The Conformist. City life scenes in four acts

Lebedev. Well done!

Aglaya. A diploma and twenty thousand roubles. (Sceptically).

The doorbell rings.

Inna. That must be Katya! I’ll answer it. (Goes off, singing)

Pause.

Victoria Pavlovna. This could make a cat laugh. (Throws the envelope on the table angrily). I still can’t understand how she could refuse studying at Moscow State University and join this farce!

Egor, the Olshanskies’ son, was even a worse pupil than her, but he also was admitted to the University. He graduated, moved to Canada, started his IT company.

Lebedev. What if applied math isn’t really her vocation?

Victoria Pavlovna. Don’t make excuses for her! Inna just showed her character again. She went to the theatre institute – and you didn’t forbid her! Who is she now? An actress, for God’s sake! With no money, no decent education, she’s got only fun on her mind.

Aglaya. It’s been five years and you’re still arguing.

Enter Inna and Veselov with a bunch of flowers, he hands it to Victoria Pavlovna.

Veselov. Victoria Pavlovna! This is from Leonid Fyodorovich Gromov with the best wishes. The deal’s on Wednesday.

Aglaya. What about the expert’s resolution?

Veselov. I emailed you a copy. Hello, Sergey Ivanovich!

Lebedev. Hello, Sasha! (He shakes Veselov’s hand, then leaves the room).

Veselov and Aglaya sit down at the table. Victoria Pavlovna puts the flowers into a vase. Inna sets the table for tea.

Victoria Pavlovna. How did it go?

Veselov. Wonderfully! Gromov’s in. He’s looking forward to adding to his collection. Apart from the deal itself he’s willing to buy six modern painting for his villa in Spain.

Victoria Pavlovna. What else?

Veselov. Everything’s ready for the exhibition. We’re expecting the governor and a Chinese delegation at the opening ceremony. There will be a few representatives from the city council, too, then the media, the TV, the sponsors. Everything goes as it was agreed.

In addition to the main exhibition, the third hall will feature works by young painters (to Inna) including four paintings by Nikolay Orlov.

Inna. You’re great! (hugs Veselov) Orlov won’t let you down.

Veselov. Congratulations on winning the contest. I owe you a bottle (shakes Inna’s hand)

Aglaya. Veselov, I’ve never thought you drink.

Veselov. I’m drunk with love, Aglaya Sergeevna!

The doorbell rings.

Inna. Veselov’s in love! That’s a surprise! (goes off)

Victoria Pavlovna. What about the young Gromov, will he come?

Veselov. Yes. He’s back. He promised to come here today. Switzerland has done him good.

Victoria Pavlovna. That’s good news.

Aglaya. Mitya Gromov is a simpleton, though still a good match for Inna. We were sorry that their engagement was canceled because of his overdose in February. But now he’s returned and things seem to be improving.

Victoria Pavlovna. Seem to be. Although I don’t like it that during the unexpected parting with Mitya Inna became so close with his school friend Nikolay Orlov.

Yes, Orlov’s mother holds a good position in the Ministry of Education and an additional «lever’ at the establishment won’t be too bad. But I see that Nikolay lacks ambition and interest in his career. How else can one explain that, having got a degree in international affairs at the Ministry Academy, he still dabs in painting?

Veselov. Experts say he’s got potential. And his father was a decent landscape painter.

Victoria Pavlovna. You said it – he was! But he got to drinking and died. This is bad heritage.

Aglaya. Such painters’ problem is that their works grow in price only after their death – in a lucky case.

Victoria Pavlovna. This won’t suit me and Inna!

Take Mitya. The young Gromov is not the brightest one. His father though! He’s got real power. And the main thing, he’s made a fortune that will help a few generations prosper for years.

Lebedev, Katya, Orlov, Inna, Mitya Gromov enter noisily and cheerfully. Inna and Mitya are holding hands.

Lebedev. We have guests, darling.

Aglaya. Speak of the devil and there he is.

Everybody greets each other.

Katya. Hello!

Orlov. Good evening! (He bows to Victoria Pavlovna, shakes hands with Aglaya).

Mitya. I missed you so much. Hello, Victoria Pavlovna, Aglaya!

Victoria Pavlovna. Hello, Mitya, I’m glad to see you! Please do come in, everyone. Girls, lay the table. We’ll drink tea on the terrace.

Inna. We must celebrate the meeting! Veselov, where’s the bottle you promised? (Laughs).

Mitya. Only tea for me. I don’t drink alcohol.

Veselov. (to Aglaya) The Swiss clinic has obviously done him good: no alcohol, no drugs.

Aglaya. Just how long will it last?