TWO PLAYS. MAIDEN FOREST. THE ADVENTURES OF YUMI

TWO PLAYS. MAIDEN FOREST. THE ADVENTURES OF YUMI
Maxim Titovets

“Envy is a time bomb. There is no such thing as unfortunate love since only lack of love can be unfortunate. You can’t be really happy unless you love and are loved in return”. The Maiden Forest.“Success is a measure of person’s decisions. Dreams come true. You should wish for something with your whole heart, believe in yourself and keep moving towards your desirable goal”. The Adventures of Yumi.Parts of this book were published as separate books “Devichy Bor”, “The Adventures of Yumi”.

TWO PLAYS

MAIDEN FOREST. THE ADVENTURES OF YUMI

Maxim Titovets

© Maxim Titovets, 2021

ISBN 978-5-0053-7803-3

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

MAXIM TITOVETS

TWO PLAYS

www.maximtitovets.com

maxtitovets@mail.ru (mailto:maxtitovets@mail.ru)

Cover by Andrey Klimak

The Maiden Forest

Maksim Titovets

The Maiden Forest

A play in two acts

Translated by Ekaterina Zudova

Dedicated to

Vasily Radchenko, Anastasia Semenova

«Envy is a time bomb. There is no such thing as unfortunate love since only lack of love can be unfortunate. You can’t be really happy unless you love and are loved in return». Maxim Titovets, 2019.

CHARACTERS

Fyodor Kolosov, 57
Artyom Kolosov (Jacket), his stepson, 29
Alexey Khromov, 55
Veniamin (Venya) Frostin, 54
Tatyana Yaseneva, pediatrician, 34
Ignatych, retired Kolosov’s neighbor
Chopper, unknown age
Ivan Rybin (Moray), Artyom’s former classmate, 30
Slav, 30—35
Natalia, about 27
Khlora, 23
Local police officer, hunters, and others

The action takes place in Russia.

ACT I

Scene 1

June. Pentecost.

Early morning. Fyodor Kolosov’s summer cottage in the Maiden Forest settlement.

In the center of the stage is an open-air summer terrace with a wooden table, a bench, and several chairs. The front lawn is covered in grass. There is a flowerbed. On the left, there is an old apple tree and high fence with a gate, the exit into the street. Fyodor’s two-story house is on the right. A paved path runs from the porch. A carved wooden signpost stands near the path featuring the following signs: «Banya – 12 meters», «Water well – 15 meters», «New York – 8,321 km», «Tokyo – 6,132 km». A birch grove can be seen in the background.

Tatyana leaves Fyodor’s house. She comes up to the gate, turns around, and looks at the house, tidying up her hair. Fyodor opens a window on the first floor. Tatyana waves at him and leaves through the gate.

Fyodor leaves the window wings a little ajar and goes out on the porch. He is bare-chested and strongly built. He comes up to the washstand near the gazebo, humming an unsophisticated melody, washes his face and hands, grunts loudly. Then he takes a towel off the hook and wipes his face, chest, shoulders, and back. He puts the towel back. He does some morning exercises as he is going back inside.

Venya and Alexey walk up to the gate. Venya wears a trendy T-shirt with a print, a lightweight jacket, and jeans. A small bright backpack is slung over his one shoulder. Alexey is dressed in a decent-looking summer suit, with a hat on his head. He carries a small traveling bag.

Venya. He put up a new fence. How can I even get it open? [He keeps charging at the gate but cannot open it.] Alexey, give me a hand!

Alexey. Hang tight, Veniamin. [He gently pulls the gate open and lets Venya inside.]

Venya. Mer-see boh-koo, mon amee.

Alexey. Move it, Frenchman. I’m famished.

Venya. There, what did I tell you? We should have taken some sandwiches with us!

Alexey. So why haven’t you?

Venya. I didn’t feel like bothering with it. [He gets an apple out of his backpack and a penknife from his pocket, cuts the apple in two, pockets the knife again, and offers half an apple to Alexey.] Help yourself.

Alexey. Meat is what I want.

Venya. Fyodor must be cooking breakfast for us. [He takes out a mobile phone and presses the call button.] Hi, mom. We are here. Yes, everything is as planned. Love you.

Alexey. Lizaveta Nikitichna must be worried about her sonny Venya.

Venya. Oh, come on, give it a rest. She asked me to phone her when we arrive.

Alexey. And why did we have to come here so early in the first place?