Collaborators (7 page)

Bulgakov sits up.

He stands and pulls on his coat.

He goes to the front stage.

Exit Yelena.

Bulgakov crosses to the desk.

No sign of Stalin.

Suddenly the cupboard door slides opens and closes very quickly.

Stalin steps forward.

He is clutching a thick pile of files and notes – administrative paperwork.

Stalin
I'm late – I know.

Bulgakov
It's all right.

Stalin
I have other things to do, you know.

Bulgakov
Of course. I didn't say anything.

Stalin
A country to run.

Bulgakov
Yes, I know. I'm sorry.

Stalin dumps the paperwork on the desk and sits down at the typewriter.

Stalin
Never stops, you know. Always something.

Bulgakov
It's a big responsibility.

Stalin
Does anyone think so?

Bulgakov
The people are grateful.

Stalin
Are they? I'll take your word on that. Now where was I?

He settles himself in at the desk.

Bulgakov
The seminary. You were expelled.

Stalin
Yes! Now – here's what I was thinking. We jump forward one year. The oil town of Batumi. I am now a fully active, full-time Bolshevik revolutionary. Fast becoming the Lenin of south-west Georgia! – Strike the ‘south-west'!

Bulgakov
It's good. You're keeping it moving.

Stalin
Exactly! That's what I thought. There's a dynamism in my life –

Bulgakov
Reflected in the text.

Stalin
You and me, Mikhail – two minds with as but one thought.

Bulgakov
So what happens in Batumi?

Stalin
I've infiltrated the Rothschild oil refinery, spreading the credo of armed insurrection among the workers. On a personal level, I'm living in an apartment. There's a girl there.

Bulgakov
Good.

Stalin
And guess what?

Bulgakov
She's in love with you.

Stalin
It's true. And believe me, she wasn't the only one.

Bulgakov
Romance. Always popular.

Stalin
OK. Here goes.

He feeds in the paper.

One moment – if I'm doing your job, why don't you do mine?

Bulgakov
Do yours?

Stalin
Yeah. See those papers – that's a summary of the steel output for the entire USSR, broken down into
individual republics, regions, provinces, mills, foundries, shifts. What you have to do –

Bulgakov
Me!

Stalin
– is make a note beside each one, more or less. ‘Increased output required!' ‘Must work harder!' ‘More steel needed – increase by 59 per cent in six months!' Stuff like that.

Bulgakov
I can't do that.

Stalin
Of course you can. Go on, Mikhail. Make a note.

He thrusts one of the sheets towards Bulgakov.

Go on. Just try it. Just once . . .

Bulgakov picks up a pen. Hesitates. Then writes in the margin.

Stalin reads over his shoulder.

Stalin
‘More steel or else!' Oh boy! When you get angry, you really get angry! ‘. . . or else!' – might use that one myself someday. OK. Now sign. J.S.

Bulgakov
J.S.?

Stalin
That's me.

Bulgakov
Yes – I know, but . . .

Stalin
What's the problem?

Bulgakov
I can't sign your initials. That's illegal!

Stalin
You've done the hard bit, the creative work, but unless you sign it, it isn't going to work. J . . . S . . . J.S., J for Joseph –

Bulgakov
I can't!

Stalin
Go on, Mikhail. Sign it. It's our little secret. No one will ever know.

Bulgakov
No one?

Stalin
No one.

Suddenly, with a flourish, Bulgakov signs the order and throws down the pen.

They begin giggling.

Stalin punches Bulgakov affectionately on the shoulder.

Bulgakov punches him back, even harder.

They both giggle even more at Bulgakov's audacity.

Enter the two Actors, followed by Vladimir and Stepan.

Bulgakov and Stalin exit, giggling like naughty boys.

Actor Two pulls on a dress.

Actor One
Good news, Kato, I have secured employment at the Rothschild oil refinery. From within, I can convert workers to Marxism and recruit them to the cause. It's only a matter of time before we bring the whole edifice of capitalist imperialism crashing to its knees!

Actor Two
Oh Joseph, it's incredible. Only you could have achieved so much so soon.

Actor One
It's nothing.

Actor Two
You must be busy.

Actor One
Of course.

Actor Two
And is there time for anything else in your life?

Actor One
My spare time is devoted to my passion.

Actor Two
Your passion?

Actor One
Reading. Marx mainly. And Lenin, of course.

Actor Two
Is that all?

Actor One
Oh no. I also write propaganda.

Actor Two
OK. Right. And anything else?

Actor One
Fund-raising.

Actor Two
No! I mean anything else that doesn't relate to fomenting the overthrow of the Romanov dynasty?

Actor One
Sorry?

Actor Two takes the hand of Actor One.

Actor Two
Love, Joseph. Is there time in your life for love?

Actor One
It will lead only to heartbreak, my dear. For mine is a restless soul. It cannot be tamed, nor held. I am here today and gone tomorrow.

Actor Two
Oh, Joseph, I don't care – then I shall love you today and damn tomorrow!

They kiss.

Enter Grigory carrying a cup.

Vladimir
Good kissing. Break for lunch, back in one hour.

Exit Vladimir, Stepan, the two Actors.

Grigory sits at the table and waits.

Enter Bulgakov.

Bulgakov
Grigory!

Grigory
Hello, Mikhail. Vasilly let me in.

Bulgakov
That's fine. Always good to see you.

Grigory
He said I should help myself to some coffee too. It's very good.

Bulgakov
You're welcome. Surprised he didn't tell you to have a bath.

Grigory
He did. And the heating too . . .

Bulgakov
Yes. It's an improvement.

Grigory
So how's it going?

Bulgakov
It's a hack job. Mindless. But I'm getting through it.

Grigory
Is that all?

Bulgakov
How else could it be?

Grigory
I hear it's going well. Yelena told Anna. Anna told me. That you're making progress. And that you're thriving. Rejuvenated, they said. Mentally and physically.

Bulgakov
That's perhaps going a little too far.

Grigory
You certainly look better. Never liked to say before, but there was a tinge – in your skin –

Bulgakov
It's the nephrosclerosis – the pigmentation –

Grigory
Really? Because in this light, I can . . . I can hardly see it at all, really.

Bulgakov
You must tell me: your work, your situation – how's it going?

Grigory
I'd like to, if you don't mind – I mean that's partly why I'm here. My situation.

A knock at the door.

Bulgakov
One moment.

Enter the Driver.

Driver
Mr Bulgakov?

Bulgakov
Yes?

Driver
Your car is ready.

Bulgakov
My car?

Grigory
Your car?

Driver
Yes, sir. Your car is ready.

Bulgakov
My car? Who arranged that?

Driver
I just take orders, sir.

Bulgakov
Am I being arrested?

Driver
I'm not a policeman, sir. I'm just a driver.

Bulgakov
Then where are you taking me?

Driver
To work. And then home again. And anywhere else you want to go.

Bulgakov
Anywhere else I want to go?

Grigory
Tell him you want to go to Paris.

Driver
I'll wait outside, sir.

The Driver exits.

Bulgakov
Grigory – please understand – this is something of a surprise to me –

Grigory
Nice surprise. Coffee, heating, car – where's it going to end?

Bulgakov
Anyway, tell me: what's happening?

Grigory
You have to go, Mikhail – your car is waiting.

Bulgakov
No, forget that – I want to know. Your situation – what's happened.

Grigory
It's all right. Some other time. Honestly.

Bulgakov
You're sure?

Grigory
Yes.

Bulgakov
It's just . . .

Grigory
I know. Don't worry about it. You're busy. It's good.

Bulgakov
Call round again. Promise?

Grigory
Yes!

Bulgakov
Let's meet. Coffee. Dinner. You can tell me all. I'll look forward to it.

Grigory
You'd better go.

A shake of the hands.

Bulgakov exits.

Grigory is left alone.

He sips his coffee.

A beat.

He tips the rest away.

Exit Grigory as the two Actors enter.

They are mock-fighting, One in greatcoat and Stalin moustache, Two in a cossack's hat with sword and hobby horse.

Vladimir follows closely, directing.

Stepan enters and watches.

Bulgakov enters and sits down.

Vladimir
You cut them down with your swords! You pitiless Cossack bastards! Young Joseph – you stand your ground – yield to no man – you witness the senseless slaughter of your comrades but ‘with no thought of self-preservation, he throws himself forward to tend the wounded'. OK, when you're ready.

He walks back and sits near Bulgakov.

They watch the Actors finding their way through the scene.

Nice suit.

Bulgakov
Thanks.

A beat.

Someone arranged a car for me.

Eventually Vladimir responds.

Vladimir
A car?

Bulgakov
With a driver.

Vladimir
Lucky you.

Bulgakov
What's wrong?

Vladimir
Nothing.

Bulgakov
Then why ‘lucky you'?

Vladimir
I just mean you're lucky, that's all! Why does everything have to mean something? You've got a car. End of story.

Bulgakov
And a driver.

Vladimir
And a driver. Big fucking deal.

A pause.

Bulgakov
Do you like the scene? Are you happy with how it's going? I mean, I must admit, I was sceptical. You know I was, about the whole project. I couldn't see it. But now – I think it's starting to take shape. I actually think it could even be quite . . . you know . . .

Vladimir
I used to have one.

Bulgakov
What?

Vladimir
A car. And a driver. But they took it away. Just a couple of days ago, as it happens. ‘Reallocation of resources'.

Bulgakov
Oh. Vladimir – I'm sorry.

Vladimir
Not your fault.

Bulgakov
No.

Vladimir
I didn't say it was your fault. In fact I'm sure it's a coincidence. I'm sure the two events of your being given a car and mine being taken away – at exactly the same time – are not in any way whatsoever connected.

A beat.

Unless you want to tell me otherwise?

On the platform. Actor Two rehearses his sabre-swooshing charge.

Actor One
Oh God, I've been cut! Help! Help!

He is bleeding. He bursts into tears.

Vladimir jumps out of his seat.

Vladimir
All right! Stop there! Someone get a bandage – young Joseph's been wounded!

Exit Vladimir and Stepan and two Actors.

Enter Stalin with a bundle of paperwork.

He sits at the desk. Begins typing. Lost in his own thoughts and story.

Bulgakov also sits. He works his way through the paperwork.

Bulgakov pauses.

Bulgakov
Thank you.

Stalin doesn't stop.