The Idol

Anna. Bread and water – that is all our food. Oh, Vasil, we live only once! Let’s make it and have a feast!

Vasil. Okay, it’s up to you.

Anna. Why should I always make decisions? Who is a man in our family?

Vasil. As you like.

Anna. He is driving me mad… Levan! Bring us your barbeque meat please. Two plates for each!

Vasil. Oh Annushka!

Anna. Keep silence! I was given a right of voice. Now it is my turn.

Levan. Wow, such a good girl!

Anna. What else do you have? I want a Georgian cheese pie!

Levan. I don’t have it. There is some chicken soup. The chicken is soft like a young girl!

Anna. Okay, bring it too. And a bottle of wine! Let’s go the limit!

Levan. Sorry, dear, there is no wine.

Anna. Okay, give us what you have. And hurry up otherwise I am going to change my mind!

Levan. Oh, don’t say that! I am as swift as wind. (Leaves).

Mancev. What are you celebrating?

Anna. It’s a commemoration dinner for our house. Vitya, I wish you could see what a house it was! This is a two-storied building, the roof is tiled, the chimney pipe is made of brick – the size is like that! One can’t embrace it.

Vasil. And what an attic!

Anna. I wish your mom moved there, Vasil. She would like to live in the attic, that’s for sure. What a view from there!

Vasil. That would be just fine.

Anna. And there is a big rock right near the porch. As big as a mountain!

Vasil. And the garden is like soccer field!

Anna. We could grow potatoes and tomatoes there…

Sumyatov. So, what’s the matter? Go and buy it without thinking.

Vasil. Our purse is not heavy enough.

Anna. Just think – one hundred and twenty five thousands! Who has ever heard of such a thing?

Mancev. How much do you have?

Anna. We can hardly scarp fifty thousands. Maybe Vasil’s mother would add a little more from her pension allowance.

Vasil. Actually, Mikhalych promised to lend us twenty thousands.

Anna. He said that has collected this sum for his funeral. We wanted to refuse but he got offended. He said that it’s too early to bury him yet, that he is going to live on and take care of our future kids.

Sumyatov. Look at him! The old man is real gold although with some freaks!

Anna. I wish you saw how he was bargaining for us swearing and pleading. And he made it – they got five thousand down! But it doesn’t help.

Vasil. Don’t worry Annushka. We’ll pull through.

Anna. I am okay Vasil. You also don’t get upset about it. My husband was born in a village that’s why he is so fond of earth.

Sumyatov. So, why did you move to city then?

Vasil. To enter the college… After that I followed Annushka to the mountains. So, I am traveling around like a vagabond.

Victor Mancev leaves.

Sumyatov. Now are you going to get to the mountains again?

Vasil. We have to earn money.

Sumyatov. Is it only for money? It doesn’t worth it then!

Vasil. We have already gone through romantics.

Аnna. You won’t believe it, I used to be crazy about romantics. Love in the mountains seemed to me so sublime… What a foolish girl!

Sumyatov. It doesn’t seem such any more?

Vasil. Now she has to think about other things which are more important. Am I right or not?

Аnnа. Vasil, shame on you! Don’t listen to him!

Vasil. Is there anything to be ashamed of?

Sumyatov. Oh, I got it. My congratulations!

Vasil. First catch your hare.

Sumyatov. But anyway… Haven’t you ever dreamed of seeing your photos at the newspapers, taking part in the TV shows and being famous for the whole country?

Vasil. What for do we need all that?

Sumyatov. I don’t know. Other people do need that!