An Evening with Mr Chekhov by Gus Petrakis
Hotel suite. Lights out. Evening.
Manhattan behind the large frame window.
A lounge in the middle of the stage, a couch with three chairs
and table with a telephone. Bedroom at the right side of the stage.
Entrance is at the left. Door opens with a bang, slams on the wall.
Indistinct shouting is heard, a hand switches the lights on, and 2-3
suitcases are thrown inside the lounge.
Enter Dmitri, tall, blond, age 35. Slightly limping on the left leg.
DMITRI
I had enough, Madam. I am not your slave.
(Dmitri enters more inside, kicks a suitcase and falls on the couch.
Enter Natalya Arbatova, tall, blonde, age 55.)
NATALYA
I am a star, Dmitri, and a star is high up in the sky. Don't forget
that.
DMITRI
I am a star, too.
NATALYA
You're not anymore. You don't have a sky anymore, dear. Why are
you acting like this at a moment like this?
DMITRI
I didn't want to come to America.
NATALYA
You didn't want also London, Paris and Berlin. But Moscow is not
good for us anymore. You know that.
DMITRI
I don't know. But to be away from your fatherland in a time of
turmoil. I feel like a traitor.
NATALYA
I always wanted to play Chekhov on Broadway, Dmitri. That was my
dream.
DMITRI
We're Russians. Russians don't dream. Americans dream all the
time. There is not a Russian dream, only an American dream, they say.
And what do Americans know about Chekhov?
(Natalya picks up a suitcase and goes to the back bedroom.)
NATALYA
(From the bedroom)
Dmitri, that's the mission of the artist. To bring forth the culture
of his native land to foreign lands. I triumphed at London; I brought
Paris to its knees. When Natalya Arbatova plays Chekhov, the world
rejoices.
(Natalya comes out of the bedroom holding a nightgown in her hand.)
DMITRI
Why don't you play Brecht? I think Chekhov is outdated. He was good
for his times.
NATALYA
Dmitri, Chekhov is eternal. And Brecht doesn't have acting parts for
a star. He refuses Galileo's impersonator his climax. We hear the
results of the trial from his friends. Brecht hates actors.
DMITRI
Play the Good Person of Setzuan.
NATALYA
Oh, what are you saying? Me play a prostitute; I am a high class
actress.
DMITRI
I thought that all woman want to act the part of a prostitute. It's
the most female fantasy. But you don't like Brecht because he was a
communist.
NATALYA
I don't care for politics. I am an artist. And in Eastern Europe,
we're fed up with politics. We need something more now. Gorbi is
right.
DMITRI
We need the Broadway dream.
NATALYA
Exactly.
(Natalya goes inside the bedroom.)
DMITRI
Americans can't understand drama. They can't understand human
suffering. They're looking for profit. Always. There is no profit in
Chekhov.
NATALYA
(From the bedroom)
Art can transform, can change people's minds. You'll see soon.
Call the Embassy. Tell Vasilliev that I just arrived.
DMITRI
I'm not in the mood to talk to a scumbag. You call him. You talk to
him. He is your protector.
(Natalya comes out dressed in black lingerie, a garter belt, stockings
and high heels.)
NATALYA
Don't start again my love. Ivan is a friend. Maybe there is news
from Moscow.
DMITRI
There is no news from Moscow for years now. Anyway, I think she's
gone by now.
NATALYA
Oh, don't say that. I still believe. There is always hope.
DMITRI
He who lives by hoping dies in shit, Natalya.
(Dmitri takes notice of the lingerie outfit.)
What's the big idea, love?
NATALYA
(as if thirsty)
I need you inside me, dear. Deep inside me. The stress is too much.
It's the first time that I play in America.
DMITRI
Natalya, if you love me, give me a break. I am in a bad mood. And why
are you dressed like a carnival? That's too West. Even sex becomes
business for capitalism. It's disgusting.
(Natalya adjusts her stockings.)
NATALYA
I thought men like this underwear. It gives them the hots.
(Natalya gives her hand to Dmitri to take and he rises.)
NATALYA
Please, love, I need it. No man can refuse this to a woman in heat.
DMITRI
This is real scary. We have become like them. Like vampires. We
change.
NATALYA
Come on. It's really nothing. Just some evening sex.
(Dmitri as if hypnotized gets up, takes Natalya's hand and together
they
enter the bedroom. Some time passes. Dmitri comes out dressed in a
bathrobe. He picks up two suitcases from the floor.)
DMITRI
"Take the suitcases from the living room." The most difficult part
in a relationship with the woman is the hard labor you have to do.
Carrying her luggage. Damn. My leg.
(Dmitri drops the suitcases down and takes a hold of his leg. Natalya
enters in her nightgown. She runs to him.)
NATALYA
Oh my God. You got your cramp again. I am a criminal. I did it. Let me
kiss it to take the pain away.
DMITRI
Natalya, don't get hysterical. I am all right.
(Natalya kneels down and kisses Dmitri's knee.)
NATALYA
Forgive me my love, forgive me. But I was blinded by my rage. Why did
you screw that bitch back then? Why?
DMITRI
Why? If a man makes love to a woman, the woman says: "He makes love
to me." And if the same man goes with another woman, you say: "You
fuck her!" "You screw her!" You don't accept that is also
lovemaking. It is love only for you and you only.
NATALYA
Oh, Dmitri. You can't judge a woman. We are beyond the law. We're
nature.
DMITRI
Natalya, what you did that night was a crime. It's called attempt to
murder. But I forgive you because you're a woman. You're full of
vengeance.
NATALYA
Hit me. Hit me if you want, but don't harshly judge me. Without me,
what would have become of you? The Party was going to send you to
Siberia.
(Natalya gets up and picks up a suitcase.)
DMITRI
Maybe it was bad luck that they didn't send me. Sometimes to be
free, it's too much ado about nothing. I'll go to Kalendin's
tomorrow afternoon to get a gun.
NATALYA
What do you need a gun for?
(Natalya goes inside the bedroom and comes back.)
DMITRI
This is a country of arms. If you don't have one, you're an
outcast.
NATALYA
What madness is this? We're safe. Vasilliev stands high and mighty
here. You saw him shaking hands with President Bush.
DMITRI
Vasilliev is a scumbag, plus he is you ex and he wants my blood.
NATALYA
Ivan is fine. And loves me still. He won't dare to touch you.
DMITRI
In love there is no middle ground. You won't always possess and if
you don't, you want to destroy. You don't forget. Ivan is a man. A
man is a born killer. Always. Since we leave Moscow, I don't feel
well. Something hangs over me. A death threat.
NATALYA
Please my love. What's wrong with you? For the love of Christ, will
you get back in a good mood. Forget the past. Live.
DMITRI
I can forget the past, but it's the future that I'm afraid of.
Things go below. The Party is gonna fall and the union. This story
with the Berlin Wall is no good my love.
NATALYA
But it was the Shame of Europe. The Wall of Shame.
DMITRI
Open your eyes, Natalya. At the same time that the wall fell down, the
Americans invaded Panama. It starts already. They're goin' to kill
us.
NATALYA
Ivan told me that it's alright. Everything is goin' to be alright.
Wait, I'll go inside to call him from the bedroom phone.
(Natalya enters the bedroom. Dmitri makes sure that Natalya is inside
and dials a number on the telephone at the lounge table. Dmitri looks
happy and silly as if in love and talking to his girlfriend. Natalya
soundlessly comes out from the bedroom. Natalya tries to listen to the
indistinct conversation, but Dmitri is talking in a whisper.)
NATALYA
Dmitri, who are you talking to?
DMITRI
No one. (To the receiver) Thank you very much. Goodbye.
(Dmitri hangs up the phone. Natalya is furious now.)
NATALYA
It's a woman. Who's this whore now? Everywhere you go, you have an
army of whores waiting for you. I can't stand it no more. No more my
love.
DMITRI
I was calling a cousin of mine. Sergei Mihailovich. He lives in
Maspeth. You don't know him.
NATALYA
You were talking to a woman.
DMITRI
Why?
NATALYA
You looked silly. You don't have relations in New York. What kind of
lie is this? What am I? A peasant woman?
DMITRI
Don't get hysterical again. I told you, I was talking to my cousin
SergeiLook Natalya, don't forget. Right. You woman, you love men
for these disadvantages, not for their merits.
NATALYA
I am gonna scream.
DMITRI
No, please, love. Don't start again.
NATALYA
Love, I am goin' to scream. Scream.
DMITRI
Please, no. No. People will think that I am killing you.
NATALYA
But you're killing me. You're gonna leave me for some young whore
again. Like in Paris.
DMITRI
No, Natalya. You got me wrong.
NATALYA
I'm gonna scream.
DMITRI
No. No. No.
(Natalya screams. Instantly Dmitri starts limping on his right leg.
Natalya is shocked.)
NATALYA
Oh, Dmitri. Your leg. My God, what have I done.
(Limping, Dmitri goes and sits on the couch. Natalya goes and kneels
before him.)
DMITRI
I hate this.
NATALYA
Let me kiss it, love. Let me cover it with kisses to ease your pain.
DMITRI
Don't act silly, Natalya. I am not a child anymore.
NATALYA
No. You're, you're my little boy with a limping leg and a limping
soul.
(Natalya tries to uncover the leg, but Dmitri pushes her back.)
DMITRI
Natalya, lay off me.
NATALYA
Dmitri. I didn't want to harm you. What a dreadful thing to do. What
a bitch I was.
DMITRI
That was a nasty bite my love. I didn't know that love bites so
deep, my love.
NATALYA
I always bite the one I love.
The telephone rings.
NATALYA
That's Ivan for sure. He'll come here to see us.
DMITRI
He'll come here to see you. He can't see me or us.
(Natalya picks up the telephone.)
NATALYA
(To Dmitri) Oh, stop it please. (To telephone) Dear Ivan, how happy I
am to listen to your sweet voice again. How are you, my dear, dear
Ivan? Oh, we're fine. We just arrived. Everything is fine. Just a
little tired from the shows. Yes, yes. Berlin, Paris, London and now
at last New York. Oh, I'll be glad to see you again.
(Natalya hangs up. Dmitri tries to get up but fails and falls back on
the couch.)
NATALYA
I'll give you a drink my love. Sit and relax.
DMITRI
Fuck it. I don't need nothing.
NATALYA
Ivan is downstairs. He will be here at any minute.
DMITRI
Now I do need a drink for sure. You could find an excuse and send him
away. I am not in the mood to see Ivan the Terrible.
NATALYA
Let's drink to cheer up.
(The doorbell rings twice.)
DMITRI
Make the drinks for three. The spirit of the party is here.
(Natalya opens the door and Ivan bursts in. Tall, black hair and past
his 60s. Ivan carries flowers and a bottle of champagne. They embrace
each other.)
IVAN
My dear, dear Natalya. Just let me look at you. Why do all my ex wives
look prettier after we divorce?
(Natalya laughs.)
NATALYA
My sweet, sweet Ivan. Always charming and sharp.
DMITRI
You avoid answering his question though.
IVAN
Who spoke from inside the gutter?
DMITRI
Unpleasant to see you as always.
IVAN
Same as it ever was. Huh Katov?
NATALYA
Now, boys, take it easy. We're not in Moscow anymore. Let's be
civilized.
DMITRI
Too late for that my love.
IVAN
Stay away from me. I just came to see Natalya. Natalya, you came at
last to show them what it is to play Chekhov. It is time for the
Americans to see Natalya Arbatova in flesh and blood.
NATALYA
Natalya Arbatova will take over Manhattan, Ivan dear. I'm ready to
blow their minds.
IVAN
(To Dmitri)
If you're thinking to say something, don't do it. We don't wanna
listen.
DMITRI
You just block my way. You're always ahead of me, Professor.
IVAN
Huh, I need an army like you my friend to hold me back. Natalya, two
exceptional people are coming to see us: Tom Langford of the Lord and
Trask Company that supports your shows and Lora Stern who works for
American Stage magazine. Lora will cover your staying in the city. Tom
and Lora will be here at any minute.
NATALYA
Wonderful, Ivan. I am so happy to meet new people all around the
world, and I know how much New Yorkers love theater.
DMITRI
It seems that we'll have a party after all.
IVAN
C'mon old chum. Let's bury the hatchet for Natalya's sake. This
is too big for her. Cheer up. This is the city that never sleeps.
DMITRI
But I am a man who wants to sleep. Forever.
NATALYA
Stop being so morbid, Dmitri. Ivan is right. New York is so bright.
IVAN
Give him some vodka to heat up a bit.
DMITRI
Vodka is vodka only in Russia. Here it is not vodka. It's something
else.
IVAN
Let's drink some bourbon, then.