Читать книгу A play for 3 people. EAR and body history. Drama. Comedy - Николай Лакутин - Страница 3

The room is empty, neither Mom nor Ada is there.

The doorbell rings. As if on command, Ada and Mom look out from behind corners and aisles. They look predatory at the door. Then they look at each other. They both go to open it. Ada is in the same form, only she cleaned herself up a little. Mom is on parade. Even some kind of scarf for charm is tied around her neck. They open the door, stand in a line, proudly putting their chest forward, stretching out slimly, as at a military review.

He timidly enters the room, if you can call it a word, enters, rather timidly Kostya appears. Kostya just tears all expectations to shreds. He is not a maniac at all, not once and nowhere. He is stooped, small in stature, glasses on his nose, trousers – probably still left from his grandfather, a shirt that you can't look at without tears, some kind of vest that is generally out of place. And of course – a sleek hairstyle (mama's boy).

And here it is, slowly and cautiously enters the room, sitting down a little and bending down at every step from excitement and inconvenience.

Mom (loudly, imperiously, disappointed). Tyu…

Kostya sits down from this "TYU"

Mom closes the door, looks with pity at this creature. The daughter also leaves her military bearing and looks a little disappointed, first at the guest, then at her mother.

Kostya (worried, stuttering, mumbling). Z… hello. I… I called you, I… pop… p… about Pavel.

Ada (indifferently and emotionally de-energized). What's wrong with Pavlik?

Kostya (not so worried anymore, Ada). Are you Ada right? I recognized you right away. Let me introduce myself, Kostya!

Ada (calmly). Yes, I get it. That's right, and I'm Ada. So what do you need, Kostya?

Kostya (feeling awkward). Do you understand…

Kostya looks back at his mother standing behind him, hesitates … does not know how to approach the question. Rushing around.

Mom (skeptically, looking at Kostya). Msu… you obviously need to talk. Okay, I'll leave you to it. Here…, there is not much to worry about. (With a daughter's trick) You're too cute, be careful with him. Don't bite it, inadvertently, but don't break it by accident.

Kostya makes ridiculous gestures of gratitude to his mother and, as it were, tries to appreciate the humor and generally tries to pull himself together, but it all comes out as clumsily as possible.

Mom, shaking her head in annoyance, goes into the other room, fatally pulling the scarf off her neck.

Ada goes to the sofa, sits down.

Ada (calmly). Well, what did you want to talk to me about?

Kostya (awkwardly). Do you understand… Here… such a story…

Ada (calmly). Yes, come already, sit down somewhere. Why should I stand at the door?

Kostya carefully passes, sits on a stool, on the sidelines.

Ada (calmly).

Kostya (trying to figure out how to explain it all). Well. The thing is, Ada, that… We have known each other for a long time, though in absentia.

Ada (surprised). Seriously? And what does it have to do with you and me? Don't talk my teeth out. Kostya (trying to figure out how to explain it all).

So that's what I'm leading up to! You… please don't interrupt, I'll tell you everything. (Takes a short pause) It should have been done a long time ago.

Ada (warily). I do not understand…

Kostya makes a gesture with his hands (puts his palms forward), they say, I'll explain everything now!

Ada sits back, assumes a businesslike, expectant pose, listens attentively.

Kostya (exhaling deeply). The fact is that… In general, it was I who corresponded with you all this time, not Pavlik.

Ada (indignantly). What?

Kostya is trying to settle the situation with gestures, calm Ada down, make it clear to her so that she does not interrupt yet.

Kostya (worried). Please, Ada, let me tell you everything, I'm worried myself, I don't know. How to present it all. You would know what it cost me to call you…

Ada (restraining herself with difficulty). All right. Tell me already! We'll figure out what's what there.

Kostya (worried). In general… well… you can see what I am, right? I have no access to girls. How many times have I tried dating the opposite sex – all in vain. I understand that my appearance, natural modesty and complexion – all this does not make a man beautiful in the eyes of a girl. On the contrary, those men who are arrogant, self-confident, with charisma are in demand! Such that… an eagle— as they say. Well, I… well, you see for yourself. It's like… what kind of questions can there be.

Ada (nervously). I can't understand what you're getting at? Why do I need to know all this? Why do I need your sad story? I have enough problems of my own. I am not a psychologist, if you just wanted to talk and ease your lot, then I will ask you…

Ada points to the door.

Kostya again gestures trying to somehow settle this issue, but then gives up. Sighs. He gets up, walks silently with his head bowed to the exit door.

Kostya (sadly). I'm sorry, Ada. I should have told you a long time ago that Pavel is a liar, but I was cowardly.

Kostya is already approaching the door, grabs the handle, but Ada jumps off the sofa and pulls him back with her voice.

Ada (loudly, in an ordered manner). Stop!

Kostya stops, turns around.

Ada (nervously, by order). So! So, sit back down and explain to me what you have to do with it, what Pavlik has to do with it and how I'm involved in all this?

Kostya returns to the stool. Looks awkwardly at Ada, is silent, waits for the command.

Ada (nervously, questioningly). Well?

Kostya continues his story, and Ada sits back on the sofa.

Kostya (sadly). Pasha, he's… he's a womanizer, in general. He has so many of these stories…