Collaborators by John Hodge Read Free Book Online Page A

give him one more chance. If he won’t give in . . .
    Actor Two I understand.
    Actor One takes off the cassock.
    All right, Joseph, this is your last chance. Renounce Marx, conform to our rules and pledge loyalty to the Tsar.
    Actor One Never. I cannot ignore the needs of the people. My path has been chosen. It is not an easy one but it is the right one.
    Actor Two Get out of here! You are expelled!
    Enter Bulgakov. He watches.
    Actor One Don’t worry. I’m leaving. And I promise – I’ll never look back.
    Exit Actors One and Two.
    Vladimir Bulgakov! Did you catch it?
    Bulgakov Just the end.
    Vladimir It’s fantastic, Mikhail.
    Bulgakov You don’t think it’s a little too obviously . . .
    Vladimir What?
    Bulgakov Uncritical. I wouldn’t want to overdo it.
    Vladimir You nailed the guy, Mikhail, you captured him. Every inflection feels so authentic. It’s a work of art.
    Bulgakov I must admit, I do feel I’ve made contact with the character.
    Vladimir So what was it? I’m curious. What unlocked it for you?
    Bulgakov It just started to fall into place, really.
    Vladimir Our little chat in the cellars, perhaps?
    Bulgakov Perhaps.
    Vladimir I wouldn’t like to think it was just that. I mean, I want you and I to have a rich and fruitful creative relationship and I appreciate that in my role as producer/director, I may have overstepped the mark in threatening to shoot your wife.
    Bulgakov Don’t worry.
    Vladimir I feel bad about it.
    Bulgakov It’s your working method.
    Vladimir Exactly. That’s all. And for the record, in truth, I would never have shot Yelena.
    Bulgakov You wouldn’t?
    Vladimir No. A mock execution, perhaps.
    Bulgakov Yes.
    Vladimir A whole series of bewildering, traumatic mock executions designed to leave her emotionally fractured and psychologically disabled. But never the live round.
    Bulgakov That’s all the difference.
    Vladimir Isn’t it just!
    Bulgakov You’re going soft.
    Vladimir I wouldn’t jeopardise the project.
    A beat.
    Bulgakov hands over the latest pages.
    Now come on – I’ll buy you breakfast.
    Exit Vladimir with Bulgakov.
    Stepan stands for a beat.
    Then he follows as Praskovya enters.
    She sits at the table.
    Enter Vasilly in a bathrobe. Hair still wet. Full of joy.
    Vasilly Look at this! Look at me! Fresh from a bath! Hot running water! Gallons of the stuff!
    Praskovya It won’t last.
    Vasilly I left the tap running just to check – if anything it was getting hotter. Practically a jet of steam –
    Praskovya Must be a mistake.
    Vasilly Providence, Praskovya! Justice!
    He slides open the cupboard door and bellows in to a sleeping Sergei.
    Long live the Revolution!
    Sergei wakes. Tumbles out and to his feet.
    Sergei Is it time for work?
    Vasilly It is time for a bath, you unwashed proletarian!
    He spins round.
    And is it my imagination or is that . . .
    Praskovya It’s coffee.
    Vasilly Yes!
    Enter Bulgakov, carrying a large bunch of roses.
    Enter Yelena from the other direction.
    Yelena Misha!
    Bulgakov My darling. For you.
    She takes them.
    Yelena But where from?
    Bulgakov There was a woman selling them – just around the corner.
    Yelena But no one sells roses in Moscow in December!
    Bulgakov Smell them and tell me if they’re not real.
    They cross towards the bed.
    Vasilly Sergei! To the bath, Comrade!
    He exits, pulling Sergei with him.
    Praskovya I’ll get the soap.
    She exits.
    Yelena You shouldn’t.
    Bulgakov I should.
    She kisses him.
    Yelena You look better, Misha.
    Bulgakov I feel no worse.
    Yelena Perhaps it’s not . . .
    Bulgakov I’m not thinking about it. Let’s not talk about it. Remember, I’m alive, you’re alive, and so on.
    He holds her hand.
    They dance a few steps, making the music of their favourite tune.
    They kiss.
    They sit, then recline, on the bed.
    The lights fade to moonlight.
    Bulgakov sits up.
    He stands and pulls on his