Максим Титовец - Пьесы для театра

There was someone’s distinct growl in reply, then Yumi heard some movement, as if a real monster was breaking free from a cage.

Yumi.Is it all you got, you scary monster? Grrr…

Yumi jumps off and falls upon the monster. The attack is successful. Yumi bumps up against a big cage. There is a girl sitting in the cage. Yumi spotted this girl as his new acquaintance, who treated him to biscuits, by her smell.

Yumi.It’s a small world. What are you doing here?

Nyuta looks at Yumi in silence.

Scene 9.

The same decoration.

Yumi stands in front of the cage where Nyuta is locked.

Yumi.Is this you?

Nyuta.Yes, it’s me.

Yumi.Why did you growl?

Nyuta.Best defence is offence. I wanted to scare you.

Yumi.Then you succeeded. How did you get here?

Nyuta.I must be hallucinating. Dogs can’t speak.

Yumi.What do you mean they can’t speak?

Nyuta.Right. I’m going mad.

Yumi.It’s me, Yumi. We played together in our yard this morning. You treated me to some goodie.

Nyuta.Those were crunchy biscuits. Go away, ghost. I have no intention to lose my mind. Dogs can only bark.

Yumi.Woof! Woof!

The outer door opens slightly, a big dog pokes his head through the door opening, and his breath meets the ears. Yumi hides himself. The door closes again.

Nyuta.Hush! You will wake the guards up this way.

Yumi.I’m sorry.

Nyuta.There is also some huge dog wandering about here. He is looking for somebody.

Yumi leaves his hideout.

Yumi.My name is Yumi.

Nyuta.I am Nyuta. Granting for a moment that dogs can really speak and I am not getting mad.

Yumi.All the animals can speak, it’s just that not all the people can understand our language. What are you doing here?

Nyuta.Some masked thugs kidnapped me, brought me here and caged me up.

Yumi.But why?

Nyuta.One of them is called Corkscrew. I heard this name when they were taking me here.

Yumi.Corkscrew? He is my bitter enemy!

Nyuta.Oh really?

Yumi.Corkscrew and Khorkov caught my mom today.

Nyuta.But why would they do this?

Yumi.This is an animal tormentor gang. They rounded up stray animals in order to put them down with some deadly liquid.

Nyuta.It’s terrible.

Yumi.It was the mayor’s order, to rid the streets of stray animals.

Nyuta.The mayor’s order? No, it can’t be true.

Yumi.Then tell me, why is my mom in the dog prison now?

Nyuta.My father could not do that. There must be some mistake.

Yumi.I came here with my friends to save my mom. But first I need to let you out.

Nyuta.The latch is closed outside the cage’s door, I can not reach it from here. Try to open the latch.

Yumi tries to open it but fails.

Nyuta.No, I can’t.

Yumi.Pull the door. Alright. Harder.

Nyuta pulls the cage door, Yumi pushes the latch, and finally the door opens.

Yumi. Yes!

Nyuta.Good job. Thank you.

Yumi.Now go. Hereto, upstairs. Go through the building and find the door with a «fire exit» sign. It opens to the outside. There is a hole in the fence to the left from the security booth. Get out and run to the police station, they will help you.

Nyuta.Yumi, and you? What about your friends? And your mom?

Yumi.Your life is much more important than the lives of a bunch of stray animals.

Nyuta.You are mistaken, Yumi.

Yumi.Oh, really?

Nyuta.Everyone has the right to live, even if they were born on the street or dwell in the gateway. My mom taught me this. She died but I remember her words very well.

Yumi.What are we supposed to do now?

Nyuta.I will go with you and help you all.

Yumi.We could use a friend’s help.

The inner basement door opens, the mice come in. Toy and Greta follow them.

Yumi.Mom! Mommy.

Greta.Hello, my little boy.

Toy.Be quiet, Yumi. The rescue operation is going on. Who is this?

Yumi.This is Nyuta. She was kidnapped. Now she is with us.

Toy.Let’s go away.

The team heads for the door. They hear a voice from the other corner of the room.

Crow.Stop! Help me! I am here, in a cage.

They all step up to the cage where the crow is locked.

Yang.Aha! That’s done you.

Yin.It serves you right.

Crow.Let me out, please.

Yang.Yumi! It was she who showed Khorkov and Corkscrew where your home was.

Yin.Yes, Greta was caught because of her.

Yumi.I know what she has done.

Toy.Mice, go outside and test the waters. We will join you soon.

The mice leave.

Toy.Crow is a Lord’s spy, she has to be punished.

Crow.I couldn’t follow everything. Lord gave me up to the tormentors when he found out that you all had escaped.

Toy.You shall remember us all your life, you loud-mouth.

Crow.I don’t want to die. Please help me.

Toy.Yumi, let’s go.

Greta.If we leave her caged, she will die.

Toy.Lord does not spare anyone.

Greta.We need to be able to forgive and show mercy.

Yumi.We are no tormentors. Let the crow out, Toy.

Toy.Are you sure you don’t want to have revenge on her?

Yumi.Open the cage, Toy.

Toy.It’s up to you.

Toy opens the cage, the crow gets out.

Crow.Thank you, Yumi. Nobody loves me. I was betrayed by everyone.

Yumi.Be kind to others and they will be kind to you in return.

Toy.Let’s leave!

They all head for the door. At this moment the inner basement door opens. The jail-keeper rat comes in.

Rat.Stop, stop, stop. This wasn’t the agreement, Toy.

Toy.What are you talking about, jail-keeper?

Rat.You said that you were going to open only one cage and only one prisoner would leave. The crow and the girl will stay here!

Toy.I gave you the spongy bone.

Rat.One prisoner, one spongy bone. That was the agreement.

Nyuta.Let us go.

Rat.I am bound to raise alarm.

Yumi.Show some conscience!

Rat.I’m calling security.

Toy.Stop. Wait.

Rat.Are you willing to pay?

Toy.Here. This is all I have. (He gives his gold coin to the jail-keeper.)

Rat.What is it? (He bites the coin.)

Toy.It is my lucky gold coin.

Rat.It’s a pleasure to deal with you, ladies and gentlemen. You can go. (He leaves.)

Toy.The way is free, my friends. Follow me.

Right at the moment when they all are going outside, the outer door opens and major Suvorov enters the basement holding a gun.

Suvorov.Police! Stop right there.

Scene 10.

Late in the evening. Animal control center.

Karabasov, Khorkov, Malyshev.

Karabasov.I suppose, mister Mayor, you have received my message.

Malyshev.I’ve signed all the papers. The building site is yours.

Karabasov.I don’t want you to peg me as an enemy. I offer you cooperation.

Malyshev.Bring my daughter back to me.

Karabasov.I hope you learnt your lesson.

Malyshev.Why have you rounded up stray animals?

Karabasov.It was Khorkov’s call. He suggested to kill them humanely.

Khorkov.Tonight we are going to clean our district of these rogues!

Malyshev.Karabasov. If you want to keep running your business in this city, I insist that you don’t put these animals down. We will the means to deal with them without having to kill.

Karabasov.If you really agree to cooperate, I’ll meet you halfway and keep these stray beasts alive.

Malyshev.It is as good as a deal. Where is my daughter?

The door opens, the major and Greta rush in. Th major takes aim at Karabasov. Greta cuts off Khorkov’s escape.

Suvorov.Police! Put your hands behind your head, you are under arrest.

Karabasov.What a stunt.

Suvorov.Hold it right there, Karabasov.

Khorkov.Easy, doggy, easy. Avoid abrupt movements.

Greta.Grrr…

Nyuta, Yumi and Toy come in.

Nyuta. Dad!

Malyshev.Nyuta, sweetheart.

Suvorov.I will call for backup.

Corkscrew springs up behind Suvorov’s back and strikes him over the head with a bludgeon. The policeman falls unconscious. Corkscrew takes his gun. Khorkov quickly brings out his pistol and aims at Yumi.

Khorkov (to Greta). Don’t you move, you dirty dog, or I will blow your son’s head off.

Greta steps back, trying to shield Yumi with her body.

Karabasov.Are there any other policemen?

Corkscrew.He came here alone.

Karabasov.Well, well. Who do we have here? An unwanted witness. Mister Mayor, have I told you yet, what would happen if you go to the police?

Suvorov regains consciousness, keeps lying and moans with pain.

Malyshev.He is my cousin. He is local police officer in a village. Let us go, Karabasov.

Karabasov.Bad luck, Mayor. We don’t need witnesses.

Malyshev.You’ve got everything you want.

Khorkov.We have to change our plan, boss.

Karabasov.We have crossed the Rubicon, Khorkov. This city needs a new mayor.

Khorkov.Corkscrew!

Corkscrew cocks the gun and aims at Malyshev. At this very moment the crow flies into the open door, pecks Corkscrew at his head. Pirate runs into the room right after her, sinks his teeth into Corkscrew’s arm and knocks him on the floor. Khorkov manages to shoot Pirate. Greta falls upon Khorkov and neutralize him. Yumi and Toy come down upon Karabasov, Malyshev strikes him down to the floor with a punch.

Malyshev.It’s a judgement on you for my daughter, you villain.

Suvorov stands up, ties Corkscrew up, then puts the handcuffs on Khorkov and Karabasov. Pirate lies on the floor, he is wounded. The mice run in, the titmouse comes flying.