Venya. Alexey! Why should you have to let the driver go?
Alexey. Look who woke up, an old ladies man.
Pause.
Alexey. Fyodor, is this Sunny Beach far from here?
Fyodor. Its about twenty kilometers as the crow flies. If you and Venya hit the road now, youll get there right in time for dinner. It will make the girls day!
Alexey. Funny as a crutch.
Venya. Treh bi-ahn! Ha-ha-ha.
Alexey. And I am telling you that they will come here tonight!
Venya. You got it!
Fyodor. You are nothing but sexual maniacs.
Alexey. They will leave the ride there and come back by taxi. Natasha promised me.
Venya. Fyodor, do you have a razor? I should scrape my chin.
Fyodor. You are handsome just the way you are, Venya.
Alexey. I once knew a woman. She was a teacher at school. And she loved when I moved my unshaven jaw across her back, between the shoulder blades.
Venya. Boy oh boy!
Fyodor. Ugh spare me the details, gentlemen. [He goes inside.]
Venya. So, Alexey, does it really work with the unshaven jaw?
Alexey. Depends on a girl.
Fyodor comes back with a large bottle of cold beer.
Fyodor. Dear soldiers of the dating front, let me offer you some refreshment. [He pours the beer into the mugs.]
Venya. A cold one!
Fyodor. I wanted to ask you to come hunt with me tomorrow. Shoot a boar maybe. I even took the rifle with me for such an occasion. [The three of them clink their mugs and drink beer.]
Venya. Gosh, its so good! And weve got our own hunt here.
Alexey. Yep! [He does duck lips.] A duck hunt!
Venya. Yes! Yes. We are ducks, decoy ducks.
Venya and Alexey quack, imitate ducks with their walk and movements. Meanwhile, Tatyana approaches the gate, enters Fyodors garden plot, and walks towards the house. The men dont see her.
Tatyana. Hello there!
Venya. Oh! It worked! Hello there!
Alexey. Hello, mysterious stranger.
Fyodor. Tatyana. Im glad you dropped in. May I introduce my friends: Donald Duck and Launchpad McQuack.
Alexey. Alexey and Veniamin. Its a pleasure to meet you.
Venya. Tatyana, enchanté! My friends call me Venya.
Tatyana. Nice to meet you, jolly fellows.
Fyodor. Are you here for a reason?
Venya and Alexey exchange quizzical looks.
Tatyana. Im going grocery shopping in town. Just came by to ask if you need anything.
Tatyana. Im going grocery shopping in town. Just came by to ask if you need anything.
Fyodor. No, I think we are good.
Ignatych enters the garden plot, walks towards the terrace.
Ignatych. Hello, summerfolk! Happy Pentecost Sunday!
Tatyana. Hello, Mikhail Ignatych. Same to you.
Fyodor. Hi, Ignatych. Hows retired life treating you?
Ignatych. Everything is fine, but its not something to envy. Have you heard the news? The word is that they want to raise the retirement age. To sixty-five years old for men. And to the gills for women.
Venya. Codswallop, I say! People dont even live this long.
Alexey. They want to raise it and they will. And we will live a European life.
Ignatych. Uh-huh. A European life. And those who dont make it to retirement will be cremated and continue working inside hourglasses.
Venya steps aside towards the house, paces out the distance from the gazebo to the house, then from the porch to the directional signpost. Fyodor takes the beer bottle and pours the beer into a clean mug.
Fyodor. Help yourself, Ignatych. Fresh and cold.
Ignatych takes the mug and drinks.
Fyodor.[To Tatyana.] I remembered: Buy a loaf of dark rye bread, please, would you?
Tatyana. Alright. Ill get it here tonight.
Ignatych puts the empty mug on the table.
Ignatych. Heres what Ive come to tell you, Fyodor. I went to get some water from the well this morning. And as I was going back, I saw three men standing in the next street. One of them was Ivan Moray. He got out of jail this spring. Another one was someone with a false gold tooth capping. And the third one Ive immediately recognized him: It was Artyom, your stepson.
Fyodor. Artyom? Thats odd.
Alexey. What a surprise!
Ignatych. Im sure it was him. I have a good memory for faces.
Fyodor. He must have got parole.
Tatyana. Fyodor, isnt it dangerous? You told me that Artyom threatened you.
Fyodor. Lets see them try to come here. I have enough bullets for all of them.
Alexey. You cant shoot down all the fools.
Ignatych. Ive deliberately walked past Morays house now. All clear.
Fyodor. Thank you, Ignatych.
Tatyana. Maybe they left?
Ignatych. Maybe they did. Who knows what these junkies are up to. Fyodor, just keep in mind that your stepson is roaming free with some crooks in tow. Take care!
Ignatych leaves.
Scene 4
Twilight. Morays house.
Natalia, Khlora.
Khlora. Im scared, Natasha. I am so scared
Natalia. Khlora, its too late to change your mind.
Khlora. I didnt sign up for murder!
Natalia fetches a slap across Khloras face.
Natalia. Shut up, you fool of a woman. Are you suicidal? Chopper wont just let us go.
Khlora. Chopper, this god damned cop, did schmooze you too. Are you fearing for your daughters life?
Natalia. Ill go to any lengths for the sake of my Svetlana. Any.
Khlora. Oh please, Natasha, let me go. Honest to God, I wont tell anyone!
Natalia. God can hardly help us now.
Khlora. What should we do then?
Natalia. Listen, Khlora. Just do what you should do.
Khlora. Its terrifying.
Natalia. You will get some money, find a good hospital for your father. Think of yourself too. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance!
Khlora. Its like jumping into the deep end.
Natalia. Here, take it. You are going to add one tablet to Veniamins drink. He stared at you so longingly this morning.
Khlora. A funny old chap. [She takes the tablets and puts them in her pocket.]
Natalia. I will handle Alexey. We will get the job done and make enough money for years ahead. Chopper delivers on his promises.
Khlora. Chopper is a douchebag. A werewolf! Why did Ivan even consort with him?
Natalia. Dont be afraid. Chopper is dancing to someone elses pipe too.
Khlora. If only I knew who is the boss.
Natalia. The less you know, the longer you live. Well put those old men to sleep and you and Moray will get your fair share. You will be able to skip this town forever. And I will get my daughter back.
Khlora. Easier said than done. And what if those old guys die? This would make me a sinner.
Natalia. There is no repentance without a sin.
Khlora. And if we repent, will we be saved?
Pause.
Natalia. Have you already told Moray?
Khlora.[She lays her hands upon her belly but quickly takes them off.] No. Ivan doesnt know anything.
Natalia. Its for the best. You will tell him the good news when its all over.
Khlora. He swears by God that he loves me. A funny little fellow.
Natalia. Think about your future, Khlora.
Khlora. No one ever loved me.
Natalia. Youve got a chance to hit the jackpot.
Khlora. They all just used me.
Natalia. Soon you will take everything you ever wanted from life and even more!
Khlora. But Ivan loves me.
Natalia. He does, he does. And he will love your baby too.
Khlora. I will help Ivan. Ill only do it for our baby. Not for the sake of money. But for the sake of our brighter future.
Chopper and Slav enter.
Chopper.[To Natalia.] So?
Natalia. All good.
Chopper. Its time.
Slav.[To Natalia.] Mind you dont screw up.
Natalia. Not my first rodeo.
Chopper.[Taking out his phone and making a call.] Frost, the whores are ready.
Everyone leaves.
Scene 5
Late evening. Fyodor Kolosovs summer cottage. Solar-powered lanterns light up the paths. There is a light in the windows of the first floor covered by curtains. The summer terrace is illuminated by the warm light of a Chinese lantern.
Venya is sitting at the table on the terrace. Khlora is standing next to him with a glass in her hands. There are shish-kebabs, snacks, and bottles with beverages on the table.
Venya. I am so glad you came back to us, Khlora.
Khlora. Pour me some more wine.
Khlora. Pour me some more wine.
Venya.[Pouring himself and Khlora more wine.] I already got pretty pickled though.
Khlora. Your friend has a beautiful house.
Venya. Fyodor always had a good taste in everything. You should see his beer mug collection!
Khlora. Are you married?
Venya. Im playing the field.
Khlora. Do you make a lot of money?
Venya. Its never too much money. All I want is to retire as soon as possible and go on a round-the-world trip.
Khlora. So you are a romantic.
Venya. A while back a desire sparked inside of me. And I am willing to change my life dramatically for the sake of it.
Khlora snuggles up to Venya.
Venya. Fyodor spared me a room on the second floor, shall we?
Venya takes the bottle of wine and glasses and goes to the house together with Khlora. Fyodor comes out of the house with a bath cap on his head and a towel on his shoulder.
Fyodor. You sure you dont want to go?
Khlora. Well do that some other time.
Venya. I had enough bathing for today.
Fyodor. Well, its up to you.
Venya.[To Khlora.] These jokers doused me with the well water. Ive still got a rasped throat.
Fyodor. Cold training never hurt nobody, Venya. Bless you!
Venya and Khlora go inside. A few minutes later, the light shines through a window of the second floor. Fyodor sits down at the table in the gazebo, pours beer into a big jug, and drinks it with relish. Alexey and Natalia are walking along the path from the direction of the banya. They are fresh-faced and wear bathrobes. Fyodor notices them, takes two mugs, and fills them with beer.
Fyodor. I hope you enjoyed your bath!
Alexey. Thanks, mate.
Natalia. Your banya is wonderful.
Alexey. I adore women who are fond of taking a steam-bath.
Natalia. And I respect men who adore women.
Fyodor. Lets drink to friendship and understanding!
The three of them clink their mugs and drink beer.
Alexey. Its so nice here!
Fyodor. So nice here, so nice here, go and grab another beer.
Alexey. I threw some more wood in the stove. The temperature there is just as you like it, Fyodor.
Fyodor. Alright. Ill go now. Remember me kindly.
Natalia. See ya.
Fyodor walks along the path towards the banya, humming an unsophisticated melody.
Alexey. Lets do it again in about an hour. [He wraps his arms around Natalias waist and holds her tight.]
Natalia. You seem to be in a good shape, Alexey.
Alexey. I remember! I remember now where Ive seen you.
Natalia pulls away from Alexey.