The Conformist. City life scenes in four acts. Maxim Titovets

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