The Adventures of Yumi. Theatre play for children. Maxim Titovets

mommy.

      Greta. I am happy now, darling.

      Yumi. Are you happy, mom? Here, on the wasteland?

      Greta. Yes, Yumi. I am happy because you are here with me. And nothing can stop me from loving you.

      Yumi. We will have our own home for sure. A real home!

      Greta. Today is Christmas Eve. May all your dreams come true, son.

      Yumi. What is Christmas Eve?

      Greta. It is time when you can make wishes.

      Yumi. Will my wishes be fulfilled?

      Greta. If you really want it. With your whole heart. You will do just fine. Believe in your success and keep moving towards your desirable goal.

      Yumi. First, wish for something with my whole heart. Second, believe in my success and keep moving towards my goal. That’s it!

      Greta. I need some rest now. I’m going to head for the town again in the evening to find at least some food.

      Yumi. I’m so hungry, my tummy is rumbling.

      Greta. Be patient, Yumi. And never go far from our home!

      Yumi. Alright, mommy. I will guard your sleep.

      Greta gets into the dugout. Yumi stays outside.

      Scene 3.

      Noon. Fair weather.

      Karabasov and Khorkov come into the apartment block yard. They approach the fence near the wasteland. Yumi hides from them.

      Khorkov. All set, mister Karabasov.

      Karabasov. Keep a close watch on the girl.

      Khorkov. It’s not the first time we pull off a job.

      Karabasov. You answer for this with your life, Khorkov.

      Khorkov. My lads work without a hitch.

      Karabasov. The key point here is not to let Malyshev smell a rat ahead of time.

      Khorkov. We’ll put a good screw on him, so he’ll be putty in hands.

      Karabasov. Are you sure that when we kidnap the mayor’s daughter, he will sign all the necessary papers and give away this land to us for building up? (He points to the wasteland).

      Khorkov. As if he had a choice. Malyshev thinks the world of his daughter.

      Karabasov. I heard his wife died last winter.

      Khorkov. Right. The girl lost her mother. And now she is our only chance to make the mayor of the city work for the welfare of your construction company.

      Karabasov. Khorkov. I need this land!

      Khorkov. I’ll do everything, boss.

      A group of people enter the yard: Malyshev, Nyuta, a local newspaper reporter, city representatives.

      Malyshev. Okay, let me see, Karabasov. What do you have here?

      Karabasov. Good afternoon, mister Mayor. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming. Our construction company has been engaged in building up and development of this district for three years now. There was a time when it was a slum area. This is the place which spawned all the organized crime activity. With our company coming to this area, everything changed. We straightened things out and made these streets safe for the citizens.

      A round of applause from the city representatives.

      Karabasov. Thank you, my friends. Mister Khorkov, our house manager, will give you a tour around the new apartment block. The upper floors of this building command a wonderful view of the river and the forest, and I hope that one day the latter will become our new construction site.

      Malyshev. Let us not rush on, mister Karabasov. The city administration has not given its consent to the building up in this forest plot.

      Karabasov. Yes, I understand this, mister Mayor.

      Malyshev. Trees are the lungs of our city. I don’t intend to lay down environment and citizens’ health at stake for the sake of building of another shopping mall.

      Karabasov. All in its proper time, ladies and gentlemen. Maybe we will manage to find a compromise solution one day.

      Khorkov. Well then, ladies and gentlemen, I would like you to follow me.

      Everyone follows Khorkov to the entrance of the apartment block.

      Nyuta. Dad, may I take a walk here?

      Malyshev. Alright. Just don’t leave the yard.

      Nyuta. Come back soon.

      All the adults enter the building. Nyuta is left alone. Yumi comes out of hiding.

      Nyuta. Hey, doggo.

      Yumi (to himself). Stop! Danger. A human.

      Nyuta. Don’t be afraid, little one. Come here.

      Yumi (to himself). Right, a likely story. Suppose you bite me?

      Nyuta. Here you are, take it.

      Yumi. Woof!

      Nyuta. A goodie.

      Yumi. (to himself). What is a goodie? It smells so nice.

      Nyuta. So?

      Yumi. Woof!

      Nyuta. Don’t be afraid.

      Yumi (to himself). Stop! The third rule: never trust people.

      Nyuta. Mmm… so tasty.

      Yumi. Woof!

      Nyuta. Here, take it.

      Yumi (to himself). If you are treated to something tasty, it’s a trap! Mmm, this smell.

      Nyuta. Take it!

      Yumi (to himself). I will just try a tiny bit.

      Yumi comes to Nyuta and takes a biscuit out of her hands.

      Nyuta. Well done.

      Yumi. Woof!

      Nyuta. Whose are you?

      Yumi. Woof!

      Nyuta. Take one more.

      Yumi gulps down everything Nyuta gave him.

      Nyuta. You are so hungry. What is your name?

      Yumi. Woof! (He fawns upon Nyuta.)

      Nyuta. It tickles, you silly. I have nothing left.

      Yumi. Woof!

      Nyuta and Yumi are playing together. Malyshev, Karabasov, Khorkov and other adults go out of the apartment block.

      Malyshev. Nyuta! Look out. This dog can bite you.

      Nyuta. Dad!