Brian Friel Plays 2 (19 page)

Pavel
I would prefer Yevgeny Vassilyich would do his own talking, (
to
Arkady
)
But you intend to do nothing constructive yourselves?

Bazarov
We intend to do nothing constructive ourselves.

Pavel
Just abuse people who do.

Bazarov
Just abuse people who do.

Pavel
And that’s called Nihilism.

Bazarov
And that’s called Nihilism. Is this riveting discussion nearly over?

Pavel
Incroyable
!
Let me see have I got it right –

Nikolai
I’m sure you’ve got it right, Pavel. Let’s leave it for now.

Pavel
First our saviours will demolish the country and then they will remake the country. But suppose some simple person were to suggest that our saviours were just bletherskites – gold-medal bletherskites?

Bazarov
My grandfather was a serf, Pavel Petrovich. I believe I have some knowledge of the Russian people.

Pavel
I’m sure you have a very –

Bazarov
Indeed I believe I have at least as accurate and as sympathetic an understanding of their needs and of their mute aspirations as those absurd provincial aristocrats who affect English clothes and English customs; who believe they are civilized just because they speak cliché French; who talk endlessly about Mother Russia but who
sit on their backsides and do sweet nothing for the
‘bien
public’
as they call it.

Pavel
I suspect you’re deliberately trying to –

Bazarov
Words that come so easily to lips like yours – liberalism, progress, principles, civilization – they have no meaning in Russia. They are imported words. Russia doesn’t need them. But what Russia does need – and action will provide it, Pavel Petrovich, action, not words – what Russia does need is bread in the mouth. But before you can put bread in the mouth, you have got to plough the land – deep.

Nikolai
He’s right, you know: ploughing is a very important part of the farming cycle, (
to
Arkady
)
Sorry. I didn’t –

Pavel
So the two of you are going to reform Russia.

Bazarov
Remake Russia. Yes.

Pavel
By force?

Bazarov
(
shrugging
)
If necessary.

Arkady
All that’s needed is a few people with total dedication. It was a penny candle that burned Moscow down, Uncle Pavel.

Nikolai
That’s quite true, you know.

Pavel
For God’s sake, Nikolai, you know nothing about it!

Nikolai
I beg your pardon, Pavel – it
was
a penny candle burned Moscow down. That is an historical fact. Father was able to quote chapter and verse on it.

To
Fenichka
and
Dunyasha,
who
have
entered
with
a
tray
and
samovar.

Ah! Fenichka! Good! Great! Splendid! And beautifully timed – just when we had all come to a close
understanding of one another’s position. Have you the sherry? Excellent. (
to
Dunyasha
)
Just leave the tray there. Thank you. Thank you. You haven’t met Arkady’s friend, have you, Fenichka? Yevgeny Vassilyich Bazarov.

Bazarov
Pleased to meet you.

Fenichka
You’re welcome.

Bazarov
Thank you.

Arkady
Dr Bazarov – almost.

Fenichka
Welcome, Doctor.

Nikolai
(
to
Dunyasha
who
is
staring
at
Bazarov
) Dunyasha, will you put the tray down on the seat, please?

Dunyasha
Oh yes – yes, yes, yes.

Nikolai
I think this is yours, Pavel (
cocoa
).

Pavel
Thanks.

As
the
cups
are
being
passed
round
Arkady
has
a
private
word
with
Fenichka.

Arkady
Congratulations.

She
looks
puzzled.

On the baby.

Fenichka
Oh. (
She
looks
quickly
towards
Nikolai.
)

Arkady
He’s just told me.

Fenichka
He wasn’t sure how you’d react.

Arkady
I’m pleased for you both.

Fenichka
Thank you.

Nikolai
is
aware
of
this
private
conversation.

Nikolai
You’re sitting with us, Fenichka, aren’t you?

Fenichka
Not just now. I’ve got to bath Mitya and put him to bed. I’ll join you later.

Nikolai
Please do.

Fenichka
leaves.

Dunyasha
Can I get you anything else?

Nikolai
That’s everything, I think, Dunyasha.

She
is
gazing
at
Bazarov
and
does
not
move.

Thank you.

She
goes.

There’s something the matter with that girl today. Now to organize our lives. Let me tell you what plans we have in store for you. The first formal engagement is on Monday week. It’s a rather long and convoluted story that –

Pavel
It’s quite simple: he’s having a welcome-home party for you.

Arkady
Great.

Nikolai
Some weeks ago quite out of the blue I had a visit from a young lady called Anna Sergeyevna Odintsov. (
to
Bazarov
)
An unusual name, isn’t it? – Odintsov. Are you familiar with it?

Bazarov
(
not
listening
)
No.

Nikolai
It was unknown to me, too, I must confess. Anyhow it transpires that the young lady’s mother, may she rest in peace, and my good wife, may she rest in peace, were very close friends when they were young girls. But, as so often happens, they lost touch with one another shortly after they got married. But to cut a long story short. Anna Sergeyevna was rummaging in an attic in her home –

Pavel
Could I have sugar?

Nikolai
– and she came across a bundle of letters written by your good mother, Maria, to her old friend – well, her young friend then. And Anna Sergeyevna had the kind thought that I might like to have these letters since they contain many references to myself. (
to
Bazarov
)
Arkady’s mother and I were, as we say, walking out at the time.

Bazarov
(
not
listening
)
Yes?

Pavel
Cream, please.

Nikolai
I’d be delighted to have the letters, I said. So the following week Anna Sergeyevna Odintsov called on us again and handed over Maria’s epistles and spent a very agreeable couple of hours with us – didn’t she, Pavel?

Pavel
I found her very … measured.

Nikolai
Did you think so?

Pavel
And emotionally dehydrated.

Arkady
Uncle Pavel!

Pavel
Oh yes.

Nikolai
Well, I liked her very much.

Arkady
What age is she?

Nikolai
I’m very bad at that sort of thing. I would imag ine she might –

Pavel
Twenty-nine.

Arkady
Interesting.

Nikolai
Oh yes, an interesting lady.

Pavel
Enormously wealthy. With a huge estate. And a widow.

Arkady
Very
interesting.

Nikolai
Very …? Oh, I see what you mean now. Very good. Very good. What else do we know about her? She lives with an eccentric old aunt, Princess Something-or-other.

Pavel
Olga.

Nikolai
Olga. And she has a young sister called – what’s the young sister’s name?

Pavel
Katerina.

Nikolai
That’s it – Katya. All three are coming on Monday week. (
Pause.
)
And we’ll have a wonderful party. (
Pause.
) And we’ll all have a wonderful time. (
Pause.
)
Won’t we?

Pavel
If you’ll excuse me. I get a headache when I sit too long in the sun.

Nikolai
We have a meeting with the new estate manager in half an hour, Pavel.

Pavel
I’ll be in my room.

Nikolai
I’ll join you in a few minutes.

As
he
exits
Pavel
puts
his
hand
on
Arkady’s
shoulder
and
pats
it.
Then
he
leaves.

Nothing Pavel likes better than a vigorous discussion, plenty of thrust and parry. We’re inclined to go to seed here in the wilds, Yevgeny.

Bazarov
Yes.

Arkady
(
quickly
)
What were the letters like?

Nikolai
Letters?

Arkady
The letters Mother wrote to her friend about you.

Nikolai
Oh, they were … oh-ho, I’m afraid they were a
bit naughty in places … very naughty in fact … in fact a few of them were very naughty indeed … You never really know what people are like, do you? We all have our codes. We all have our masks.

Piotr
enters
left.
He
is
nineteen,
exceedingly
cocky
and
self-assured.
He
knows
Nikolai
is
fond
of
him
and
he
plays
on
that.
He
wears
a
single
ear-ring
and
his
hair
is
done
in
various
vivid
colours.

Piotr
You wanted me, sir?

Nikolai
Yes, Piotr?

Piotr
You sent for me, sir.

Nikolai
I did?

Piotr
Dunyasha said you wanted me.

Nikolai
I’m sure I did, Piotr; and I’m sure you didn’t hear me. (
to
Bazarov
)
Piotr’s hearing is erratic.

Piotr
(
aggrieved
) My hearing is perfect, sir. I was slaving in the stables. You could scream and I wouldn’t hear you there, sir.

Nikolai
Never mind now, Piotr. Look who’s here.

Piotr
I know. I saw the carriage. Welcome home, Arkady.

Arkady
Thank you, Piotr.

Nikolai
And this is another young graduate – well, almost a graduate – Yevgeny Vassilyich.

Piotr
Sir.

Bazarov
Hello.

Nikolai
Do you like his multicoloured hair?

Arkady
It’s what all the young dudes in Petersburg are wearing, Piotr.

Piotr
I know that. But nobody around this place does.

Nikolai
And his single blue ear-ring?

Piotr
Pardon me, sir – turquoise.

Nikolai
Forgive me, Piotr – turquoise. I beg your pardon. (
waving
him
away
)
No, I don’t want you now. Yes, I do. Take this tray away with you. And get the carriage out and bring it round to the back.

Piotr
Certainly, sir. No sooner said.

Nikolai
‘No sooner said!’ He has my heart broken.

Piotr
exits.

And I’m very fond of him – he’s so cheeky. (
Looks
at
watch.
)
Five thirty. I must run. Show Yevgeny where the guest-room is. Have a wash. Walk around. Take a rest. Do whatever pleases you. We’ll eat at seven. And welcome again – both of you. (
He
leaves.
)