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Rocks. Rocks... trees...

creeper moss, and poisonous grass –

that’s all that’s left on the Earth. Silence.

A thousand years have passed since the earth last bore a living creature.

Seaweed and corals in the dark depth of the sea.

The world with no people or beasts,

uninhabited, silent, cold...

The millennia-old forest with no boundaries,

the thicket that has never heard birds’ voices.

Soon the forest will disappear, too.

The helpless moon will shed light on the tree stumps in the clearings.

All is cold... cold.

-What decadent rubbish is this? -Mother!

All is void. I am alone here.

Nobody hears me, and there will be no answer from the dead wasteland.

Only Satan is my menacing companion and captor.

I see his crimson eyes advancing on me.

It’s so cold and damp... Did you really need to do it here?

Yes, I do.

-Of course. It’s part of the effect. -Mother!

He and I...

Enough of this! There’s an end to the performance.

Down with the curtain!

Why, what are you so angry about?

-The play is over. Enough of this. -Aleksey, son, don’t be so sensitive.

I’m sorry, ladies and gentlemen.

Excuse me, I forgot that only

a chosen few might write plays or act them.

I have infringed the monopoly. The thieves’ monopoly.

We are ruled by thieves!

Aleksey! Son! What is the matter with him?

Yelena Nikolayevna, you should not handle young talent so roughly.

-God. What did I say to him? -You hurt his feelings.

Yes... And the bit about thieves? What does it mean?

I don’t know. You should be gentler with him.

Oh my God. Mr. Steward, will you walk me home?

I was going to sing for you.

You see, I’m a singer... Almazov, remember?

Yes, of course. Later, if you don’t mind. I’m sorry.

Of course.

Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen. Dinner will be served in half an hour.

For now, the parlor and deck are all yours.

Sasha, tell them to set the table.

Not bad. Especially the last part.

Yes. It was brilliant.

Thank you. Where did Aleksey Konstantinovich go?

To the pond.

Oh my God.

Olga Aleksandrovna.

They can’t think he actually went to drown himself, can they?

Maybe he did. I think the autumn chill near the water will sober him.

-Anton... -Anton Pavlovich.

Anton Pavlovich, did you come with Yelena Nikolayevna?

Yes. We are old friends.

Are you an actor, too? At Schauspiel?

-No, I’m an author. And you? -Chief of the police.

I wish we could see the whole play. The author seems promising.

-Anton Pavlovich. -Anna Viktorovna.

-Nice to meet you. May I? -Thank you.

-Did you really like the play? -Well, we haven’t seen the play.

Nina Arkadyevna, do you remember me?

We met at a reception at Margarita Sergeyevna’s.

-Anton... -Pavlovich.

-You are a writer, aren’t you? -I am.

How long has Mrs. Polonskaya been here?

Two days.

Is that so? Nobody in this town is aware that a star from the capital

and the famous playwright Tropinin are here.

How did it go?

Horrible. It was horrible. You were smart not to go there.

I made a few critical comments, and he cut the performance shot

and stormed away to the park.

What did you say to him?

-It was perfectly innocent. -Innocent? And?

And – nothing! The play is over. Everybody is coming here.

Now it appears that my son has produced a masterpiece.

It was meant to demonstrate to us how plays should be written,

and what is worth acting.

You are overreacting. He had hoped to give you pleasure.

Is that so? He’d succeed in it more if he sold this house.

God, why did we come here?

Do you want me to talk to him?

Yes, please do. Find him and bring him here.

Yes. Just, please, calm down.

We are leaving tomorrow.

Olga Aleksandrovna! Olga Aleksandrovna, wait!

-Olga Aleksandrovna, please wait! -What is it?

-You know, he’s cheating on you. -What do you mean?

I’ve got a letter from Moscow.

Aleksey is going to sell a part of the land,

to start a theater company with Prince Razumovsky.

-In Moscow? -In Moscow. Didn’t he tell you?

-No, but he probably will. -Olga Aleksandrovna, don’t be so naive.

He offered Zertsalova to be his leading actress.

-Zertsalova? -Yes.

Are you sure?

Absolutely. I made some inquiries. He’s not worthy of you.

Olga Aleksandrovna, I love you.

-Please leave me alone. -Olga Ale…

It’s warm in here.

Please feel like home.

Yelena Nikolayevna, do you mind if I sing something before dinner?

If you please.

-What would you like to hear? -I trust your choice.

Bravo! Bravo!

And here is a new piece. It had great success in Voronezh.

I have a headache. Will you excuse me?

Of course, of course. So, the new piece.

-Hunters? -Hunters in the park?

One,

two,

three,

four, five.

Ready or not, here I come.

ANNA, THE DETECTIVE

I should have unloaded the guns.

THE DRAMA EPISODE 47

He said “I should have unloaded the guns.”

-Who said that? -So, a song written by...

Not now! We need to tell the steward.

Who’s here?

-Did you hear the shot? -Yes. Over there.

What was that?

I don’t know. Maybe someone is exercising.

This isn’t a place or time for that. Go inside.

Yes.

Did you hear? Someone was shooting.

-There was a shot right now. -Ask your father to check the guns.

What guns?

I don’t know. There must be some in the house.

-Call the steward. -All right.

-Where is Aleksey Konstantinovich? -What?

You... you went to look for him.

Yes, but I didn’t find him. I searched the whole park.

I thought he came back inside.

-Who was shooting? -Where is Aleksey?

Are there guns in the house?

-Where is Aleksey? -I couldn’t find him.

Guns... There are dueling pistols.

Where is my son?

Aleksey Konstantinovich!

-Aleksey Konstantinovich! -Aleksey Konstantinovich!

Aleksey Konstantinovich...

Answer us!

We’ve been looking for you.

Aleksey! Aleksey!

Where are you?

Where are you?

Anna Viktorovna... What did you find?

Nothing. We’ve searched through the lower park.

Nothing in the upper one, either. Have you found the guns?

One was in its box in the study. The other one is missing.

We need Shtolman here.

Send for Shtolman. Let him come with his men.

-All right. -Anna Viktorovna?

Anna Viktorovna...

You have... blood on you.

What are you waiting for, you klutz? Go look down there.

There would be no traces, though. It was snowing last night.

Why didn’t you tell me at once?

The body was only found this morning, when the sun came out.

They had already sent for you by then. So, it was Nikolay Vasilyevich’s order.

The search was going on all night. They hoped he had just went out.

They found him in the morning.

Yakov Platonovich, how could he shoot himself over a play?

Please skip the formalities.

Yelena Nikolayevna doesn’t want an investigation.

She says there is no need for it since he did it himself.

Who said he did it himself?

-Didn’t he? -It’s a murder.

A murder?

Definitely a murder. He was shot from at least five steps’ distance.

Who could have done it? There were no strangers around.

-Then it was one of the party guests. -How could it be?

A footprint!

Yakov Platonovich, a print of a men’s shoe.

A cigarette case.

“To the mentor from loving students.”

That’s where the shot came from. The victim saw his murderer.

Of course he did. He was shot straight in the heart.

They must have had a fight, which ended in the shot.

But the killer had the dueling pistol with him.

Was he going to kill him?

Probably. Where is the other one?

In its usual place, in the study.

Ulyashin, wrap up the gun. We’ll need to examine it.

Yes, Yakov Platonovich.

Send the body to the morgue.

Are the suspects still here?

Where else? They are waiting, on your order.

Tea, ladies and gentlemen.

-How can you do it? -Excuse me?

How can you do it? A man was killed.

This music is sad.

Are you mocking me?

I’m sincerely sorry about all this. But why be demonstrative?

Aleksey Konstantinovich wasn’t my friend.

I’m terribly sorry. When is the breakfast?

Breakfast at nine.

-Are you a writer, too? -I am.

-Are you published? -I’ve published two books.

Have you ever tried yourself as a playwright?

Of course I have. My only play so far was staged in Moscow’s Korsh’s theater.

Interesting. Was Yelena Nikolayevna in it?

No. Yelena Nikolayevna and I are just friends.

I’m sorry for the inconvenience, ladies and gentlemen,

but under the circumstances...

Gentlemen, this was harsh.

Yes, you treated us without mercy, Mr...

Shtolman, Yakov Platonovich, a detective.

You already know Nikolay Vasilyevich, our chief of the police.

Can I ask you something?

Who gave you the right to lock us here like criminals?

A tragedy has happened, but it doesn’t mean...

A murder has happened.

A murder?

What are you talking about?

-Are you sure? -Absolutely.

So, you’ll have to bear with certain inconveniences.

Nobody can leave the grounds without my permission. Is that clear?

Do you believe the culprit is one of those present here?

The criminal is in this house. Where is Mrs. Polonskaya?

Yelena Nikolayevna doesn’t feel well. She’s in her room. Is she also a suspect?

-I don’t see Anna Viktorovna here. -She went to your office.

My office?

Exactly. She persuaded the constable to let her go,

since she had important information for the investigation.

I have to question each of you separately.

Let’s start with you, Mr. Tropinin.

Ulyashin. Take the fingerprints from the murder weapon.

You’ll find the kit in this bag.

Please follow me.

Do you want to join us, Nikolay Vasilyevich?

Of course.

How long have you known Mr. Shtolman?

I don’t know him that well. But they say he’s good.

This gives me some hope. When is the breakfast?

This is horribly unfortunate. I had many visits planned for today.

Shut up!

Aleksey is dead. He was killed! Do you realize it?

Excuse me, where is Miss Nizhinskaya?

She left yesterday, as soon as all this mess started.

So, you didn’t go to the performance yesterday.

No. I was in the house.

Yelena Nikolayevna came, and I went to the park.

Why?

She asked me to look for her son Aleksey.

Did you find him?

No.

So, you heard the shot while walking in the park right after you left the house.

No, 10-15 minutes later.

When I came back to the deck, there were people there.

So, nobody saw you during this time, right before the shot.

I guess not. Are you saying I did it?

Maybe.

You were absent for at least 20 minutes.

Give me one reason why we should cross you out from the list.

Yes, but why would I do it?

What was my motive, or whatever you call it?

Yes, we don’t know the motive yet. But the investigation has just begun.

-With God’s help, we’ll find it. -Excuse me, gentlemen.

Mr. Tropinin, we will talk again later. You are free to go.

So far.

Don’t leave the grounds.

Yakov Platonovich, we are making a good team.

-Definitely. -Let’s go on.

Olga... excuse me...

-Aleksandrovna. -I have a few questions for you.

Yes, please.

Take a seat.

I’d rather walk, if you don’t mind.

I can’t sit or stand anymore. I just can’t.

If you prefer it.

Tell me, where were you when you heard the shot?

In the park. I was looking for Aleksey, but all in vain. Then I heard the shot.

Why did you go back to the house and not to where the shot came from?

Why would I go there?

I didn’t know what it meant. I had no idea.

So I decided to ask the steward what it was.

All right. What happened next?

At the deck, I found... I don’t remember exactly.

Then Semionov came... and the others.

Semionov? Who is Semionov?

-Semionov, the language arts teacher. -Is he also here?

-He is. -Where is he now?

I don’t know. Maybe in the park.

Maybe. I think he stayed there.

All right, go on.

Aleksey Grebniov’s spirit, present yourself.

Aleksey Grebniov’s spirit, present yourself.

Aleksey Grebniov’s spirit, present yourself.

Who is here?

Come out; I can see you.

-Is that you? -Whom did you expect?

-Nobody. You scared me. -Who are you talking to?

Myself.

So this “present yourself” was meant for yourself?

How did you manage to avoid being confined to the deck?

I went to the park as soon as the constables

started herding everyone there.

It’s not that I wanted to run away. I just didn’t feel like staying there.

I understand. Why did you come here?

And you? Is this a seance? You were summoning the victim.

-Not at all. I was praying. -No, no, no. You were talking to him.

What’s wrong with you?

You think I don’t know about your tricks! What did he tell you?

-Let go. -What did he say?

Let me go!

-Did he tell you the murderer’s name? -I’ll scream.

Have mercy. Have mercy, Anna Viktorovna. Don’t ruin her, Anna Viktorovna.

What’s done is done and can’t be undone. Have mercy on her! Spare her!

Spare her, Anna Viktorovna.

Mr. Semionov.

-What are you doing there? -I...

You are under arrest on suspicion of murder.

This is ridiculous.

I will definitely listen to your explanations.

Wait for me upstairs.

Yes.

What happened?

Everything is fine.

You look scared. What happened?

This Semionov... He was acting weird... As always. Also, he knows something.

I couldn’t figure out what it was.

Did it scare you?

Not just that. Yesterday, right after the shot, I heard a voice.

It said, “I should have unloaded the guns.”

Whose voice was it?

I thought it was Aleksey. But he was already dead.

-I understand. Did he name his killer? -No.

Your High Nobleness, the lady asks after you.

She is very angry.

-What happened? -I don’t know.

Excuse me. We’ll talk later.

Send someone to town.

Let them bring Nizhinskaya and Razumovsky. No excuses!

Yes, sir.

-Let’s go. -Of course.

-Take a seat. -No, thank you.

How come your footprints are at the crime scene?

What makes you think they are mine?

We found this next to them.

Engraved “To the mentor from his loving students.”

What were you doing there?

The thing is, I found the body.

The footprints look as if you were lingering there for a while.

Were you standing there watching the lifeless body?

What’s so strange about it? I was shocked when I found the body.

I needed time to get myself together before approaching it.

I felt hot and produced a handkerchief.

That must be when I dropped the cigarette case.

Maybe this isn’t what happened. You were hiding behind the tree

trying to pull out the gun, and that’s when the cigarette case fell out.

Nonsense. This is just your speculations.

Who were you protecting?

I don’t know what you mean.

Mr. Semionov, you said, “Spare her.” Whom did you mean?

No, I didn’t say anything of the sort.

He did tell me to spare her. He said it because he thought

that Aleksey’s spirit had told me the murderer’s name. You see?

-Semionov thinks you know the culprit? -Exactly.

He’s covering for someone. Who are you protecting?

Mr. Detective, either I’m the culprit, or I’m protecting someone.

Don’t fool around, Mr. Semionov.

Whom did you mean when you said “Spare her”?

All right. Very well. I’ll tell you.

I meant Sasha. The steward’s daughter.

I must confess, at first I thought it was her.

But now I see it’s ridiculous.

Why did you think Sasha was the shooter?

The thing is, she approached me recently with a sensitive request...

To find a doctor to get rid of the baby.

Aleksey was the father.

There was something between them, you know.

-And then he… -Why did she turn to you?

Well... I’ve known her since she was this big.

She couldn’t turn to her father, could she?

All right. You can go now. Please don’t leave the grounds.

Can I have my cigarette case back?

-No. -I’m sorry.

-Mr. Shtolman. -To your service.

I... I sent for you. I was waiting for you.

I’m sorry. I was taking care of an urgent business.

-My son died. Do you realize this? -I’m very sorry about it.

I wish to know how long this will go on.

I’m sorry, but the investigation will go on until we find the culprit.

What makes you think it was a murder? My son...

My son was a sensitive young man.

I hurt him. It’s all my fault! I’m the culprit!

-In a manner of speaking, I suppose. -Of course.

My son killed himself. I request you to close the case.

I’m afraid it’s impossible. Unfortunately, we have evidence that it was a murder.

What evidence?

There are no traces of gunpowder on his clothes.

It means he was shot from a distance.

Oh God. Please spare me the details.

Are you certain it was a murder?

Beyond any doubt.

You said you hadn’t seen anyone in the park before the shot.

I didn’t.

Where was Mr. Semionov?

Semionov? I don’t know.

He arrived later, when everybody was on the deck.

Yes, I recall!

He was panting and was very excited, as if he had been running.

Yakov Platonovich, a quick word. This is urgent.

There is no fingerprints on the pistol. It was wiped clean.

-No prints at all? -There are partials near the sight bead.

Mr. Tropinin, you may go.

We need to fingerprint all those present. Take care of it.

Yes, sir.

What? Again? What fingerprints?

A fingerprint was found on the pistol. If we get samples from everybody,

we can compare them and maybe find the culprit.

How do you think it would look?

Respectable people dipping fingers in this shoe polish, like some vagabonds?

Respectable people should understand that this is the way to establish the truth.

What way? I wonder where you find them.

I can deliver a lecture for you if you want me to.

-Spare me. -No, I insist.

In ancient Babylon and China, people left imprints of their fingers

on clay tablets and seals. In Persia, in the 14th and 15th centuries

they would sign state documents with their fingerprints.

Listen...

In our time, 30 years ago, an Englishman called Herschel

suggested to use fingerprints for solving crimes.

Really?

Can you believe it? It’s all about ridge patterns.

They are unique for every finger.

I’m certain that soon dactylography will be used everywhere.

There will be huge databases.

-So, this Englishman of yours... -Where were you when the shot was made?

What?

Excuse me, but it’s my duty to ask you this question.

I was in the park... when I heard the shot.

Nobody saw me.

-Do I have to be fingerprinted, too? -No, you don’t.

Mr. Tropinin, they want everybody to gather at the deck.

The police?

Who else? Mr. Tropinin, I read your play “Prometheus.”

It’s brilliant. Unique!

Thank you.

I understand why it’s on stages all over the country.

You’re really talented.

Come on.

Have you ever thought about writing an opera libretto?

No, I can’t say I have.

We could combine our efforts. You’ll write the libretto, and I’ll sing.

Your name will open all doors for our brainchild.

Will it? Are you sure I’m interested in our cooperation?

I am. I can say that yesterday, when I was singing for Yelena Nikolayevna,

I saw you near the deck through the window.

I can tell the police, or I can keep silence.

You know very well I wasn’t near the deck at that time.

I was in the park.

Exactly. And what were you doing there?

Are you offering a deal?

Exactly. I offer you an alibi.

I don’t need one. I didn’t shoot.

Nobody knows if you did.

You little bastard!

-I’ll smack you! -Let go! It hurts!

Rascal.

Are you mocking us? What is this weird procedure?

A fingerprint was found on the pistol Aleksey had been shot from.

It will help us find the shooter.

I always keep my hands clean and never leave any prints.

Look at your wineglass. Fingers leave traces on a smooth surface,

no matter how clean they are. I can tell you this as a doctor.

Thank you, Anton Pavlovich. Take turns, gentlemen.

This is even interesting.

This way, please.

Curious. I’ve read about this method one of these days. Who’d have thought...

Where did you read about it?

In an “Around the World” magazine. An interesting article.

I was going to tell my science students about it.

Please, Mrs. Polonskaya.

Ulyashin, don’t forget the servants.

Yes, sir. I’ll do it in the kitchen.

Mr. Tropinin is a renowned author. I read one of his detective stories.

It was very confusing.

But it mentioned this dactylography thing.

Somehow he failed to mention it. The murderer wiped the gun.

This can only mean that he or she knew what dactylography was.

-What shall we do? -So far, we just take a note. Go on.

Yes, this one.

Ladies and gentleman, lunch is served.

I can’t.

-You haven’t eaten since yesterday. -I just can’t. If you’ll excuse me...

Darling, I know this is horrible for you. But you need to be strong.

Leave me alone. I can’t even look at you.

Why?

Why? God, why did you do it?

What did I do?

I know it was you.

-God, what did I do? -You killed my son.

You’re out of your mind.

You told me you’d go talk to him, but you went on and killed him instead!

-I know it was you. -What?

-You came out of the park after the shot. -Everybody did.

No. You shoes were muddy, and there was blood on your hands.

I was walking through the park. I hurt my hand with a branch. Darling!

Don’t worry. I’m not going to tell on you.

I know you wanted to come to an agreement with him for my sake.

You wanted to settle it, but he wouldn’t let you. He was so stubborn.

You have to understand that it’s over between us.

Yelena! You’re not yourself.

Wait. Tell me one thing.

I don’t understand why you took the gun with you.

What gun? You need to take sedative and sleep on this.

Don’t worry, I won’t tell. I won’t.

Just go. Go! Please, go. I’ll scream. Go! Go!

What? I need to exercise my voice.

Tea, ladies and gentlemen. Please.

The lunch was delicious. I even feel better somehow.

You’re welcome.

Can I go outside? I need some air.

Of course.

Mr. Shtolman, can I ask what you theories are?

I’m afraid not. The investigation isn’t over yet.

Are you sure the killer was having lunch with us?

I hope he’ll have his dinner in the cell.

Does it mean we’ll be free by dinnertime?

Patience, ladies and gentlemen. I apologize for this inconvenience.

But this is a serious case, a murder.

Oh, Aleksey... He was full of plans. He was going to start a theater company,

to produce plays. That’s why he was going to sell the land.

-What do you mean? -Yes. He told me about it.

I don’t know anything about it.

He was inspired, full of ideas... To make it happen,

he was planning to sell a part of his land and the forest.

Nonsense! Excuse me. I would have known.

He was going to leave this place and dedicated himself to the stage.

Real stage, not these amateur productions.

How long have you known the victim?

Not long. I knew Aleksey through my uncle. I saw him a couple times at parties.

I’ve just met him here, too. But Yelena Nikolayevna is an old friend.

Poor, poor woman.

I heard about your unusual gift. Is that true?

It is.

Why don’t you ask the deceased how it happened?

He avoids me.

I thought I saw him yesterday when we were looking for the body.

-But he wouldn’t talk to me. -Why?

You know, spirits often act irrationally.

In the plural? Do you see them often?

Why don’t we change the subject?

No, I’m intrigued. You can’t just leave it like this.

-How did Aleksey look after his death? -I didn’t have a good look.

You know where you might find him?

He was a playwright. I bet his malcontent spirit is wandering around the stage.

Of course! I would be there if I were him.

Now he knows everything about the things he wrote about.

The solitude, the void...

Aleksey Grebniov’s spirit, present yourself.

Aleksey Grebniov’s spirit, present yourself.

THE DRAMA