Brian Friel Plays 2 (30 page)

Princess
Why do you always ask that absurd question when you know the answer. No, I am not all right. There’s a constant buzzing in my head. I can scarcely walk with arthritis. That meal they gave us was inedible. And I am about to be sick with the smell of cat in this damn place. (
She
rises
and
leaves
left.
)
When you’re ready to leave you’ll find me in the paddock. There’s a black filly there that needs to be broken.

Anna
She gets great comfort from her misery.

Pavel
I’m studying her carefully. We could have a lot in common.

Fenichka
You don’t have her vigour, Pavel.

Pavel
I could simulate that, too, couldn’t I?

Fenichka
Nikolai tells me you had a good harvest.

Anna
I was away for most of it. Yes, it was a good harvest. (
She
gestures
her
indifference.
)
The best I’ve ever had … It’s good to hear Arkady singing.

Fenichka
Yes.

Anna
And Katerina tells me he’s out and about again.

Fenichka
He hadn’t much choice. The estate’s his now. He was needed on the land.

Anna
They’re a handsome couple.

Pavel
Aren’t they.

Anna
A pity you’ll miss the wedding, Pavel.

Fenichka
The weddings, Anna.

Anna
Of course.

Pavel
Yes, I’m sorry about that. I’m due to arrive in Zurich that day.

Fenichka
waters
the
plants
in
front
of
the
veranda.

Any news of the epidemic? – the typhus epidemic?

Anna
I’m told it’s almost died out.

Pavel
Has it?

Anna
So I’ve heard.

Pavel
Ah. Good.

Anna
Yes.

Pavel
So it’s over now?

Anna
Almost. Not quite.

Pavel
Good. They cause great devastation, those things. But they pass – they pass.

Anna
That’s true.

Pavel
And the world carries on.

Anna
I suppose so. Yes, of course it does.

Pause.

Pavel
I got to know him slightly just before he left here. I hadn’t understood him at all before that. In my stupidity. He was a fine man.

Anna
He was also a … difficult man.

Pavel
He was that, too.

Anna
He wanted to marry me.

Pavel
I gathered that.

Anna
(
crying
quietly
)
I should have married him, Pavel …

Pavel
Perhaps – perhaps.

Anna
Oh, yes, I should. Oh, yes. It would have been a difficult marriage but I should have married him, It’s very hard to carry on when you know you’ve made so enormous a mistake, Pavel. How do you carry on?

Pavel
I wish I could help you, Anna. I very much wish I could help you. I have no answers to anything. We all want to believe at least in the possibility of one great love. And when we cannot achieve it – because it isn’t achievable – we waste our lives pursuing surrogates; at least those of us who are very foolish do.

Fenichka
Soon be time to bring them inside.

Pavel
And that’s no life, no life at all. (
He
puts
his
hands
on
Anna’s
shoulders.
)
A kind of contentment is available, Anna: in routine, acceptance, duty.

Anna
I had that life.

Pavel
It has its consolations. Is that a terrible thing to say?

Anna
He thought so.

Pavel
I know. But it’s the only threadbare wisdom I have for you. I don’t believe a word of it myself.

Dunyasha
enters
with
the
glasses.
She
barely
conceals
her
fury.

Dunyasha
Miss, the champagne glasses, miss.

Fenichka
(
very
calm
)
Thank you, Dunyasha. Put them on the table.

Dunyasha
Is there anything else I can get you, miss?

Fenichka
That will be all for now, Dunyasha.

Dunyasha
Sir, what about you, sir?

Pavel
Sorry?

Dunyasha
Sir, can I get you anything, sir?

Pavel
(
alarmed
at
this
attention
)
Me? No … nothing … nothing, thank you.

Dunyasha
stumps
off
into
the
house.

Nikolai
enters
from
the
left.
He
is
wearing
a
very
brightly
coloured
jacket
–
a
jacket
for
a
much
younger
man.
Now
and
again
bring
up
the
sound
of
distant
piano-accordion
music.

Nikolai
I’ve held you all up, have I?

Fenichka
I thought you’d gone dancing by yourself.

Nikolai
Ha-ha. Just saying a word of formal thanks and encouragement to the workers for their sterling efforts over the past weeks. (
A
quick
kiss
and
embrace
for
Fenichka.
)
This looks splendid! Excellent! I love those dahlias.

Fenichka
These are the dahlias.

Nikolai
Are they? I never get them right. They’re beautiful anyhow. (
to
all
)
Incidentally some time later on it would be greatly appreciated if we all put in a brief appearance at the dance; just to – you know – just to – to pass ourselves.
No obligation whatever to – to participate – not that some of us could … (
indicating
his
lameness
)
… even if we wished to. I’ll ask Arkady to dance with you on my behalf – just once!

Pavel
You’ll have to let me have one dance, too, Nikolai. Nikolai Yes?

Pavel
Of course. The brother-in-law to be. I was an excellent dancer once upon a time. (
to
Fenichka
)
That’s agreed, then.

Nikolai
Good. Good. Yes. Fine. Anyhow. Now to organize our lives. Is everybody here? (
He
looks
into
the
living-room
where
Katya
and
Arkady
are
talking
heatedly.
)
Look at those two love-birds.

Katya bangs the piano-lid shut.

Fenichka
Squabbling love-birds.

Nikolai
Arkady! Katya! Come out here at once! Where’s the Princess?

Anna
She’s walking around somewhere.

Nikolai
I’ll go and get her.

Anna
No. Leave her. She’s happier by herself.

Katya
and
Arkady
join
the
others.

Arkady
Well – well – well – well!

Ironic
clapping.

Feast your eyes on that wonderful sight!

Nikolai
What’s the matter?

Arkady
Just look at that astonishing jacket! Where did that come from?

Nikolai
I agree with you, Arkady. I think myself it’s much too young for a man of –

Fenichka
I chose it, Arkady.

Arkady
Did you now?

Fenichka
And I think he’s very handsome in it.

Katya
So he is. And it’s a wonderful jacket. (
to
Arkady
)
We all agree.

Arkady
I’m sure you do. I still think it’s remarkable.

Nikolai
does
a
mock
pirouette.

Nikolai
What do you think, Anna?

Anna
(
in
a
reverie
)
Sorry – sorry?

Nikolai
Do you approve of it?

Anna
Approve of –?

Pavel
(
quickly
)
We all think you’re gorgeous, Nikolai. And I’m madly jealous. One Tailor’s Dummy in the house is sufficient.

Nikolai
Who is the Tailor’s Dummy?

Pavel
Didn’t you know? That’s what the servants call me.

Nikolai
I never heard that, Pavel.

Pavel
I don’t mind in the least. It’s not without affection, is it?

Fenichka
Show them the lining, Nikolai.

Nikolai
I certainly will not!

Fenichka
Go on! For my sake.

With
mock
coyness
Nikolai
unbuttons
the
jacket
and
opens
it
to
reveal
an
even
more
brilliant
lining.

Applause and laughter.

Nikolai
And this, of course, is the real Nikolai Petrovich.

Fenichka
Feast your eyes on that!

Katya
Yes – yes – yes – yes!

Arkady
Ridiculous.

Fenichka
And when he’s tired of it, I’m going to wear it – inside out.

Nikolai
Enough of this. I’m not sure you’re all not taking a hand at me. Let’s all gather round the table and get a glass. There’s going to be no formality. And no speeches. Just an exchange of congratulations and good wishes between friends. Come over here beside me, Fenichka. Has everybody got something in his glass?

Katya
(
filling
her
glass
)
Just a second, Nikolai.

Nikolai
Give me your hand, Katya. Good. Splendid. Well. The harvest is saved. It has been a good, an especially good, year. And first of all we want to thank you most warmly, Anna – don’t we, Arkady? – most warmly indeed for all the tremendous help you have been to us not only in your advice and wisdom over the past months but more particularly, indeed most particularly, for your spontaneous and generous offer of your machinery – an offer, may I say –

Arkady
You said no speeches.

Nikolai
And there’ll be none.

Arkady
Good. Thank you, Anna.

Nikolai
Thank you most sincerely, Anna. And if the situation is ever –

Arkady
Father!

Nikolai
Sorry – sorry. Thank you. We all thank Anna – don’t we?

Clapping.
Raising
of
glasses.

Fenichka
Incidentally did you hear that Adam’s old aunt has died?

Nikolai
Somebody did mention that. When did it happen?

Fenichka
Early this morning. Are you still thinking of sacking him?

Nikolai
Yes. No. He worked like a Trojan this past month. But this is a matter for you, Arkady. You’re master of the estate now.

Arkady
I’ll think about it. I’ll watch him. He knows he’s on probation.

Nikolai
Why do you ask?

Fenichka
No reason. Just wondering. Who’s for more wine?

Katya
Me, please. We’re all going to miss you very much, Uncle Pavel.

Pavel
For all of two minutes.

Arkady
I think you’ve had enough wine, Katya.

Katya
(
dismissively
)
I’ll make that decision. (
to
Pavel
)
Yes, we will. A whole lot.