Mancev. Everybody but not all…
Levan. One person more, one person less – what does it change?
Mancev. Maybe nothing, but might be a lot… Was there any radio broadcasts?
Levan. Oh, I absolutely forgot about the radio believe it or not.
Levan turns on the radio. An anchor is talking: «The urgent message is to be repeated right after a music break”. Music is playing.
Mancev. It looks like the message is going to be about them!
Levan. Oh, we missed it! Me, holey head…
Sumyatov. They are going to repeat it. Turn on the volume please!
Levan. It’s on maximum.
Sumyatov. I can’t believe that in this very moment people are dying somewhere.
Mancev. The weather today is not suitable for saying good-bye to life.
Sumyatov. Is there the suitable weather?
Mancev. It’s up to ones mood. If might be for example raining heavily or snowing wet.
Sumyatov. To my mind, dying is always frightening at any weather.
Mancev. You must be an avid atheist.
Sumyatov. What about you? Do you believe in afterlife?
Mancev. It depends on what you mean by that.
Sumyatov. I mean the pastures of Heaven crowded with the righteous men playing harps. Or does the hellfire appeal to you more?
Mancev. Nether the first one nor the second. This all is not for me.
Sumyatov. Unfortunately we are not offered any other variant. There is either traditional concept of afterlife or a corpse being eaten by the wombs. Dust and ashes…
Mancev. That’s enough for me in case I am to be a stone in my future life.
Sumyatov. Why not a bird?
Mancev. If I had a chance to make my choice…
Sumyatov. Let’s assume that it’s up to you.
Mancev. Then I prefer to be an eagle. When I see how these proud birds are soaring above the tops of the mountains I have a heart longing. Could it be a presentment?
Sumyatov. I would say a reflection of what used to be. It means that it’s not your first life in this world.
Mancev. That’s a pity. If it is so, I don’t remember anything.
A radio anchor speaking: «And now we repeat the urgent message!»
Levan. Hey, listen everybody!
Alla Bokova enters.
Alla. Just imagine, the bus has left right from under my nose…
Mancev. Quiet!
Alla. I am not talking to you, by the way.
Sumyatov. Please, be quiet!
Alla. What’s the matter?
An anchor’s voice: «Despite the desperate efforts of the rescuing crews the missing group of mountaineers has not been found yet. The connection failed after the avalanche fell down the top of the Devil’s Fang. The last message which was broadcasted by Pavel Bokov the group radio operator was that they were hearing a strong roar».
Alla. What did he say?
Levan. God, will this woman ever keep her mouth shut or not?!
Alla. What did he say, I ask you!?
Mancev. Not found yet.
Alla. I don’t men that. The name! Did you hear the name?
Mancev. You mean the radio operator?
Alla. Yes!
Mancev. I think Pavel.
Levan. Bokov?
Sumyatov. Exactly. Pavel Bokov.
Alla. It’s impossible. You misunderstood!
Sumyatov. I have professional memory for names.
Alla. But he is at home now. Do you hear me? Or he might be at his radio station.
Sumyatov. Isn’t he your…
Alla. My husband!
Sumyatov. Calm down. It might be some mistake. I am not so sure now.
Alla. No, it’s not a mistake. I felt it. My heart has been hurting me for three days. That was the reason why he sent me here. I couldn’t understand his unusual patience and later why his mobile phone was silent…
Mancev. Levan, bring some water please!
Levan. Your husband is alive, believe me or not!
Alla. How do you know?! Oh, leave me alone. This is terrible! What has he done? I will never forgive him this! He used to go mountain climbing before our wedding, but he quitted it. He never even said a word about it since that…
Mancev. Make a phone call home.
Alla. What did you say?
Mancev. Do you have a home phone?
Alla. Yes, I do.
Mancev. So, make a call! If nobody answers, call the neighbors or his office. Anyway somebody should know where he is and what happened to him.
Alla. How can I make a phone call here? My mobile is out of service. What a damned place!
Levan. Please don’t curse, ok! Follow me. And don’t cry, I beg you.
Levan and Alla Bokova leave.
Mancev. Are you sure that you heard it right?
Sumyatov. Absolutely. Pavel Bokov. Who could ever think that!
Mancev. One surprise after another.
Sumyatov. I hope no more surprises are following. It’s more than enough.
Mancev. Never is a long day.
Levan enters.
Levan. The line is busy. She said she is going to wait till night.
Mancev. She will, Levan, be sure.
Levan. But why would she cry, hey? I can’t stand woman’s tears believe me or not?
Mancev. Neither do I.
Sumyatov. Women cry in any case. The reason is not needed.
Mancev. By the way, where are our guys? I haven’t seen none of them for a long time.
Levan. The just married left for the city.
Mancev. What about Oleg?
Levan. I haven’t seen him today.
Mancev. And you?
Sumyatov. Neither have I.
Mancev. It’s almost afternoon… Didn’t he say anything yesterday?
Levan. Just sang. Then went to bed. They left together with that lady.
Sumyatov. So, you assume…
Mancev. Do you have another guess?
Sumyatov. But why did he leave to save the missing expedition alone?
Mancev. Maybe because I didn’t do that.
Sumyatov. But why? I can’t understand!
Mancev. In order to prove.
Sumyatov. To whom?! To you? Or maybe to me? Or him?
Mancev. To all of us. And first of all – to himself.
ACT 2
There is a canteen. At one of the tables Cyrill Sumyatov is writing in his notebook. Oleg Tomov comes in staggering.
Tomov. Hey, is anybody alive here?
Sumyatov. You?!
Tomov. Me. Don’t I look like? (Looking at the mirror on the wall). What a hanging face! With such a face even my mother would never recognize!
Sumyatov. I was about to send a message at the newspaper. Fortunately, the phone line was busy. We began to think…
Томов. To think! I don’t care what you think of me. Mark my words, guy! I drink on my own money and don’t ask you for lending.
Sumyatov. I don’t mean that. You misunderstood me.
Tomov. Misunderstood? I’ve got you right just when I saw you for the first time. I didn’t like you right away. You are hanging around here, sniffing out, pumping, getting into sole – you a cattle!
Sumyatov. Easy, easy cowboy!
Tomov. Go to hell! Where is Levan?
Sumyatov. He is cooking at the kitchen.
Tomov. Bad scran to him!
Sumyatov. Cooking for you also, by the way.
Tomov. You think I am going to eat his wish-wash? I wouldn’t hold my breath. Hey, listen, do you have something to drink? I overrated my stocks yesterday and swilled all my bottles. Now I have nothing to freshen the nip.
Sumyatov. Well, have patience now.
Tomov. What the hell brought me here? I would be bored to death if not that chick. By the way, yesterday she told me something about you…Oh forgot… I was even going to wipe your nose. She didn’t let me. Lucky you, guy!
Sumyatov. What for?
Tomov. I forgot I tell you.
Sumyatov. Use your bean
Tomov. Come on, guy… Hey, I’ve got it! You have something against Victor. You get jealous of his fame.
Sumyatov. You are a jerk.
Tomov. You know what?!
Sumyatov. I don’t care about his fame. He deprived you – not me.
Tomov. Look at him, such a defender! Come on, tell me what’s the matter or get out of here.
Sumyatov. What’s the matter you ask me… The matter is that Mancev got everything: fame, photos in the newspapers, he is surrounded by journalists, girls. It looks like the rest of you has never been on that pick.