The Rubicon. A play in two acts

Agap. Yep.

Sea Lion. Agap! I’d really like to clean your clock…

Agap. Why?

Sea Lion. You’re saying these unpleasantries with too much relish.

Agap. I’m just…

Sea Lion. What else did they talk about?

Agap. I told you all I’ve got.

Sea Lion. That’s too bad!

Agap. It was too noisy in the kitchen.

Sea Lion. And what about the key-hole? Have you forgotten what I taught you?

Agap. Makar was way too far from the door.

Sea Lion. Watch it, Agap. If I find out that you’re in cahoots with him, I’ll skin you alive.

Agap. Boss!

Sea Lion. You can go now.

Agap leaves

Sea Lion. What are you up to, Makar?

Nadya enters carrying a tray with a glass of red berry juice.

Nadya. Cranberry, just like you like it, my sweet sailor.

Sea Lion. [Drinking the juice]. Thank you.

Nadya. We have to send money to Katya.

Sea Lion. Money?

Nadya. To pay for the second semester.

Sea Lion. Does anyone really need this education?

Nadya. We do.

Sea Lion. Paying to the help while having our own worker!

Nadya. Katya won’t be scrubbing floors for the rest of her life, will she? Enough’s enough.

Sea Lion. Enough?

Nadya. Eighty three thousand for the second semester.

Sea Lion opens a drawer of the desk, counts out the money, and hands it over to Nadya.

Sea Lion. Call Makar.

Nadya leaves

Sea Lion. There are many honest people but there are fewer and fewer decent ones.

Makar enters the study.

Makar. Nadya is angry at me again.

Sea Lion. No, Makar. It’s me who’s angry at you. Nadya just doesn’t want you.

Makar. Just spare me your lectures, I’m out of sorts today!

Sea Lion. Fine.

Pause.

Makar. Do you have something to drink? [Without waiting for a response, he opens the mini-bar fridge and pours himself a glass of whiskey.]

Sea Lion. How much did you lose to the swindlers in yesterday’s game of Bura?

Makar. So, somebody’s already ratted. I was just about to cut out but they dragged me back in.

Sea Lion. A freaking Al Capone.

Makar. Around hundred grand, maybe more.

Sea Lion. A gambling debt is a debt of honor.

Makar. You want me to get stabbed?

Sea Lion. You’re used to it, aren’t you?

Makar. It’s not funny, Oleg. Give me the money.

Sea Lion. Perhaps you’d also like a share of the hotel stock?

Makar. Ha-ha-ha! I saw this creep ambushing in the kitchen, so I faked him out.

Sea Lion. Right, you’re a real master of lurking. While Agap still has a lot to learn.