THE CONFORMIST
City life scenes in four acts
Maxim Titovets
TRANSLATED BY OLGA SAVCHUK
CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY
Sergey Lebedev, a professor, a neuro surgeon, 65.
Victoria Pavlovna, his wife, an owner of an art gallery, 62.
Aglaya, his eldest daughter, art expert, 28.
Inna, his younger daughter, 23.
Nikolay Orlov, an aspiring painter, 25.
Olga Orlova, his mother, a high-level public official at the ministry of education, 50.
Leonid Gromov, a retired general, a businessman, 63.
Mitya Gromov, his son, a man of pleasure, 25.
Liliya Vasilievna, Mitya’s mother, general Gromov’s wife, 54.
Alexander Veselov, the director of the art gallery, 30.
Katya, Inna’s friend, 23.
Domeniko Longhi, a professor of painting.
Slepyen, a facilitator, Boss’s assistant.
Exhibition guests, journalists, pub visitors and others.
Bright new life.
The action takes place in Russia at the present time. Seventeen months pass after Act 4.
Scene 1
Sunday evening. Professor Lebedev’s house. There’s a big living room with a door to a terrace. The window is closed. The light is dim.
Lebedev is sitting on a wooden chair at a huge desk, he’s taking some items and children’s paintings from its drawers, looking at them, touching them. Victoria Pavlovna is sitting in the armchair near the unlit fireplace with a book, on her lap we see a cat.
Lebedev. My treasures’ treasures. (Pensively) Time passes by really fast. (Takes off his glasses, locks them in a drawer)
Is everything in the modern world really organized in such a way as to make every person think only about their pocket and how to line them better, how to fix their offsprings better… What about mission, duty for the society, love, after all? Could it happen to be important for anybody?
Victoria Pavlovna. These things don’t exclude each other if one just knows the limits. But you’ll always be romantic, Sergey.
Lebedev. This quality is what helped me take you away from Leonid Gromov thirty years ago, Victoria.
Victoria Pavlovna. A boaster, too. (Smiling) Right, I haven’t made a general’s wife.
Lebedev. But you have made the best wife and mother in the world. (He stands up and hugs his wife)
Victoria Pavlovna. This Wednesday will be the fifth anniversary of Alexey’s death, it’s the fourteenth of July, his name day. It was raining. I thought I wouldn’t endure that. You were at a conference in Berlin, Aglaya went down with a pneumonia the day before… Everything was like in a fog and I felt almost dead. I worried most about Inna, she worshipped her older brother and I was afraid she would commit suicide, our little rebel. It was then, after the news of his death that she refused to continue her studies in Moscow and came back.
The cat jumps off her lap. Lebedev straightens up.
But now, five years later, I speak of it calmly, the girls have got over it and your insomnia has gone. I remember his funeral, a lot of people came to the cemetery, there was a military orchestra and they shot… anyway, the weather was dull, windy and everybody soon left.
Lebedev. This is a painful memory!
The door opens, Inna runs in, laughing, she’s holding a paper envelope in her hand. She is followed by Aglaya.
Inna. You’ve made It so dark in here! (Turns on the light) Here! (gives the envelope to Victoria Pavlovna).
Aglaya. Calm her down at last! She’s set everybody at edge! (Laughs)
Inna. I’ve got the first prize at the theatre contest!
Lebedev. Well done!
Aglaya. A diploma and twenty thousand roubles. (Sceptically).
The doorbell rings.
Inna. That must be Katya! I’ll answer it. (Goes off, singing)
Pause.
Victoria Pavlovna. This could make a cat laugh. (Throws the envelope on the table angrily). I still can’t understand how she could refuse studying at Moscow State University and join this farce!
Egor, the Olshanskies’ son, was even a worse pupil than her, but he also was admitted to the University. He graduated, moved to Canada, started his IT company.
Lebedev. What if applied math isn’t really her vocation?
Victoria Pavlovna. Don’t make excuses for her! Inna just showed her character again. She went to the theatre institute – and you didn’t forbid her! Who is she now? An actress, for God’s sake! With no money, no decent education, she’s got only fun on her mind.
Aglaya. It’s been five years and you’re still arguing.
Enter Inna and Veselov with a bunch of flowers, he hands it to Victoria Pavlovna.
Veselov. Victoria Pavlovna! This is from Leonid Fyodorovich Gromov with the best wishes. The deal’s on Wednesday.
Aglaya. What about the expert’s resolution?
Veselov. I emailed you a copy. Hello, Sergey Ivanovich!
Lebedev. Hello, Sasha! (He shakes Veselov’s hand, then leaves the room).
Veselov and Aglaya sit down at the table. Victoria Pavlovna puts the flowers into a vase. Inna sets the table for tea.
Victoria Pavlovna. How did it go?
Veselov. Wonderfully! Gromov’s in. He’s looking forward to adding to his collection. Apart from the deal itself he’s willing to buy six modern painting for his villa in Spain.
Victoria Pavlovna. What else?
Veselov. Everything’s ready for the exhibition. We’re expecting the governor and a Chinese delegation at the opening ceremony. There will be a few representatives from the city council, too, then the media, the TV, the sponsors. Everything goes as it was agreed.
In addition to the main exhibition, the third hall will feature works by young painters (to Inna) including four paintings by Nikolay Orlov.
Inna. You’re great! (hugs Veselov) Orlov won’t let you down.
Veselov. Congratulations on winning the contest. I owe you a bottle (shakes Inna’s hand)
Aglaya. Veselov, I’ve never thought you drink.
Veselov. I’m drunk with love, Aglaya Sergeevna!
The doorbell rings.
Inna. Veselov’s in love! That’s a surprise! (goes off)
Victoria Pavlovna. What about the young Gromov, will he come?
Veselov. Yes. He’s back. He promised to come here today. Switzerland has done him good.
Victoria Pavlovna. That’s good news.
Aglaya. Mitya Gromov is a simpleton, though still a good match for Inna. We were sorry that their engagement was canceled because of his overdose in February. But now he’s returned and things seem to be improving.
Victoria Pavlovna. Seem to be. Although I don’t like it that during the unexpected parting with Mitya Inna became so close with his school friend Nikolay Orlov.
Yes, Orlov’s mother holds a good position in the Ministry of Education and an additional «lever’ at the establishment won’t be too bad. But I see that Nikolay lacks ambition and interest in his career. How else can one explain that, having got a degree in international affairs at the Ministry Academy, he still dabs in painting?
