Two plays. Maiden forest. The adventures of yumi

Fyodor. I hope you enjoyed your bath!

Alexey. Thanks, mate.

Natalia. Your banya is wonderful.

Alexey. I adore women who are fond of taking a steam-bath.

Natalia. And I respect men who adore women.

Fyodor. Let’s drink to friendship and understanding!

The three of them clink their mugs and drink beer.

Alexey. It’s so nice here!

Fyodor. So nice here, so nice here, go and grab another beer.

Alexey. I threw some more wood in the stove. The temperature there is just as you like it, Fyodor.

Fyodor. Alright. I’ll go now. Remember me kindly.

Natalia. See ya.

Fyodor walks along the path towards the banya, humming an unsophisticated melody.

Alexey. Let’s do it again in about an hour. [He wraps his arms around Natalia’s waist and holds her tight.]

Natalia. You seem to be in a good shape, Alexey.

Alexey. I remember! I remember now where I’ve seen you.

Natalia pulls away from Alexey.

Alexey. A few years ago, there was this Passion Empire massage parlor. It was the time when I was reelected and hit the bottle.

Pause.

Natalia. I recognized you at once this morning, Mister Deputy. Have I really changed so much?

Alexey. But that was another life.

Natalia. I don’t remember. I don’t.

Alexey. «I sought my love in the maiden forest. With a mocking singer, I spent the night in a stack.»

Natalia. Let it be our little secret. [She kisses Alexey on the mouth, stands up, and takes away the dishes from the table.]

Alexey. [He finishes his beer, yawns, and stretches.] Now that’s some good beer. The beer we drank in the banya smacked somehow badly.

The light in the window of the second floor flickers and then goes out.

Natalia. Beer is still beer. Here, have a bite. [She gives him a snack from the table.] Let’s dim the lights down. They attract mosquitos. [She steps up to the light switch at the entrance to the gazebo and dims the lights.]

Alexey. Uh-huh… [Yawning again.] Darkness is a teenagers’ friend. [His head droops down, he lays it on the table and falls asleep.]

Natalia. That’s it. [She takes the bottle of vodka from the table, pours some into her glass, drinks it in one draught without having a snack.] The Rubicon is crossed.

Khlora comes out of the house, bringing Natalia’s clothes with her. Natalia takes her clothes, slips out of the bathrobe, and changes quickly.

Khlora. Veniamin. Old coot. [She takes the bottle of vodka, takes a sip straight out of it, rinses her mouth, spits on the ground.]

Natalia. Is he sleeping?

Khlora. Like a rock. He went out like a lamp.

Natalia. This is good. It means we’re on track.

Natalia takes out her mobile phone and presses the call button.

Natalia. Chopper. We are ready. [She stops the call.] Khlora! In the banya, there is a padlock on the door handle. Go and lock Kolosov down.

Khlora walks along the path towards the banya. At this moment, Chopper and Moray appear by the gate. They quickly enter the garden plot, approach the gazebo. Moray carries a truncheon.

Chopper. [To Moray.] Tie him.

Moray produces a plastic cable tie from the pocket of his jacket. He puts the hands of sleeping Alexey behind his back and ties them up with the cable tie. Then he ties Alexey’s legs, pushes him down from the chair to the floor.

Natalia. Kolosov is in the banya. The third one is inside, on the upper floor.

Moray. Where is Khlora?

Natalia. I sent her to lock the banya. It has no windows, only an air-hole. The old man isn’t going anywhere.

Chopper. [To Moray.] Wait for me here.

Chopper goes inside. Khlora is coming back. She walks along the path from the direction of the banya, holding the key to the padlock. She steps up to Natalia and gives her the key. Moray approaches Khlora, hugs her shoulders, and kisses her neck.

Moray. It’s alright, my darling. You did great.

Chopper comes out of the house, approaches the gazebo. Natalia gives him the key.

Chopper. Relax, Khlora. You’ve done your part. I can be grateful.

Khlora. Screw you.

Natalia. Think about your future, Khlora.

Chopper. Natalia! You know what to do next.

Natalia. Khlora, let’s go.

Moray. [To Khlora.] Soon we will be together. Wait for it.

Natalia and Khlora leave. Chopper and Moray get black balaclavas and put them on.

Chopper. Moray, I need Kolosov alive.

Moray. I’ll deal with it. Not a day in jail went by where I didn’t think about settling scores with this scum.

Chopper. It’s time to pay the piper.

Chopper and Moray go towards the banya. Tatyana enters the garden plot through the gate, walks towards the gazebo with a loaf of bread in her hand. Some bustle and dull thuds can be heard from the banya.

Tatyana. Are they sleeping? It’s not that late, I guess. Hello? Fyodor, where are you all?

Tatyana approaches the gazebo, sees Alexey, and puts the bread on the table.

Tatyana. What kind of joke is that? Alexey, are you alright? Why are your hands tied? [She tugs at Alexey’s shoulder, holds his wrist, and checks the pulse.] The pulse is weak. [She tries to check Alexey’s pupils but cannot see anything in the dark.] He is soaked. It’s like he got food poisoning. [She starts to her feet.] He needs an ambulance. Fyodor, Venya, where are you? [She stops short, hearing the noise and voices of Chopper and Moray.]

Chopper. What a hulk of a man.

Moray. He stroke me with a log.

Chopper. Help him put on his trousers, or he’s gonna freeze his balls off. Kolosov, don’t move. We need to talk.

Moray. You piece of shit! Take that!

Chopper. Now tie down his legs.

Moray. You are ours now.

Chopper. Get him. Don’t move, old man, or you’ll make it worse.

Tatyana finds a place to hide. Chopper and Moray drag Fyodor, beaten and scantily dressed, through the grass. Fyodor’s hands and legs are tied with cable ties, his mouth is taped. Tatyana quickly makes her way towards the gate. She is lurking, waiting. Chopper and Moray do not see her. They drag Fyodor onto the path and stop by the signpost.

Chopper. Hold on! I’ve dropped my phone in the banya. Go and take it.

Moray walks towards the banya. Chopper is waiting for him. Fyodor is lying on the grass.

Moray. Chopper! The door got jammed shut, help me open it.

Chopper. Prick.

Chopper leaves. Tatyana leaves the garden through the gate and bumps into Slav dressed in police uniform.

Slav. Hello there!

Tatyana. Help me! Some bandits attacked my friend!

Slav. We’ll get it all sorted out. Don’t worry. What happened?

Tatyana. You have to call for backup.

Slav. Let’s step aside so no one would see us. What is your name?

Tatyana and Slav leave. The noise of Chopper and Moray trying to open the jammed door can be heard from somewhere around the banya. Fyodor groans. He stirs and tries to break the ties on his hands and legs, raises himself onto his knees in an attempt to get to his feet but falls to the ground.

The end of Act I.

ACT II

Scene 6

Night. Moray’s house.

Artyom is sitting on a chair, holding the rifle. There is an open box of bullets on the table. Natalia is sitting in the armchair by the stove, with her back to the door. Khlora is taped to a chair, she is gagged.

Artyom. Bitch. She bit my hand through.

Natalia. Let Khlora go, Jacket! This wasn’t the deal.

Artyom. Chopper arranged everything for you. He told us to screw you too if you try anything. As for your daughter, we’ll take care of her.

Natalia. I will cut your throats for my Svetlana.

Artyom. So stay put. Chopper delivers on his promises.

Natalia. What a nasty piece of work you are, Artyom. You dragged your buddy, Moray, into this crap. Chopper will finish him off.

Artyom. Every man for himself.

Natalia. You are not a stupid fellow. Let Khlora go. And go yourself.

Artyom. Chopper won’t harm her. He only told to keep her back so that she wouldn’t kick up a row. We are not savages.

Pause.

Natalia. Do you think Chopper will let us live when he gets the icons? Will he give us our shares?

Artyom. Chopper is only a sidekick. But Frost covers up for me. He loved my mother ever since school. Then she got married to Kolosov and died.

Natalia. Kolosov seems to have crossed you all.

Artyom. I hate the bastard.

Slav enters. He is still dressed in police uniform, his face is all scratched up. He pulls Tatyana inside. Tatyana’s hands are tied, she has a hood over her head. Slav forces Tatyana to the floor.

Slav. Don’t move, bitch. Or you’ll get some more. [He ties Tatyana up and checks if the rope is tight.]

Natalia. Why did you bring this skank here?

Slav. This is Kolosov’s wench. She saw everything. Meant to turn us in.

Artyom gets out of the chair, still holding the rifle, and steps back to the fireplace.

Slav. Now this woman is our guarantee. [He approaches the table, pours himself a glass of vodka, drinks.]

Artyom. She shouldn’t see us. I don’t need witnesses.

Slav. Did you think you’d get off with a whole skin, chump? [He gets a hunting knife, approaches Tatyana, pulls the hood off her head. Tatyana’s mouth is taped, there is a bloody scratch on her forehead.]

Artyom. You are a louse, Slav. Do you want blood?

Slav. [To Tatyana.] If Kolosov gives us a hard time, I’ll cut this bitch up and feed the bits to him. And you will help me with that.

Artyom flips the rifle bolt. Slav leaps to his feet with a knife clasped in his hand, ready to hurl himself at Artyom.

Natalia. Easy, Slav! We will deal with it ourselves. Go to the guys.

Slav. [To Artyom.] It’s your life you will answer for her with, Jacket.

Slav leaves

Artyom. That’s it. The Rubicon is crossed. She recognized me.

Natalia. Let Khlora go and be off. Why would they share with you? They will just wipe you out. And then burn you in here. Together with Moray and Khlora.

Artyom. Stop bluffing!

Tatyana carefully unties her hands and frees herself. She looks around and sees a poker lying on the floor. Natalia and Artyom do not notice.

Natalia. Chopper is a cop. A werewolf. He leaves no witnesses behind.

Artyom. We are in cahoots.

Natalia. Uh-huh. You will be the first one to turn us in to cops if they catch us in the act.

Artyom points the rifle at Natalia.

Natalia. You are a good-for-nothing. You lack the guts to kill somebody.

Artyom puts the rifle down. Tatyana leaps to her feet and strikes Artyom over his head with the poker. Artyom drops the rifle and falls unconscious. Tatyana grabs the rifle and runs out of the house. Khlora and Natalia keep their seats and stare at each other.

Scene 7

Night. Fyodor Kolosov’s summer cottage.

Chopper and Moray wear balaclavas. Fyodor is tied to a chair.

Chopper. Here’s the deal. You will give us the icons and save your friends’ lives. Tell me the password!

Fyodor. Who gave you a lead on me?

Chopper. Tell me the alarm password!

Fyodor. Who gave you a lead on me?

Chopper. We will ransack your roost anyway. But before that, we’ll roast you in your own banya.

Fyodor. Who gave you a lead on me? Artyom?

Moray kicks Fyodor in the stomach.

Chopper. You are not suicidal, Kolosov, are you? Tell me the password.

Fyodor. So it was Artyom who told you about the icons. I’ll kill the rat.

Moray kicks Fyodor again.

Chopper. If you don’t care about yourself, think of your friends.

Fyodor. Go to hell, bastards!

Slav, dressed in police uniform, enters the garden and puts on his balaclava. He approaches Fyodor and throws Tatyana’s handkerchief at him.

Slav. Tatyana sends you her regards.

Fyodor. And who are you, postie?

Slav punches Fyodor, the latter falls off his chair. Moray walks up to Fyodor and presses his foot against Fyodor’s neck.

Moray. I’m gonna break your neck, scumbag.

Slav. [He draws out a hunting knife and holds it to Fyodor’s face.] Be reasonable, chump. If you don’t tell us the alarm password, we will just pass your bitch around. And then I will personally choke the life out of her.

Moray takes his foot off Fyodor’s neck. Fyodor clears his throat and spits blood. Slav takes the knife away and helps Moray get Fyodor on the chair.

Chopper. Last suit has no pockets, Fyodor. Give us the icons. You will save your wench and your friends.

Fyodor. You are pieces of shit. Blast you.

Pause.

Chopper. Is it settled then, Kolosov? Their lives are in your hands.

Pause.

Fyodor. How can I be sure that you won’t kill us after I tell you the password?

Chopper. We are not savages. You will have to take my word for it.

Pause.

Fyodor. I’ll give you the icons. If you lay a finger on Tatyana, I’ll make mincemeat out of you.

Chopper. That’s a bargain. We are men of business. [He takes his mobile phone out and presses the call button.] Karen, he is good to go. Write down the password. [He holds the phone to Fyodor’s mouth.]

Fyodor. Front door. One. Six. Oh. Six. One. Nine. The door to the study. Oh. Three. Oh. Five. Eight. Oh.

Chopper. [To Fyodor.] You made your choice. [He stuffs his phone into his pocket.] Now we wait.

Fyodor. Blessed are You O Christ Our God / You have revealed the fishermen as most wise / by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit / through them You drew the world into Your net / O Lover of Man, Glory to You.

Scene 8

Night. Moray’s house.

Natalia and Khlora are sitting at the table opposite to each other. There are an open bottle of vodka and two glasses on the table. Artyom is lying unconscious on the floor, he is tied hand and foot.

Khlora. What next?

Natalia. Go.

Khlora. I won’t leave without Ivan.

Natalia. Think of your baby, you idiot.

Khlora. I won’t leave without Ivan!

Natalia. They will kill you both. You and Moray. You are his weak spot.

Khlora. If you let me go, Chopper won’t take it lying down.

Natalia. I will deal with it. Tie me up. And go while Jacket is still out cold.

Khlora. They will kill us all.

Natalia. Yes. Maybe.

Khlora. Do you know what my father used to say? The best defense is a good offense.

Scene 9

Night. Fyodor Kolosov’s summer cottage.

Fyodor is tied to a chair, his mouth is taped shut. Slav and Moray are standing by. Chopper is talking on the phone.

Chopper. Karen, stick to the plan. Out. [He stops the call and puts the phone back into his pocket.] All good, Slav. We’ve got the icons.

Slav approaches Moray from behind and knocks him out with a truncheon. Fyodor is trying to free himself, squirming on his chair.

Chopper. Don’t move, Kolosov. You have lived a disgraceful life but you will die the death of a righteous man.

Slav. Don’t take it personally, old man. We are just tying up loose ends.

Slav puts the truncheon on the table, ties Moray’s hands and legs with plastic cable ties, and drags him along the path towards the banya.

Slav. The bastard is heavy.

Slav and Moray whip out of sight. Tatyana, with the rifle in her hands, comes out of the dark and points the rifle at Chopper.

Tatyana. Just a twitch and I’ll shoot you, scumbag.

Chopper. Hello, Tatyana.

Tatyana. Who are you?

Chopper. You are just like a guardian angel coming down from heaven.

Tatyana. Untie him. Now!

Chopper. I have respect for bold people, Tatyana. Give me the rifle.

Tatyana. Untie him.

Chopper. Give me the rifle. Don’t mess with me.

Tatyana. Don’t put your fingers in the fire, sweetheart. [She flips the rifle bolt.]

Chopper approaches Fyodor, takes the knife from the table, and cuts Fyodor’s hands free.

Chopper. Now that’s a woman. [He puts the knife towards himself and gives it to Fyodor.] Lucky you, Kolosov. [Aside.] Frost, you son of a bitch, where are you?

Tatyana. Put your hands behind your head!

Chopper slowly puts his hands behind his head. Fyodor quickly frees himself, removes the tape from his mouth, spits blood, takes the truncheon from the table, approaches Chopper from behind, and strikes his legs. Chopper drops down on his knees.

Fyodor. You are dead, you piece of shit. Put your hands behind your back.

Chopper is on his knees. He puts his hands behind his back, Fyodor ties them. He takes off Chopper’s balaclava.

Fyodor. I recognized Moray’s voice at once. But you… I’ve never seen you before.

Chopper spits on the ground.

Fyodor. Face down.

Chopper. Do you know what I am doing now? I am speaking to a dead man.

Fyodor. What are you talking about?

Chopper. You are toast, Kolosov. You will all die tonight.

Fyodor kicks Chopper to the grass, approaches Tatyana. At this point Slav reappears out of the dark and lashes out at Tatyana with the knife, trying to take the rifle from her. Tatyana dodges his attack nimbly. Fyodor sends Slav sprawling with a heavy blow, takes the rifle out of Tatyana’s hands. Then he knocks Slav out by hitting him over the head with the rifle stock.

Scene 10

Late night. Fyodor Kolosov’s summer cottage.

Slav is handcuffed to the handrail core, he is unconscious. Chopper is tied to a chair in the gazebo, his hands tied behind his back, his mouth taped.

Fyodor. Thank you, Tanya.

Tatyana. Fyodor… I feared for you so much.

Fyodor. It’s gonna be alright.

Tatyana. It was Artyom who brought the bandits here.

Fyodor. Artyom? Where is he?

Tatyana. Artyom is in Rybin’s old house. Do you remember Ivan Moray?

Fyodor. I’ve seen him today. He’s lying dead in my banya.

Tatyana. Good Lord! I might have smashed Artyom’s head with a poker.

Fyodor. You are a doctor, not a killer.

Tatyana. I was frightened.

Fyodor. Who else has seen you?

Tatyana. There were two women in the house with Artyom. One of them was taped to a chair.

Fyodor. What a beauty. Must be Khlora and Natasha.

Fyodor enters the gazebo, sits down at the table, and puts the rifle next to him. Slav regains consciousness but closes his eyes again, pretending he is still unconscious.

Tatyana. We should call the police. My phone is broken. Where is Alexey? And Venya?

Fyodor. I don’t know. Go inside, have a look there. Meanwhile, I’ll deal with this piece of shit. [He takes out the hunting knife he took from Slav.]

Tatyana. Yes, sure.

Tatyana goes up to the house. Fyodor gets up, walks up to Chopper with the knife, cuts the cable ties serving as handcuffs, and gets Chopper’s hands free. Chopper silently rubs his numb wrists, removes the tape from his mouth. Fyodor sits on his chair, takes the bottle of vodka, and fills two glasses. He takes one glass himself and offers another one to Chopper.

Fyodor. [Swallowing his vodka in one gulp.] Did you really think I would give you the collection?

Chopper remains speechless

Fyodor. It’s not the money. The icons hold a sentimental value. They remind me of Lyudmila.

Chopper. [He removes the tape from his legs, now he is free.] Karen the cracksman told me he had already got the icons.

Fyodor. These are copies. Knockoff.

Chopper. [Takes his glass with vodka and drinks it off.] Why didn’t you say so?

Fyodor. You never asked. You kept harping on the same thing: Password, password.

Pause.

Fyodor. I want to offer you a deal.

Chopper. Go ahead.

Fyodor. You and I are men of business.

Chopper. We both have something to lose.

Fyodor gets up from the table, approaches the porch, and opens a hiding place on the side. He produces a bundle of money wrapped in plastic, steps up to Chopper, places the bundle on the table in front of him, and takes his seat again.

Fyodor. There’s a million and 200K in there. You will get another million and 800K in three days.

Pause.

Chopper. What will I have to do?

Fyodor. I want you to kill Artyom today. He is in Moray’s house now.

Chopper. How can I be sure that you won’t turn me in?

Fyodor. We are not savages. You will have to take my word for it.

The front door opens. Venya goes out on the porch, wearing his jacket. He looks rough. A rope is wrapped around his arm, he grasps his head every now and then and writhes in pain.

Venya. Fyodor. Ouch… Where is everybody? My head is splitting. Ah, it hurts.

Fyodor. [Aside.] That’s all we need now. Out of the blue! [To Venya.] Venya! You are alive. Thank goodness.

Venya totters to the gazebo.

Venya. Fyodor. What happened here? Why were my hands tied?

Fyodor. You should drink less, mate. Here, I’ll help you.

Venya. [Pointing at Slav.] And this one? Blind drunk too? You could at least bring him inside, he’s gonna freeze to death.

Venya heavily walks up to Fyodor who is sitting on his chair. Fyodor unwraps the rope on Venya’s arm.

Fyodor. Where is Alexey?

Venya. Inside, with Tatyana.

At this moment, Venya moves around Fyodor’s back, nimbly puts the rope around Fyodor’s neck, and starts choking him. Chopper quickly gets on his feet and runs up to Fyodor. Slav opens his eyes, watches them, and tries to get free of the handcuffs.

Venya. Chopper, hold him tight!

Chopper holds Fyodor tight with one hand and hits him several times in the stomach with another. Fyodor cannot fight back any longer. He loses consciousness from strangulation and slumps in the chair.

Venya. I’ve heard everything.

Chopper. Frost! What the hell took you so long?

Venya and Chopper tie Fyodor’s hands and legs with the cable ties.

Venya. Be grateful that he didn’t wipe you out at once. You couldn’t even cope with a skirt! Give me the money!

Chopper gives the bundle of money to Venya, the latter puts it into the pocket of his jacket. Venya approaches Slav and removes the gag.

Slav. Frost, you son of a bitch! Did you want to blow us off? The icons are fake!

Venya kicks Slav, Slav falls quiet. Venya takes the rifle, makes sure it is loaded, flips the bolt, and points the rifle at Slav. Slav flattens himself against the ground cowardly.

Venya. Chopper, clean it up here. And bring the petrol can to the banya. I will go and get Artyom.

Venya leaves, holding the rifle.

Scene 11

Dawn. Banya of Fyodor Kolosov’s summer cottage.

Slav and Chopper take Alexey inside, holding him by his arms. Alexey’s hands are tied, his mouth is taped. Alexey fights his way free, gives Slav a blow with his tied hands. Chopper hits Alexey. Alexey crumples to the floor and stops fighting back. Chopper and Slav dump him into the corner.

Chopper. Tie him tight, Slav.

Slav. Uh-huh. [He ties Alexey up tight.]

Fyodor enters. His hands are tied behind his back. He is followed by Venya who pushes Fyodor on with the rifle. Slav goes outside.

Venya. Sit down!

Fyodor. That is some rubbish you started, Venya. You will regret this.

Venya. Après nous, le déluge.

Fyodor sits down in the chair. Chopper tapes Fyodor down to it, ties his legs.

Chopper. Done.

Venya. Bring in the other one!

Chopper leaves. He is almost immediately back together with Slav. They drag Moray who is beaten. Moray gives no signs of life.

Slav. Looks like we overdid it a bit.

Chopper. He will have enough time in afterlife to come to his senses.

Slav and Chopper throw Moray to Alexey.

Chopper. Frost, it’s time!

Venya. We have enough time.

Slav and Chopper leave.

Fyodor. That is how you repay kindness, Veniamin. I thought we were friends.

Venya. He that bewares of the sting should steal honey.

Fyodor. It’s your revenge on me for Lyudmila.

Venya. You took her from me.

Fyodor. Lyudmila never loved you.

Venya. It doesn’t matter now.

Fyodor. And what does?

Venya. You wanted to kill my son today.

Fyodor. I did. But God interfered.

Venya. Aren’t you surprised that Artyom is my son?

Fyodor. I’ve always known it. When you take a woman with a child, it doesn’t hurt to ask her who fathered it. Lyudmila trusted me.

Pause.

Venya. Three days before she died, Lyudmila called me and asked me to come and see her in the hospital. She gave me a strand of his hair that she had kept in the amulet. The DNA test confirmed that I am his father.

Fyodor. It was a moment of weakness.

Venya. You are lying!

Fyodor. After the chemo, she didn’t know what she was doing.

Venya. Enough!

Fyodor. I am sure that Lyudmila regretted telling you. And now she can see what you are up to.

Venya. You sent her only son to prison. She became sick with grief.

Fyodor. I saved the life of this junkie but Lyudmila started hating me. It’s unfair.

Venya. When I discovered that Artyom is my son, something happened to me.

Fyodor. You went nuts.

Venya. I decided to change my life forever. For the first time in my life, I had a dream.

Fyodor. You changed your life when you threw in your lot with these bloodsuckers.

Venya. Chopper is only a tool. Now I need the cash, badly.

Fyodor. Bite me, Venya.

Venya. Where are the icons? Where’d you hide them? [Hitting Fyodor.]

Chopper enters and takes the rifle off of Venya.

Chopper. These bitches, Natasha and Khlora, slit the tire. I’ll skin them alive when I get hold of them!

Venya. Do you know what makes me happy now, Fyodor? Artyom is alive. He is far from here now. I’ll provide him with an alibi. And he is your only heir.

Fyodor. You won’t get the icons anyway.

Venya. Fyodor, it’s a matter of principle.

Fyodor. You are pathetic, Veniamin.

Venya. I don’t want it on my conscience.

Fyodor. When the Most High came down and confused the tongues / He divided the nations / But when he distributed the tongues of fire / He called all to unity…

Venya. The kondak won’t help you now.

Fyodor. I am not afraid of you.

Venya. You are blind.

Chopper. We’ve cracked far cheekier fellows than you, Kolosov. [To Venya.] So, now?

Venya. Yes, bring her in, Chopper, third time’s a charm.

Chopper. [Through the open door.] Slav, get her over here.

Slav and Tatyana enter. Tatyana’s hands are tied, her mouth is taped. She is not fighting, only looking at Fyodor. Slav makes Tatyana sit on a stool in front of Fyodor.

Fyodor. You are befooling me, Venya. Wrap it up.

Venya. Playtime’s over, Fyodor. Where are the icons?

Slav leaves, shuts the door tight. Chopper reloads the rifle, flips the bolt, and points the rifle at Fyodor.

Fyodor. Let me remind you, Venya, what your beloved Augustine of Hippo said: Only fools rely on their present-day superiority.

Venya. Tell me where the icons are and I will spare your lives.

Fyodor. You are gutless.

Venya. You and Khromov have always underestimated me. I will show you.

Fyodor. You are a petty crook, not a murderer.

Venya. For the last time, where are the icons?

Fyodor remains silent

Venya. I’m counting to three.

Venya gives a hand signal. Chopper takes out the knife and plunges it in Moray’s leg. The pain gets Moray conscious, he starts screaming.

Venya. Ivan Rybin, also known as Moray. One.

Fyodor. Are you mad?

Venya. The lives of Alexey and Tatyana are in your hands. Give the collection to me!

Fyodor. You won’t do it.

Venya. Give me the icons! Where are they?

Fyodor. You’ve lost your mind! Let me go!

Chopper steps up to Alexey and slashes his shoulder with the knife. Alexey gasps, slips down, and falls on his side.

Venya. Alexey Khromov. Two.

Chopper. [He holds the knife to Fyodor’s cheek.] Kolosov! Where are the icons?

Fyodor shakes his head.

Chopper. Suit yourself. [He puts the knife away from Fyodor’s face, approaches Tatyana, grabs her by the hair, forces her up, and takes her to the open door leading to another room. The sign on the door reads: «Steam room». ]

Fyodor. Hold on! Venya.

Chopper. Before I bang your bitch, I’ll skin her alive. [He pushes Tatyana through the door. We can hear Tatyana falling to the floor.]

Fyodor. I’ll tell you! Take anything you want. But don’t hurt Tatyana!

Pause.

Fyodor. Venya, come to your senses!

Venya. We are not savages. Go ahead. Tatyana will live.

Chopper takes the knife away and stands by the open door with the rifle.

Fyodor. The icons are here, in the house. Five of them are in my study on the second floor. And you will find three more in the big room on the first floor.

Chopper raises the rifle, shoots into the room Tatyana is in, and closes the door firmly.

Venya. Tatyana Yaseneva. Three.

Fyodor is appalled

Venya. Now you know what it feels like when your friend takes the woman you love. Now we’re square.

Chopper and Venya leave and close the front door. We can hear them boarding up the front door from the outside. It sounds as if they were driving nails into the coffin.

Fyodor is tied so tightly he can barely move. He starts squirming, trying to free his hands. He manages to do it by the skin of his teeth. Meanwhile, the room is filling up with smoke: The bandits have set fire to the banya from the outside. After getting his hands free, Fyodor unties his legs. He is free. He rushes to the front door, trying to open it, but it doesn’t budge. He runs to the steam room, flings the door wide open, and enters the room. Shortly afterwards, he is back with Tatyana. The room is increasingly filling with smoke.

Fyodor. Thank God, you’re alive. [He unties Tatyana’s hands and removes the tape from her mouth.] You’re alive!

Tatyana. Untie Alexey, help them!

Fyodor runs to Alexey, unties him. Meanwhile, Tatyana frees herself, comes up to the door, and tries to open it. The room is still filling with smoke. Tatyana is coughing. Fyodor and Alexey try to break down the door. Tatyana unties Moray.

Indistinct noises and shots can be heard from the outside.

Moray cannot get up; he is lying on the floor. The door does not budge. The room is almost entirely filled with smoke by now.

When Fyodor and Alexey exhaust themselves trying to break down the door, we hear pounding from the outside. The front door opens. Three men come in: Ignatych with an ax, a man dressed in camouflage fatigues holding a crowbar, and a man in police uniform.

Ignatych takes Tatyana outside. The man in camouflage helps Fyodor out. Alexey and the policeman get Moray out. Everyone leaves. The whole room gets filled with smoke.

Scene 12

Morning twilight. Fyodor Kolosov’s summer cottage in the Maiden Forest settlement.

Slav is lying on a stretcher, handcuffed. The policeman is standing right next to him. A doctor is putting a bandage on Slav’s head. An ambulance attendant and the man in camouflage are standing close by. Natalia is standing next to Alexey who is sitting on a chair. They are engaged in a quiet conversation. Alexey’s shoulder is bandaged. Moray and Khlora are sitting on the grass by the signpost. Moray’s leg is bandaged. Fyodor, Tatyana, and Ignatych are sitting in the gazebo.

Khlora. Ivan, thank God. You are alive! That’s what matters.

Moray. Khlora. You are my little guardian angel.

Khlora. I will wait for you.

Moray. Take care of our baby, my darling.

The ambulance attendant and the man in camouflage take the stretcher and carry Slav outside. The local police officer approaches Moray.

Local police officer. You got pretty banged up, Moray. But I’d say you deserve more.