Read Online Collaborators by John Hodge - Free Book Online Page A

Yes. And what I hear is that there have been instances of men, women and children eating other men, women and children.
    Sergei That’s not true.
    Vasilly Isn’t it?
    Sergei No. We’re not savages. This is the twentieth century. Those things don’t happen here.
    Vasilly Well that’s all right, then.
    Bulgakov Vasilly – it may or may not be true, but surely you’d have to accept that . . .
    Vasilly What?
    Bulgakov Well . . . that it’s not easy. To govern, I mean. It’s tough, it must be. Very hard, to make decisions.
    Vasilly Is it?
    Bulgakov You sit in an office in Moscow. There’s a hundred million peasants who can’t read. Cities waiting to be fed. And you ask yourself – who’s in charge here?
    Vasilly What’s that got to do with it? I was talking about cannibalism.
    Bulgakov Yes, but who’s to say – what it’s to be: next year’s harvest or next week’s bread? I’m saying it’s not easy.
    Vasilly Perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps ‘who’s in charge’ is actually what it’s all about. I can understand it now, from that perspective. Death by starvation: it’s the only language they understand.
    Bulgakov I can’t believe that was the purpose of the decision.
    Vasilly And what makes you so sure?
    Silence.
    Yelena stands up.
    Yelena Would anyone like to dance?
    She hurries up to the gramophone and starts it up.
    Lights fade.
    Soon all are up dancing to American jazz.
    Stepan crudely and blatantly gropes Eva.
    She firmly but politely pushes him away.
    He returns to grope her again.
    Bulgakov ushers Grigory away.
    As they walk away, there is a short scuffle as Vladimir separates Stepan from Eva.
    Bulgakov and Grigory move to front of stage.
    Lights down behind them and the jazz fades.
    The table is cleared by the guests and by the Doctor and Nurse ( as butler and maid ).
    Exit all except the two men.
    Bulgakov produces cigars. They light up.
    Bulgakov I’m sorry. I didn’t know they had demanded a self-criticism.
    Grigory I’m worried.
    Bulgakov Grigory, you are a great novelist. Those talentless dimwits at the Writers’ Union – I tell you, it’s not politics, it’s envy. Stand your ground.
    Grigory It’s not me I’m worried about.
    Bulgakov My health is good.
    Grigory Not your health either. This play you’re writing.
    Bulgakov What about it?
    Grigory You were always the guy we looked up to. When they collected signatures to denounce someone, you stood your ground, never put your name to one. You always battled against the censor, found a way through if there was one, and if not – then try again! But this . . . You had to do it, right?
    Bulgakov Yes.
    Grigory No choice?
    Bulgakov No.
    Grigory They would have arrested Yelena?
    Bulgakov Yes.
    Grigory Well then, I understand –
    Bulgakov But maybe it’s good for me.
    Grigory Oh, it’s certainly that.
    Bulgakov Not materially. I mean, as a writer. Sometimes it’s good to look at things from a different point of view.
    Grigory I think I preferred your point of view.
    Bulgakov I struggled for years, Grigory.
    Grigory That’s right. We all know that, Mikhail. We watched you struggle. And we admired that. I have worshipped and been inspired by your perseverance. It defines you. Or at least it did.
    Bulgakov I haven’t given in. I’m still the same. I’m just – why do I have to apologise?
    Grigory They say that when a man is going to drown, when he finally gives up the struggle – it’s sort of blissful, for a moment. And then he drowns.
    Bulgakov stubs out his cigar.
    Bulgakov Are you finished?
    A beat.
    Grigory drops his cigar and grinds it with his heel.
    He exits.
    Bulgakov stands for a beat.
    He turns and crosses to the bed.
    Enter Yelena.
    She sits, facing away, brushing her hair, preparing for bed.
    Yelena is silent.
    What’s wrong?
    Yelena Nothing.
    Bulgakov Do you think I’ve