Anna. May everything go well! Happy New Year, Marina.
Marina. Happy new us. Here is to staying positive and testing negative!
They clink glasses and drink.
Marina. Bottoms up, bottoms up, to our success!
Anna. I feel dizzy.
Marina. Word on the street is that you are going to play the leading lady in a Moscow musical theater.
Anna. Its true. Igor and I are moving to Moscow after the holidays.
Marina. So your flat in Moscow came useful after all. What about the kids? The dancing school?
Anna. We are bringing the kids with us, clearly. A branch of my school will still be here. As for Frolovs business, hes going to do better in Moscow.
Marina. Right. Good lawyers are in demand everywhere, and good men are all the more.
Well, I have to go now. Are we good?
Anna. We are good.
Marina hugs Anna
Marina. Well, thats a relief.
Anna. Its true. I feel at ease and light-hearted. Thank you.
Marina. Alright, Im out of here. See you later at dinner.
Anna. See you there.
Marina leaves. Anna comes up to the table, pours herself some water from a pitcher, and drinks it. Shes clearly unwell. Theres a knock at the door.
Anna. Come in.
Sergey appears
Sergey. Hello, Anna.
Anna. Hello, Sergey. I got your note.
Sergey. I was waiting around the corner. I saw Marina and I didnt want to get near her. Are you unwell? You are so pale.
Anna. Im fine, just a bit hot.
Pause.
Sergey. I came to say goodbye.
Anna. Are you leaving?
Sergey. There is nothing to keep me here. Marina left me nothing after the divorce. Thanks to our lawyer!
Anna. Igor is not a bad person
Sergey. I know, its his job. Hes the best man in his field.
Anna. Where are you going?
Sergey. To the backcountry, to the wilderness! Just saying, no worries. Im going to France, to my brother. One of my students offered me a job there.
Anna. [Approaches the coffee table and takes the card from the flower basket.] «I see a golden lily in my sleep, the golden lily longs for me and weeps»
Sergey. I wrote this poem while staying in a psychiatric hospital.
Pause.
Anna. Dont look at me this way.
Sergey. Dont be so beautiful then!
Anna and Sergey laugh.
Sergey. You have Terpsichores eyes. You are my muse. I will catch a beam of sunlight and give it the shape of the royal golden lily. Fleur de Lys!
Anna. Good luck, Sergey.
Sergey. Goodbye, Anna. [He heads for the door.]
Anna. Sergey!
Pause.
Anna. I still owe you a kiss.
Anna approaches Sergey and kisses him. Frolov appears.
Frolov. Sorry for interrupting.
Anna. Its alright, we are done already.
Frolov. Hi, Sergey.
Sergey. Hi yourself. Goodbye, Anna.
Sergey heads for the door. Frolov opens the door for him, and at this very moment, Anna faints and falls. Sergey rushes to her.
Sergey. Anna!
Anna. Sergey
Frolov. [He opens the door and shouts.] We need a doctor! Someone call an ambulance, now! Its an emergency!
Sergey. I love you, Anna. I always did, since I first met her. I want you to remember, always, that I love you!
Anna dies in Sergeys arms.
Sergey. [To Frolov.] Its you. You and Marina killed her! I always knew you were lovers! I hate you both!
Frolov. What the hell are you talking about? Are you mad? You have no right You have no proof! [He shouts.] Youre a madman!
Scene 10
Seven months later. July. Late in the evening. Fleur de Lys Art Studio.
Frolov is switching radio channels.
the heat in the city will be replaced by squalls and hailstorms the authorities have announced a storm advisory
Another channel.
thousands of pilgrims from all over the country will take part in the Cross Procession after serving the Divine Liturgy, the believers will begin their journey to the monastery
Another channel.
the US dollar exchange rate strengthened by 69 kopecks and now amounts to 90 rubles 75 kopecks
Another channel.
Music is playing.
Marina comes out of the study.
Marina. Where did you see my ex again?
Frolov. Sergey is tending the winter garden in the city park. The beat cop said that he struggled to find a job after the nervous breakdown but there are some good people in this world.
Marina. A gardener then. I wish hed go to hell.
Frolov takes a bottle of champagne out of an ice bucket, pops it open, and fills the glasses.
Marina. Lets drink to our engagement, Igor.
Frolov. To our bright future!
Outside the windows, there is a flash of lightning, the thunder rumbles in the distance, and it starts to pour.
Frolov. Its Kupala Night. You arent a witch, are you?
Marina. Maybe. [She kisses Frolov.]
Frolov. You stole my heart and now youre taking my soul.
Marina. I always get what I want. Take what you can. Give nothing back. Thats a rule of thumb.
Frolov. I am yours, and you are mine.
FINALE
Late in the evening. Sergey is standing in the pouring rain in front of the Fleur de Lys Art Studio. There is a light in the windows. Sergey is clasping an object wrapped in fabric.
Sergey. I will catch a beam of sunlight and give it the shape of the royal golden lily. Fleur de Lys. «I see a golden lily in my sleep, the golden lily longs for me and weeps»
Sergey unfolds the fabric. He is now holding his Benelli M4 shotgun. He loads a magazine and goes inside.
Curtain.
Le lys dor
Le lys dor
Maxim Titovets
2023
Je vais attraper un rayon de soleil et lui donner la forme dun lys royal doré. Fleur de Lys. Le lys dor que je vois dans mes rêves, le lys dor pleure pour moi
Traduit par Valeriia Boulgakova
ACTEURS
Anna, 30 ans.
Sergei, 40 ans.
Marina, 35 ans.
Frolov, 38 ans.
DÉBUT
Lobscurité et le brouillard.
Le bruit de la métropole se fait entendre, et la radio fonctionne.
la vague de chaleur anormale se poursuit dans la région la température de lair a atteint 40 degrés au-dessus de zéro, un maximum absolu le record de température presque centenaire a été battu la ville est recouverte dune fumée âcre
Une autre vague
quarante maisons incendiées, plus de trois cents villageois évacués les autorités ont imposé létat durgence en raison de la situation désastreuse des incendies de forêt. Un décret à cet effet a été signé par le gouverneur
Une autre vague
un double meurtre a eu lieu cette nuit dans le centre. Un inconnu a ouvert le feu avec une arme semi-automatique près de lun des hôtels du centre-ville. Lhomme a refusé de se rendre à lofficier de police qui est arrivé sur les lieux et sest tiré une balle aucun des officiers de police na été blessé
Une autre vague
fonctionnaire détenu pour suspicion de délit de corruption pris en flagrant délit alors quil acceptait un pot-de-vin dans un restaurant de la capitale
Une autre vague.
De la musique est diffusée.
Obscurité totale, le rideau souvre.
PREMIÈRE ACTION
Scène 1.
Juillet. Midi. Parc. Sergei marche dans lallée. Anna est assise sur un banc et lit un livre. Sergei marche à côté dAnna, regarde dans le livre, glisse et tombe sur le trottoir.
Sergei. Le jardinier les a tous tués.
Anna. Il ny a pas de jardinier dans le conte de Cendrillon. Vous allez bien?
Sergei. Tout cela! (Debout). En effet, « Cendrillon». Je croyais que vous étiez détective. (Pause).
Sergei. Qui croit aux contes de Cendrillon de nos jours?
Anna. Je suppose quil y a des chanceux.
Sergei. Oh, vraiment?
Anna. Quelque chose à dire aux enfants à lheure du coucher.
Sergei. Vous avez des enfants?
Anna. Deux. Est-ce un problème pour vous?
Sergei. Non.
Anna se lève du banc, marche dans lallée, Sergei fait les cent pas à côté delle.
Sergei. Vous partez déjà? Laisse-moi vous raccompagner.
Anna. Jai un mari jaloux.
Sergei. Vous navez pas de mari.
Anna. Maître de sport en boxe.
Sergei (Se frottant la mâchoire). Et nous ne lui dirons pas. Comment vous appelez-vous?
Anna. Je vous plais?
Sergei. Vous me plaisez.
Anna. Je plaisantais, ne fais pas attention à moi.
Sergei. Je peux répéter exactement: vous me plaisez.
Anna. Au revoir.
Anna sen va, Sergei reste seul.
Scène 2.
Vingt-quatre heures se sont écoulées.