Brian Friel Plays 2

by Brian Friel

  Arkady He disliked Bazarov from the beginning. Now he believes he has a reason to hate him.

  Pavel Isn’t he a loyal soul? Life must be very simple for him.

  Piotr enters from the left, exactly as we saw him at the beginning of the scene.

  Piotr The carriage is waiting in the yard, sir.

  Immediately after he makes his announcement Piotr turns and goes off left.

  Nikolai Thank you, Piotr. Oh, Piotr – my straw hat’s in the hall. Would you bring it to – Piotr! Piotr! My God, did you see that! He ignored me! The insolent pup ignored me! Oh-ho, Master Piotr is certainly going to go. There are going to be changes about here. I’m not going to be insulted in my own house by a servant or by anybody else.

  Pavel I don’t think he heard you, Nikolai.

  Nikolai (violently) That’s a damned lie! And you know that’s a damned lie! The bastard never hears me! Never! Never! I’m sick of him never hearing me! Sick to death of it! (quickly recovering) Forgive me … I’m sorry … That was unpardonable … Forgive me … I think I’ll play the cello for a while … The cello, I find, is very … healing …

  He goes into the house. Arkady is astonished at the outburst. Pavel has some idea why it happened.

  Pavel Good Lord. What was that all about?

  Arkady He never really warmed to Bazarov either.

  Pavel Perhaps.

  Arkady I know Bazarov likes him very much but he can’t show affection easily.

  Pavel What are his plans?

  Arkady He intended going to Petersburg to study. But when he was packing this morning he got a message that there’s a typhus epidemic in his home province; so he’s going there first to help his father out.

  Pavel Ah. Very worthy. I’m thinking of moving out myself.

  Arkady What do you mean?

  Pavel Just going away. Leaving.

  Arkady Where to?

  Pavel Germany. France. England. Maybe Scotland! Perhaps I should buy the castle of Dunbayne?

  Arkady You don’t mean leaving for good, Uncle Pavel, do you?!

  Pavel We’ll see. But certainly not until after the harvest is saved. They couldn’t save the hay without my muscle, could they? Ah, Monsieur Bazarov. I hear you’re going home?

  Bazarov enters left with a book in his hand. He is dressed for travelling. He leaves his jacket beside his cases and comes down to Arkady and Pavel.

  This is now a fully mature young man – neither in his clothes nor in his demeanour is there any trace of the student. His manner is brisk, efficient, almost icy.

  Bazarov How is the arm?

  Pavel Fine, thank you. You dressed it well.

  Bazarov Take the bandage off after three days and let the fresh air at the wound.

  The sound of Nikolai playing the cello: Romance in F-Major, Op. 50.

  Pavel Le malade n’est pas à plaindre qui a la guérison en sa manche.

  Bazarov I don’t speak French.

  Pavel Montaigne. It means: don’t pity the sick man who –

  Bazarov turns abruptly away from him.

  Bazarov (to Arkady) I must say goodbye to your father.

  He goes towards his cases. Arkady follows him, takes his arm and speaks to him quietly, privately, in an attempt to restore the old intimacy. Pavel goes off to the far side of the garden and reads.

  Arkady I have a plan, Bazarov. I’ll go to Petersburg at Christmas; back to the old flat; and we’ll –

  Bazarov No, you won’t do that, Arkady. By Christmas you and Katya will probably be married.

  They continue this conversation as Bazarov opens a case and puts his book into it.

  Arkady Married?! Me?! For God’s sake, man, we Nihilists don’t believe in –

  Bazarov And I’m pleased for you. She’ll take you in hand and you want to be taken in hand. You’re naturally complementary. And natural elements that complement one another tend to create a balanced and stable unit.

  Arkady Cut that out, Bazarov! Stop addressing me, man! This is your old matey, Arkady, your old cook and bottle washer. And what I’m going to do is fix a date for a big reunion. Immediately after you finish your exam! – Mid-September! I’ll go to Petersburg. We’ll get a keg of beer. We’ll get all the boys from the old cell together and –

  Bazarov We won’t be getting together again, Arkady. We both know that. We are saying goodbye now. From your point of view you’re making all the sensible choices because instinctively you know you’re not equipped for our harsh and bitter and lonely life.

  Arkady Who the hell do you mean by ‘our’, Bazarov? I’m a Nihilist, too, remember?

  Bazarov When you were a student. But your heart never really forsook the gentry and the public decencies and the acceptable decorum. Of course you have courage and of course you have your honest passion. But it’s a gentleman’s courage and a gentleman’s passion. You are concerned about ‘difficult issues’ but you believe they are settled by rational, gentlemanly debate and if that doesn’t work, by gentlemanly duels. But that’s not how real change, radical change is brought about, Arkady. The world won’t be remade by discussion and mock battles at dawn. As you told your uncle a long, long time ago we’re long past the stage of social analysis. We are now into the era of hostilities – of scratching, hurting, biting, mauling, cutting, bruising, spitting. You’re not equipped for those indecencies. When it would come to the bit you would retreat into well-bred indignation and well-bred resignation. Your upbringing has provided you with that let-out. Mine didn’t. I am committed to the last, mean, savage, glorious, shaming extreme.

  Arkady I see.

  Bazarov To be blunt with you, Arkady: you are not good enough for us.

  Arkady Was it that savage, shaming side of you that frightened Anna Sergeyevna off? I shouldn’t have said that. Forgive me, Bazarov.

  Bazarov responds as calmly and as coldly as before.

  Bazarov No need to apologize. I may very well have frightened Anna Sergeyevna. But if that is what happened, I have no regrets. Miniature empires have no appeal to me. My sights are trained on a much, much larger territory. We had a good year together, Arkady. Thank you for that.

  Arkady Bazarov, I still think we should –

  He stops because Fenichka has come from the living-room and joins them. She has a package of sandwiches for Bazarov.

  Fenichka So you’re all set.

  Bazarov Yes.

  Fenichka Did someone say something about a typhus epidemic?

  Bazarov My father. He like dramatic language. It’s all probably a ruse to get me home.

  Fenichka Well, don’t take any unnecessary risks, Doctor. I made a few sandwiches for the journey. I know you like cold lamb.

  Bazarov Thank you very much.

  The conversation is punctuated by the awkward silences that farewells create.

  Arkady Who’s driving you?

  Bazarov Prokofyich. He volunteered.

  Fenichka You’re honoured. He doesn’t drive me.

  Bazarov He’s just making sure he’s getting rid of me. (Brief laughter. Silence.) I must say goodbye to your father.

  Arkady Yes.

  Fenichka He told me he prefers playing piano duets with Katya to playing the cello by himself.

  Arkady Yes, I think he enjoys the duets.

  Fenichka He says Katya is as good as your mother.

  Arkady Did he say that?

  Dunyasha appears at the living-room door.

  Dunyasha (calling) Fenichka.

  Fenichka Yes?

  Dunyasha beckons.

  What is it? (She goes to Dunyasha.)

  Arkady Dunyasha’s suddenly very coy.

  Dunyasha gives the bottle of milk to Fenichka. They exchange a few words. Dunyasha keeps her face averted.

  Bazarov (calling) Goodbye, Dunyasha.

  Dunyasha disappears. Fenichka returns.

  Fenichka She has a very bad head-cold. This is a bottle of milk for the journey. She says to say goodbye.

  Bazarov Thank her for me, will
you?

  Fenichka I will.

  Bazarov I think she thought I wasn’t sticking at the books enough: she kept bringing cups of tea up to my room.

  Silence.

  Arkady He’s talking about going away, too. Uncle Pavel. France. Germany. Scotland, maybe!

  Fenichka For a holiday?

  Arkady For good, he says.

  Bazarov You’ll have an empty house.

  Fenichka He’s not serious, is he?

  Arkady I think he is.

  Fenichka When is he leaving?

  Arkady After the harvest is in. He wants to do his share of the scything.

  Fenichka Pavel?!

  Arkady Yes!

  Fenichka You’re joking!

  Arkady No, I’m not. Yes, of course I am.

  Fenichka Pavel scything! Can you imagine? Shh …

  Again the brief laughter. The cello stops. Silence. Pavel moves towards them.

  Pavel Are the beautiful Katya and Anna joining us for dinner tonight?

  Arkady Great! (recovering) Are they? That’s news to me.

  Pavel Am I wrong?

  Fenichka It’s tomorrow night.

  Arkady I thought it was Sunday.

  Pavel (looking straight at Fenichka) Ah. Then I was wrong. Yet again.

  Fenichka They’re coming straight here after church. That was the arrangement.

  Pavel (still looking straight at Fenichka) My mistake. I get things wrong, Fenichka. Sorry.

  Fenichka Tomorrow night.

  Pavel I see. Bon. Bon.

  Bazarov I think I should call Prokofyich.

  Arkady (holding on) Katya has finally chosen a name for her pup, Pavel.

  Pavel Pup? What pup?

  Arkady The borzoi pup she got from us at the beginning of the summer! She’s going to call it Pavel!

  Brief laughter. Nikolai joins them.

  Pavel I suppose it’s one way to be remembered?

  Nikolai We’re all ready for departure, are we, Yevgeny? Good. Great. And Piotr’s driving you, is he? Good. Excellent. (He calls.) Piotr!

  Arkady Prokofyich’s taking him, Father.

  Nikolai Prokofyich? (softly) Much better. Much more reliable. You should be in Petersburg well before night.

  Bazarov I’m not going to Petersburg. I’m going home.

  Nikolai Good. Good. Excellent in fact. I’m sure your parents will be delighted to have you. Indeed. Just as we were.

  Bazarov Thank you for all your hospitality, Nikolai Petrovich.

  Nikolai It was my pleasure. It was our pleasure. We’ll all miss you – won’t we? I’ll miss all those early morning walks we had – occasionally. And Pavel will miss those – those – those stirring political discussions. And Arkady will miss the student banter. And Fenichka – Fenichka – Fenichka will miss your excellent medical advice – won’t you? And –

  Prokofyich appears left. Absurdly stiff-backed and formal. He stares at a point above everybody’s head.

  Prokofyich (loudly) I beg your pardon.

  Nikolai What is it, Prokofyich?

  Prokofyich The carriage is about to depart.

  Nikolai Yes, we know, Prokofyich. Thank you.

  Prokofyich I merely mention the fact in case any person wishes to travel in it. (He lifts the cases and exits stiffly.)

  They stare after him in astonishment and amusement. A quick, stifled giggle from Fenichka. One from Arkady. Then Fenichka explodes. Then they all laugh, excessively, in relief. Bazarov only smiles. He observes the happy family group from the outside.

  Nikolai Shhh! He’ll hear you.

  Arkady He couldn’t – he couldn’t even look at us!

  Nikolai I know – I know –

  Arkady In case any person – any person wishes to travel in it!

  Fenichka It’s going to be a – a – a – (She breaks down again.)

  Pavel A what?

  Fenichka Can’t say it.

  Nikolai Shhh!

  Arkady I know what she’s trying to – (He breaks down.)

  Pavel A what?

  Fenichka It’s going to be a very chatty journey!

  Again they explode. Then as suddenly the laughter dies. Silence.

  Nikolai Oh dear – oh dear – oh dear.

  Arkady It was that eye fixed on the sky.

  Fenichka I know. And the shoulders back.

  Nikolai Poor old Prokofyich. But we mean no harm, do we? No, no; we mean no harm at all.

  Arkady About to depart. Oh, I’m sore. Very sore.

  Silence. Bazarov goes to Nikolai.

  Bazarov Again, thank you for everything.

  Nikolai You’ll come and stay with us again – perhaps.

  They shake hands. Bazarov now goes to Pavel.

  Bazarov (bowing) Pavel Petrovich.

  They shake hands.

  Pavel Thank you. Adieu.

  Bazarov goes to Fenichka. He takes her hand.

  Bazarov I wish you every happiness, Fenichka. Take care of yourself.

  Fenichka You, too, Yevgeny.

  He goes to Arkady and holds out his hand.

  Bazarov Arkady.

  Arkady hesitates and then impulsively embraces him.

  Arkady I don’t give a damn what you say! Mid-September! After the exams! That’s settled! And make it two kegs. (He releases Bazarov. He is crying.) Come on, you twisted, perverse bastard! Clear out to hell! Move! Move!

  He pushes Bazarov in front of him. They exit. Nikolai follows them, then Pavel.

  He’s coming, Prokofyich! Here’s your passenger!

  Fenichka is alone on stage. She listens to the voices off. The lines overlap.

  Nikolai (off) Put the bags at your feet.

  Arkady (off) Where’s your jacket?

  Pavel (off) Good luck, Yevgeny.

  Bazarov (off) Thank you very much.

  Arkady (off) All set?

  Bazarov (off) I left a book somewhere.

  Arkady (off) It’s in your hand. Fool.

  Bazarov (off) Thank you again.

  Nikolai (off) Good luck with the exams.

  Arkady (off) Mid-September. That’s settled.

  Pavel (off) Have a good journey.

  Arkady (off) Give my love to your father and mother.

  Bazarov (off) Goodbye.

  Arkady (off) Write me, Bazarov.

  Bazarov (off) I will.

  Nikolai (off) Goodbye.

  Pavel (off) Goodbye.

  A chorus of goodbyes. Fenichka waves tentatively and says ‘goodbye’ quietly.

  Dunyasha, who has been watching from the living-room, now comes down and stands behind Fenichka. Fenichka turns and sees her. She is sobbing helplessly.

  Dunyasha All he had to do, Fenichka – all he had to do was raise his little finger and I’d have kissed his feet.

  Fenichka Oh, Dunyasha –

  Dunyasha Oh God, I would have, Fenichka. Just raise his little finger.

  She throws her arms around Fenichka and sobs. Fenichka holds her.

  Fenichka Shhh. I know, Dunyasha. I know. I know.

  SCENE THREE

  Early September. Afternoon. The dining-room in the Bazarov home. Vassily is standing at the head of the table, always on the point of lighting his pipe. Arkady is sitting at the bottom of the table, immobile, staring at the ground. (This is not where he sat in Act One, Scene Three). He is scarcely aware that Vassily is speaking. Vassily is smiling as fixedly as in Act One and is even more breezy and energetic. But the energy is spurious and it is soon apparent that occasionally he forgets what he is saying – hence the repetitions in his speech – and that he is on the point of breakdown.

  Vassily Yes, yes, that was a memorable lunch. I recall every detail of that lunch with total clarity. Oh yes, that was one of the happiest occasions ever in this house. We’d been expecting you for so long, you see – for years, for heaven’s sake! And now here you were, in this very room, around this very table. And all I can say now – and I was aware of it then, too – was that your presence alone quickened these ancie
nt bones again. Omnia animat, format, alit, as Cicero says … omnia animat … That doesn’t sound like Cicero, does it? … Oh yes, that was a lunch to remember. That’s the event that furnished us with the richest and warmest memories – that’s not inaccurate, my pet, is it? … (He looks around and realizes she is not there.) Where had she placed us? I was here. And she was there. And you were sitting where you’re sitting now. And Yevgeny was over there. And I have one particularly vivid recollection. I had just told you that story of the retired major who practises medicine ‘just for the good of the community’; and the two of you gazed at me for a second and then suddenly collapsed with laughter; and there you both are, spread across the table, convulsed, unable to speak! Oh, that’s a particularly vivid memory. ‘Just for the good of the community’. Couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak.

  Timofeich shuffles in. He seems even more decrepit than before. He begins pottering aimlessly with the dishes on the table.

  And Timofeich was looking after us as usual, weren’t you, Timofeich?

  Timofeich She’s awake.

  Vassily, suddenly alert, leads Timofeich to the side so that Arkady will not hear the conversation. Arkady is scarcely aware that Timofeich is there.

  Vassily Well?

  Timofeich No change.

  Vassily Did she speak?

  Timofeich Not a word.

  Vassily Is she still in bed?

  Timofeich She’s in the study.

  Vassily What’s she doing there?

  Timofeich Sitting.

  Vassily On the couch?

  Timofeich On the swivel chair. You should comb her hair for her. (Timofeich returns to the table.)

  Vassily Leave that stuff, Timofeich. And stay with her, will you?

  Timofeich She can’t go on without food in her. You should get her to eat.

  Vassily (suddenly fearful) Where’s my medicine bag, Timofeich?

  Timofeich points to a high shelf where the bag is almost hidden.

  Ah! Good man. Thank you. Thank you.

  Timofeich What are you thanking me for? You hid it there yourself.

  Timofeich exits. Vassily assumes the smile again and the breezy manner.

  Vassily He’s been a tower of strength to me, old Timofeich. I don’t know what I’d have done without him.