Пьесы для театра

Khorkov. Let’s go. Drag her into the car.

Khorkov and Corkscrew leave and take Greta with them. The titmouse flies after them. Yumi gets out of his hideaway in the bushes.

Yumi. What have I done! Why haven’t I listened to my mom and left the yard? Mom. Mommy! Where are you?

ACT II

Scene 4.

Daytime. Cat burglar gang hide-out.

Lord, Melisa, Toy.

Lord. Toy!

Toy. Yes, boss.

Lord. Where is the puppy?

Toy. I could not take him here. We were attacked.

Lord. Who dared to do it?

Toy. Khorkov with his animal tormentor gang.

Lord. Khorkov?

Toy. Yes. They threw a round-up.

Melisa. They got some nerve! As if we didn’t pay them well!

Toy. It’s the mayor’s order, to clean the city of stray animals.

Lord. We had an agreement with Khorkov, not to touch our guys, take dogs only.

Toy. They took five cat burglars: Syava, Honeypot, Chick, Demian and Desman.

Lord. Cats are not meant to be caged. Melisa! Reach out to our lawyer, have him post a bail.

Melisa. I’ll get right on that.

Lord. Who else did they take in the round-up?

Toy. They caught some stray dogs and the puppy’s mother.

Lord. His mother? Greta? How about that!

Melisa. Now she won’t be able to protect her son.

Toy. They were all sent to the animal control center.

Lord. And where is the puppy? What was his name again?

Toy. The puppy’s name is Yumi. I don’t know where he is.

Lord. Then get to know. Find him! Time is money. Take the sausage while it’s still fresh.

Toy. I got you.

Lord. Go and take this black sheep of the dog family to me. Or else I will scrap you both.

Toy. I will do it, Lord. Yumi will be here soon.

Toy leaves.

Melisa. You are too tough on my son, Lord.

Lord. Melisa. When Toy grows older, he is going to be my right hand cat, my consigliere. He’d better start temper his character now. Otherwise he will be destroyed.

Melisa. Why would you need this puppy?

Lord. Yumi is my only chance to take vengeance on his father for my brother’s death.

Scene 5.

Daytime. Wasteland.

Yumi, Titmouse, little mice.

Yumi. How terrifying. Mom. It is so terrifying to be alone.

Yin. Yumi, don’t you cry.

Yang. Don’t you cry, Yumi.

Yumi. Bad people took my mom away.

Yin. They are Khorkov and Corkscrew. From the animal tormentor gang.

Yang. I recognized them at once as well.

Yumi. Where are you, mommy?

The titmouse comes flying.

Titmouse. They took your mother to the animal control center.

Yin. My, my!

Yang. Yes, Greta got the short straw.

Titmouse. It’s a spine-chilling place. No one has ever returned from there alive.

Yin. Stop scaring him.

Yumi. It’s my fault.

Yang. There is no telling, Yumi.

Yumi. I didn’t obey my mom. I left the yard and we got into trouble.

Titmouse. When it’s done, it’s done.

Yumi. What am I supposed to do? Where am I supposed to go?

Titmouse. Crying will not mend matters.

Yang. We better do something! Here, help me.

The little mice, Titmouse and Yumi bring all their weight to bear on the stone, try to budge it and clear the entrance to Yumi’s home.

Yin. Oh.

Yang. It’s heavy.

Titmouse. We will never be able to budge it.

Yumi. I have no home any longer. And I have no mother.

Titmouse. Stop crying.

Yang. We can’t give up for nothing!

Yin. We will work it out somehow, Yumi.

Yang. I have an idea!

Titmouse. Go ahead, little mouse.

Yang. We should tunnel our way.

Yin. Tunnel our way! That is a great idea.

Yumi. What is a tunnel?

Yang. Let me show you.

Yang digs up the ground under the stone, Yin helps him, and then Yumi joins them too.

Yumi. It’s no go.

Yin. Yes, what an upset.

Titmouse. The reason is that the ground is all frozen and hard in winter.

Yumi. What are we supposed to do now?

Toy comes in, the little mice run a safe distance off, the titmouse flies to the thickets of bushes. Toy steps up to Yumi.

Yumi. So… They took my mom. I was left alone on the street.

Toy. You are not alone, Yumi. You have friends.

Yumi. Friends?

Toy (to the little mice). Hey, tadpoles! Come here.

The little mice come a little bit closer.

Yumi. Yin, Yang, don’t be afraid. It’s Toy. He knows where meat nuts grow.

The mice come even closer. The titmouse flies up to them.

Toy. Don’t be afraid. A soldier will never hurt a child.

Yang. What kind of soldier are you? You are a cat burglar.

Yin. You steal food from supermarkets for Lord.

Yumi. Ah, now I see! So you wanted to teach me how to steal too?

Toy. Cards on the table. Yes, been there, done that. Guilty.

Pause.

Toy. I planned to rob the supermarket and then shift all the blame on you, Yumi.

Yin. I called it. Such a rascal.

Toy. Though I mend my ways.

Titmouse. A leopard cannot change its spots. Don’t you get mixed up with him, Yumi! He has some bad genetics.

Yang. Now get out of here! We are not afraid of you.

Yin. Yes, Yumi! Kick him away. You are stronger.

Yumi. I thought you were my friend, but you… Grrr!!!

Yumi and the little mice move up to the kitten.

Toy. Take it easy, dear members of the jury. Play it cool. I know how to let your mother free!

Pause.

Yumi. What have you just said?

Toy. I know how to let your mother free.

Yumi. Go ahead.

Toy. You mom was taken by the animal tormentors from Khorkov’s band, wasn’t she?

Yumi. She was.

Toy. She is in the animal control center now, right?

Yumi. Yes. Aunt Titmouse saw them taking her there.

Titmouse. Yes! I saw it with my own eyes! A dreadful place. No one has ever gone there and came back alive.

Toy. Stop cawing, crow.

Titmouse. I am a titmouse, not a crow.

Toy. I’ve noticed that. Crows are much smarter.

Titmouse. What a bounder! What do you think you are?!

Toy. A slingshot groans for you, scandalmonger.

Yumi. Stop fighting!

Yin. Toy, go on with your story.

Yang. Yes, Toy, go on. How can we save Greta?

Toy. I worked in with the cat burglar gang. What else was I supposed to do? I am an orphan. I had to survive on the street.

Yang. We know it already, what’s next?

Yin. Let him finish, don’t interrupt.

Toy. I can break into the cage where they put your mom.

Yumi. Will you really manage to do it?

Toy. You bet!

Titmouse. Look at him throwing dust in our eyes, whiskered rascal. It’s easy to tell stories.

Toy. My father was the best safebreaker in this city. He taught me everything. But then my father died…

Yumi. It means you are really an orphan?

Toy. Yes. But one day I will take vengeance for him.

Yin. How can we find this animal control center?

Yang. It is probably far from here.

Toy. I know the way there and I will help Yumi get into the building.

Yumi. And what’s next?

Toy. The rest is paperwork. We will find your mom. I will open the lock and we will escape from here together.

Yumi. I am scared.

Yang. That sounds great!

Yin. Well done, Toy. That’s some good thinking.

Titmouse. Ah, I don’t believe his cock-and-bull stories. I don’t believe them!

Toy. Instead of picking at me, Titmouse, help us! Does the puppy trust you?

Titmouse. He does.

Toy. Let Yumi believe me. Do a good deed. Please.

Titmouse. Well, I don’t know…

Toy. Titmouse, your neighbors ran into trouble!

Titmouse. I get it.

Toy. It’s a life-or-death issue.

Titmouse. But can we really trust you, Toy?

Toy. I can save them. Which part of it don’t you understand?

Pause.

Titmouse. He may be right, guys.

Yumi. You think so?

Titmouse. It’s clear that this kitten is a sharp lad.

Toy. Here you go. That’s what I’m talking about!

Yang. What do we need to do, Toy? Tell us. We want Greta to come back home too.

Yin. Yes, Toy, teach us what to do.

Toy. Take it easy, my friends. We are on track. Trust me.

Yumi. I am still scared. But now I’ve embraced hope to see my mom again and to save her.

Toy. Let’s get to it then. Titmouse! Can I commit a highly sensitive task to you?

Titmouse. I am ready.

Toy. Fly to the animal control center and test the waters. Wait for us there till evening. As soon as it gets dark, we will enter from the back door. Everything’s clear?

Titmouse. Yes, I’ll be waiting for you there.

Toy. Fly then and be careful.

Titmouse. See you later, my friends.

Titmouse flies away.

Toy. Little mice, now there is a task for you. Listen to me carefully.

Yang. We are waiting for further instructions, boss.

Yin. What do we need to do, Toy?

The crow flies in unbeknownst to them and hides itself in the yard of the apartment block.

Toy. In order to leave the yard without being seen, we should split up. Go ahead. Wait for us near the supermarket. In the event of emergency send out a signal. Everything’s clear?

Yang. Everything is clear, boss!

Toy. Boss? Well, I like it. Boss! My dad would be proud of me.

Yin. We can make a good team.

Toy. Go now.

Yumi. See you!

The little mice cut the yard across and whip out of sight.

Toy. Are you ready, Yumi?

Yumi. Yes, I am ready. Give me a couple of minutes. My mom hid a spongy bone for me in the gully, for a rainy day. I will take it along, it will bring us good luck.

Yumi goes off to the bushes. As soon as he drops out of sight, the crow flies up to Toy.

Crow. Lord gave me the order to watch you.

Toy. These fools believe that I will take them to Greta.

Crow. They will be surprised when they get to your gang hide-out.

Toy. Tell the boss that I will fulfill his order.

Crow. Got it.

Toy. Soon I will take vengeance for my father’s death. I will flush out the police dog named Thunder from his hole. Wherever he is now.

Crow. Anything else?

Toy. Tell Melisa that she can be proud of me. Her son will bring two fat and juicy mice for dinner.

The crow flies away. Yumi comes back.

Yumi. Here, I’ve brought it.

Toy. Follow me.

Yumi and Toy turn to leave, but Pirate suddenly blocks their way. Toy jumps on the fence, Yumi stays put.

Pirate. Grrr… Riff-raff. You are here again.

Yumi. We are not riff-raff. My name is Yumi. This is my friend Toy. Let us go, Pirate.

Pirate. You think your mother will come to your help again, don’t you?

Yumi. My mom isn’t here. Some people from the animal tormentor gang took her.

Pirate. Took her? Who?

Toy. Khorkov and Corkscrew.

Pirate. Things turned ugly. These people won’t just let her free.

Yumi. We are going to the animal control center to rescue my mom.

Pirate. What are you meddling in? You are mad! They will eat you for breakfast.

Yumi. So be it. It is better than staying here and doing nothing.

Pirate. Miracles just don’t happen. You can’t save Greta.

Yumi. Christmas Eve is the time when dreams come true. You should just wish for something with your whole heart, believe in your success and keep moving towards your desirable goal.

Pirate. Muck for mugs. Life is much more complicated than that.

Yumi. I made a wish this morning to get a new home for me and my mom. And to meet my father.

Pirate. And? Did it work?

Yumi. Not really. I did not expect this new home to be a dog prison.

Pirate. I like to live on the street though. I am my own master here.

Yumi. Pirate, please, let us go.

Pirate. Hold it right there!

Yumi. I’m holding on.

Pirate. What a partner you’ve chosen. As crooked as a corkscrew.

Toy. Fffhhh…

Yumi. Toy is my friend.

Pirate. Cats are just like humans, they can betray you at any moment.

Yumi. I believe that Toy won’t betray me.

Pirate. It is your choice. However, this belief will hardly help you save Greta.

Yumi. I will take a chance. Let us go!

Pirate. You will cook your own goose, pup.

Yumi. This morning I found out that my father was a real hero.

Pirate. A hero? Ha-ha-ha!

Yumi. And I wanted to become as strong and brave as he was. But I understand now that my father abandoned us. And betrayed us at the moment when he was needed the most.

Maybe I won’t be able to save my mom and will die. But I know for sure that now I don’t want to be like my father. I will never leave my mom in dire straits and I will never betray her. Get out of my way!

Pirate. Grrr… The character was obviously passed down to you from your mother, wasn’t it?

Yumi. Let us go!

Pirate. Have the kitten go. And you better stay here, at the wasteland. I will help you survive.

Yumi. Time’s ticking away! Kill me or get out of my way, Pirate! I have nothing more to lose.

Pirate. Look at you, you are nuts, lad.

Pause.

Pirate. Get out of here. Before I change my mind.

Pirate let Yumi and Toy go. The puppy and the kitten turn to go away.

Pirate. Hold on! Yumi. Wait.

Yumi. What?

Pirate. The animal control center is located onsite the former special fleet depot. Here. (He draws it in the snow.) Two gangs dominate the road thereto. These are the animal tormentor gang and the cat burglar gang.

In order to evade their checkpoints, go along the river till you get to a ruined tower. Then —half a kilometer up north along the railway lines.

When it gets dark, enter the center premises through the hole in the fence, to the right of the security booth. Then just play it by ear.

I hope that your whiskered friend won’t bring you over to a trap. You watch yourself, Yumi. You will do just fine.

Yumi. Thank you, Pirate. My mom was wrong calling you a fool.

Pirate. Grrr…

Yumi and Toy leave.

Scene 6.

Evening shades. Cat burglar gang hide-out.

Yumi and the mice got caged. Lord, Melisa, Toy and other gang members enjoy their triumph.

Lord. Toy!

Toy. Yes, Lord.

Lord. You did a great job.

Toy. When you catch our enemy, this police dog called Thunder, will you let Yumi go? That was our agreement.

Lord. You are still young and too naive, Toy.

Toy. What do you mean?

Lord. Nobody knows where Thunder is now. This sneaky rascal crept into a deep hole and doesn’t show up. I know in bones that Thunder is alive and keeps a close watch on us.

Toy. Then what will happen to Yumi when you get to his father?

Lord. Much to my regret, I won’t be able to hunt Thunder down. But I will take vengeance on him for my brother’s death anyway.

Toy. You promised to let Yumi go! Our wrangles have nothing to do with the puppy.

Lord. Yumi will die tomorrow morning. Thunder is going to find out about that. I’m done.

All the gang members leave, the prisoners are left in the cage.

ACT III

Scene 7.

Evening. Cat burglar gang hide-out.

Yumi, Yin and Yang are caged.

Yumi. This is the end.

Yang. Be stronger. Be stronger. Be stronger!

Yumi. Stronger? It was me who got you into this trap. And let my mom down.

Yin. Success is a measure of decisions we make. I don’t regret going with you, Yumi. We have to believe.

Yang. Do not succumb to panic. Now lay to!

Yang tries to break the cage door, Yin and Yumi help him, but the door does not respond. Toy comes in.

Yin. Traitor.

Yang. Blatant liar!

Yumi. Toy, how could you?

Pause.

Toy. Have you finished?

Yin. We have nothing to say to you.

Toy forces the lock; the cage door opens.

Toy. I was wrong. Give me a chance to make it right.

Yumi and the mice don’t move.

Toy. Come along! Hurry up. I will take you out of here.

Pause.

Toy. What’s wrong? We need to make haste!

Yumi. We don’t believe you.

Toy. Time is lacking for thinking. Lord will soon notice that I left. This is our last chance.

Yang. Come along! We won’t be any worse off.

Yang leaves the cage first, he is followed by Yin, and the last one to go out is Yumi.

Toy. Follow me. I will get you out of here and help you save your mom.

They all head for the door, and suddenly Melisa comes out of the darkness, claws the mice and blocks the way.

Melisa. Is my dinner going for a walk? Don’t you move, or I will choke the life out of you. (She protracts her claws, the mice squeak with pain.)

Toy. Mom, let us through.

Melisa. Do you really think that I will let you sign your own death warrant?

Toy. Yes.

Melisa. Lord will kill you, Toy.

Toy. Lord lied to me and he broke his promise to spare Yumi’s life.

Melisa. Lord is your boss. His orders are beyond questions.

Toy. My father was a real boss! Whereas Lord is just a travesty of his elder brother.

Melisa. I have no choice, Toy. Lord is stronger than we are.

Toy. There is always a choice. Let us go.

Melisa. Toy, I forbid you to do it.

Toy. Yumi’s mother is in grave danger. I am the only one who can help them let her free.

Melisa. Dogs are our enemies.

Toy. Enemies? And who are we? After my father’s death we just turned into a gang of malevolent thieves, and everyone is for himself. We are our own enemies!

Melisa. I have always dreamt of you following a different route. That you would stop both being a thief and living on the street.

Toy. So give a chance to change our life, mom. Let me go.

Pause.

Melisa. You are just like your father now. Go and never come back.

Toy. Thank you, mom. Yumi, let’s go!

Toy and Yumi head for the door.

Yumi. What about our friends, Yin and Yang?

Melisa. Nobody has canceled my dinner yet. The mice will stay here.

Yin. Yumi, help us.

Yang. Please, Yumi, help us out!

Toy. Yumi, don’t argue. We have to go rescue your mom.

Yumi. That will never do.

Toy. What’s your point?

Yumi. Yin and Yang got into the trap because they wanted to help save my mom Greta.

Toy. It was their choice.

Yumi. Yes, you are right. The odds are against us.

Toy. Yin and Yang are our free pass to being set free.

Melisa. That’s a good point, son. (She plays with the mice.)

Yumi (to Toy). I thought you are a real boss.

Toy. What?

Yumi. Did your father always betray his friends and leave them to their fate too?

Toy. My father never was a traitor! He died saving the Lord’s skin!

Yumi. Die but save a friend. This is what a real leader would do.

Toy. I think I know what you mean. Melisa, I am sorry. You won’t get any dinner today.

Melisa. Are you insane?

Toy. Mom, listen to me.

Melisa. What?

Toy. You just said: I wish my son quitted stealing and get off the street.

Melisa. Yes, that’s right.

Toy. Tell me, what can I become working with the cat burglar band?

Melisa. The gang leader.

Toy. Is it what you want me to be?

Melisa. No, Toy, it isn’t. I don’t want you to be a thief.

Toy. I have never had any friends. Just my father.

Melisa. You can’t bring your father back.

Toy. On the other hand, I, your son, can change our life. First of all, I should stop keeping the company of thieves and try to make friends with good guys.