Shipwreck ( Coast of Utopia-2)

HERZEN   (cont.) Why don’t I write personally to Count Orlov? Then you wouldn’t know what I’ve said.

CONSUL   Would you do that? I’d be immensely grateful.

Herzen starts writing. The wine is served.

CONSUL   (cont.) Are you having a celebration?

HERZEN   A homecoming. My mother has been in Paris with one of my children. They’re returning tonight on the Marseilles steamer.

CONSUL   Your little boy who is deaf?

HERZEN   I was wondering why Orlov would keep a consul in a place like this.

CONSUL   No, no … what an egoist! I see your children with their nurse, playing on the beach. But you’re right. Life is very quiet. Very few passports are being issued to travellers since the … events in Europe.

Natalie comes onto the verandah with Sazonov.

NATALIE   Look who’s come from Geneva!

HERZEN   (to the Consul) Allow me to present you to my wife. This is Mr …

CONSUL   Ibayev, Russian Consul.

Natalie is frightened.

NATALIE   What …? (to Herzen) Is everything all right?

HERZEN   Perfectly. (to the Consul) And this is …

Sazonov becomes suave.

SAZONOV   Ah. I’m impressed. I never told anyone I was coming.

CONSUL   I had business with Mr Herzen.

Sazonov laughs sceptically.

SAZONOV   Of course. Please compliment Count Orlov for me … on his excellent information.

CONSUL   Do you know Count Orlov?

SAZONOV   No. But I daresay he knows me. I was a thorn in his side for many years in Paris.

HERZEN   Sit down, have a drink—

SAZONOV   (ignoring Herzen) No doubt you know a little bit about my … activities in Geneva. Tell Orlov we will undoubtedly be meeting one day.

CONSUL   Certainly. What name shall I say?

SAZONOV   Just say … the blue nightingale is still flying in the sky … He’ll understand.

Herzen signs and seals the letter.

HERZEN   All done.

The Consul accepts the letter and bows to Natalie and Sazonov. Herzen accompanies him out. There is a transition to evening. Natalie and Rocca, perhaps with a maid, are completing the preparations for the reunion, with Chinese lanterns, bunting, toys on the table, and a ‘Welcome Kolya’ sign. (In an ideal world Sasha would be part of this, but he is eleven now. His never-seen sister, Tata, would be seven.) Sazonov is vaguely helping, too, but soon gives up to ramble on and drink. Natalie hardly bothers to listen to him.

SAZONOV   I’ve had a letter from Botkin … Alexander’s pamphlet on the development of revolutionary ideas in Russia gave heart attacks to his friends in the Moscow University circle … (He becomes conscious of Rocca and suddenly addresses him.) Watch out, look what you’re doing!

Rocca reacts late and baffled.

NATALIE   He doesn’t know Russian. He’s our Italian servant. (to Rocca) E niente. [It’s nothing.]

SAZONOV   You can’t be too careful.

NATALIE   Why aren’t they here yet? I should have gone with Alexander to meet the steamer …

SAZONOV   What else …? Moscow was en fête for the opening of the railway. Tsar Nicholas loves it. He inspected every bridge and tunnel personally. His German relatives impressed everyone by their appetites in the station refreshment room …

NATALIE   (distracted) Why are they so late? It’s probably Granny’s trunks. She travels like an archduchess.

SAZONOV   Who’s with them?

NATALIE   Only her maid, I think, and Spielmann, Kolya’s tutor. (to Rocca) Por favor, vai a vedere se vengano. [Please go and see if they’re coming.]

SAZONOV   The speech man? Are you mad? That can’t be his real name!

Rocca meets Herzen at the edge of the stage. Herzen brushes past him. Natalie sees him.

NATALIE   Alexander …? Where are they?

HERZEN   They’re not coming. The boat from Marseilles … isn’t coming.

Herzen embraces her, weeping.

NATALIE   (bewildered) They’re not coming at all?

HERZEN   No. There was an accident at sea … Oh, Natalie!

NATALIE   When is Kolya coming?

HERZEN   He’s never coming. I’m sorry.