Makar. Nadya
Nadya. Your brother lets you stay here out of pure generosity.
Makar. Say just one word.
Nadya. Go away, you viper.
Pause.
Makar. So, where is my goody-goody brother?
Nadya. At the old ranger station, with the gamekeeper.
Makar. A raid?
Nadya. Some tourist has been ripped apart by a bear.
Makar. Poor little bear. These two wont let it go.
Stvolov walks in.
Nadya. Welcome to the Rubicon Hotel.
Stvolov. Its raining like hell. How are you, mistress?
Makar.[Aside.] Could be better.
Stvolov. Pour me some coffee and get me a bite to eat.
Nadya. What about something stronger?
Stvolov. A cognac, please.
Makar comes up to the window and peers into the darkness.
Stvolov. That went down good.
Nadya. Have a slice of lemon, its on the house.
Stvolov. Theres this village, Bear Creek Valley. How long will it take to get there?
Nadya. Why would you go so far at this time of night?
Stvolov. Im going to see my brother.
Makar. How long has he been in jail?
Stvolov. He is a hydrologist there.
Makar. Hydrologists, geologists Our gold makes everyone restless.
Nadya. Bear Creek Valley is three hundred kilometers away from the city. And we are right in the middle. The Rubicon.
Stvolov. The Ru-bi-con.
Makar. Hes gone.
Stvolov. Whos gone?
Makar. Your taxi driver.
Stvolov leaps up, dashes outside, and then comes back.
Stvolov. Piece of shit. I didnt get the plate number.
Nadya. And your bags in the trunk.
Makar. Count your lucky stars he didnt bump you off on the way here.
Nadya. God spare us.
Stvolov. Thats a fine how-de-do you have here.
Makar. Its a dog-eat-dog world.
Nadya. Welcome to the Rubicon Hotel.
Scene 2
The stage setting is the same.
Sea Lion and Agap enter. Sea Lion is dressed in a sailors striped shirt. He is carrying a leather travel bag.
Agap. Fuck
Sea Lion. What?
Agap. I got soaked to the bone and almost froze to death.
Sea Lion. Its because you are a wuss.
Agap. Im frozen stiff because of this wind.
Sea Lion. So, warm yourself, knucklehead. Maybe then youll hurry up your ass.
Nadya.[Aside.] Speak of the devil.
Makar. Agap! The street lamp isnt working again. Go and fix it!
Agap. Suck my dick, will you?
Makar. Sure. If I can find it.
Sea Lion.[To Agap.] First feed the cattle. Then move the jeep to the pit, the U-joints clunking. [Handing his car keys over to Agap.]
Makar. So, goodbye, poor little bear
Agap leaves
Nadya. Hello, Oleg. How did it go?
Sea Lion.[Looking at Agap.] The priest has gone away the devils in the churchyard play. [To Nadya.] How many guests are here today?
Nadya. The place is chock-full.
Sea Lion. Wheres Polina?
Nadya. Ive sent her upstairs to do some cleaning.
Sea Lion. Send her in.
Sea Lion unlocks the door of his study with a key and disappears inside.
Scene 3
Sea Lions study.
Sea Lion is seated at his desk. There is a knock at the door. Polina enters carrying a tray. She puts a jug of water on the table.
Sea Lion. Sit down. Ill pay you up.
Polina. Alright, Oleg Sergeevich.
Sea Lion. You need money, dont you? And yet youre pussy-footing around it, not bringing the subject up.
Polina. I do. You promised to pay me.
Pause.
Sea Lion. We agreed on twenty five grand a month.
Polina. It was thirty grand.
Sea Lion. No. Twenty five. Its written down right here. I always pay twenty five thousand to the help. Youve been working here for two months.
Polina. Two months and seven days.
Sea Lion. Exactly 2 months. You dont get paid for the probation week.
Polina. Alright.
Sea Lion. Fifty grand in total Minus eight Sundays off. Meaning out with seven grand.
Last month, the road was blocked for three days. We had no guests, so you didnt have any work. Minus two and a half.
Polina. But I cleaned and scrubbed the whole hotel and brought a ton of wood
Sea Lion. And who made lunch for you back then Pushkin?
Polina. I had even strained my back and spent two days in bed with a fever afterwards.
Sea Lion. Here we are, minus one and a half. Thirty nine grand in total.
Polina.[Remaining silent.]
Sea Lion. Two weeks ago you dropped an entire tray of food for one of our guests. Thats minus four grand. Thirty five in total.
Polina. But
Sea Lion. And by the way, the crockery costs much more than that. But thats okay, not a big deal. Later on, a bunch of drunken fellows took French leave without paying the bill. Thats another ten grand. You should have watched out for them! And yesterday eight grand went missing from the cash register.
Polina. I didnt take it.
Sea Lion. No one else could do that! Or are you telling me that I did?
Polina. Im not.
Sea Lion. Thats a good girl. Thirty five minus ten and minus eight. Its seventeen grand then.
Polina. I only borrowed money once Three thousand from your wife. She can confirm that. But I have never taken any money from the cash register
Sea Lion. Oh yes? You borrowed three thousand from Nadya? I didnt know about that! Seventeen minus three is humph
Here is your money, Polina. Sign here.
Polina takes the money, signs her name, and leaves.
Sea Lion. Piece of cake. Only the strongest survive.
Polina comes back
Polina. That last time, you said Id earn more. I really need money. What should I do?
Scene 4
The Rubicon Roadside Inn & Diner.