The Idol

Mancev. Levan, do you have anything to drink?

Levan. Sure I do! There is coffee, tea, juice …

Mancev. You misunderstood me. I told you: anything to drink!

Levan. Vitya, dear…

Mancev. Please don’t say useless words. If you have nothing – that’s okay.

Levan. What’s the matter with you?

Mancev. Well, forget it.

Levan. Why are you saying that! You want to hurt me, right?

Mancev. No. I want to get drunk to insensibility.

Levan. I would go to the end of the earth to get a bottle for you, believe me. (Getting out a bottle of cognac). Please, take it, you are welcome!

Mancev. Thank you, Levan.

Levan. Oh, don’t mention it! I’ll just close the door, okay?

Mancev. Yes please.

Levan. Hey, listen guy, get off please! It’s closed.

Sumyatov. As you say.

Mancev. Let him in, Levan. Would you join me?

Sumyatov. Actually, I am not a good drinker.

Mancev. That’s a pity. I would like to drink with you.

Sumyatov. Why with me?

Mancev. Not to drink alone.

Sumyatov. Okay, but with one condition.

Mancev. You are a funny guy, really. Whatever… go ahead!

Sumyatov. You have to tell me to what we are going to drink. I have a right to know that.

Mancev. To good luck. Don’t you mind?

Sumyatov. Actually not. But to what luck?

Mancev. To the one which would let us avoid a delusion of victory including all the related consequences.

Sumyatov. Oh, this is your old song! But you know that it’s a lie and not very successful by the way. You can’t find a delusion of victory in any medical manuals. There is no such a disease!

Mancev. Are you sure?

Sumyatov. Yes. There is no such a disease.

Mancev. I agree, it is not mentioned in any medical manual. But this disease does exist in life.

Sumyatov. Again your paradoxes! I am tired of them.

Mancev. That is life. There are many such things in it which are not mentioned in any manuals.

Sumyatov. But life has nothing to do with it. I know it quite well.

Mancev. Be careful, don’t draw troubles upon yourself.

Sumyatov. I am ready for many things to achieve my goals. But I can stop at any time and turn back.

Mancev. Don’t be so na?ve. It’s true up to a certain time.

Sumyatov. So, to your mind, what can happen one day?

Mancev. One day a person realizes that he needs neither fame nor money and adoration of crowd. He is tempted only by a peak.

Sumyatov. Well, he has climbed that peak. What is next?

Mancev. Then he falls down with fatigue putting out his tongue and waits if his heart would burst or not.

Sumyatov. And nothing more? Neither joy, nor satisfaction or pride?

Mancev. He dreams only about a bed with clean cool linens. If there is no bed then wet soil will do. To forget oneself with a sleep – this is a real award. There is no another one and never will be.

Sumyatov. However, awakening is inevitable.

Mancev. Whenever he awakens there is only one thing that drives him – moving forward to another peak. There is no other choice for him because he has lost everything. And frankly doesn’t want to have another one.

Sumyatov. It just can’t be so!

Mancev. You don’t believe me? Well, take it. You will see to what it comes eventually. (Throwing a letter on a table).

Sumyatov. What is in this letter?

Mancev. A verdict which is not subject to appeal.

Sumyatov. Whose verdict? Over whom? Oh, don’t smile like that, please!

Mancev. A verdict made by me wife… Sorry, my ex-wife now. A verdict over me.