dares to ask! Mother’s been on edge all night long! Where have you been?

Mitya. I was relaxing. (Cringing)

Gromov. Why don’t you answer calls?

Mitya. I’ve lost my phone somewhere. (almost hopelessly)

Gromov. Nikolay Orlov was shot yesterday. (Katya groans)

Gromov. There’s an idea that it was you.

Mitya. (He can’t say a word, because he’s amazed).

Silence.

Gromov. Mind you! If you did it, I’m not going to cover up for you. This time you’ll go to prison!

Mitya. Is Nikolay alive?

Gromov. At first there was a leak he was dead. The man who found him in the street, covered with blood, notified the security of the building. They called Victoria Lebedeva’s office which he had left short before that, and then the police. Now Nikolay is in hospital. He has an exit wound in his shoulder, the bullet went through and through.

Mitya. It wasn’t me.

Gromov. In the morning Colonel Surganov, my ex-colleague, called me. He knows the investigation officer in charge and he says the situation is really serious. The elections are pending… everything’s been turned upside down, the affair is under personal control of the director of the Head Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Mitya. I didn’t do it.

Katya. We were at my place together.

Gromov. I wish I believed that.

Mitya. Dad, don’t you believe me?

Gromov. I don’t know, Mitya.

Mitya. Do you believe me?!

Gromov. I couldn’t believe you gave up studying in London. I could never believe you gambled your new car away. I couldn’t imagine you were taking drugs until I saw you lying in the bathroom with foam at the mouth. How can I believe you now?

Mitya. You don’t believe me, then.

Gromov. Listen to this. You’ll go to the police right now and give testimony. Katherine, can you confirm he has been with you all this time?

Katya. Yes. We’ve been together. The whole night.

Mitya. I didn’t do it! Father!

Gromov. Stay here and wait. I’ll call our lawyer. (Leaves)

Katya. Listen to your father. He’ll settle everything out.

Mitya. He doesn’t believe me.

Katya. I believe you, Mitya! I love you! Everything will be fine!

Mitya. I am sorry, Katya. I must go. I’ll do it myself. Please, go home now.

Katya. Mitya, no! Stay.

Mitya. I’ll come to you soon. Thank you, sweetheart. (Kisses Katya) I love you very much. It seems, for the first time in my life I really love. (Runs out)

Scene 5

Tuesday. It’s one day before the opening of the exhibition. Professor Lebedev’s house. Inna and Katya are talking with animation.

Katya. I’ll never forget the day when Mitya and I learnt that somebody had shot Nikolay Orlov. Are you angry at me, Inna?

Inna. Of course I’m not. I’m even happy that everything has become clear between us. Do you remember how we first met their company at a night club? Mitya started to court you first. I didn’t even pay attention to him then.

Katya. You were so absorbed with your preparing for your graduation play at the institute that you didn’t even notice me. Or did the director charm you that much? (Both laugh)

Inna. Yeah, yeah! You offered to go to the Dead Sea and I refused. Then I started dating Pavel from a basketball team, and Mitya went to London. We met again only half a year later when he came back and came to the avant garde exhibition in mum’s gallery together with Leonid Fyodorovich. Then it all got started.

He had grave problems in relationships with his father because of his studying and in a week Mitya had to go back to London.

Look, he sent me his verse from England then (takes out an envelope with a letter):

I’ll bring some sea foam to you

I gathered it to the sound of waves.

Like a silent smile of a thousand slaves,

I’ll give you my dull ennui.

«Ah! That’s another beggar poet’

We hear from an art abuser

«Two thousand years have brought

Completely out of common uses

All romance and love words.

«Ah! That’s another stupid poet’

One should keep silent, no reply.

He has his point in certain way.

Then my first line, like a firefly,

Will come back after doomsday.

It sings of love, of motherland, of pain,

Of misery that tears the heart apart,

Of northern sea, that roars in vain,

And time that gives no second start.

I’ll bring some sea foam to you

I gathered it to the sound of waves.

Like a silent smile of a thousand slaves,

I’ll give you my dull ennui.

Katya. (sobs, covers her face with her hands)

Inna. Katya, what’s wrong?

Katya. Leonid Fyodorovich isn’t his enemy. On the opposite, he cares about him and has strong feelings for his son. I met him and Lilia Vasilievna. They love their son a lot.

Inna. I know, Katya! It’s simply that Mitya’s father has always been too strict to him… but it hasn’t done much good. I almost went insane when I learnt that Nikolay had been shot. I remembered my brother’s death. I won’t survive another loss like that. Thanks God he’s all right.

Victoria Pavlovna, Aglaya and Veselov come in.

Aglaya. Here you are, besties. Did you cry a lot yesterday? (The girls smile back)

Veselov. Mitya gave his testimony, today it has been confirmed, he’s cleaned of all suspicions. Nikolay Orlov is safe, tomorrow he’s going to be released from the hospital.

Victoria Pavlovna. But who shot him?

Aglaya. The investigators will find out. One thing is clear: the attacker knew the place which is not seen by cameras, and he was waiting there.

Victoria Pavlovna. Let God be with him! I can imagine what his mother, Olga Vladimirovna, has been through.

Veselov. Every cloud has its silver lining. The hype around this event has warmed up some interest to tomorrow’s exhibition, there were reports on us on all national TV channels. The name of the young painter Nikolay Orlov has become known to the whole country! I suggest moving his works to the first hall, next to the modern art collection.

Victoria Pavlovna. I support your decision, Mr Veselov.

Veselov. I’m calling the gallery now and give all the necessary orders. Aglaya, do you mind my using your office?

Aglaya. Not at all, Sasha.

Victoria Pavlovna. What is that story of some important agreements with state structures that are being attributed to the Orlovs? I heard it on TV that he might have been shot because of them.

Aglaya. It’s all legal. It is really his own business which he is keeping a secret. That is no wonder considering his mother. It’s a matter of a few dozens of millions a year. The media nosed this out, put two and two together and made their conclusions.

Victoria Pavlovna. A talented man is talented in every respect! Inna, I’m so happy you and Nikolay are friends! I think I felt it from the start that you, lovey-doves, are hiding something from me. (Smiling) Surely, Mitya Gromov is a nice man, but, as it goes, love cannot be forced.

Inna. I haven’t fallen in love with Nikolay for his money. (Embarrased) Katya and I would better go to my room.

Inna and Katya leave.

Aglaya. It was hard for Inna. Nobody knew they were so close with Orlov. She almost fainted when she heard he was wounded.

Victoria Pavlovna. You tell me. Then this idiot, Mitya! I got stuck with him. Of course, I also thought he shot Nikolay because of jealousy. Who knows what this dope has in mind!

Aglaya. Weren’t you dreaming of his marriage with Inna just a couple of days ago, mum?

Victoria Pavlovna. It’s water under the bridge. Be it not for the senior Gromov, I’d never let him in my house again! Then there’s this whore, Katya. I’ve never liked her. Her mother’s the same, three children from three different men. She and the junior Gromov make a pair.

Aglaya. I’m very sad to hear those words from you. I don’t want to argue, though, so let it be your personal opinion.

Victoria Pavlovna. Tell me what, my little wise head, if you are so clever, why aren’t you still married? You are already twenty-eight, Aglaya!

Aglaya. Oh, mum, not that again, please.

Victoria Pavlovna. You need a man who you can rely on.

Aglaya. I know, I know, with an account in the cantonal bank of Zurich, a villa in Spain and so on and so forth.

Victoria Pavlovna. If you don’t like Pyotr Alekseevich, then Innokentiy Yakovlevich likes you a lot, and he’s got a chain of hotels in Bulgaria.

Aglaya. Mum, this Innokentiy Yakovlevich is sixty-seven years old.

Victoria Pavlovna. Which makes him even better for you.

Aglaya. (to herself) I can never stop being surprised at some mothers’ desire to sell their daughters at a better price. This looks more like legalized prostitution.

Aglaya. (to Victoria Pavlovna) I’m afraid we won’t match. I don’t like men who propose to a successful and ambitious woman and then try to put her in a cage in their three-floor tower as if she were a rare trophy. What’s the point of making a hen out of a bird of paradise when there are enough hens already?

Victoria Pavlovna. You’ll never get married with those ideas.

Silence.

Aglaya. Mum, we need to talk seriously.

Victoria Pavlovna. I’m all ears, Aglaya.

Aglaya. Do you remember Irina, who was the maid at Denis Ivanov’s wedding?

Victoria Pavlovna. Of course I do. She lives with her husband in Italy now.

Aglaya. That’s right. So, two months before she met her husband she went to the seaside with her beloved cat. It was an old cat. There she met a girl who was the Cirque Du Soleil magician’s assistant. They drank a little and started to chat. The girl asked, «Do you want me to do a trick?»

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