The history of "Run"

In 1970, the year of Lenin’s centenary, the film “Running,” based on the play of the same name by Mikhail Bulgakov, was released on the screens of the Soviet Union. The film is about the tragic exodus of whites from Crimea, about the lost Motherland and the dramatic desire to return it. The “Historian” magazine asked to visit the film’s director, People’s Artist of the USSR Vladimir Naumov, to find out how it was even possible to make such a movie at that time...

The film "Running" features outstanding Soviet actors and People's Artists of the USSR Mikhail Ulyanov, Oleg Efremov, Evgeniy Evstigneev, Alexey Batalov, Bruno Freundlich, Mikhail Gluzsky, Vladimir Basov.

This was the first film adaptation of works Mikhail Bulgakov in the USSR and one of the first Soviet films in which whites, contrary to the tradition established in cinema of that time, did not look like a bunch of scoundrels and fools, but were shown as thinking, suffering people who loved their country. By and large, the film, like, in fact, the play of the great writer, turned out to be about the Motherland, which is one for all, and having lost it once, it is so difficult to find it again...

Play "Running"

Mikhail Bulgakov wrote a drama about the Civil War at the request of the Moscow Art Theater.

Various titles appeared in the draft versions - “Seraphim Knight”, “Outcasts”. But in the end, the play “Running” arose in eight dreams - about love, about battles, about foreign lands. In his work, the writer used the general’s memories Yakova Slashcheva who returned from emigration to his homeland. But the play did not make it through the censorship.

“However, I would not have anything against the production of “Run” if Bulgakov added to his eight dreams one or two more dreams, where he would depict the internal social springs of the Civil War in the USSR, so that the viewer could understand that all these “Honest” Seraphim and all sorts of private assistant professors turned out to be kicked out of Russia not at the whim of the Bolsheviks, but because they sat on the necks of the people” - this was Stalin’s verdict. Bulgakov did not radically rework the play.

The premiere of “Running” took place many years after the author’s death, in 1957, at the Stalingrad Drama Theater. M. Gorky. A year later, Bulgakov’s play was staged in Leningrad, on the famous Alexandrinsky stage - at the State Academic Drama Theater named after. A.S. Pushkin. He shone in the role of Khludov Nikolay Cherkasov, Charnota was played by the no less famous Yuri Tolubeev. Since then, “Running” has had a happy stage fate.

In the Soviet years this was a real revelation. For film directors Vladimir Naumov And Alexander Alov It took a lot of work to convey the picture to the viewer.

At the very beginning of our meeting, Vladimir Naumov warned:

– If you want me to tell you about the historical basis of the film, then you have come to the wrong address. Because if you need historical accuracy, I’m unlikely to be of much help here: it’s not there. We were shooting a feature film – the word “fiction” is important here.

– I’d like to talk about the film...

- Let's talk about the film.

– It is completely incomprehensible how you even managed to get permission to film an adaptation of not just Mikhail Bulgakov’s play, which in itself would have been an event, but perhaps his most “White Guard” play?

– To be honest, I don’t know myself. Yes, this was the first film adaptation of Mikhail Afanasyevich in our country - 30 years after his death. There have already been films based on the novel “The Master and Margarita” abroad, but here we have nothing...

- How did you do it?

- Don't know. Perhaps the impudence helped. How else?

– Were you really able to convince your bosses that it was necessary to make just such a film?

- We simply deceived them.

- How?

- Well, how? So tell you everything... (Laughs.) The fact is that Alexander Alov and I were artistic directors of the Creative Association of Writers and Filmmakers and in this capacity had some rights. Well, we launched ourselves: on my and Alov’s orders. That's all.

- And what, the authorities didn’t object?

- How objected! But at the same time, our entire “army” was already traveling on platforms towards the south of Russia - towards Sivash and Sevastopol. As they say, the process has begun!
We called this the “boa constrictor method” - this is when you need to have time to spend as much money as possible so that the authorities are afraid to ban the picture, because then they will get punished for wasted public funds. I ask Alov: “What are we going to do about the boss’s ban?” “It’s okay,” he says, “maybe the authorities will be removed soon.” Indeed, that boss was soon removed. And they simply forgot about us.

Mikhail Ulyanov (Charnota), Tatyana Tkach (Korsakova), Evgeny Evstigneev (Korzukhin) and Alexey Batalov (Golubkov) on the set of the film “Running”

FATHER SERVED IN THE RED ARMY AND WAS ALMOST A COMMISSAR, AND HIS BROTHER WAS A WHITE GUARD OFFICER, who fled to Constantinople at the end of 1920... In our house it was forbidden to pronounce his name

Then they told us how our bosses cursed: “It’s good for them, they are non-party members, and because of them I can put my party card on the table! No Istanbul, no Paris!” - “Yes, they are already there!” - “Lord, what, they took Kuzma away too?!” - “Took away.”

- Kuzma?

“Kuzma was the name given to a huge lens that made it possible to shoot with enormous coverage. Heavy - about 90 kilograms! An iron vest was forged for the operator so that he could hold Kuzma.

- And what?

“The authorities, as we were told, were lost in thought. And she looked hopefully at her assistants: “How much does Kuzma weigh?” - “Included is about 90 kilograms.” - “Do you still have the tripod?” - "Remained! Customs detained." - “So they won’t raise him - there are only three of them left!”

Meanwhile, we were racking our brains about how to use this hefty structure, because the tripod really wasn’t allowed through customs. Finally they came up with an idea: they loaded Kuzma onto the bent back of the director of the film Mikhail Amirajibi, the cameraman took his place, and we began filming. No stationary tripod has ever produced such a smooth and soft image! True, our “tripod” could move about ten meters, no more, after which it needed a 40-minute break.

The Turks shunned this strange structure of people, iron and glass, which slowly moved through Istanbul. When we crossed the street, everyone shied away from us.

– You said there were three of you in Istanbul?

– Yes, we filmed general plans there. But it was not possible to film the scenes with the actors in Istanbul: no one would have released such a horde into Turkey. Therefore, we built our “Istanbul” partly in Bulgaria, partly in our studio. But they tried to do everything accurately. We then replayed the scenes filmed in our “Istanbul” to the Turks, and some, pointing to the screen, said: “Now my house will appear around the corner.”

– Your film stars great actors. Were there any problems with the selection of performers?

– For a long time we could not find an actor for the role of Khludov.

- Why?

- We can’t find it, we don’t like anyone! And suddenly one woman from another film crew brings photographs to our second director. And on one of them I saw Vladislav Dvorzhetsky, his eyes...

For a long time we didn’t know what role to cast him for, because at that time he was a completely unprofessional actor. But I love gothic figures. In the end, we took this gothic figure with a stunning face and amazing eyes, who, as I was told, couldn’t do anything in a movie. At first we decided that we would shoot him in the crowd: we would highlight this particular face. Then we thought and thought - and realized that this was not enough. We decided: he would play Quiet, a counterintelligence officer - there is such a character in “Running”. But it’s also not enough for such a texture. Then they started going over it: he wasn’t suitable for the role of Golubkov, and neither was Charnot. And only then did they understand that it was Khludov.

We were faced with the question of what is more important – a professional or an individual. We have chosen an identity. Dvorzhetsky was a personality, that was obvious.

Unexpectedly, when we had already shot the film, I discovered similarities between “The Master and Margarita” and “Running”. Remember how Bulgakov did? “In a white cloak with bloody lining, with a shuffling cavalry gait,” the fifth procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate, came out. And in “Running” Khludov “has a face as white as a bone”, in a gray “soldier’s overcoat”... They - Pilate and Khludov - are even dressed similarly in Bulgakov.

Dvorzhetsky's first test was unimportant. But we decided to take it anyway. And the first scene he was given was very difficult - perhaps the most difficult in the film. This is the scene when Khludov is riding in a carriage and he sees blind people. He reads the Bible: “Blind leaders of the blind. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” This is a very important scene for the picture.

Well, we think we’ll shoot it first, if it doesn’t work out, then it’ll be used as a test and we’ll call it a day. We filmed this scene, and it turned out that it was not only better than what we had imagined, but also one of the best scenes in the entire film - both from my point of view, and from Alova's too. The eyes were what was important.

– What was your personal attitude towards whites at that time? After all, you were born and raised in the Soviet Union, and in the USSR there was a cult of reds, not whites...

– This is both true and not true. There was a cult, of course... And my father also had a brother. His father served in the Red Army and was almost a commissar, and his brother was a White Guard officer. And at the end of 1920, my brother fled from Sevastopol to Constantinople...

In our house it was forbidden to say his name. I accidentally found out that my uncle was a White Guard. I’ve never seen it, only a photograph – completely indistinguishable, half erased. Old picture. Yellow. And on it was my father’s brother Emmanuel Strazh (after all, my father’s real name was Strazh, and Naumov was his party nickname, which he received during the Civil War). I terribly regretted that I did not know my uncle. But I fell in love with him in absentia...

- Why?

- Don't know. There are things I can't explain.

– But this is your personal opinion, but how did you manage to show white people as people in Soviet cinema?

- A little more, and it would not have been possible: the picture was almost banned. At first, all of Moscow was covered with posters. Most likely, this happened mechanically: without looking, someone made a decision and the film was released. And when there were only five days left before the film’s release, it was banned from showing. Ulyanov and I were in Czechoslovakia at that time. We rushed to buy tickets to fly home. No tickets. Back and forth. And Ulyanov was already a People’s Artist of the USSR, and in the end we managed to get us on a special board.

Directors Vladimir Naumov (pictured right) and Alexander Alov (left)

VLADIMIR NAUMOV
(born 1927) Born in Leningrad, in the family of a cinematographer. In 1952 he graduated from the directing department of VGIK. Before the death of Alexander Alov, he worked as a co-author with him. Among their joint works are the films “Pavel Korchagin” (1956), “Peace to the Enterer” (1961), “Running” (1970), “Tehran-43” (1980). The epic film by Alov and Naumov “The Legend of Tila” (1976) is one of the most large-scale projects of Soviet cinema.

Vladimir Naumov has been actively working in recent decades. Among his films are “Choice”, “Ten Years Without the Right of Correspondence”, “White Holiday”. Winner of awards at international film festivals in Venice and Moscow, laureate of the State Prize, holder of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd degree. People's Artist of the USSR.

ALEXANDER ALOV
(1923–1983)

Born in Kharkov. Participant of the Great Patriotic War. In 1951 he graduated from the directing department of VGIK. Student of film director Igor Savchenko. For a quarter of a century he worked in collaboration with Vladimir Naumov. The university for Alov and Naumov was the work on the biographical epic “Taras Shevchenko” (1951).

In their first independent film, Troubled Youth (1954), one can already feel the duo’s directorial style – attention to everyday details, the ability to recreate on the screen a world full of nuances and halftones. Alov had military awards, as well as awards at international film festivals in Venice and Moscow, and was a State Prize laureate. People's Artist of the USSR.

Members of the Politburo flew on it. That time there were two of them on board, and their cabin was fenced off from ours, and a bodyguard, a young guy, was flying in the cabin with us. Then he was called to the authorities, he returned and approached us (well, of course, first of all to Ulyanov, because everyone knew him by sight). He says: “You are asked to go there.” We go there: the table is set. Two “portraits” are sitting - those whom we wear to demonstrations every holiday...

- Who was that?

- I will not say. I promised them then that I would not reveal the names.

- And then: “Guys, let’s have a drink?!” Well, we drank some cognac. “Oh, what a good artist you (they are Ulyanov) are! And who are you?" I say, I'm a director. “Oh, you're good too. Listen, let's play dominoes." He didn’t even say “dominoes,” but “let’s kill the goat.” “Playing the Goat” was a government game. As I understand it, these were professionals who beat everyone. And we didn’t know how to play at all. I only knew that six should be bet against six, five against five, but some complex combinations and calculations are not.

The consultant for the film “Running” was the writer’s widow, Elena Sergeevna Bulgakova, who became a real co-author of the film’s creators

We agreed that we would play under one condition: we play “American” - the loser unquestioningly carries out the will of the winner. Finally they started. We win the first game. We win the second one. They win the third. The score is 2:1 in our favor, and the plane is already landing, the red carpet is already visible.
In general, on points it turns out that they lost. “So what to do with the “American”?” - I ask. “What happened?” I explain to them that some fool removed our film from distribution. “Ulyanov is starring there, and some fool banned it. She’s already on the posters, but he took it and banned it. Can you imagine how much money the state is losing?!”

For many years in Soviet cinema, it was customary to portray the White Guards as either idiots, or fanatics, or both. Still from the film "Chapaev" 1934

"OK. Write down my phone number." I say: “There’s nothing to write with!” - “Then remember!” And I repeated this number to myself all the way from the airfield. In the evening I call, they answer: “What question are you talking about?” I clarify: “He asked to call me in the evening.” - “Wait by the phone!” A minute later again: “Tomorrow at ten in the morning - exactly! “Please call this phone number and I will connect you.” Well, the next day they connected, the “portrait” from the plane said: “Well, why were you worried?! Everything is fine. Go for a walk around Moscow." And they are already returning posters with our film...

– So the film came out?

- So I left.

– Didn’t you have any problems later?

- Of course, we had them. We were accused of being sympathizers with the White Guards. And then the picture was shown in Cannes out of competition, three times instead of once. And it went pretty well. But there was one person there, my former friend, who made a terrible noise. At one time he emigrated to France. And so he began to speak in all the newspapers: they say, look how stupid the White Guards are in the film, how stupid this Khludov is, how ugly Korzukhin (played by Evgeny Evstigneev).

But our people told us the opposite: “Are you crazy? Charnota turned out to be a positive character; boys are already playing it!”

– So the emigrants didn’t like theirs, but the local officials didn’t like theirs?

- It turns out that way.

– Elena Sergeevna Bulgakova is listed in the credits as a consultant for the film. What was her role?

– Elena Sergeevna’s participation was of enormous importance. She looked at the footage and said “good” or “you know, it seems to me that it’s somehow very sad here.” Or something else. Thanks to her, I even had the feeling that I knew Bulgakov personally - this woman had such a magical influence.

One day we were sitting in her kitchen. Small apartment, two rooms. And suddenly the door creaked. And you won’t believe it, you’ll think that I came up with this, but it really seemed to me that Mikhail Afanasyevich, who died a long time ago, was coming to us. It was she who created such an atmosphere with her stories about him...

Evgeny Evstigneev as Korzukhin and Vladislav Dvorzhetsky as Khludov in the film “Running”

REMEMBER LIKE BULGAKOV? “IN A WHITE CLOAK WITH A BLOODY LINER, A SHAFFING CAVALRY GAIT” the fifth procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate, emerged. They - Pilate and Khludov - are even dressed similar in Bulgakov

Together, she and I even partially completed Bulgakov. Alov and I came up with one episode: remember when the white officers led by the colonel (played by Oleg Efremov) decide not to leave Russia and want to shoot themselves? This was not the case with Bulgakov (by the way, this was also blamed on us: “What kind of heroes are they, where did they come from, what do you make of them Alexandra Matrosova?!"). The undertaker is called. The colonel tells him: “We will have to bury three people.” - “Who should we bury?” Colonel: “Us, my dear, us.” The undertaker is scared at first, and then agrees. The three officers then walk out the door. A shot is heard: the colonel shot himself. But one of them (played by Mikhail Gluzsky) got scared and did not shoot himself; he tries to leave, but he is killed by the youngest of them, the regimental trumpeter, after which he shoots himself. We filmed this scene.

They showed Bulgakov's widow. Suddenly, after some time, Elena Sergeevna calls and says: “Volodechka, come to me.” - "Something happened?" - "It happened". We're coming. “I showed your episode to Mikhail Afanasyevich here.” We are shocked. I am Alovu - in a whisper: “Sasha, what should I do? I think she's going crazy." But we couldn’t refuse because we loved her very much. We sat down. She continues: “Bulgakov really liked the episode. I talked to him last night. Good episode. Well done." We were delighted. And she: “No, no, no, just a second. He has one offer for you. If you want, of course. Do you know what to do? You have this undertaker in black gloves, make sure that he removes the glove with his teeth, runs his finger across the cheek of one of the officers and says to the chief of them: “Your Excellency, I need to shave. It’s harder to shave a dead person.”

“If you want, you can beg for everything: money, fame, power... But not the Motherland, gentlemen!” – the role of General Charnota in “Run” was played by Mikhail Ulyanov

I am still sure that she could not have come up with this on her own. Bulgakov came up with this, but maybe he didn’t have time to write it. But he came up with it. This is his, absolutely his thing.

– And you reshot the episode?

- They reshot it. Now in the film this episode is edited by Elena Sergeevna and Mikhail Afanasyevich.

– And the famous scene of the card game between Charnota (Ulyanov) and Korzukhin (Evstigneeva) in Paris? They say you shot it in one take...

- No, it’s nonsense. What are they talking about! She was played by two amazing actors. But Evstigneev is a man of impromptu. He must play immediately, in one take.

And Ulyanov is the opposite. The further the better. Every next rehearsal gets better, better, better. And with Evstigneev, everything is getting worse, worse, worse. We decided to separate them. They sat Evstigneev down to drink coffee, while Alov and he rehearsed with Ulyanov for Evstigneev. We spoke his text. The task was to catch that second when Ulyanov had already matured, and Evstigneev had not yet burned out or withered. And when we brought them together in the frame (about the sixth or seventh take), we realized that they were ready.

By the way, in this scene I did a bad thing with them, Evstigneev cursed terribly afterwards. Do you know what "crepe" is? This is a mustache. But the mustache is not real - the hair is glued under the nose. I told our make-up artist to stick them on the right side, which is towards the camera, barely so that they fall off. And when Charnot (Ulyanov) began to kiss Korzukhin (Evstigneev), he had a mouth full of this very hair. And he, continuing to kiss Korzukhin, began to spit at them. This was also included in the film...

– You filmed “Running” outside the USSR, in capitalist, as they called it then, countries...

– The atmosphere was important to us. Therefore, we insisted that the scenes that unfold in Constantinople be filmed in Istanbul, if in the market, then in the present, so that Hagia Sophia is visible. It was difficult for us to be allowed to go abroad. They didn't want us to film in Paris.

And when they filmed in Istanbul, the US Sixth Fleet was stationed somewhere nearby. And they assigned an escort to us, fearing that we might film something unnecessary, something secret. In general, they didn’t let us in, and these didn’t let us in. But we still made the film.

Interviewed by Vladimir RUDAKOV

Russian Revolution

Eight dreams

Play in four acts

CHARACTERS:

Serafima Vladimirovna Korzukhina, a young St. Petersburg lady.

Sergei Pavlovich Golubkov, son of an idealistic professor from St. Petersburg.

Africanus, Archbishop of Simferopol and Karasu-Bazar, archpastor of the eminent army, he is also the chemist Makhrov.

Paisius, monk.

Decrepit abbot.

Baev, regiment commander in Budyonny’s cavalry.

Budenovets.

Grigory Lukyanovich Charnota, Cossack by origin, cavalryman, major general in the White army.

Barabanchikova, a lady who exists solely in the imagination of General Charnota.

Lyuska, the traveling wife of General Charnota.

Krapilin, Charnota's messenger, a man who died because of his eloquence.

De Brizard, commander of the White Hussars.

Roman Valeryanovich Khludov.

Golovan, captain, adjutant of Khludov.

Station commandant.

Station manager.

Nikolaevna, wife of the station chief.

Olka, daughter of the station chief, 4 years old.

Paramon Ilyich Korzukhin, Seraphima's husband.

Quiet, head of counterintelligence.

Skunsky, counterintelligence officers.

Gurin, white commander-in-chief.

A face at the cash register.

Arthur Arturovich, cockroach king.

A figure in a bowler hat and quartermaster's shoulder straps.

Turkish, loving mother.

Beautiful prostitute.

Greek Don Juan.

Antoine Grishchenko, Korzukhin's lackey.

Monks, white staff officers, escort Cossacks of the white commander-in-chief, counterintelligence officers, Cossacks in burkas, English, French and Italian sailors, Turkish and Italian police, Turkish and Greek boys, Armenian and Greek heads in the windows, a crowd in Constantinople.

The first dream takes place in Northern Tavria in October 1920.

The second, third and fourth dream - at the beginning of November 1920 in Crimea.

The fifth and sixth - in Constantinople in the summer of 1921.

The seventh - in Paris in the fall of 1921.

The eighth - in the fall of 1921 in Constantinople.

ACT ONE

DREAM FIRST

...I dreamed of a monastery...

You can hear the choir of monks in the dungeon singing dully: “To St. Father Nicholas, pray to God for us...” Darkness, and then the inside of the monastery church appears, sparingly illuminated by candles stuck to the icons. a bench next to her, a window covered with bars, the chocolate face of a saint, faded wings of seraphim, golden crowns. Outside the window is a bleak October evening with rain and snow. Barabanchikova lies on the bench, her head covered with a blanket. Chemist Makhrov, in a sheepskin coat, perched himself by the window and is still trying to see something in him. Seraphima sits in the high abbot's chair, wearing a black fur coat. Judging by her face, Seraphim is not feeling well. At Seraphima’s feet, on a bench, next to the suitcase, is Golubkov, a St. Petersburg-looking young man in a black coat and gloves.

Golubkov(listening to singing). Do you hear, Serafima Vladimirovna? I realized they have a dungeon downstairs... In essence, how strange all this is! You know, at times it begins to seem to me that I am dreaming, honestly!

It’s been a month since we’ve been running with you, Serafima Vladimirovna, through villages and cities, and the further we go, the more incomprehensible everything around us becomes... you see, now we’ve ended up in church! And you know, when all this chaos happened today, I missed St. Petersburg, by God! Suddenly I remembered so clearly my green lamp in the office...

Seraphim. These sentiments are dangerous, Sergei Pavlovich. Beware of getting bored while wandering. Wouldn't it be better for you to stay?

Golubkov. Oh no, no, this is irrevocable, and so be it! And then, you already know what brightens up my difficult path... Since we accidentally met in a heated vehicle under that lantern, remember... after all, a little time has passed, and yet it seems to me that I already know you a long time ago! The thought of you makes this flight in the autumn darkness easier, and I will be proud and happy when I carry you to the Crimea and hand you over to your husband. And although I will be bored without you, I will rejoice in your joy.

Serafima silently puts her hand on Golubkov’s shoulder.

(Stroking his hand.) Excuse me, do you have a fever?

Seraphim. No, nothing.

Golubkov. That is, like nothing? It's hot, by God, it's hot!

Seraphim. Nonsense, Sergei Pavlovich, it will pass...

Soft cannon strike. Barabanchikova stirred and moaned.

Listen, madam, you can't be left without help. One of us will make his way to the village, there will probably be a midwife there.

Golubkov. I'm running away.

Barabanchikova silently grabs him by the hem of his coat.

Seraphim. Why don't you want to, my dear?

Barabanchikova(capriciously). No need.

Serafima and Golubkov are perplexed.

Makhrov(quietly, to Golubkov). Mysterious and very mysterious person!

Golubkov(whispers). Do you think that…

Makhrov. I don’t think anything, but... it’s hard times, sir, you never know who you’ll meet on your way! Some strange lady is lying in the church...

The singing underground ceases.

Paisiy(appears silently, black, scared). Documents, documents, honest gentlemen! (Blows out all the candles except one)

Serafima, Golubkov and Makhrov take out documents. Barabanchikova sticks out her hand and places her passport on the blanket.

Baev comes in, wearing a short fur coat, splashed with mud, and excited. Behind Baev is a Budenovist with a lantern.

Baev. And the devil will crush them, these monks! Ooh, nest! You, holy dad, where is the spiral staircase to the bell tower?

Paisiy. Here, here, here...

Baev(Budenovets). Look.

A Budenovets with a lantern disappears through an iron door

(To Paisius.) Was there a fire in the bell tower?

Paisiy. What are you, what are you? What fire?

Baev. The fire flickered! Well, if I find anything in the bell tower, I will put you and your gray-haired shaitan against the wall! You were waving white lanterns!

Paisiy. God! What do you?!

Baev. And who are these? You said that there is not a single soul from outside the monastery!

Paisiy. They are refugees...

Seraphim. Comrade, we were all caught by shelling in the village, and we rushed to the monastery. (Points to Barabanchikova.) Here is a woman, her labor begins...

Baev(approaches Barabanchikova, takes the passport, reads it). Barabanchikova, married...

Paisiy(Satanya whispers in horror). Lord, Lord, just get it through! (Ready to run away.) Holy glorious great martyr Demetrius...

Baev. Where is the husband?

Barabanchikova moaned.

Find the time and place to give birth! (To Makhrov.) Document!

Makhrov. Here's a document! I am a chemist from Mariupol.

Baev. There are many of you chemists on the front lines here!

Makhrov. I went to buy groceries, cucumbers...

Baev. Cucumbers!

Budenovets(appears suddenly). Comrade Baev! I didn’t find anything in the bell tower, but this is what... (Whispers in Baev’s ear.)

Baev. What are you talking about? Where?

Budenovets. I'm telling you right. The main thing is that it’s dark, comrade commander.

Baev. Well, okay, okay, let's go. (To Golubkov, who hands over his document.) Once, once, later. (To Paisius.) The monks, therefore, do not interfere in the civil war?

Paisiy. No no no…

Baev. Just pray? But who do you pray for, it would be interesting to know? For the black baron or for the Soviet regime? Well, okay, see you soon, we'll sort it out tomorrow! (He leaves with the Budenovite.)

A muffled command was heard outside the windows, and everything became quiet, as if nothing had happened. Paisius greedily and often crosses himself, lights candles and disappears.

Makhrov. Wasted... No wonder it is said: and he will give them a mark on their hands or on their foreheads... The stars are five-pointed, did you notice?

Golubkov(in a whisper, to Seraphim). I am completely lost, because this area is in the hands of the whites, where did the reds come from? A sudden battle?.. Why did all this happen?

Barabanchikova. This happened because General Krapchikov is an ass, not a general! (To Seraphim.) Sorry, madam.

Golubkov(mechanically). Well?

Barabanchikova. So what? They sent him a dispatch that the Red cavalry was in the rear, and he, tormenting his soul, put off the decoding until the morning and sat down to play screw.

Golubkov. Well?

Barabanchikova. The little one in hearts announced.

Makhrov(quiet). Wow, what an interesting person!

Golubkov. Excuse me, you seem to be aware of the matter: I had information that here, in Kurchulan, there was supposed to be the headquarters of General Charnota?..

Barabanchikova. Look, what detailed information you have! Well, there was a headquarters, how could it not be. Only he all came out.

Golubkov. Where did he go?

Barabanchikova. Most definitely into the swamp.

Makhrov. How do you know all this, madam?

Barabanchikova. You, archpastor, are very curious!

Makhrov. Excuse me, why do you call me archpastor?!

Barabanchikova. Well, okay, okay, this is a boring conversation, get away from me.

Paisiy runs in, puts out the candles again, everyone except one looks out the window

Golubkov. What else?

Paisiy. Oh, sir, we ourselves don’t know who else God has sent us and whether we will be alive by nightfall! (Disappears so that it seems as if he is falling through the ground.)

Many-hoofed stomping was heard, and reflections of flame danced in the window.

Seraphim. Fire?

Golubkov. No, these are torches. I don’t understand anything, Serafima Vladimirovna! White troops, I swear, white! It's finished! Serafima Vladimirovna, thank God, we are again in the hands of the whites! Officers in uniform!

Barabanchikova(sits down, wrapping himself in a blanket). You damned intellectual, shut up immediately! "Epaulettes", "epaulettes"! This is not St. Petersburg, but Tavria, an insidious country! If you put shoulder straps on you, it doesn’t mean that you have turned white! What if the squad is in disguise? What then?

Suddenly the bell struck softly.

Well, they rang! The idiot monks fell asleep! (To Golubkov.) What kind of pants are they wearing?

Golubkov. Red ones!.. and they just moved in, those ones are blue with red sides...

Barabanchikova.“They moved in with the sides”!.. Damn you! With stripes?

A muffled command from de Brizard was heard: “First squadron, get down!”

What's happened? Can't be! His voice! (To Golubkov.) Well, now shout, now shout boldly, I give permission! (He throws off his blanket and rags and jumps out in the form of General Charnota. He is in a Circassian coat with crumpled silver shoulder straps. He puts the revolver that he was in his hands in his pocket; runs to the window, opens it, shouts.) Hello, hussars! Hello, Donets! Colonel Brizard, come to me!

The door opens and Lyuska is the first to run in, wearing a nurse’s headscarf, a leather jacket and high boots with spurs. Behind her are the bearded de Brizard and the messenger Krapilin with a torch.

Lyuska. Grisha! Gris-Gris! (Throws himself on Charnota’s neck.) I can’t believe my eyes! Alive? Saved? (Shouts out the window.) Hussars, listen! General Charnota was recaptured from the Reds!

There is noise and screams outside the window.

After all, we were going to serve a memorial service for you!

Charnota. I saw death as close as your scarf. I went to Krapchikov’s headquarters, and he, the cat of a bitch, made me play in the screw... the guy in hearts... and - you’re wearing machine guns! Budyonny - on you - from heaven! The headquarters was completely destroyed! I shot back, out the window and through the gardens to the village, to teacher Barabanchikov, come on, I say, documents! And he, in a panic, took the wrong documents and handed them to me! I crawl here, to the monastery, and lo and behold, the documents are a woman’s, a woman’s, Madame Barabanchikova, and a certificate - she’s pregnant! There are Reds all around, well, I say, put me as I am in the church! I’m lying there, giving birth, and I hear the spurs - slap, slap!..

Lyuska. Who?

Charnota. Budenovets commander.

Lyuska. Oh!

Charnota. I think, where are you, Budenovite, going? After all, your death lies under the blanket! Well, lift her up, lift her up quickly! They will bury you with music! And he took the passport, but didn’t pick up the blanket!

Lyuska squeals.

(Runs out and screams at the door.) Hello, Cossack tribe! Hello, villagers!

Screams were heard. Lyuska runs out after Charnota.

De Brizard. Well, I’ll raise the blanket! I wouldn’t be a devil if I didn’t hang someone in the monastery to celebrate! Apparently the Reds forgot these in a hurry! (To Makhrov.) Well, there’s no need to ask you for your document.

You can see from the hair what kind of bird it is! Krapilin, shine here!

Paisiy(flies in). What are you, what are you? This is His Eminence! This is Your Eminence African!

De Brizard. What are you talking about, black-tailed Satan?

Makhrov takes off his hat and sheepskin coat.

(Looks into Makhrov’s face.) What is it? Your Eminence, is it really you?! How did you get here?

African. I came to Kurchulan to bless the Don Corps, and I was captured by the Reds during a raid. Thank you, the monks provided us with the documents.

De Brizard. The devil knows what it is! (To Seraphim.) Woman, document!

Seraphim. I am the wife of Comrade Minister of Trade. I'm stuck in St. Petersburg, and my husband is already in Crimea. I run to him. Here are fake documents, and here is a real passport. My last name is Korzukhina.

De Brizard. Miles exclusive, madam! And you, a caterpillar in plainclothes, aren’t you the chief prosecutor?

Golubkov. I’m not a caterpillar, sorry, and I’m by no means a chief prosecutor! I am the son of the famous idealist professor Golubkov and a private assistant professor myself, I am running from St. Petersburg to you, to the whites, because it is impossible to work in St. Petersburg.

De Brizard. Very nice! Noah's Ark!

A forged hatch in the floor opens, and a decrepit abbot rises out of it, followed by a choir of monks with candles.

Abbot(to Africa). Your Eminence! (To the monks.) Brothers! We have been honored to save and preserve the ruler from the hands of wicked socialists!

The monks clothe the excited Africanus in a robe and hand him a staff.

Master! Take this rod again, and with it strengthen your flock...

African. Look from heaven, O God, and see and visit these grapes, plant them with your right hand!

Monks(they suddenly started singing). Executed these despots!..

Charnota appears in the doorway, with Lyuska with him.

Charnota. Why, holy fathers, have you eaten too much henbane, or what? You started this ceremony at the wrong time! Come on, choir!.. (Gestures “go away.”)

African. Brothers! Get out!

The abbot and the monks go into the ground.

Charnota(to Africa). Your Eminence, why did you organize a divine service here? We need to get going! The corps is hot on our heels, catching us! Budyonny will strangle us to the sea! The whole army is leaving! We're going to Crimea! Take Roman Khludov under his wing!

African. Dear God, what is this? (Grabs his sheepskin coat.) Do you have any gigs with you? (Disappears.)

Charnota. Card for me! Shine, Krapilin! (Looks at the map.) Everything is locked! Coffin!

Lyuska. Oh you, Krapchikov, Krapchikov!..

Charnota. Stop! Found the gap! (To De Brizard.) Take your regiment and go to Almanayka. If you attract them a little towards you, then go to Babi Gai and cross at least a sip! After you, I will go to the Molokans on the farms, with the Don people, and even later than you, I will go out to the Arabat arrow, we will unite there. Come out in five minutes.

De Brizard. I'm listening, Your Excellency.

Charnota. F-fu!.. Give me a sip, Colonel.

Golubkov. Serafima Vladimirovna, are you listening? The whites are leaving. We need to run with them, otherwise we will fall into the hands of the Reds again. Serafima Vladimirovna, why don’t you respond, what’s wrong with you?

Lyuska. Give it to me too.

De Brizard hands the flask to Lyuska.

Golubkov(Chanote). Mister General, I beg you, take us with you! Serafima Vladimirovna fell ill... We are running to Crimea... Is there a hospital with you?

Charnota. Did you study at university?

Golubkov. Of course yes…

Charnota. You come across as a completely uneducated person. Well, if a bullet hits you in the head on Babi Gai, the infirmary will help you a lot, right? You might also ask if we have an X-ray room! Intelligentsia!.. Give me some more cognac!

Lyuska. Need to take. A beautiful woman, the Reds will get it...

Golubkov. Serafima Vladimirovna, get up! Must go!

Seraphim(deaf). You know what, Sergei Pavlovich, it seems to me that I’m really unwell... You go alone, and I’ll lie down here in the monastery... I’m kind of hot...

Golubkov. My God! Serafima Vladimirovna, this is unthinkable! Serafima Vladimirovna, rise up!

Seraphim. I’m thirsty... and to St. Petersburg...

Golubkov. What is it?..

Lyuska(victoriously). It's typhus, that's what it is.

De Brizard. Madam, you need to run away, you will have a bad time with the Reds. However, I am not a master at speaking. Krapilin, you are eloquent, persuade the lady!

Krapilin. That's right, we need to go!

Golubkov. Serafima Vladimirovna, we have to go...

De Brizard(looking at the watch bracelet). It's time! (Runs out.) His command was heard: “Sit down!”, then stomping.

Lyuska. Krapilin! Lift her up, take her by force!

Krapilin. I obey!

Together with Golubkov they lift Serafima and lead her by the arms.

Lyuska. Into her gig!

They leave.

Charnota(alone, finishing his cognac, looking at his watch). It's time!

Abbot(grows out of the hatch). White general! Where are you going? Will you really not defend the monastery that gave you shelter and salvation?!

Charnota. Why are you, dad, upsetting me? Tie the tongues of the bells, sit down in the dungeon! Goodbye! (Disappears.)

He was heard shouting: “Sit down! Sit down!”, then a terrible stomp, and everything fell silent. Paisiy appears from the hatch.

Paisiy. Father Superior! And Father Igumen! What should we do? After all, the Reds will gallop in now! And we called the whites! What should we accept, the crown of martyrdom?

Abbot. Where is the lord?

Paisiy. He galloped away, galloped away in a gig!

Abbot. Shepherd, unworthy shepherd! He who has abandoned his own sheep! (Shouts muffledly into the dungeon.) Brothers! Pray!

From under the ground a muffled voice was heard: “To St. Father Nicholas, pray to God for us...” Darkness eats up the monastery.

The first dream ends.

DREAM SECOND

...My dreams are becoming more and more difficult...

A hall appears at an unknown and large station somewhere in the northern part of Crimea. In the background of the hall there are windows of unusual size, behind them you can feel the black night with blue electric moons. There was a brutal, incomprehensible frost in Crimea at the beginning of November. Forged Sivash, Chongar, Perekop and this station. The windows are frozen over, and from time to time snake-like fire reflections from passing trains flow across the icy mirrors. Portable black iron stoves and kerosene lamps on the tables are burning. In the depths, above the exit to the main platform, there is an inscription in the old spelling: “Operational separation.” A glass partition containing a green government-type lamp and two green conductor's lanterns, similar to the eyes of monsters. Nearby, against a dark, peeling background, a white youth on a horse hits a scaly dragon with a spear. This young man is St. George the Victorious, and a faceted multi-colored lamp is burning in front of him. The hall is occupied by white staff officers. Most of them are wearing hoods and headphones.

Countless field telephones, staff maps with flags, typewriters in the background. Colorful signals flash on the phones every now and then, the phones sing in gentle voices.

The front headquarters has been standing at this station for three days and has not slept for three days, but is working like a machine. And only an experienced and observant eye could see the restless streak in the eyes of all these people. And one more thing - fear and hope can be seen in those eyes as they turn to where the first class buffet once was.

There, separated from everyone by a high cupboard, sitting behind the desk, huddled on a high stool, sits Roman Valeryanovich Khludov. This man's face is as white as bone, his hair is black, combed into an eternal, indestructible officer's parting. Khludov has a snub nose, like Pavel, shaved like an actor; he seems younger than everyone around him, but his eyes are old. He is wearing a soldier's overcoat, and he is belted around it, either like a woman, or like the landowners belted their dressing gown. The shoulder straps are cloth, and a black general's zigzag is casually sewn on them. The protective cap is dirty, with a dull cockade, and there are mittens on the hands. There are no weapons on Khludov.

He is sick with something, this man is sick all over, from head to toe. He winces, twitches, likes to change his intonation.

He asks himself questions and likes to answer them himself. When he wants to fake a smile, he grins. It incites fear. He is sick - Roman Valeryanovich. Near Khludov, in front of a table on which there are several telephones, the executive captain Golovan, who is in love with Khludov, sits and writes.

Khludov(dictates to Golovan), “...comma. But Frunze did not want to portray the designated enemy during the maneuvers. Dot. This is not chess or Tsarskoye Unforgettable Selo. Dot. Signed - Khludov. Dot".

Golovan(passes what he wrote to someone). Encrypt, send to the commander-in-chief.

First staff(illuminated by a signal from the phone, he groans into the phone). Yes, I’m listening... I’m listening... Budyonny?.. Budyonny?..

Second staff(moans into the phone). Taganash... Taganash...

Third Staff(moans into the phone). No, to Karpov Balka...

Golovan(Lightened by the signal, hands Khludov the phone). Your Excellency…

Khludov(into the phone). Yes. Yes. Yes. No. Yes. (He returns the phone to Golovan.) I need the commandant.

The commandant, a pale, squinting, confused officer in a red cap, runs between the tables and appears before Khludov.

Khludov. I’ve been waiting for an hour for the “Officer” armored train to Taganash. What's the matter? What's the matter? What's the matter?

Khludov. Give me the station master.

Commandant(runs, speaks to someone in a sobbing voice as he goes). What can I do?

Khludov. Our tragedies begin. The armored train was paralyzed. An armored train walks with a stick, but it can’t get through! (Rings.)

The inscription “Counter-intelligence department” flashes on the wall. When the bell rings, Tikhy comes out of the wall, stops near Khludov, is quiet and attentive.

(Addresses him). Nobody loves us, nobody. And because of this tragedy, it’s all the same in the theater.

Quiet is quiet.

Khludov(furiously). A stove with fumes, or what?!

Golovan. No way, no fuss.

The commandant appears before Khludov, followed by the station chief.

Khludov(to the station manager). Have you proven that an armored train cannot pass?

Station Manager(speaks and moves, but the man has been dead for a day). That's right, Your Excellency. Physical strength - no possibility! Manually sorted and hammered clean, cork!

Khludov. The second one means it’s a waste of time?

Golovan. This minute! (Aside to someone.) Fill the stove!

Station manager. Frenzy, frenzy.

Khludov(to the station manager). For some reason it seems to me that you have a good attitude towards the Bolsheviks. Don't be afraid, talk to me frankly. Each person has his own beliefs, and he should not hide them. Sly guy!

Station Manager(talks nonsense). Your Excellency, why such suspicion? I have children... even under Emperor Nicholas Alexandrovich... Olya and Pavlik, children... I haven’t slept for thirty hours, believe God! And the Chairman of the State Duma Mikhail Vladimirovich Rodzianko is personally known. But I don’t sympathize with him, Rodzianka... I have children...

Khludov. Sincere person, eh? No! You need love, and without love you can’t do anything in war! (Reproachfully, to Quiet) They don’t like me. (Dryly.) Give me a sapper. Push, sort! Fifteen minutes of time for the “Officer” to pass the exit semaphore! If during this time the order is not executed, the commandant will be arrested. And hang the station master on a semaphore, with the inscription under it illuminated: “Sabotage.”

At this time, a gentle copper waltz was heard in the distance.Once upon a time they danced to this waltz at gymnasium balls.

Station Manager(sluggishly). Your Excellency, my children have not yet gone to school...

Quiet takes the station chief by the arm and leads him away. The commandant is behind him.

Khludov. Waltz?

Golovan. Charnota is coming, Your Excellency.

Station Manager(behind the glass partition he comes to life and shouts into the phone). Christopher Fedorovich! I conjure by Christ God: from the fourth and fifth routes, drive all trains to Taganash! There will be sappers! Push as you want! I conjure you!

Eight Dreams A play in four acts Immortality is a quiet, bright shore; Our path is striving towards it. Rest in peace, who finished his run!.. Zhukovsky

CHARACTERS:

Serafima Vladimirovna Korzukhina, a young St. Petersburg lady. Sergei Pavlovich Golubkov, son of an idealistic professor from St. Petersburg. Africanus, Archbishop of Simferopol and Karasu-Bazar, archpastor of the eminent army, he is also the chemist Makhrov. Paisius, monk. Decrepit abbot. Baev, regiment commander in Budyonny’s cavalry. Budenovets. Grigory Lukyanovich Charnota, Cossack by origin, cavalryman, major general in the White army. Barabanchikova, a lady who exists solely in the imagination of General Charnota. Lyuska, the traveling wife of General Charnota. Krapilin, Charnota's messenger, a man who died because of his eloquence. De Brizard, commander of the White Hussars. Roman Valeryanovich Khludov. Golovan, captain, adjutant of Khludov. Station commandant. Station manager. Nikolaevna, wife of the station chief. Olka, daughter of the station chief, 4 years old. Paramon Ilyich Korzukhin, Seraphima's husband. Quiet, head of counterintelligence. Skunsky) employees in counterintelligence. Gurin | White commander in chief. A face at the cash register. Arthur Arturovich, cockroach king. A figure in a bowler hat and quartermaster's shoulder straps. Turkish, loving mother. Beautiful prostitute. Greek Don Juan. Antoine Grishchenko, Korzukhin's lackey. Monks, white staff officers, escort Cossacks of the white commander-in-chief, counterintelligence officers; Cossacks in burkas; English, French and Italian sailors; Turkish and Italian policemen, Turkish and Greek boys, Armenian and Greek heads in the windows; crowd in Constantinople. The first dream takes place in Northern Tavria in October 1920. The second, third and fourth dream - at the beginning of November 1920 in Crimea. The fifth and sixth - in Constantinople in the summer of 1921. The seventh - in Paris in the fall of 1921. The eighth - in the fall of 1921 in Constantinople.

ACT ONE

DREAM FIRST

I dreamed of a monastery... I can hear a choir of monks in the dungeon singing dully: “To St. Father Nicholas, pray to God for us...” Darkness, and then the inside of the monastery church appears, sparingly illuminated by candles stuck to the icons. The wrong flame rips out of the darkness a desk where they sell candles, a wide bench next to it, a window covered with bars, the chocolate face of a saint, faded wings of seraphim, golden crowns. Outside the window is a bleak October evening with rain and snow. Barabanchikova lies on the bench, her head covered with a blanket. Chemist Makhrov, in a sheepskin coat, perched himself by the window and is still trying to see something in him. Seraphima sits in the high abbot's chair, wearing a black fur coat. Judging by her face, Seraphim is not feeling well. At Seraphima’s feet, on a bench, next to the suitcase, is Golubkov, a St. Petersburg-looking young man in a black coat and gloves. Golubkov (listening to the singing). Do you hear, Serafima Vladimirovna? I realized they have a dungeon downstairs... In essence, how strange all this is! You know, at times it begins to seem to me that I am dreaming, honestly! It’s been a month since we’ve been running with you, Serafima Vladimirovna, through villages and cities, and the further we go, the more incomprehensible everything around us becomes... you see, now we’ve ended up in church! And you know, when all this chaos happened today, I missed St. Petersburg, by God! Suddenly I remembered so clearly my green lamp in the office... Seraphim. These sentiments are dangerous, Sergei Pavlovich. Beware of getting bored while wandering. Wouldn't it be better for you to stay? Golubkov. Oh no, no, this is irrevocable, and so be it! And then, you already know what brightens up my difficult path... Since we accidentally met in a heated vehicle under that lantern, remember... after all, a little time has passed, but meanwhile it seems to me that I have known you for a long, long time! The thought of you makes this flight in the autumn darkness easier, and I will be proud and happy when I carry you to the Crimea and hand you over to your husband. And although I will be bored without you, I will rejoice in your joy. Serafima silently puts her hand on Golubkov’s shoulder. (Stroking his hand.) Excuse me, do you have a fever? Seraphim. No, nothing. Golubkov. That is, like nothing? It's hot, by God, it's hot! Seraphim. Nonsense, Sergei Pavlovich, it will pass... A soft cannon strike. Barabanchikova stirred and moaned. Listen, madam, you can't be left without help. One of us will make his way to the village, there will probably be a midwife there. Golubkov. I'm running away. Barabanchikova silently grabs him by the hem of his coat. Seraphim. Why don't you want to, my dear? Barabanchikova (capriciously). No need. Serafima and Golubkov are perplexed. Makhrov (quietly, to Golubkov). Mysterious and very mysterious person! Golubkov (whispers). Do you think that... Makhrov. I don’t think anything, but... it’s hard times, sir, you never know who you’ll meet on your way! Some strange lady is lying in the church... The singing underground ceases. Paisiy (appears silently, black, scared). Documents, documents, honest gentlemen! (Blows out all the candles except one) Serafima, Golubkov and Makhrov take out documents Barabanchikova sticks out her hand and places her passport on the blanket. Baev comes in, wearing a short fur coat, splashed with mud, and excited. Behind Baev is a Budenovist with a lantern. Baev. And the devil will crush them, these monks! Ooh, nest! You, holy dad, where is the spiral staircase to the bell tower? Paisiy. Here, here, here... Baev (to Budenovets). Look. The Budenovets with a lantern disappears through the iron door (to Paisius.) Was there a fire in the bell tower? Paisiy. What are you, what are you? What fire? Baev. The fire flickered! Well, if I find anything in the bell tower, I will put you and your gray-haired shaitan against the wall! You were waving white lanterns! Paisiy. God! What do you?! Baev. And who are these? You said that there is not a single soul from outside the monastery! Paisiy. They are refugees... Seraphim. Comrade, we were all caught by shelling in the village, and we rushed to the monastery. (Points to Barabanchikova.) Here is a woman, her labor begins... Baev (approaches Barabanchikova, takes the passport, reads). Barabanchikova, married... Paisiy (Satan in horror, whispers). Lord, Lord, just get it through! (Ready to run away.) Holy glorious great martyr Demetrius... Baev. Where is the husband? Barabanchikova moaned. Find the time and place to give birth! (To Makhrov.) Document! Makhrov. Here's a document! I am a chemist from Mariupol. Baev. There are many of you chemists on the front lines here! Makhrov. I went to buy groceries, cucumbers... Baev. Cucumbers! Budenovets (appears suddenly). Comrade Baev! I didn’t find anything in the bell tower, but this is what... (Whispers in Baev’s ear.) Baev. What are you talking about? Where? Budenovets. I'm telling you right. The main thing is that it’s dark, comrade commander. Baev. Well, okay, okay, let's go. (To Golubkov, who hands over his document.) Once, once, later. (To Paisius.) The monks, therefore, do not interfere in the civil war? Paisiy. No no no... Baev. Just pray? But who do you pray for, it would be interesting to know? For the black baron or for the Soviet regime? Well, okay, see you soon, we'll sort it out tomorrow! (He leaves with the Budenovite.) A muffled command was heard outside the windows, and everything became quiet, as if nothing had happened. Paisiy greedily and often crosses himself, lights candles and disappears. Makhrov. Wasted... No wonder it is said: and he will give them a mark on their hands or on their foreheads... The stars are five-pointed, did you notice? Golubkov (in a whisper, to Seraphim). I am completely lost, because this area is in the hands of the whites, where did the reds come from? A sudden battle?.. Why did all this happen? Barabanchikova. This happened because General Krapchikov is an ass, not a general! (To Seraphim.) Sorry, madam. Golubkov (mechanically). Well? Barabanchikova. So what? They sent him a dispatch that the Red cavalry was in the rear, and he, tormenting his soul, put off the decoding until the morning and sat down to play screw. Golubkov. Well? Barabanchikova. The little one in hearts announced. Makhrov (quietly). Wow, what an interesting person! Golubkov. Excuse me, you seem to be aware of the matter: I had information that here, in Kurchulan, there was supposed to be the headquarters of General Charnota?.. Barabanchikova. Look, what detailed information you have! Well, there was a headquarters, how could it not be. Only he all came out. Golubkov. Where did he go? Barabanchikova. Most definitely into the swamp. Makhrov. How do you know all this, madam? Barabanchikova. You, archpastor, are very curious! Makhrov. Excuse me, why do you call me archpastor?! Barabanchikova. Well, okay, okay, this is a boring conversation, get away from me. Paisiy runs in, puts out the candles again, everyone except one looks out the window Golubkov. What else? Paisiy. Oh, sir, we ourselves don’t know who else God has sent us and whether we will be alive by nightfall! (Disappears so that it seems as if he is falling through the ground.) Many-hoofed stomping was heard, and reflections of flame danced in the window. Seraphim. Fire? Golubkov. No, these are torches. I don’t understand anything, Serafima Vladimirovna! White troops, I swear, white! It's finished! Serafima Vladimirovna, thank God, we are again in the hands of the whites! Officers in uniform! Barabanchikova (sits down, wrapped in a blanket). You damned intellectual, shut up immediately! "Epaulettes", "epaulets"! This is not St. Petersburg, but Tavria, an insidious country! If you put shoulder straps on you, it doesn’t mean that you have turned white! What if the squad is in disguise? What then? Suddenly the bell struck softly. Well, they rang! The idiot monks fell asleep! (To Golubkov.) What kind of pants are they wearing? Golubkov. Red ones!.. and they just moved in, those ones are blue with red sides... Barabanchikova. “They drove in with the sides”!.. Damn you! With stripes? A muffled command from de Brizard was heard: “First squadron, get down!” What's happened? Can't be! His voice! (To Golubkov.) Well, now shout, now shout boldly, I give permission! (He throws off his blanket and rags and jumps out in the form of General Charnota. He is in a Circassian coat with crumpled silver shoulder straps. He puts the revolver that he was in his hands in his pocket; runs to the window, opens it, shouts.) Hello, hussars! Hello, Donets! Colonel Brizard, come to me! The door opens and Lyuska is the first to run in, wearing a nurse’s headscarf, a leather jacket and high boots with spurs. Behind her are the bearded de Brizard and the messenger Krapilin with a torch. Lyuska. Grisha! Gris-Gris! (Throws himself on Charnota’s neck.) I can’t believe my eyes! Alive? Saved? (Shouts out the window.) Hussars, listen! General Charnota was recaptured from the Reds! There is noise and screams outside the window. After all, we were going to serve a memorial service for you! Charnota. I saw death as close as your scarf. I went to Krapchikov’s headquarters, and he, the cat of a bitch, made me play in the screw... the guy in hearts... and - you’re wearing machine guns! Budyonny - on you - from heaven! The headquarters was completely destroyed! I shot back, out the window and through the gardens to the village, to teacher Barabanchikov, come on, I say, documents! And he, in a panic, took the wrong documents and handed them to me! I crawl here, to the monastery, and lo and behold, the documents are a woman’s, a woman’s, Madame Barabanchikova, and a certificate - she’s pregnant! There are Reds all around, well, I say, put me as I am in the church! I’m lying there, giving birth, and I hear the spurs - slap, slap!.. Lyuska. Who? Charnota. Budenovets commander. Lyuska. Oh! Charnota. I think, where are you, Budenovite, going? After all, your death lies under the blanket! Well, lift her up, lift her up quickly! They will bury you with music! And he took the passport, but didn’t pick up the blanket! Lyuska squeals. (Runs out and screams at the door.) Hello, Cossack tribe! Hello, villagers! Screams were heard. Lyuska runs out after Charnota. De Brizard. Well, I’ll raise the blanket! I wouldn’t be a devil if I didn’t hang someone in the monastery to celebrate! Apparently the Reds forgot these in a hurry! (To Makhrov.) Well, there’s no need to ask you for your document. You can see from the hair what kind of bird it is! Krapilin, shine here! Paisiy (flies in). What are you, what are you? This is His Eminence! This is Your Eminence African! De Brizard. What are you talking about, black-tailed Satan? Makhrov takes off his hat and sheepskin coat. (Looks into Makhrov’s face.) What is it? Your Eminence, is it really you?! How did you get here? African. I came to Kurchulan to bless the Don Corps, and I was captured by the Reds during a raid. Thank you, the monks provided us with the documents. De Brizard. The devil knows what it is! (To Seraphim.) Woman, document! Seraphim. I am the wife of Comrade Minister of Trade. I'm stuck in St. Petersburg, and my husband is already in Crimea. I run to him. Here are fake documents, and here is a real passport. My last name is Korzukhina. De Brizard. Miles exclusive, madam! And you, a caterpillar in plainclothes, aren’t you the chief prosecutor? Golubkov. I’m not a caterpillar, sorry, and I’m by no means a chief prosecutor! I am the son of the famous idealist professor Golubkov and a private assistant professor myself, I am running from St. Petersburg to you, to the whites, because it is impossible to work in St. Petersburg. De Brizard. Very nice! Noah's Ark! A forged hatch in the floor opens, a decrepit abbot rises from it, followed by a choir of monks with candles. Hegumen (Afrikanu). Your Eminence! (To the monks.) Brothers! We have been honored to save and preserve the ruler from the hands of wicked socialists! The monks clothe the excited Africanus in a robe and hand him a staff. Master! Take this rod again, and with it strengthen your flock... African. Look from heaven, O God, and see and visit these grapes, plant them with your right hand! Monks (suddenly started singing). Executed these despots!.. [Many years, lord! (Greek)] Charnota appears at the door, with Lyuska with him. Charnota. Why, holy fathers, have you eaten too much henbane, or what? You started this ceremony at the wrong time! Come on, choir!.. (Gestures “go away.”) African. Brothers! Get out! The abbot and the monks go into the ground. Charnota (Afrikanu). Your Eminence, why did you organize a divine service here? We need to get going! The corps is hot on our heels, catching us! Budyonny will strangle us to the sea! The whole army is leaving! We're going to Crimea! Take Roman Khludov under his wing! African. Dear God, what is this? (Grabs his sheepskin coat.) Do you have any gigs with you? (Disappears.) Charnota. Card for me! Shine, Krapilin! (Looks at the map.) Everything is locked! Coffin! Lyuska. Oh you, Krapchikov, Krapchikov!.. Charnota. Stop! Found the gap! (To De Brizard.) Take your regiment and go to Almanayka. If you attract them a little towards you, then go to Babi Gai and cross at least a sip! After you, I will go to the Molokans on the farms, with the Don people, and even later than you, I will go out to the Arabat arrow, we will unite there. Come out in five minutes. De Brizard. I'm listening, Your Excellency. Charnota. F-fu!.. Give me a sip, Colonel. Golubkov. Serafima Vladimirovna, are you listening? The whites are leaving. We need to run with them, otherwise we will fall into the hands of the Reds again. Serafima Vladimirovna, why don’t you respond, what’s wrong with you? Lyuska. Give it to me too. De Brizard hands the flask to Lyuska. Golubkov (Chanote). Mister General, I beg you, take us with you! Serafima Vladimirovna fell ill... We are running to Crimea... Is there a hospital with you? Charnota. Did you study at university? Golubkov. Of course yes... Charnota. You come across as a completely uneducated person. Well, if a bullet hits you in the head on Babi Gai, the infirmary will help you a lot, right? You might also ask if we have an X-ray room! Intelligentsia!.. Give me some more cognac! Lyuska. Need to take. A beautiful woman, the Reds will get... Golubkov. Serafima Vladimirovna, get up! Must go! Seraphima (deaf). You know what, Sergei Pavlovich, it seems to me that I’m really unwell... You go alone, and I’ll lie down here in the monastery... I’m kind of hot... Golubkov. My God! Serafima Vladimirovna, this is unthinkable! Serafima Vladimirovna, rise up! Seraphim. I'm thirsty... and to St. Petersburg... Golubkov. What is it?.. Lyuska (victoriously). It's typhus, that's what it is. De Brizard. Madam, you need to run away, you will have a bad time with the Reds. However, I am not a master at speaking. Krapilin, you are eloquent, persuade the lady! Krapilin. That's right, we need to go! Golubkov. Serafima Vladimirovna, we have to go... De Brizard. Krapilin, you are eloquent, persuade the lady! Krapilin. That's right, we need to go! De Brizard (looking at the bracelet watch). It's time! (Runs out.) His command was heard: “Sit down!”, then stomping. Lyuska. Krapilin! Lift her up, take her by force! Krapilin. I obey! Together with Golubkov they lift Serafima and lead her by the arms. Lyuska. Into her gig! They leave. Charnota (alone, finishing his cognac, looking at his watch). It's time! Hegumen (grows out of the hatch). White general! Where are you going? Will you really not defend the monastery that gave you shelter and salvation?! Charnota. Why are you, dad, upsetting me? Tie the tongues of the bells, sit down in the dungeon! Goodbye! (Disappears.) His cry was heard: “Sit down! Sit down!”, then a terrible stomp, and everything fell silent. Paisiy appears from the hatch. Paisiy. Father Superior! And Father Igumen! What should we do? After all, the Reds will gallop in now! And we called the whites! What should we accept, the crown of martyrdom? Abbot. Where is the lord? Paisiy. He galloped away, galloped away in a gig! Abbot. Shepherd, unworthy shepherd! He who has abandoned his own sheep! (Shouts muffledly into the dungeon.) Brothers! Pray! From under the ground a muffled voice was heard: “To St. Father Nicholas, pray to God for us...” Darkness eats up the monastery. The first dream ends.

DREAM SECOND

My dreams are becoming more and more difficult... A hall appears at an unknown and large station somewhere in the northern part of Crimea. In the background of the hall there are windows of unusual size, behind them you can feel the black night with blue electric moons. There was a brutal, incomprehensible frost in Crimea at the beginning of November. Forged Sivash, Chongar, Perekop and this station. The windows are frozen over, and from time to time snake-like fire reflections from passing trains flow across the icy mirrors. Portable black iron stoves and kerosene lamps on the tables are burning. In the back, above the exit to the main platform, there is an inscription in the old spelling: “Operational department.” A glass partition containing a green government-type lamp and two green conductor's lanterns, similar to the eyes of monsters. Nearby, against a dark, peeling background, a white youth on a horse hits a scaly dragon with a spear. This young man is St. George the Victorious, and a faceted multi-colored lamp is burning in front of him. The hall is occupied by white staff officers. Most of them are wearing hoods and headphones. Countless field telephones, staff maps with flags, typewriters in the background. Colorful signals flash on the phones every now and then, the phones sing in gentle voices. The front headquarters has been standing at this station for three days and has not slept for three days, but is working like a machine. And only an experienced and observant eye could see the restless streak in the eyes of all these people. And one more thing - fear and hope can be seen in those eyes as they turn to where the first class buffet once was. There, separated from everyone by a high cupboard, Roman Valeryanovich Khludov sits behind the desk, huddled on a high stool. This man's face is as white as bone, his hair is black, combed into an eternal, indestructible officer's parting. Khludov has a snub nose, like Pavel, shaved like an actor; he seems younger than everyone around him, but his eyes are old. He is wearing a soldier's overcoat, and he is belted around it, either like a woman, or like the landowners belted their dressing gown. The shoulder straps are cloth, and a black general's zigzag is casually sewn on them. The protective cap is dirty, with a dull cockade, and there are mittens on the hands. There are no weapons on Khludov. He is sick with something, this man is sick all over, from head to toe. He winces, twitches, likes to change his intonation. He asks himself questions and likes to answer them himself. When he wants to fake a smile, he grins. It incites fear. He is sick - Roman Valeryanovich. Near Khludov, in front of a table on which there are several telephones, the executive captain Golovan, who is in love with Khludov, sits and writes. Khludov (dictates to Golovan), "...comma. But Frunze did not want to portray the designated enemy during the maneuvers. Dot. This is not chess or Tsarskoye Unforgettable Selo. Dot. Signed - Khludov. Dot". Golovan (passes what he wrote to someone). Encrypt, send to the commander-in-chief. First Staff Officer (illuminated by a signal from the phone, groans into the phone). Yes, I’m listening... I’m listening... Budyonny?.. Budyonny?.. Second Staff Officer (moans into the phone). Taganash... Taganash... Third Staff Officer (moans into the phone). No, to Karpov Balka... Golovan (lit by the signal, hands Khludov the pipe). Your Excellency... Khludov (into the phone). Yes. Yes. Yes. No. Yes. (He returns the phone to Golovan.) I need the commandant. Golovan. Commandant! Echo voices ran: “Commandant, commandant!” The commandant, a pale, squinting, confused officer in a red cap, runs between the tables and appears before Khludov. Khludov. I've been waiting for an hour for the "Officer" armored train to Taganash. What's the matter? What's the matter? What's the matter? Commandant (in a dead voice). The head of the station, Your Excellency, proved to me that the “Officer” cannot get through. Khludov. Give me the station master. Commandant (runs, speaks to someone in a sobbing voice as he goes). What can I do? Khludov. Our tragedies begin. The armored train was paralyzed. An armored train walks with a stick, but it can’t get through! (Rings.) The inscription “Counter-intelligence department” flashes on the wall. When the bell rings, Quiet comes out of the wall, stops near Khludov, is quiet and attentive. (Addresses him). Nobody loves us, nobody. And because of this tragedy, it’s all the same in the theater. Quiet is quiet. Khludov (furiously). A stove with fumes, or what?! Golovan. No way, no fuss. The commandant appears before Khludov, followed by the station chief. Khludov (to the station manager). Have you proven that an armored train cannot pass? Station manager (speaks and moves, but the man has been dead for a day). That's right, Your Excellency. There is no physical strength - no possibility! Manually sorted and hammered clean, cork! Khludov. The second one means it’s a waste of time? Golovan. This minute! (Aside to someone.) Fill the stove! Station Manager. Frenzy, frenzy. Khludov (to the station manager). For some reason it seems to me that you have a good attitude towards the Bolsheviks. Don't be afraid, talk to me frankly. Each person has his own beliefs, and he should not hide them. Sly guy! Station Master (talks nonsense). Your Excellency, why such suspicion? I have children... even under Emperor Nicholas Alexandrovich... Olya and Pavlik, children... I haven’t slept for thirty hours, believe God! And the Chairman of the State Duma Mikhail Vladimirovich Rodzianko is personally known. But I don’t sympathize with him, Rodzianka... I have children... Khludov. Sincere person, eh? No! You need love, and without love you can’t do anything in war! (Reproachfully, to Quiet) They don’t like me. (Dryly.) Give me a sapper. Push, sort! Fifteen minutes of time for the "Officer" to pass the exit semaphore! If during this time the order is not executed, the commandant will be arrested. And hang the station master on a semaphore, with the inscription under it illuminated: “Sabotage.” At this time, a gentle copper waltz was heard in the distance. Once upon a time they danced to this waltz at gymnasium balls. Station Master (sluggishly). Your Excellency, my children have not yet gone to school... Quiet takes the station master by the arm and leads him away. The commandant is behind him. Khludov. Waltz? Golovan. Charnota is coming, Your Excellency. Station Manager (behind the glass partition he comes to life and shouts into the phone). Christopher Fedorovich! I conjure by Christ God: from the fourth and fifth routes, drive all trains to Taganash! There will be sappers! Push as you want! I conjure you! Nikolaevna (appeared near the station chief). What is it, Vasya, what? Station Manager. Oh, trouble, Nikolaevna! Trouble on the family! Olka, Olka was dragged here, what a drag! Nikolaevna. Olka? Olka? (Disappears.) The waltz ends. The door from the platform opens, and Charnota enters, wearing a burka and a hat, and goes to Khludov. Lyuska, who ran in with Charnota, remains in the background near the door. Charnota. From the Chongar defile, Your Excellency, the combined cavalry division has arrived. Khludov is silent and looks at Charnota. Your Excellency! (Points somewhere into the distance.) What are you doing? (Suddenly takes off his hat.) Roma! You are the General Staff! What are you doing? Roma, stop it! Khludov. Be silent! Charnota puts on a hat. Leave the convoy here, go to Karpova Balka, and stay there. Charnota. I'm listening. (Leaves.) Lyuska. Where? Charnota (dim). To Karpov Balka. Lyuska. I'm with you. I abandon these wounded and Typhoid Seraphim! Charnota (dim). You might die. Lyuska. Well, thank God! (Leaves with Charnota.) There was a clanging, knocking, then the pained howl of an armored train. Nikolaevna bursts behind the partition and drags Olka, wrapped in a scarf. Nikolaevna. Here she is, Olka, here she is! Station Manager (into phone). Christopher Fedorovich, did you make it?! Thank you, thank you! (He grabs Olka in his arms and runs to Khludov.) Behind him are Quiet and the commandant. Khludov (to the station manager). Well, dear, did you pass? Passed? Station Manager. Passed, Your Excellency, passed! Khludov. Why a child? Station Manager. Olechka, child... a capable girl. I’ve been serving for twenty years and haven’t slept for two days. Khludov. Yes, girl... Serso. Does he play serso? Yes? (Takes caramel out of his pocket.) Girl, here. Doctors forbid smoking, my nerves are upset. But caramel doesn’t help, I still smoke and smoke. Station Manager. Take it, Olyushenka, take it... Good general. Say, Olyushenka, “mercy”... (Picks up Olka in her arms, carries her behind the partition, and Nikolaevna disappears with Olka.) A waltz was heard again and began to move away. Paramon Ilyich Korzukhin enters from a door, not the one through which Charnota entered, but from a different one. This is an unusually European-looking man with glasses, a very expensive fur coat and a briefcase. He approaches Golovan and gives him a card. Golovan hands the card to Khludov. Khludov. I'm listening to. Korzukhin (to Khludov). I have the honor to introduce myself. Comrade Minister of Trade Korzukhin. The Council of Ministers has authorized me, Your Excellency, to make three requests to you. I just came from Sevastopol. First: I was instructed to find out about the fate of five workers arrested in Simferopol and taken, according to your order, here to headquarters. Khludov. So. Oh yes, you are from a different platform! Yesaul! Present those arrested to Mr. Comrade Minister. Golovan. Follow me, please. With everyone's intense attention, he leads Korzukhin to the main door in the background, opens it slightly and points somewhere up. Korzukhin shudders. Returns with Golovan to Khludov. Khludov. The first question has been resolved. I'm listening to the second one. Korzukhin (worried). The second concerns my ministry directly. Here at the station, critical cargo is stuck. I ask your Excellency’s permission and assistance to urgently push them through to Sevastopol. Khludov (softly). What kind of cargo exactly? Korzukhin. Export fur goods destined abroad. Khludov (smiling). Ah, fur export! And in what compositions is the cargo? Korzukhin (hands over paper). I ask you to. Khludov. Esaul Golovan! Drive the compositions listed here into a dead end, into kerosene and light it! Golovan, having accepted the paper, disappeared. (Soft). In short, the third question? Korzukhin (stelbeneya). Situation at the front?.. Khludov (yawning). Well, what could be the situation at the front! Stupid! They fire from cannons, they put a stove with carbon fumes under the front commander’s nose, the commander-in-chief sent me the Kuban soldiers as a gift, and they are barefoot. No restaurant, no girls! Green melancholy. So we sit on stools like parrots. (Changing intonation, hisses.) Position? Go, Mr. Korzukhin, to Sevastopol and tell the rear nits to pack their suitcases! The Reds will be here tomorrow! And tell me that foreign whores don’t see sable cuffs! Fur goods! Korzukhin. Unheard of! (Looks around angrily.) I will have the honor to report this to the commander-in-chief. Khludov (politely). Please. Korzukhin (backing away, goes to the side door, asks along the way). What train will be to Sevastopol now? Nobody answers him. You can hear the train approaching. Station Manager (dead, appears before Khludov). A special appointment from Kerman-Kemalchi! Khludov. Attention! Gentlemen officers! All bets are off. At the door from which Korzukhin came out, two guard Cossacks in crimson caps appear, followed by the white commander-in-chief in a hat twisted to the back of his head, a long overcoat, with a Caucasian saber, and after him the Most Reverend African, who blesses the headquarters. Commander-in-Chief. Hello, gentlemen! Staff. We wish you good health, Your Excellency! Khludov. I would ask permission to submit the report to Your Excellency confidentially. Commander-in-Chief. Yes. Everyone leave the room. (To African.) Master, I will have a confidential conversation with the front commander. African. Good morning! Good morning! Everyone leaves, and Khludov is left alone with the commander-in-chief Khludov. Three hours ago the enemy took Yushun. Bolsheviks in Crimea. Commander-in-Chief. End?! Khludov. End. Silence. Commander-in-Chief (at the door). Master! African, alarmed, appears. Master! Abandoned by the Western European powers, deceived by the treacherous Poles, in this terrible hour we rely only on God’s mercy! African (realized that trouble had come). Oh no no no! Commander-in-Chief. Pray, holy lord! Africanus (before St. George the Victorious). Almighty Lord! For what? Why are you sending a new test to your children, Christ’s eminent army? The power of the cross is with us, it overthrows the enemy with blessed weapons... The face of the station master, anguished with fear, appeared in the glass partition. Khludov. Your Eminence, forgive me for interrupting you, but you are bothering God in vain. He has clearly abandoned us for a long time. After all, what is this? It never happened, but now the water has been stolen from Sivash, and the Bolsheviks walked through the parquet. St. George the Victorious is laughing! African. What are you, valiant general?! Commander-in-Chief. I am categorically against this tone. You are clearly unwell, General, and I regret that you did not go abroad in the summer for treatment, as I advised. Khludov. Ah, that's how it is! And who, Your Excellency, would your barefoot soldiers on Perekop, without dugouts, without canopies, without concrete, hold the rampart? Who would Charnota go from Chongar to Karpova Balka that night with music? Who would hang it? Who would hang you, Your Excellency? Commander-in-Chief (darkening). What it is? African. Lord, look at them, enlighten and strengthen them! If the kingdom is divided, it will soon go bankrupt!.. Commander-in-Chief. However, now is not the time... Khludov. Yes, not the time. You need to return to Sevastopol immediately. Commander-in-Chief. Yes. (Takes out an envelope and hands it to Khludov.) Please open it immediately. Khludov. Ah, it's already ready! Did you foresee it? This is good. Now you are releasing your servant, sir... I’m listening. (Screams.) Train to the commander-in-chief! Convoy! Bid! The station manager (behind the partition rushes to the telephone.) Kerman-Kemalchi! Give me the rod! Give me the rod! The escort Cossacks and all the staff appear. Commander-in-Chief. Front commander... Headquarters takes the lead. ...will announce my order to you! May God grant us all strength and reason to survive the Russian hard times! I honestly warn everyone that we have no other land except Crimea. Suddenly the door swings open, and de Brisard appears with his head tied in gauze and stands in front of the commander-in-chief. De Brizard. I wish you good health, Your Imperial Majesty! (To headquarters, mysteriously.) Countess, at the cost of one rendezvous, would you like me to tell you... Commander-in-Chief. What is this? Golovan. The commander of the hussar regiment, Comte de Brizard, was shell-shocked in the head. Khludov (as in a dream). Chongar... Chongar... Commander-in-Chief. On my train with me, to Sevastopol! (He quickly leaves, accompanied by escorting Cossacks.) African. God! God! (He blesses the bet and quickly leaves.) De Brizard (carried away by the staff). Sorry!.. Countess, at the cost of one rendezvous... Staff. To Sevastopol, Count, to Sevastopol... De Brizard. Guilty!.. Guilty!.. (Disappears.) Khludov (opens the envelope. I read it and grinned. Golovanov). The pilot to Karpov Balka to General Barbovich. The order is to break away from the enemy, trot to Yalta and load onto the ships! A rustling sound sweeps through the headquarters: “Amen, amen.” Then grave silence. Another - to General Kutepov: break away, go to Sevastopol and load onto the ships. Fostikova - with the Kuban people to Feodosia. Kalinin - with the Don people to Kerch. Charnot - to Sevastopol! Everyone to the courts! Close the bet instantly, to Sevastopol! Crimea has been surrendered! Golovan (hurriedly leaving). Pilots! Pilots! Groups of staff begin to melt away. Maps are folded, phones begin to disappear. The train was heard roaring and leaving. There is vanity, there is no order anymore. Then the door from which Charnota came out swings open, and Serafima appears, wearing a burka. Behind her are Golubkov and Krapilin, trying to hold her. Golubkov. Serafima Vladimirovna, come to your senses, you can’t come here! (To the surprised staff.) Typhoid woman!.. Krapilin. That's right, typhoid. Seraphim (loudly). Who is Roman Khludov here? There is silence at this ridiculous question. Khludov. No problem, let me see you. Khludov is me. Golubkov. Don't listen to her, she's sick! Seraphim. We are running from St. Petersburg, we are still running and running... Where? Take Roman Khludov under his wing! All Khludov, Khludov, Khludov... I even dream of Khludov! (Smiles.) So I was honored to see: sitting on a stool, and bags hanging all around. Bags and bags!.. Beast! Jackal! Golubkov (desperately). She has typhus! She's delusional!.. We're out of the echelon! Khludov calls, and Tikhy and Gurin come out of the wall. Seraphim. Well then! They are coming and will finish you all off! In the group of staff there is a rustling "Ah, a communist!" Golubkov. What do you? What do you? She is the wife of Comrade Minister Korzukhin! She doesn't know what she's saying! Khludov. This is good, because when we give reports, you won’t get a word of truth. Golubkov. She is Korzukhina! Khludov. Stop, stop, stop! Korzukhina? Is this a fur product? So this scoundrel also has a communist wife? Ooh, blessed chance! Well, I’ll settle accounts with him now! If only he didn't have time to leave, give him here to me! Quiet makes a sign to Gurin, and he disappears. Quiet (softly, Seraphim). What is your first name? Golubkov. Serafima Vladimirovna... Serafima... Gurin introduces Korzukhin. He is deathly pale, sensing trouble. Are you Paramon Ilyich Korzukhin? Korzukhin. Yes it's me. Golubkov. Thank God you came to meet us! Finally!.. Quiet (affectionately, to Korzukhin). Your wife, Serafima Vladimirovna, came to you from St. Petersburg. Korzukhin (looked into the eyes of Tikhoy and Khludov, smelled some kind of trap). I don’t know any Serafima Vladimirovna, I’m seeing this woman for the first time in my life, I’m not expecting anyone from St. Petersburg, this is a hoax. Seraphim (looking at Korzukhin, dully). Ahh, I renounced! Ooh, you bastard! Korzukhin. This is chantage! Golubkov (desperately). Paramon Ilyich, what are you doing! This can't be true! Khludov. Sincere person? A? Well, your happiness, Mr. Korzukhin! Fur goods! Out! Korzukhin disappears. Golubkov. I beg you to interrogate us! I will prove that she is his wife! Khludov (to Quiet). Take them both and interrogate them. Quiet (Gurin). Take it to Sevastopol. Gurin takes Seraphim's arm. Golubkov. You are intelligent people!.. I will prove it!.. Seraphim. Only one person was found on the road... Ah, Krapilin, eloquent man, why don’t you intercede?.. Serafima and Golubkov are taken away. Krapilin (standing in front of Khludov). Exactly. As it is written in the books: jackal! You can't win a war with garrotes alone! Why did you, world beast, cut the soldiers at Perekop? However, you came across one person, a woman. I felt sorry for the strangled people, that’s all. But you won’t get past you, you won’t get by! Now you are a man - a DAC and in a bag! Do you eat vultures? Quiet. May I remove it, Your Excellency? Khludov. No. His speech contains common sense thoughts about the war. Talk, soldier, talk. Quiet (beckons someone with his finger, and two counterintelligence officers come out of the door of the counterintelligence department. Whisper). Board. A third counterintelligence officer appears with a piece of plywood. Khludov. What's your last name, soldier? Krapilin (soaring to disastrous heights). What's the last name? My surname is unknown - Krapilin-vestovoy! And you will perish, jackal, you will perish, rabid beast, in a ditch! Just wait here on your stool! (Smiling.) No, you’ll run away, you’ll run away to Constantinople! You're only brave enough to hang women and mechanics! Khludov. You are mistaken, soldier, I went to Chongarskaya Gati with music and was wounded twice on Gati. Krapilin. All the provinces spit on your music! (Suddenly he woke up, shuddered, fell to his knees, and spoke pitifully.) Your Excellency, have mercy on Krapilin! I was in oblivion! Khludov. No! Bad soldier! You started well and ended badly. Are you lying on your feet? Hang him! I can't look at him! The counterintelligence officers instantly throw a black bag over Krapilin and drag him away. Golovan (appearing). Your Excellency's order has been carried out. The pilots took off. Khludov. Everyone on the train, gentlemen! Get ready, captain, I need a convoy and a carriage! Everyone disappears. (One, picks up the phone and speaks into it.) The front commander speaks. Tell the armored train "Officer" to go as far as he can along the line, and fire, fire! On Taganash fire, fire! Let him trample into the ground goodbye! Then let him break his path and go to Sevastopol! (Hangs up, sits alone, huddled on a stool.) The distant howl of an armored train flew by. What am I sick with? Am I sick? A salvo is heard from an armored train. It is so heavy, this salvo, that the sound is almost inaudible, but the electricity instantly goes out in the station hall, and the icy windows collapse. Now the platform is exposed. Blueish electric moons are visible. Under the first of them, on an iron pole, hangs a long black bag, under it there is plywood with the inscription in charcoal: “Vestovoy Krapilin - Bolshevik.” Under the next mast there is another bag, nothing further is visible. Khludov alone in the semi-darkness looks at the hanged Krapilin. I'm sick, I'm sick. I just don’t know why. Olka appeared in the semi-darkness, released in panic. Dragging along the floor in felt boots. Station Master (searches in the semi-darkness and mutters sleepily). Stupid, stupid Nikolaevna... Olka, where is Olka? Olechka, Olya, where are you going, little fool, where are you going? (He grabs Olka in his arms.) Go into your arms, into your father’s arms... And don’t look there... (Happy that he is not noticed, he falls into the darkness, and the second dream ends.) End of the first act

Eight dreams

Play in four acts

CHARACTERS:

Serafima Vladimirovna Korzukhina, a young St. Petersburg lady.

Sergei Pavlovich Golubkov, son of an idealistic professor from St. Petersburg.

Africanus, Archbishop of Simferopol and Karasu-Bazar, archpastor of the eminent army, he is also the chemist Makhrov.

Paisius, monk.

Decrepit abbot.

Baev, regiment commander in Budyonny’s cavalry.

Budenovets.

Grigory Lukyanovich Charnota, Cossack by origin, cavalryman, major general in the White army.

Barabanchikova, a lady who exists solely in the imagination of General Charnota.

Lyuska, the traveling wife of General Charnota.

Krapilin, Charnota's messenger, a man who died because of his eloquence.

De Brizard, commander of the White Hussars.

Roman Valeryanovich Khludov.

Golovan, captain, adjutant of Khludov.

Station commandant.

Station manager.

Nikolaevna, wife of the station chief.

Olka, daughter of the station chief, 4 years old.

Paramon Ilyich Korzukhin, Seraphima's husband.

Quiet, head of counterintelligence.

Skunsky, counterintelligence officers.

Gurin, white commander-in-chief.

A face at the cash register.

Arthur Arturovich, cockroach king.

A figure in a bowler hat and quartermaster's shoulder straps.

Turkish, loving mother.

Beautiful prostitute.

Greek Don Juan.

Antoine Grishchenko, Korzukhin's lackey.

Monks, white staff officers, escort Cossacks of the white commander-in-chief, counterintelligence officers, Cossacks in burkas, English, French and Italian sailors, Turkish and Italian police, Turkish and Greek boys, Armenian and Greek heads in the windows, a crowd in Constantinople.

The first dream takes place in Northern Tavria in October 1920.

The second, third and fourth dream - at the beginning of November 1920 in Crimea.

The fifth and sixth - in Constantinople in the summer of 1921.

The seventh - in Paris in the fall of 1921.

The eighth - in the fall of 1921 in Constantinople.

ACT ONE

DREAM FIRST

...I dreamed of a monastery...

You can hear the choir of monks in the dungeon singing dully: “To St. Father Nicholas, pray to God for us...” Darkness, and then the inside of the monastery church appears, sparingly illuminated by candles stuck to the icons. a bench next to her, a window covered with bars, the chocolate face of a saint, faded wings of seraphim, golden crowns. Outside the window is a bleak October evening with rain and snow. Barabanchikova lies on the bench, her head covered with a blanket. Chemist Makhrov, in a sheepskin coat, perched himself by the window and is still trying to see something in him. Seraphima sits in the high abbot's chair, wearing a black fur coat. Judging by her face, Seraphim is not feeling well. At Seraphima’s feet, on a bench, next to the suitcase, is Golubkov, a St. Petersburg-looking young man in a black coat and gloves.

Golubkov(listening to singing). Do you hear, Serafima Vladimirovna? I realized they have a dungeon downstairs... In essence, how strange all this is! You know, at times it begins to seem to me that I am dreaming, honestly!

It’s been a month since we’ve been running with you, Serafima Vladimirovna, through villages and cities, and the further we go, the more incomprehensible everything around us becomes... you see, now we’ve ended up in church! And you know, when all this chaos happened today, I missed St. Petersburg, by God! Suddenly I remembered so clearly my green lamp in the office...

Seraphim. These sentiments are dangerous, Sergei Pavlovich. Beware of getting bored while wandering. Wouldn't it be better for you to stay?

Golubkov. Oh no, no, this is irrevocable, and so be it! And then, you already know what brightens up my difficult path... Since we accidentally met in a heated vehicle under that lantern, remember... after all, a little time has passed, and yet it seems to me that I already know you a long time ago! The thought of you makes this flight in the autumn darkness easier, and I will be proud and happy when I carry you to the Crimea and hand you over to your husband. And although I will be bored without you, I will rejoice in your joy.

Serafima silently puts her hand on Golubkov’s shoulder.

(Stroking his hand.) Excuse me, do you have a fever?

Seraphim. No, nothing.

Golubkov. That is, like nothing? It's hot, by God, it's hot!

Seraphim. Nonsense, Sergei Pavlovich, it will pass...

Soft cannon strike. Barabanchikova stirred and moaned.

Listen, madam, you can't be left without help. One of us will make his way to the village, there will probably be a midwife there.

Golubkov. I'm running away.

Barabanchikova silently grabs him by the hem of his coat.

Seraphim. Why don't you want to, my dear?

Barabanchikova(capriciously). No need.

Serafima and Golubkov are perplexed.

Makhrov(quietly, to Golubkov). Mysterious and very mysterious person!

Golubkov(whispers). Do you think that…

Makhrov. I don’t think anything, but... it’s hard times, sir, you never know who you’ll meet on your way! Some strange lady is lying in the church...

The singing underground ceases.

Paisiy(appears silently, black, scared). Documents, documents, honest gentlemen! (Blows out all the candles except one)

Serafima, Golubkov and Makhrov take out documents. Barabanchikova sticks out her hand and places her passport on the blanket.

Baev comes in, wearing a short fur coat, splashed with mud, and excited. Behind Baev is a Budenovist with a lantern.

Baev. And the devil will crush them, these monks! Ooh, nest! You, holy dad, where is the spiral staircase to the bell tower?

Paisiy. Here, here, here...

Baev(Budenovets). Look.

A Budenovets with a lantern disappears through an iron door

(To Paisius.) Was there a fire in the bell tower?

Paisiy. What are you, what are you? What fire?

Baev. The fire flickered! Well, if I find anything in the bell tower, I will put you and your gray-haired shaitan against the wall! You were waving white lanterns!

Paisiy. God! What do you?!

Baev. And who are these? You said that there is not a single soul from outside the monastery!

Paisiy. They are refugees...

Seraphim. Comrade, we were all caught by shelling in the village, and we rushed to the monastery. (Points to Barabanchikova.) Here is a woman, her labor begins...

Baev(approaches Barabanchikova, takes the passport, reads it). Barabanchikova, married...

Paisiy(Satanya whispers in horror). Lord, Lord, just get it through! (Ready to run away.) Holy glorious great martyr Demetrius...

Baev. Where is the husband?

Barabanchikova moaned.

Find the time and place to give birth! (To Makhrov.) Document!

Makhrov. Here's a document! I am a chemist from Mariupol.

Baev. There are many of you chemists on the front lines here!

Makhrov. I went to buy groceries, cucumbers...

Baev. Cucumbers!

Budenovets(appears suddenly). Comrade Baev! I didn’t find anything in the bell tower, but this is what... (Whispers in Baev’s ear.)

Baev. What are you talking about? Where?

Budenovets. I'm telling you right. The main thing is that it’s dark, comrade commander.

Baev. Well, okay, okay, let's go. (To Golubkov, who hands over his document.) Once, once, later. (To Paisius.) The monks, therefore, do not interfere in the civil war?

Paisiy. No no no…

Baev. Just pray? But who do you pray for, it would be interesting to know? For the black baron or for the Soviet regime? Well, okay, see you soon, we'll sort it out tomorrow! (He leaves with the Budenovite.)

A muffled command was heard outside the windows, and everything became quiet, as if nothing had happened. Paisius greedily and often crosses himself, lights candles and disappears.

Makhrov. Wasted... No wonder it is said: and he will give them a mark on their hands or on their foreheads... The stars are five-pointed, did you notice?

Golubkov(in a whisper, to Seraphim). I am completely lost, because this area is in the hands of the whites, where did the reds come from? A sudden battle?.. Why did all this happen?

Barabanchikova. This happened because General Krapchikov is an ass, not a general! (To Seraphim.) Sorry, madam.

Golubkov(mechanically). Well?

Barabanchikova. So what? They sent him a dispatch that the Red cavalry was in the rear, and he, tormenting his soul, put off the decoding until the morning and sat down to play screw.

Golubkov. Well?

Barabanchikova. The little one in hearts announced.

Makhrov(quiet). Wow, what an interesting person!

Golubkov. Excuse me, you seem to be aware of the matter: I had information that here, in Kurchulan, there was supposed to be the headquarters of General Charnota?..

Barabanchikova. Look, what detailed information you have! Well, there was a headquarters, how could it not be. Only he all came out.

Golubkov. Where did he go?

Barabanchikova. Most definitely into the swamp.

Makhrov. How do you know all this, madam?

Barabanchikova. You, archpastor, are very curious!

Makhrov. Excuse me, why do you call me archpastor?!

Barabanchikova. Well, okay, okay, this is a boring conversation, get away from me.

Paisiy runs in, puts out the candles again, everyone except one looks out the window

Golubkov. What else?

Paisiy. Oh, sir, we ourselves don’t know who else God has sent us and whether we will be alive by nightfall! (Disappears so that it seems as if he is falling through the ground.)

Many-hoofed stomping was heard, and reflections of flame danced in the window.

Seraphim. Fire?

Golubkov. No, these are torches. I don’t understand anything, Serafima Vladimirovna! White troops, I swear, white! It's finished! Serafima Vladimirovna, thank God, we are again in the hands of the whites! Officers in uniform!

Barabanchikova(sits down, wrapping himself in a blanket). You damned intellectual, shut up immediately! "Epaulettes", "epaulettes"! This is not St. Petersburg, but Tavria, an insidious country! If you put shoulder straps on you, it doesn’t mean that you have turned white! What if the squad is in disguise? What then?

Suddenly the bell struck softly.

Well, they rang! The idiot monks fell asleep! (To Golubkov.) What kind of pants are they wearing?

Golubkov. Red ones!.. and they just moved in, those ones are blue with red sides...

Barabanchikova.“They moved in with the sides”!.. Damn you! With stripes?

A muffled command from de Brizard was heard: “First squadron, get down!”

What's happened? Can't be! His voice! (To Golubkov.) Well, now shout, now shout boldly, I give permission! (He throws off his blanket and rags and jumps out in the form of General Charnota. He is in a Circassian coat with crumpled silver shoulder straps. He puts the revolver that he was in his hands in his pocket; runs to the window, opens it, shouts.) Hello, hussars! Hello, Donets! Colonel Brizard, come to me!

The door opens and Lyuska is the first to run in, wearing a nurse’s headscarf, a leather jacket and high boots with spurs. Behind her are the bearded de Brizard and the messenger Krapilin with a torch.

Lyuska. Grisha! Gris-Gris! (Throws himself on Charnota’s neck.) I can’t believe my eyes! Alive? Saved? (Shouts out the window.) Hussars, listen! General Charnota was recaptured from the Reds!

There is noise and screams outside the window.

After all, we were going to serve a memorial service for you!

Charnota. I saw death as close as your scarf. I went to Krapchikov’s headquarters, and he, the cat of a bitch, made me play in the screw... the guy in hearts... and - you’re wearing machine guns! Budyonny - on you - from heaven! The headquarters was completely destroyed! I shot back, out the window and through the gardens to the village, to teacher Barabanchikov, come on, I say, documents! And he, in a panic, took the wrong documents and handed them to me! I crawl here, to the monastery, and lo and behold, the documents are a woman’s, a woman’s, Madame Barabanchikova, and a certificate - she’s pregnant! There are Reds all around, well, I say, put me as I am in the church! I’m lying there, giving birth, and I hear the spurs - slap, slap!..

Lyuska. Who?

Charnota. Budenovets commander.

Lyuska. Oh!

Charnota. I think, where are you, Budenovite, going? After all, your death lies under the blanket! Well, lift her up, lift her up quickly! They will bury you with music! And he took the passport, but didn’t pick up the blanket!

Lyuska squeals.

(Runs out and screams at the door.) Hello, Cossack tribe! Hello, villagers!

Screams were heard. Lyuska runs out after Charnota.

De Brizard. Well, I’ll raise the blanket! I wouldn’t be a devil if I didn’t hang someone in the monastery to celebrate! Apparently the Reds forgot these in a hurry! (To Makhrov.) Well, there’s no need to ask you for your document.

You can see from the hair what kind of bird it is! Krapilin, shine here!

Paisiy(flies in). What are you, what are you? This is His Eminence! This is Your Eminence African!

De Brizard. What are you talking about, black-tailed Satan?

Makhrov takes off his hat and sheepskin coat.

(Looks into Makhrov’s face.) What is it? Your Eminence, is it really you?! How did you get here?

African. I came to Kurchulan to bless the Don Corps, and I was captured by the Reds during a raid. Thank you, the monks provided us with the documents.

De Brizard. The devil knows what it is! (To Seraphim.) Woman, document!

Seraphim. I am the wife of Comrade Minister of Trade. I'm stuck in St. Petersburg, and my husband is already in Crimea. I run to him. Here are fake documents, and here is a real passport. My last name is Korzukhina.

De Brizard. Miles exclusive, madam! And you, a caterpillar in plainclothes, aren’t you the chief prosecutor?

Golubkov. I’m not a caterpillar, sorry, and I’m by no means a chief prosecutor! I am the son of the famous idealist professor Golubkov and a private assistant professor myself, I am running from St. Petersburg to you, to the whites, because it is impossible to work in St. Petersburg.

De Brizard. Very nice! Noah's Ark!

A forged hatch in the floor opens, and a decrepit abbot rises out of it, followed by a choir of monks with candles.

Abbot(to Africa). Your Eminence! (To the monks.) Brothers! We have been honored to save and preserve the ruler from the hands of wicked socialists!

The monks clothe the excited Africanus in a robe and hand him a staff.

Master! Take this rod again, and with it strengthen your flock...

African. Look from heaven, O God, and see and visit these grapes, plant them with your right hand!

Monks(they suddenly started singing). Executed these despots!..

Charnota appears in the doorway, with Lyuska with him.

Charnota. Why, holy fathers, have you eaten too much henbane, or what? You started this ceremony at the wrong time! Come on, choir!.. (Gestures “go away.”)

African. Brothers! Get out!

The abbot and the monks go into the ground.

Charnota(to Africa). Your Eminence, why did you organize a divine service here? We need to get going! The corps is hot on our heels, catching us! Budyonny will strangle us to the sea! The whole army is leaving! We're going to Crimea! Take Roman Khludov under his wing!

African. Dear God, what is this? (Grabs his sheepskin coat.) Do you have any gigs with you? (Disappears.)

Charnota. Card for me! Shine, Krapilin! (Looks at the map.) Everything is locked! Coffin!

Lyuska. Oh you, Krapchikov, Krapchikov!..

Charnota. Stop! Found the gap! (To De Brizard.) Take your regiment and go to Almanayka. If you attract them a little towards you, then go to Babi Gai and cross at least a sip! After you, I will go to the Molokans on the farms, with the Don people, and even later than you, I will go out to the Arabat arrow, we will unite there. Come out in five minutes.

De Brizard. I'm listening, Your Excellency.

Charnota. F-fu!.. Give me a sip, Colonel.

Golubkov. Serafima Vladimirovna, are you listening? The whites are leaving. We need to run with them, otherwise we will fall into the hands of the Reds again. Serafima Vladimirovna, why don’t you respond, what’s wrong with you?

Lyuska. Give it to me too.

De Brizard hands the flask to Lyuska.

Golubkov(Chanote). Mister General, I beg you, take us with you! Serafima Vladimirovna fell ill... We are running to Crimea... Is there a hospital with you?

Charnota. Did you study at university?

Golubkov. Of course yes…

Charnota. You come across as a completely uneducated person. Well, if a bullet hits you in the head on Babi Gai, the infirmary will help you a lot, right? You might also ask if we have an X-ray room! Intelligentsia!.. Give me some more cognac!

Lyuska. Need to take. A beautiful woman, the Reds will get it...

Golubkov. Serafima Vladimirovna, get up! Must go!

Seraphim(deaf). You know what, Sergei Pavlovich, it seems to me that I’m really unwell... You go alone, and I’ll lie down here in the monastery... I’m kind of hot...

Golubkov. My God! Serafima Vladimirovna, this is unthinkable! Serafima Vladimirovna, rise up!

Seraphim. I’m thirsty... and to St. Petersburg...

Golubkov. What is it?..

Lyuska(victoriously). It's typhus, that's what it is.

De Brizard. Madam, you need to run away, you will have a bad time with the Reds. However, I am not a master at speaking. Krapilin, you are eloquent, persuade the lady!

Krapilin. That's right, we need to go!

Golubkov. Serafima Vladimirovna, we have to go...

De Brizard(looking at the watch bracelet). It's time! (Runs out.) His command was heard: “Sit down!”, then stomping.

Lyuska. Krapilin! Lift her up, take her by force!

Krapilin. I obey!

Together with Golubkov they lift Serafima and lead her by the arms.

Lyuska. Into her gig!

They leave.

Charnota(alone, finishing his cognac, looking at his watch). It's time!

Abbot(grows out of the hatch). White general! Where are you going? Will you really not defend the monastery that gave you shelter and salvation?!

Charnota. Why are you, dad, upsetting me? Tie the tongues of the bells, sit down in the dungeon! Goodbye! (Disappears.)

He was heard shouting: “Sit down! Sit down!”, then a terrible stomp, and everything fell silent. Paisiy appears from the hatch.

Paisiy. Father Superior! And Father Igumen! What should we do? After all, the Reds will gallop in now! And we called the whites! What should we accept, the crown of martyrdom?

Abbot. Where is the lord?

Paisiy. He galloped away, galloped away in a gig!

Abbot. Shepherd, unworthy shepherd! He who has abandoned his own sheep! (Shouts muffledly into the dungeon.) Brothers! Pray!

From under the ground a muffled voice was heard: “To St. Father Nicholas, pray to God for us...” Darkness eats up the monastery.

The first dream ends.

DREAM SECOND

...My dreams are becoming more and more difficult...

A hall appears at an unknown and large station somewhere in the northern part of Crimea. In the background of the hall there are windows of unusual size, behind them you can feel the black night with blue electric moons. There was a brutal, incomprehensible frost in Crimea at the beginning of November. Forged Sivash, Chongar, Perekop and this station. The windows are frozen over, and from time to time snake-like fire reflections from passing trains flow across the icy mirrors. Portable black iron stoves and kerosene lamps on the tables are burning. In the depths, above the exit to the main platform, there is an inscription in the old spelling: “Operational separation.” A glass partition containing a green government-type lamp and two green conductor's lanterns, similar to the eyes of monsters. Nearby, against a dark, peeling background, a white youth on a horse hits a scaly dragon with a spear. This young man is St. George the Victorious, and a faceted multi-colored lamp is burning in front of him. The hall is occupied by white staff officers. Most of them are wearing hoods and headphones.

Countless field telephones, staff maps with flags, typewriters in the background. Colorful signals flash on the phones every now and then, the phones sing in gentle voices.

The front headquarters has been standing at this station for three days and has not slept for three days, but is working like a machine. And only an experienced and observant eye could see the restless streak in the eyes of all these people. And one more thing - fear and hope can be seen in those eyes as they turn to where the first class buffet once was.

There, separated from everyone by a high cupboard, sitting behind the desk, huddled on a high stool, sits Roman Valeryanovich Khludov. This man's face is as white as bone, his hair is black, combed into an eternal, indestructible officer's parting. Khludov has a snub nose, like Pavel, shaved like an actor; he seems younger than everyone around him, but his eyes are old. He is wearing a soldier's overcoat, and he is belted around it, either like a woman, or like the landowners belted their dressing gown. The shoulder straps are cloth, and a black general's zigzag is casually sewn on them. The protective cap is dirty, with a dull cockade, and there are mittens on the hands. There are no weapons on Khludov.

He is sick with something, this man is sick all over, from head to toe. He winces, twitches, likes to change his intonation.

He asks himself questions and likes to answer them himself. When he wants to fake a smile, he grins. It incites fear. He is sick - Roman Valeryanovich. Near Khludov, in front of a table on which there are several telephones, the executive captain Golovan, who is in love with Khludov, sits and writes.

Khludov(dictates to Golovan), “...comma. But Frunze did not want to portray the designated enemy during the maneuvers. Dot. This is not chess or Tsarskoye Unforgettable Selo. Dot. Signed - Khludov. Dot".

Golovan(passes what he wrote to someone). Encrypt, send to the commander-in-chief.

First staff(illuminated by a signal from the phone, he groans into the phone). Yes, I’m listening... I’m listening... Budyonny?.. Budyonny?..

Second staff(moans into the phone). Taganash... Taganash...

Third Staff(moans into the phone). No, to Karpov Balka...

Golovan(Lightened by the signal, hands Khludov the phone). Your Excellency…

Khludov(into the phone). Yes. Yes. Yes. No. Yes. (He returns the phone to Golovan.) I need the commandant.

The commandant, a pale, squinting, confused officer in a red cap, runs between the tables and appears before Khludov.

Khludov. I’ve been waiting for an hour for the “Officer” armored train to Taganash. What's the matter? What's the matter? What's the matter?

Khludov. Give me the station master.

Commandant(runs, speaks to someone in a sobbing voice as he goes). What can I do?

Khludov. Our tragedies begin. The armored train was paralyzed. An armored train walks with a stick, but it can’t get through! (Rings.)

The inscription “Counter-intelligence department” flashes on the wall. When the bell rings, Tikhy comes out of the wall, stops near Khludov, is quiet and attentive.

(Addresses him). Nobody loves us, nobody. And because of this tragedy, it’s all the same in the theater.

Quiet is quiet.

Khludov(furiously). A stove with fumes, or what?!

Golovan. No way, no fuss.

The commandant appears before Khludov, followed by the station chief.

Khludov(to the station manager). Have you proven that an armored train cannot pass?

Station Manager(speaks and moves, but the man has been dead for a day). That's right, Your Excellency. Physical strength - no possibility! Manually sorted and hammered clean, cork!

Khludov. The second one means it’s a waste of time?

Golovan. This minute! (Aside to someone.) Fill the stove!

Station manager. Frenzy, frenzy.

Khludov(to the station manager). For some reason it seems to me that you have a good attitude towards the Bolsheviks. Don't be afraid, talk to me frankly. Each person has his own beliefs, and he should not hide them. Sly guy!

Station Manager(talks nonsense). Your Excellency, why such suspicion? I have children... even under Emperor Nicholas Alexandrovich... Olya and Pavlik, children... I haven’t slept for thirty hours, believe God! And the Chairman of the State Duma Mikhail Vladimirovich Rodzianko is personally known. But I don’t sympathize with him, Rodzianka... I have children...

Khludov. Sincere person, eh? No! You need love, and without love you can’t do anything in war! (Reproachfully, to Quiet) They don’t like me. (Dryly.) Give me a sapper. Push, sort! Fifteen minutes of time for the “Officer” to pass the exit semaphore! If during this time the order is not executed, the commandant will be arrested. And hang the station master on a semaphore, with the inscription under it illuminated: “Sabotage.”

At this time, a gentle copper waltz was heard in the distance.Once upon a time they danced to this waltz at gymnasium balls.

Station Manager(sluggishly). Your Excellency, my children have not yet gone to school...

Quiet takes the station chief by the arm and leads him away. The commandant is behind him.

Khludov. Waltz?

Golovan. Charnota is coming, Your Excellency.

Station Manager(behind the glass partition he comes to life and shouts into the phone). Christopher Fedorovich! I conjure by Christ God: from the fourth and fifth routes, drive all trains to Taganash! There will be sappers! Push as you want! I conjure you!

There is a conversation going on in the cell of the monastery church. Budennovtsy just came and checked the documents. Golubkov, a young St. Petersburg intellectual, wonders where the Reds came from when the area is in the hands of the Whites. Barabanchikova, pregnant, lying right there, explains that the general, who was sent a dispatch that the Reds were in the rear, postponed the decoding. When asked where General Charnota’s headquarters is, Barabanchikova does not give a direct answer. Serafima Korzukhina, a young St. Petersburg lady who is fleeing with Golubkov to Crimea to meet her husband, offers to call a midwife, but Madame refuses. The clatter of hooves and the voice of the white commander de Brizard are heard. Recognizing him, Barabanchikova throws off her rags and appears as General Charnota. He explains to de Brizard and his traveling wife Lyuska, who ran in, that his friend Barabanchikov in a hurry gave him documents not his own, but those of his pregnant wife. Charnota proposes an escape plan. Then Seraphima starts to have a fever - it’s typhus. Golubkov takes Serafima into the gig. Everyone is leaving.

Dream 2. Crimea, early November 1920

The station hall was turned into the White headquarters. General Khludov is sitting where the buffet was. He is sick with something and is twitching. Korzukhin, comrade of the Minister of Trade, Serafima’s husband, asks to push wagons with valuable fur goods into Sevastopol. Khludov orders these trains to be burned. Korzukhin asks about the situation at the front. Khludov hisses that the Reds will be here tomorrow. Korzukhin promises to report everything to the commander-in-chief. A convoy appears, followed by the white commander-in-chief and Archbishop Africanus. Khludov informs the commander-in-chief that the Bolsheviks are in Crimea. African prays, but Khludov believes that God has abandoned the whites. The commander in chief leaves. Serafima runs in, followed by Golubkov and the messenger Charnota Krapilin. Serafima shouts that Khludov is not doing anything, but just hanging him. The staff whispers that she is a communist. Golubkov says that she is delirious, she has typhus. Khludov calls Korzukhin, but he, sensing a trap, renounces Seraphima. Serafima and Golubkov are taken away, and Krapilin, in oblivion, calls Khludov a world beast and talks about a war that Khludov does not know. He objects that he went to Chongar and was wounded there twice. Krapilin, waking up, begs for mercy, but Khludov orders him to be hanged for “starting well, ending badly.”

Dream 3. Crimea, early November 1920

The head of counterintelligence Tikhy, threatening with a deadly needle, forces Golubkov to show that Serafima Korzukhina is a member of the Communist Party and came for the purpose of propaganda. Having forced him to write a statement, Tikhy releases him. Counterintelligence officer Skunsky estimates that Korzukhin will give $10,000 to pay off the deal. Quiet shows that Skunsky's share is 2000. Seraphim is brought in, she is in a fever. Quiet gives her his testimony. Charnota's cavalry is walking outside the window with music. Seraphima, having read the paper, breaks out the window glass with her elbow and calls Charnota for help. He runs in and defends Seraphim with a revolver.

Dream 4. Crimea, early November 1920

The Commander-in-Chief says that for a year now Khludov has been covering up his hatred of him. Khludov admits that he hates the commander in chief because he was drawn into this, that he cannot work knowing that everything is in vain. The commander in chief leaves. Khludov alone talks to the ghost, wants to crush him... Golubkov enters, he came to complain about the crime committed by Khludov. He turns around. Golubkov is in a panic. He came to tell the commander-in-chief about Seraphima’s arrest and wants to find out her fate. Khludov asks the captain to take her to the palace if she is not shot. Golubkov is horrified by these words. Khludov makes excuses before the ghost messenger and asks him to leave his soul. When Khludov asks who Serafima is to him, Golubkov replies that she is a random stranger, but he loves her. Khludov says that she was shot. Golubkov is furious, Khludov throws him a revolver and tells someone that his soul is in two. The captain comes in with a report that Seraphima is alive, but today Charnota fought her off with a weapon and took her to Constantinople. Khludov is expected on the ship. Golubkov asks to take him to Constantinople, Khludov is sick, speaks to the messenger, they leave. Dark.

Dream 5. Constantinople, summer 1921

Street of Constantinople. There is an advertisement for cockroach races. Charnota, drunk and gloomy, approaches the cockroach racing cash register and wants to bet on credit, but Arthur, the “cockroach king,” refuses him. Charnota is sad and remembers Russia. He sells silver gazyri and a box of his toys for 2 lire 50 piastres, and bets all the money he receives on the favorite of the Janissary. People are gathering. Cockroaches living in a box "under the supervision of a professor" run with paper riders. Shout: “The Janissary is malfunctioning!” It turns out that Arthur gave the cockroach a drink. Everyone who bet on the Janissary rushes at Arthur, who calls the police. A beautiful prostitute encourages the Italians, who beat the English who bet on another cockroach. Dark.

Dream 6. Constantinople, summer 1921

Charnota quarrels with Lyusya, lies to her that the box and gasyri were stolen, she realizes that Charnota lost the money, and admits that she is a prostitute. She reproaches him that he, the general, defeated counterintelligence and was forced to flee the army, and now he is a beggar. Charnota objects: he saved Seraphim from death. Lyusya reproaches Seraphim for her inaction and goes into the house. Golubkov enters the yard and plays the organ. Charnota assures him that Serafima is alive and explains that she went to the panel. Seraphima arrives with a Greek laden with shopping. Golubkov and Charnota rush at him, he runs away. Golubkov tells Serafima about love, but she leaves saying that she will die alone. Lyusya, who has come out, wants to open the Greek’s package, but Charnot does not allow it. Lucy takes the hat and says that she is leaving for Paris. Khludov enters in civilian clothes - he has been demoted from the army. Golubkov explains that he found her, she left, and he will go to Paris to Korzukhin - he is obliged to help her. They will help him cross the border. He asks Khludov to take care of her, not to let her go to the panel, Khludov promises and gives 2 liras and a medallion. Charnota goes with Golubkov to Paris. They are going away. Dark.

Dream 7. Paris, autumn 1921

Golubkov asks Korzukhin for a $1,000 loan for Seraphima. Korzukhin won’t give it, he says that he has never been married and wants to marry his Russian secretary. Golubkov calls him a terrible soulless person and wants to leave, but Charnota comes, who says that he would sign up with the Bolsheviks to shoot him, and after shooting him, he would be discharged. Seeing the cards, he invites Korzukhin to play and sells him the Khludov medallion for 10 dollars. As a result, Charnota wins $20,000 and buys the medallion for $300. Korzukhin wants to return the money, and Lyusya comes running to his cry. Charnota is amazed, but does not betray her. Lyusya despises Korzukhin. She assures him that he himself lost the money and will not get it back. Everyone leaves. Lyusya quietly shouts out the window for Golubkov to take care of Seraphim, and for Charnot to buy some pants for himself. Dark.

Dream 8. Constantinople, autumn 1921

Khludov alone talks with the ghost of the messenger. He is suffering. Seraphima enters, tells him that he is ill, he is executed, and that he has released Golubkov. She is going to return to St. Petersburg. Khludov says that he will also return, and under his own name. Serafima is terrified; she thinks he will be shot. Khludov is happy about this. They are interrupted by a knock on the door. This is Charnota and Golubkov. Khludov and Charnota leave, Serafima and Golubkov confess their love to each other. Khludov and Charnota return. Charnota says that he will stay here, Khludov wants to return. Everyone dissuades him. He calls Charnota with him, but he refuses: he has no hatred for the Bolsheviks. He's leaving. Golubkov wants to return the medallion to Khludov, but he gives it to the couple and they leave. Khludov alone writes something, rejoices that the ghost has disappeared. He goes to the window and shoots himself in the head. Dark.