amazon.com *
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-- 4/07 -- "Kapital" (full plays xollection - ru) :
srkn.ru * in Russian * Sorokin = pomo experiments with styles! (conceptualism). teatr.us
[ advertising space : webmaster ] Russian satirist sued over 'gay Stalin' Thursday, 11 July, 2002 BBC Local prosecutors in Moscow have begun a criminal action against a Russian author who wrote about a fictional homosexual relationship between Stalin and Khrushchev. * 
script.vtheatre.net
 ShowCases: 3 Sisters, Mikado, 12th Night, Hamlet, The Importance of Being Earnest, Dangerous Liaisons, Don Juan prof. Anatoly Antohin Theatre UAF AK 99775 USA   my eGroups «Äîâåðèå»
Summary
QuestionsSorokin: Artist, writer. The only professional writer among Moscow Conceptualists. Sorokin the writer has generated among Conceptualist artists, and he is still a very good artist himself, though not exhibiting now. His shocking poetics is in a big part influenced by Conceptual circle. Sorokin is one of the most successful alternative writers - until the mid 90-s he was quite well known in the West and his novels were published in a dozen countries, besides Russia.Russian audience was introduced to his works with the publishig by Obscuri Viri of his major novels "Norma" and "Roman" in 1994, and "Dostoevsky-trip" (in "Mesto Pechati" magazine and later as a book). However, being a popular, or even a fashionable writer, Sorokin is hardly understood by those who consider his texts as a total negation. The "discourse problem" of Sorokin's texts consists in predictability of reactions of bothe the "typical" reader and the specialist, which the author successfully manipulates. that indicates a certain sort of literature myth creation model that is intially closed for reading. There's much in common between "medical hermeneutic" narrative and the chrystally built novels by Sorokin - in both cases it's the casino principle: whichever the card is, the house wins. * 
NotesÂëàäèìèð Ñîðîêèí: Ðîññèÿ îñòàåòñÿ ëþáîâíèöåé òîòàëèòàðèçìà interview
2004 & After
Letter from Russia Vsevolod Brodsky ... 2007
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The bare stage is lit with dim yellow light. A door in the center of the backcloth opens, and from a brightly lit corridor with white tiles a young man in hospital pajamas enters, escorted by two hospital attendants. One of the hospital attendants carries a sack and a small stool, the other carries a large stool. All three go forward to the left side of the stage and stop. The hospital attendant places the big stool on the floor and the young man sits down on it. The other hospital attendant places the small stool in front of the sitting man and throws the sack near him. Both hospital attendants then stand behind the sitting man.VOICE FROM LOUDSPEAKER
Patient H., 23 years of age. At the time of hospitalization, patient was unemployed. The anamnesis indicates no inherited defects. The father's character is calm and solicitous. The mother is also without neurotic tendencies. The patient has no siblings, and has been in excellent health, with no history of serious illness. On leaving secondary school, the patient entered the Communications College. He made good progress in the first year. Before the illness, he was lively and sociable by character, had many friends, and participated in sports. During the summer break, he went to a sport camp. Once, during weight training, the patient dropped a weight and slightly struck his nose. Bones were not damaged; only an oedema developed. While the oedema remained, the patient was calm, but once the oedema had diminished the patient looked at himself in the mirror and suddenly noticed that his nose was "irregular". After that, he thought about the irregularity constantly and often looked at himself in the mirror. The patient began to avoid company and left the camp before the end of the term. The remainder of the summer he stayed at home and avoided going out. The patient constantly examined his face in the mirror and came to the conclusion that the nose "should be covered with something." He began by wearing plaster on his nose. He then started to resort to catching bees and stinging the bridge of his nose to cause oedemas to reappear on that spot. With the oedema, he felt at ease and went to dances. At the beginning of the semester, he resumed classes, alternating oedema with plaster. However, at the same time, he still expressed apprehension that the students noticed his "deformity." He felt especially shy with girls. The patient believed that they said his nose was "like an owl's." He was also convinced that his parents did not like his nose, although they would not say it aloud. He increasingly considered the necessity of plastic surgery. He sought surgical assistance, but was refused. He applied to the Institute of Cosmetology with the intention of receiving plastic surgery. After a refusal, he stopped attending the college, stayed at home, and went out rarely, and only with the plaster on his nose or with his face bandaged. He began quarrelling with his parents, blaming them for "indifference and heartlessness". After one such quarrel, he left for his aunt's, in the Jaroslavl region. He lived for some time in the village, working as watchman in the farm. The patient constantly wore plaster or a bandage, explaining it as "an abrasion." He did not associate with the young people of the village, but instead stayed at home, read, watched television, and assisted his aunt in keeping the home. When his parents came to get him, he made a commotion, and ran away to the forest, where he spent three days. After much persuasion, he returned to Moscow with his parents. The patient reapplied to the Institute of Cosmetology, and was refused. He avoided going out. He began to make a skin-colored plaster, using his mother's cream and powder. After some time, he reapplied to the Institute of Cosmetology again and after a refusal, went into hysterics. The patient was hospitalized in a mental institution. He does not consider himself ill. Initially, he objected to staying in the institution, but later consented to undergo a cure providing that if he remained in the hospital, he would receive plastic surgery. Physical and neurological status: Without pathology. Mental status: Completely competent, capable of coherent contact, depressed, wears an expression of grief, weeps during conversation. The patient is convinced that he has "a nose defect"---a hollow cavity that must be disposed of. In fact, the patient has a regular, even fine nose, and his features are entirely free of defects. In reply to the doctor's assurances that his thoughts of the defect of his nose were groundless, he replied: "Well, when I marry I'll stop thinking of it." However, he immediately rejoined with bitterness: "I don't like anybody nowadays. How can I like anybody if I don't like myself?" The patient asked his parents not come to the institution. He does not mix with groups. He has not expressed any intention of committing suicide. The patient was prescribed a course of treatment with antidepressants in combination with neuroleptic.
(The patient sits hunched up, hiding his face from the bright light with his hands.)
VOICE
Undress the patient.
(The hospital attendants strip the patient, throwing the clothes
on the floor. The patient does not resist, and sits, naked, on
the stool, hunched over with his face buried in his hands.)
VOICE
Remove the plaster from the bridge of the patient's nose.
(One of the hospital attendants holds the patient, the other
takes the plaster off and lays it on the small stool standing
before the patient. The patient buries his face in his knees and
covers it with his hands. The hospital attendants stand behind
the patient again. The door in the center of the backcloth
opens, and a girl in hospital pajamas enters, escorted by two
hospital attendants. One of the hospital attendants carries a
sack and a small stool, the other carries a big stool. All three
go forward to the left side of the stage and stop near patient H.
The hospital attendant places the big stool on the floor, and the
girl sits down on it. The other hospital attendant places the
small stool in front of the sitting girl and throws the sack near
her. Both hospital attendants stand behind the sitting girl.
Suddenly a bright ray of light illuminates her. The girl shades
her face.)
VOICE FROM LOUDSPEAKER
Patient J., 18 years of age. The patient's heritage, according
to the patient's aunt on her mother's side, has no history of
disease. The patient was born and developed normally. At 7
years of age, she lost her parents in a car accident, and from
then on, was raised in a children's home. She began attending
school at age 7, and did well. Her character was calm, sociable,
and inquisitive. She read a great deal. At 16, she contracted
tuberculosis. She was sent to the Crimea for treatment and
recovered. Due to the illness, she missed a school year. At 17
years of age, the patient began to feel that someone watched her
and sometimes followed her down the street. She occasionally
heard his breath and steps, and "looked round, but didn't notice
anyone." After a while these feelings wore off, and the patient
stopped paying any particular attention to them. She graduated
from school successfully and moved to Moscow, where she passed
examinations for the oil college but was unable to attend due to
competition. She was very upset and wept a great deal. The
patient left to live with her aunt and secured employment as a
librarian. She suffered a strong intestinal upset, accompanied
by frequent diarrhea. After that, it began to seem to the
patient that she was involuntarily flatulent. On one occasion,
during a film in a movie theater, she heard a young man sitting
in front of her irritated telling his friend: "Somebody's
stinking up the whole movie theater." The patient felt a strong
burning in her anus, and was extremely frightened. After that
incident, the sensation of gas excretion became stronger. It
began to seem to her that people around her felt that she stank,
turned aside, and despised her. She stopped associating with
friends, as well as going to the cinema and dances. Shortly
afterwards, she left her job, telling her aunt that she wanted to
study for her exams. The patient stopped using public transport
because she "noticed" that as soon as she got in, people began
exchanging significant glances and "behaved oddly in general".
The patient avoided going out, and went for walks only in rainy
and windy weather. To diminish "emission of gases", the patient
began severely restricting her intake of food, sometimes going
without food entirely, and lost an extreme amount of weight due
to this. The patient frequently quarreled with her aunt over
meals, and threatened to "go away and never come back". She
constantly ate boiled beets "to purge well", and was convinced it
helped. Her condition became worse when an old friend of her
aunt's came to visit from another town. The patient began to
lock herself in the bathroom, and almost ceased eating
altogether. She demanded that all the windows would be opened or
her "heart would stop". The patient accused her aunt's friend of
"arranging exhibitions in the window" when she put flowers or her
purse on the window cell. The patient "understood" it as being
done on purpose so that the passersby would "know of my
disgrace". She made a commotion, and threw out the flowers and
purse. After that, the patient was hospitalized in a mental
institution. Physical state: Vast weight loss, skin and visible
mucous membranes are pale, breath is slightly hoarse. The heart
is without pathology. Liver slightly enlarged. Blood test and
urine tests are normal, peristalsis is satisfactory. Mental
status: Completely competent, depressed. The patient describes
her state with reluctance, and weeps. The patient insistently
asks to be sent to experts who will examine her intestinal and
gastric system. She is convinced that people despise her. In
the hospital ward, she stands to the side and avoids other
patients. The patient secretly made a "cork for retention of
gases" and inserts it in her anus. She extracts the cork only
before going to bed and in the lavatory. At night, she sleeps
clutching the cork. The patient was prescribed a course of
aminnos and antidepressants.
(The patient sits covering her face with her hands from the
bright light.)
VOICE
Undress the patient.
(The hospital attendants strip the patient, throwing her clothes
on the floor. The patient weeps.)
VOICE
Extract the cork.
(One of the hospital attendants holds the patient's arms, the
other extracts the cork from her anus. The patient weeps. They
force her to sit down. The patient continues to weep, burying
her face in her hands. The hospital attendant puts the cork on
the small stool that stands before the patient, and both
attendants then stand behind the patient. The door in the center
of the backcloth opens, and a man in hospital pajamas enters,
escorted by two hospital attendants. One of the hospital
attendants carries a sack and a small stool, the other carries a
big stool. All three go forward and stop near Patient J. The
hospital attendant places the big stool on the floor and the man
sits down on it. The other hospital attendant places the small
stool in front of the sitting man and throws the sack nearby.
Both hospital attendants then stand beside the sitting man.
Suddenly, he is illuminated by a bright ray of light. The man
hangs his head.)
VOICE FROM LOUDSPEAKER
Patient K., 38 years of age, a driver of heavy dump-trucks, later
an invalid of the 2nd category. The patient's father is a
salesman, and has twice received treatment for alcoholism. His
mother is an electric sewing-machine operator, subject to fits of
hard drinking. The patient has a younger brother who is mentally
healthy. The patient was born and developed normally. At the
age of six, he had meningitis, and later often had quinsies.
When he was 14, he witnessed the sudden death of his grandfather
on his mother's side, to whom he was very much attached. The
patient took the loss hard. Having found out that the
grandfather died of an acute coronary condition, he began to
express apprehension that he could die the same way because his
"character" was like that of his grandfather. For some time, he
avoided going out and kept to his bed "so as not to overtax the
heart". At night, he asked that his mother sleep with him, and
demanded that she keep nitroglycerine, which the grandfather had
not taken, ready at all times. Eventually, he calmed and stopped
thinking about death. The patient left school at the age of 16
and entered a vocational training school. Having acquired a
degree there, the patient worked as a driver of heavy
dump-trucks. When he turned 18, he was called for military
service. The patient adjusted poorly to the conditions of
military service, and was frequently depressed. Once, during
physical excursuses, he was made fun of by the squad leader for
his inability to train on the parallel bars. In the squad
leader's opinion, K. could not carry out the exercise because K.
was "always barrel-backed". After that, in the squad and later
in the company, K. was nicknamed "the hunchback", and was subject
to mockery. He became even more reserved and depressed, and
ceased associating with his fellow servicemen. At the same time,
he began to look in the mirror every morning and attempt "to
straighten himself". At one point, he received a penalty during
regular training. The company leader told him, in the presence
of other soldiers: "If you don't get rid of the hump, you'll
never get married". The patient was mocked by the soldiers. In
the evening, the patient refused his supper, locked himself in
the lavatory, and attempted to hang himself. The patient was
hospitalized in a mental institution and diagnosed as suffering
manic-depressive psychosis. Physical state: Normal. Mental
status: Completely competent, depressed. The patient talked
about his state with reluctance, and asked that the doctors give
him "a medicine" to make him "forget" everything. He contended
that before he didn't notice his hump because he never "saw
himself from behind", and resented his parents because "they kept
the deformity secret". He underwent an amino cure and was taking
general roborant therapy. In two months, he was discharged from
the hospital and demobilized. For the first two weeks after his
release, the patient was calm, but reluctant to answer his
parents' questions. His state then worsened. The patient
examined his back in the mirror for hours and said that he had "a
very strong curvature of the spine which is growing progressively
worse". He connected it with a childhood incident in which he
fell from a swing and landed on his back. The patient then began
to demand that his parents find a good surgeon for him, but made
it a condition that the surgeon would speak to him at his or the
surgeon's residence. He responded to the parent's reassurances
with irritation, calling them "dissemblers" and saying that they
would "come to their senses after the hump bends me". Soon after
that, he went to the surgeon's himself. After being refused
treatment, he returned home agitated, shouted at his parents, and
broke a vase. The patient was then re-hospitalized. Physical
status: Normal. Mental status: Agitated, demanding an immediate
surgical operation and blaming the psychiatrists for their
"ignorance". He underwent an amino cure, antidepressants, and an
electric sleep cure. Eventually, his state improved and he
stopped demanding the operation. However, he always carried a
mirror with him, looked at his back, and said that he "should
find something for the stoop". He made contact with other
patients, often playing checkers and dominoes. In the morning,
he did excursuses "against the stoop"; before going to bed he did
jumping-jacks "to disperse blood in the back". He was discharged
from the hospital after three months. At home, the patient felt
well, joined a basketball team, and said "It's possible to get
rid of the stoop". He got a job as a driver of heavy
dump-trucks. The patient became sociable, went fishing with his
friends, and went to the cinema and dances. For eight years,
there was no relapse. When he was 26 years of age, he met a girl
and soon fell in love with her. He was going to propose to her,
but one night, while he was at her residence, her mother
playfully commented "Such a likable guy shouldn't stoop". The
patient was extremely shaken by this. He went home, pleading a
headache. The patient could not sleep, and decided to move to
another town. The next day, he left for Saratov. In the train
he "noticed" that the other passengers behaved suspiciously and
felt that they "hinted a great deal". In Saratov, he secured
seasonal employment as a loader "so as to carry a lot on his
back", but in a week he left the job "because of constant hints".
The patient found the home address of a local surgeon, went to
him, and entreated him for an operation "to correct the back",
offering money and weeping. The patient was again hospitalized
in a mental institution. Physical status: Normal. Mental
status: Depressed, reluctant to make contact with the doctor,
keeps silent. He underwent an amino and antidepressants cure,
and received shock therapy. Gradually, his state improved and he
became sociable and began work therapy. About his imaginary
deformity, the patient spoke listlessly or kept silent. He was
convinced that "the backbone is crooked" and that "it's a grave
matter", but always added: "Well, some people live even without
legs". About the future, the patient spoke concretely, saying
that he wanted to "find a companion who can understand
everything". About his parents, the patient spoke with
resentment, because he could not forgive them for not noticing
his "deformity" in due course, and reiterated the proverb: "It's
no use crying over the hair when the head's been cut off". The
patient was discharged from the hospital after nine months.
After returning home, the patient did not work for four months,
feeling "somewhat inert". He then secured employment as an
auxiliary worker in a warehouse. For 2 years, there was no
relapse, although he avoided crowded places and was in close
friendship only with one fellow worker. He continued to be
estranged from his parents. He also began to abuse alcohol. One
day. while unloading a vegetable truck, he felt something
"crunch" in his back. After that, he did not work for a week and
began locking himself in the bathroom and examining his back in
the mirror. He noticed that "the back is arched". The patient
lapsed into anxiety, shouted at his parents, and wept. The
patient was re-hospitalized. Physical state: Normal. Mental
status: Excited, demands an immediate appointment with a surgeon,
refuses meals. He underwent an amino and antidepressants cure,
and received shock therapy. Gradually, his state improved, but
he did not renounce his idea of an "irregular back". The patient
disguises his emotions. In the morning he performs back-bends
regularly, explaining that he is wrestling with a headache and
high blood pressure in that way. The patient secretly made a
"back-straightener" out of the back of a broken chair. He
fastens the "straightener" to his back and constantly wears it
under his pajamas, taking if off only before going to bed.
Speaking with the doctor, the patient answers in single words or
keeps silent, reiterating that "life is not a simple thing". The
patient's thinking is systematic, and he displays severe
emotional scarcity. With his parents, he continues to be cold.
During the following eight years, the patient was hospitalized in
a mental institution on five occasions. He constantly wears the
"back-straightener". He has been registered as a disabled person
of 2nd category.
(The patient is sitting with his head hung).
VOICE
Undress the patient.
(The hospital attendants strip the patient, throwing the clothes
on the floor. The patient doesn't resist.)
VOICE
Take the "back-straightener" off the patient.
(One of the hospital attendants holds the patient's arms, the
other takes the "straightener" off his back. The patient doesn't
resist. The hospital attendant puts the "straightener" on the
small stool that stands before the patient and then both hospital
attendants stand behind the patient. The door in the centre of
the backcloth opens and a woman in hospital pajamas enters,
escorted by two hospital attendants. One of the hospital
attendants carries a sack and a small stool. The other carries a
big stool. All the three go forward and spot near patient K. The
hospital attendant places the big stool on the floor and the
woman sits down on it. The other hospital attendant places the
small stool in front of the sitting man and throws the sack near.
Then both hospital attendants stand behind the sitting woman.
Suddenly a bright ray lights her up. The woman shades herself.
VOICE
Patient Q, 35 years of age. Librarian. The grandfather from
father's line had "some fits", and relatives mention an episode
of a sleep lasting 5 days. The mother's brother had "half-faints"
with sharp perspiration, pallor and momentary deafness. The
mother is vivid and sociable by character. The father is
hot-tempered but "comes to himself" soon, active, and has begun
to abuse alcohol since his retirement. The patient has a
brother, 28 years of age, no neurotic tendencies. Before
attending school, the patient grew up and developed normally,
attended a day-care center and nursery school. The patient began
school at 7 years of age. She was doing very well, and was
considered the best pupil in her class. She was very contentious
and punctual and always attempted to order and systemize her
knowledge. As a child, the patient was often ill with catarrhal
illnesses and quinsies. She had dysentery and mumps. At the age
of 6, she had a head contusion, without loss of consciousness.
The patient began menstruating at 13. Since she was 14, she
began thinking that she had excessively corpulent legs and hips,
which aggravated her greatly. She yielded to no persuasion. She
was particularly "stuck in those thoughts" after she was rejected
from a ballet school. She connected the failure only with her
"misshapen fat legs", although objectively she had no ability in
terms of choreography. Following that, the patient began to
reject flour and cereal foods and ceased eating lunch at school,
saying that they cooked impalpably there. She began to spend
much time on her feet and dedicated more energy to her studies
and extra-curricular activities. In that period, it was noticed
for the first time that the patient was not putting on weight.
When the patient was 14, she underwent a cure at an out-patient
clinic at a children's psycho-neurologist, and received the
diagnosis "neurasthenia". After the eighth grade, the patient
went to a summer camp program, where she lost 2 kilograms in one
month. At one point, she heard the boys in her detachment
talking about the girls, and saying that her legs were "made of
fat". She was greatly shaken, and for three days ate nothing at
all. After returning home, she attempted to eat less, and
refused bread and fats. The patient walked 10 to 15 km. every
day, did her homework standing on her feet, and exhausted herself
with long physical exercise programs. During the New Year's
school dance, she was not asked to dance. For three days after
that, she wept, did not eat anything, and kept saying that her
legs were "like lumps" and that she was "an eternal fright". She
was taken to the children's psycho-neurologist, and was then sent
to the Institute of Endocrinology. From there, she was sent to a
children's mental institution. She was 159 cm. in height, 35.5
kg. in weight. After a three month cure, she was discharged, and
with her parents strictly supervising her nutrition, kept a
stable weight for 2 months. Every feeding was accompanied by
hysterics; the patient screamed and wept, and it required
tremendous efforts to gain concessions. In 2 years, the
patient's weight was at approximately 40 kg. After leaving
school, the patient entered the College of Engineers of Civic
Aviation. She made great progress in her first year. In the
summer, she went for community service with her group. During
this service, a young man whom the patient liked preferred her
friend. She became depressed, refused meals, and could scarcely
wait until the end of the service. After returning home, she
severely restricted her intake of food again, stopped eating
bread and butter, and wrapped cottage cheese pancakes in blotting
paper and squeezed them "to remove unhealthy fat". She began
eating bread and meat only under threat of hospitalization.
Every feeding was accompanied by screaming, hysterics, and
threats of suicide. Sometimes, after forced feedings, the
patient artificially induced vomiting, after which she
"experienced bliss at last", smiled, and told her parents that
she did not blame them for anything. After a period, she was
hospitalized in a mental institution. Physical state: Extremely
emaciated---height: 160 cm, weight: 35 kg. No hypodermic adipose
tissue. Skin is very thin. Acrocyanosis, heightened nail
fragility, suffering from Lung and arterial hypotonia. Symptoms
of muscular dystrophy. Pulse rate: 55-60 per minute.
Enteroptosis. Frequent constipation and anathid gastritis.
Symptoms of vegetative dyspepsia, rise in tendon reflexes.
Mental status: At the time of hospitalization, the patients state
was serene, though slightly reluctant to make contact.
Completely competent. The hospital surroundings are burdensome
to her, and she demanded to be discharged to her home. With
tears in her eyes, she asked not to "be fattened" and promised to
eat normally. She regularly induced vomiting before going to
bed, and afterwards lay in bed motionless, saying that she now
felt "very well" and that "this is the best thing she has in
life". After taking a cure with amino, vitamins, and general
roborant therapy, she stopped inducing vomiting and her weight
increased to 39 kg. in a month. The patient became sociable,
easy in contact, and began to eat normally, although she still
rejected butter and ate little bread. She read a great deal and
indulged in work therapy. She was discharged from the hospital
after three months of hospitalization, weighing 43 kg. For the
first month after discharge, the patient ate normally, only
abstaining from butter and other fatty foods. She began to
attend classes in the College and associated with the students
normally. Suddenly she "remembered her deformity" while watching
a world championship figure skating competition. She fell into a
depression, began restricting her intake of food again, and began
missing classes. The patient daily induced vomiting. Soon, she
began to eat copiously, and after each meal artificially induced
vomiting. She quarrelled innecessarently with her parents and
threatened to commit suicide if they did not stop "disfiguring
her with food". She then moved in with her grandmother. The
patient stopped attending classes and stayed at home,
industriously occupying herself with housework, and cooked for
her grandmother. For herself, she cooked a "personal soup" twice
a day consisting of water, flour, and bread crumbs. She ate up
to 3 liters of the "soup" at a sitting, then locked herself in
the bathroom, induced vomiting, and stared at the vomit for
extended periods of time. After an act of vomiting, the patient
became complacent and said that she felt "very, very nice" and
that "every little tuck in the stomach is clean". The patient
filled glass jars with the vomit, kept them in the refrigerator,
and opened the refrigerator periodically to look at them. She
said that she liked to see those jars and that seeing them
"sweetened her heart". The patient was again hospitalized.
During the following 6 years she was hospitalized in a mental
institution 4 times. The patient always keeps a jar of vomit
with her, periodically renewing its contents.
(The patient sits, covering her face from the bright light with
her hands.)
VOICE
Undress the patient.
(The hospital attendants strip the patient, throwing the clothes
on the floor. The patient resists, holding the jar.)
VOICE
Take the jar from the patient.
(One of the hospital attendants holds the patient's arms, the
other takes away the jar. The patient weeps. They force her to
sit on the stool. She weeps, burying her face in her hands. The
hospital attendant puts the jar on the small stool standing
before the patient, and then both attendants stand behind the
patient. The door in the center of the backcloth opens, and a
young man in hospital pajamas enters, escorted by two hospital
attendants. One of the hospital attendants carries a sack and a
small stool, the other carries a big stool. All three go forward
and stop near patient Q. The hospital attendant places the big
stool on the floor and the young man sits down on it. The other
hospital attendant places the small stool in front of the sitting
man and throws the sack near him. Then both hospital attendants
stand behind the sitting man. Suddenly, he is illuminated by a
bright ray of light. The young man shades his face with his
hands.)
VOICE
Patient T., 20 years of age, student. The patient's father
abused alcohol, and died of tuberculosis when the patient was 14
years of age. The mother is irritable and hot-tempered. The
patient was very sociable in his childhood, but also unrestrained
and irritable. The patient began attending school at the age of
7. His studies came easily to him, he took an interest in
sports, and took part in extra-curricular activities. From the
age of 13, the patient began to show his characteristic
irritability more distinctly. When in the 9th grade, at the age
of 15, he gradually began to notice that his classmates looked at
him too attentively, sometimes even suspiciously, and laughed.
Initially, he could not understand why this was so, but once,
after looking at himself in the mirror, he "understood" the cause
of their mockery as "the lower jaw is ugly, too large and broad".
The patient concluded that the jaw had enlarged "because of the
change of climate" (the patient had lived with his uncle in
Archangelsk for some time, and then returned to his home in
Podolsk). From then on, the patient tried to be photographed as
little as possible. He looked at himself in the mirror for long
periods and "massaged" his jaw. When in public places, he shaded
his jaw with his hand. He became more reserved, but was doing
well in school as before. After leaving school, he tried to
enter a college, but could not pass the entrance examinations.
During the next year, he worked as an auxiliary worker, as a
postman, and as a night watchman. He then entered the Moscow
College of Steel and Alloys and was doing reasonably well. The
patient gradually became more and more spiteful, irritable, and
hot tempered by character. The thoughts about his jaw did not
leave him. Having come to Moscow, his first act was to apply to
surgeons for plastic surgery. After being advised to "put that
nonsense out of his head" he did not rest, and continued to think
about it continually. This state was quite burdensome---he wept,
tried not to appear in crowded places, and avoided his
acquaintances. His character changed even more sharply: he
created conflicts over any trifle, became extremely rude and
malicious, and his former sociability gave way to moroseness and
reticence. His behavior frequently caused other students to
accuse him of hooliganism. Soon he "noticed" that he had an
unpleasant effect on the people around him and aroused "some kind
of tension". He connected it with his jaw, which was "so ugly"
that it had an effect on people like "a radar passing them bad
energy". He tried to grow a beard, but noticing "intensification
of the mockery", stopped. In his 2nd year, the patient was only
able to study for three months. In connection with the fact of
the patient's blunt rudeness to other students and teachers,
quarreling and fighting, and the wearing of a plate under his
upper lip which supposedly compensated for the heaviness of the
lower jaw, he was hospitalized in a mental institution. Physical
status: Normal. Mental status: Completely competent. At the
beginning of conversation with the doctor, he talks about his
state with reluctance and attempts to shade his lower jaw. He
constantly wears a plastic plate under his upper lip. The
patient often discusses his forthcoming plastic operation,
enumerating "advice to the surgeon" for how to better "grind the
jaw". The patient was not sociable in the hospital ward, did not
occupy himself with anything, and often started arguments with
the hospital personnel, breaking the regular routine. The
patient was prescribed a course of treatment with shock therapy,
amino, and antidepressants. He became more gentle and sociable,
and stopped shading his lower jaw, bur he continues to wear the
plate under his upper lip. He almost does not mention the
operation, although he says that he "will have to talk to the
surgeon".
(The patient sits, using his hands to shade his face from the
bright light.)
VOICE
Undress the patient.
(The hospital attendants strip the patient, throwing the clothes
on the floor. The patient resists limply.)
VOICE
Extract the plate.
(One of the hospital attendants hold the patient's arms, the
other extracts the plate from his mouth. The patient resists
limply. They make him sit down on the stool. One attendant puts
the plate on the stool standing before the patient and then both
hospital attendants stand behind the patient. The door in the
center of the backcloth opens and a middle-aged woman in hospital
pajamas goes out on stage escorted by two hospital attendants.
One of the hospital attendants carries a sack and a small stool,
the other carries a big stool. All the three go forward and stop
near patient T. The hospital attendant places the big stool on
the floor and the woman sits down on it. The other hospital
attendant places the small stool in front of the sitting woman
and throws the sack near her. Then both hospital attendants stand
behind the sitting woman.)
VOICE
Patient N, 56 years of age, a bricklayer, then an invalid of 1st
category. The patient grew up in a large worker's family. The
father was mentally healthy, and died due to an industrial injury
at the factory when the patient was 12 years of age. The mother
was highly skilled, with a strong character, and suffered from
migraines. The patient grew up and developed normally. In early
childhood, the patient had measles, pneumonia and diphtheria. She
had no head injuries. As a child she was joyful, sociable and
had many friends. The patient went to school when she was 8 years
of age. Her performance was mediocre, but she found pleasure in
taking part in public activities, especially in amateur
performances. From 9 to 12 years of age, the patient had night
enuresis, and in the same period, she experienced fear at night,
slept badly and cried because it seemed to her that somebody was
looking at her from the stove. In a while the night fears
disappeared. Having left school the patient acquired a
profession of a bricklayer and worked at building a boiler-house.
Once, during work, she slipped, fell down, and struck her face
strongly against the bricks. She was unconscious for several
minutes with a smashed and swollen face. She was taken to a
hospital, where she was given first-aid and her face was
bandaged. In two weeks, the bandage was taken off. Looking at
herself in the mirror the patient "noticed" that her eyes "became
different, as though they were clouded with pellicle." She was
terribly frightened and depressed by her "discovery", and did not
listen to her relatives' dissuasions. She repeated frequently
that her eyes and brain were "shaken", wept, and scolded her
mother and relatives. Soon after that, her state became worse.
The patient developed the conviction that her eyes had become
"abnormal" and that everybody noticed. She could not think of
anything else, avoided public places, left her job, and stopped
using public transport. The patient would look at herself in the
mirror for hours and always had a mirror with her. She soon
began wearing dark glasses. She stopped going out, responded
rudely to her relative's questions, and shouted at her mother.
She was constantly depressed and extremely irritable. She
complained of headaches. The patient was hospitalized in a mental
institution. Physical and neurological states: No pathology with
the exception of some enlarging of the thyroid gland and
trembling of eyelids and fingers. Mental status: Completely
competent, excited, talks constantly about her abnormal eyes and
demands an occultist's consultation. The patient was prescribed a
course of treatment with electric sleep aminasin and stelasin.
She began talking less about her eyes but did not renounce the
idea that they had "changed". Her attitude towards other
patients and medical staff was irregular---sometimes she was
rude, shouted and made quarrels, other times she became mild and
attentive and confidently talked about private affairs. She was
discharged from hospital after 3 months. During first 2 months
after her discharge her state was normal, and she secured
employment. Then she "remembered everything", became irritable,
and verbally abused her mother, saying that her mother wanted "to
leave me a spinster for the rest of my life." At work, she
quarrelled with her fellow-workers, was rude to her superiors,
and refused to perform her duties, justifying the refusal by
saying that she did not want to do "stupid work". In a while,
she was dismissed from her place of employment. At home she wept
and said that she was dismissed "because of these nasty eyes".
She shouted at her mother and then she fell into a limp and
depressed state, during which she lay in bed for hours looking at
one point on the wall and refusing to answer any questions. The
patient was re-hospitalized in a mental institute. She was
indignant at being hospitalized, and shoved at her mother and the
doctors. She did not consider herself ill. She talked about her
eyes with reluctance, saying that it was a private matter. She
often became excited, grimaced at other patients and doctors, and
looked at herself in the mirror. Sometimes, she suddenly began
singing loudly and laughing, and became limp and depressed soon
afterwards. She underwent a program of shock therapy, amino
acids, and antidepressants. The patient was discharged from
hospital in 4 months in a good state. She took amino acids for
two months and felt well. She secured new employment. Then she
stopped taking amino acids and began looking for long periods of
time, saying that during her stay in the hospital they had
"gotten very narrow because of the medicines". She wept, and
said that now nobody would marry her, and her mother had "gotten
what she wanted". The patient had a sexual intercourse with an
unfamiliar man, telling her mother that she had done it to spite
her. The patient shouted at her mother and even threatened to
take legal action against her for her "spoiled eyes", as well as
throwing objects at her. The patient was re-hospitalized.
Physical and neurological status: Thyroid gland slightly
enlarged, hands prone to trembling. Mental status: At the time of
hospitalization, she was irritated, malicious and shouted at
doctors. During conversation, the patient laughed unpredictably,
looked aside or even turned her back to the interlocutor. She
did not consider herself ill, and denied the facts of her
behavior. The patient did not make contact with other patients,
regarding them scornfully and maliciously. She was prescribed a
course of treatment with shock therapy, amino acids, and electric
sleep. The patient became less malicious and correspondingly
altered her perception of the surroundings. However, she did not
renounce the idea that she was damaged, and began to weep when
the conversation turned to her eyes. She often sang in the ward,
grimaced, and tickled other patients. The patient tried to make
the acquaintance of patients from the mens' ward, but talked
sparsely about her sexual impulses. The patient made
"pupil-dilator" out of paper-fasteners and inserted them under
her eyelids. With them, she became self-confident and tried to
make the acquaintance of many hospital attendants. She was
discharged in 8 months and was registered as an invalid of 2nd
category. During the following 35 years, the patient was
hospitalized in mental institutions on 18 occasions, and spent a
total of 28 years hospitalized. She was later registered as an
invalid of 1st category
(The patient sits screwing up her eyes from the bright light).
VOICE
Undress the patient
(The hospital attendants strip the patient, throwing the clothes
on the floor. The patient shouts and fights with them, but then
calms and sits down on the stool, embracing herself and
mumbling.)
VOICE
Remove the "eyelid-dilator".
(One of the hospital attendants holds the patient's arms, the
other extracts the "dilator" from under her eyelids. The patient
shouts, curses and weeps. The hospital attendant puts the
"eyelid-dilator" on the small stool, and then both hospital
attendants stand behind the patient. The door in the center of
the backcloth opens and a man enters, escorted by two hospital
attendants. One of the hospital attendants carries a big stool.
All three go forward and stop near patient N. The hospital
attendant places the big stool on the floor and the man sits down
on it. The other hospital attendant places the small stool on the
floor in front of the sitting man and throws the sack near him.
Then both hospital attendants stand behind the sitting man.
Suddenly a bright ray lights him up. The man hangs his head.)
VOICE
Patient H, 29 years of age, geologist. The father is reserved,
not sociable, as a young man he complained of fits of "anguish".
Mother is mentally healthy. In his early childhood, the patient
suffered measles, whooping cough and stomatitis. He later had
frequent quinsies. During his pre-school years, the patient was
restless, obstinate and pugnacious. After he was 9 years of age
he became more calm, was doing well at school, and helped his
parents with house-work. In high school he took a great interest
in mathematics, and studied and read a great deal. Once, in the
last grade, one of his fellow-students made fun of him, saying
that he had "a chicken's neck". On returning home, he looked at
himself in the mirror for a long time and was shocked to see
that, because he had never "seen myself from behind", he "didn't
know that my neck was so thin and ugly". The patient fell into
depression, wept and planned to transfer to another school. He
began to grow his hair long to shade his neck, and kept a scarf
on during classes on the pretext that he had a chill. The patient
became unsociable and began to avoid public places. After
leaving school, he entered the Moscow State University in the
geological exploration faculty. He was doing well, however, he
was reserved, avoided his fellow students, and constantly wore
the scarf around his neck. During the summer break, he fell in
love with a girl from his group, but was rejected. It was hard
for him to bear the rejection, and the patient fell into a
depression, convinced that it was "all because of this deformed
neck". He wept, intended to "go away somewhere", and stopped
eating. At the parents' request he was consulted by the Moscow
psychiatrist on duty and then hospitalized in a mental
institution. Physical and neurological status: Normal. Mental
status: Completely competent, depressed, makes contact with
difficulty. The patient said that "it's hard to live with such a
deformity", and asked to be helped "with medical means". He
associated with other patients little and spent most of the day
in bed. The patient was prescribed a course of treatment with
shock therapy and antidepressants. After that, his mood became
noticeably better, he became more vivid and sociable and
willingly played chess. However, he did not renounce the idea of
the deformity, though he said that "now it doesn't worry me as
much as before". He was discharged, in a calm state, 2 months
after hospitalization. For the next 6 months he felt normal,
although he constantly wore the scarf around his neck. The
patient willingly attended classes in the University, but was
estranged with fellow-students. With his parents he was formally
polite, but there was no close relationship or trust between
them. The patient read a lot, avoided public places, and tried
to remain a loner. His state became worse when he learned that
the girl with whom he had been in love had married. The
patient fell into depression and stopped attending classes.
However, he suddenly found employment in a geological expedition
and went to West Siberia. He spent 47 days with the expedition.
Initially, his behavior was normal. He tried to be sociable,
took an interest in reconnaissance, and helped the others. Then,
his behavior became "odd". He stopped having meals with the
other workers and tried to be alone. Then, he refused to work
saying that his "neck grew numb", and did not come out of his
tent. After a psychiatrist's consultation he was hospitalized in
a local mental institution. Physical and neurological status:
Normal. Mental status: Completely competent, depressed, talks
about his feelings with reluctance. The patient often reiterated
that his "life had come to an end" and that he "would like to
live in a place weren't these people who can only mock". The
patient was estranged from other patients and the medical staff.
He was prescribed a course of shock therapy, amino acids, and
antidepressants. His mood improved, and he became more sociable,
but he did not renounce the idea of his deformity. Despite his
outward calmness and correct behavior, the patient began to
reveal a increasingly distinct inclination to philosophizing and
monotonous answers. For example, when asked if his neck troubled
him, the patient began speaking in an extremely verbose and
confusing manner, saying "we all live on one planet", that
"everybody is a human being but nothing else", and that "one
should always remember that one is a human". The patient told
the doctor that during that last period he felt somewhat charged,
and that "something had happened to him", but that he could not
describe that feeling in detail because he "had never experienced
anything like that before." The patient was discharged 4 months
after hospitalization. At the time of discharge, he was calm and
rather sociable, and willingly talked to the doctor, except with
regard to his imaginary deformity. In the next 10 years, he was
hospitalized in mental institutions 6 times. During the last 4
years, the patient constantly wears a kind of corset which he
calls a "collar". He says that with the "collar" he feels "like
a person". The patient takes the "collar" off only before going
to bed.
(The patient sits hanging his head low.)
VOICE
Undress the patient.
(The hospital attendants strip the patient, throwing the clothes
on the floor. The patient does not resist. When they finish, he
hunches on the stool again and shades his face.)
VOICE
Take the "collar" off.
(One of the hospital attendants holds the patient, the other
takes the "collar" off and places it on the small stool, standing
in front of the patient. The patient embraces his neck with his
hands and sits hanging his head. The hospital attendants stand
behind the patient.)
VOICE
Machine joining, mechanical delineation of structures, promodo,
belong to connecting road-slip provides a long-term drawing of
the central hydro-scheme which is a supporting link of the
system. Functioning of the three lateral hydro-schemes
completely depends on opportune supply of electric power,
hermetic ball mechanism and permissible ductility of
hydro-punching liquid. The hydro-mechanical drive of the three
lateral hydro-schemes is based on nine roller bearings disposed
along the edges of the base of the system, and provides uniform
interchange of the spindle and the joint-pin. Clino oprosto,
anoro umaristo, holesto ukarebo, morepoboino normali, controlo
normodelo higher, effecto funkko, effecto probido, effecto obsto,
effecto biochimo, stomako erytroto. No, to tear with chains, no,
to cut joints, no, to drill the hypothalamus, no, to saw the
legs, no, taking down the skin, no, beating with chains, no, to
tear with chains, no, beating with a chain, no, to tear with
chains, no, beating with a chain, no, to tear with chains, no,
beating with a chain, no, to tear with chains, no, beating with a
chain, no, to tear with chains. Nikolai Vassilyovich stood up
slowly, with trembling hands, placed the book on the edge of the
table, and said in a low and shaking voice: Patterns on the
table, patterns on the tablecloth, patterns on the walls,
patterns on the table, patterns on the tablecloth, patterns on
the walls, patterns on the table, patterns on the tablecloth,
patterns on the walls, patterns on the table, patterns on the
tablecloth, patterns on the walls. Not specific, biochemical,
clinical, intestinal, menstrual, effective, hydrochlorical,
fatty, popular, phenocitinical, intramuscular, reactive,
somatical, vegetative, emotional, medical, asthenic, stationary,
homogeneous. Eating up excrement is a crime, eating up excrement
is a crime, eating up excrement is a crime, eating up excrement
is a crime, eating up excrement is a crime, eating up excrement
is a crime, eating up excrement is a crime. The equilibrium of a
uterine decomposing creature, resembling in form the resolutions
of the 10th Party Conference, depends on the content of protein
in the urine of the mother organism, and also on extended,
splintered arms, strengthened with steel staples' ears, reeled on
the blades of a fan intestines, glued with cilicate glue fingers,
washed in sulfuric acid bones, skimmed and dried hair, hung and
ground nails, excised and preserved in alcohol testicles, excised
and preserved in alcohol eyes, excised and preserved in alcohol
auricles, excised and preserved in alcohol spleens, excised and
preserved in alcohol kidneys. Order no. 30, portrait saliva,
spring wealth, order no. 30, portrait saliva, spring wealth,
order no. 30, portrait saliva, spring wealth, tighten, Vassily,
arachnids in liquid glass, dominant septacord, tighten, Vassily,
arachnids in liquid glass, dominant septacord, tighten, Vassily,
arachnids in liquid glass, dominant septacord, pentacle of the
Teutons, I drank popliteal, female standards, pentacle of the
Teutons, I drank popliteal, female standards, pentacle of the
Teutons, I drank popliteal, female standards, dear insulin,
artificial houses, worms on the chest, dear insulin, artificial
houses, worms on the chest, dear insulin, artificial houses,
worms on the chest, the Madonna of plugs, white murder, the Ural
labrador, the Madonna of plugs, white murder, the Ural labrador,
the Madonna of plugs, white murder, the Ural labrador, graphite
covering forces. Dorothy of snot, frightened mechanisms,
graphite covering forces, Dorothy of snot, frightened mechanisms,
graphite covering forces, Dorothy of snot, frightened mechanisms,
subcutaneous sites of ancient settlements, youthful
bone-breakers, Avalakiteshvara of Kazan suburbs, youthful
bone-breakers, Avalakiteshvara of Kazan suburbs, youthful
bone-breakers, Avalakiteshvara of Kazan suburbs, Victor
Timofeyavich Cocksucker, high-voltage government, favorite
bomb-release gear, Victor Timofeyavich Cocksucker, high-voltage
government, favorite bomb-release gear, Victor Timofeyavich
Cocksucker, high-voltage government, favorite bomb-release gear,
circumstance of fascists, Moors of shutters, an injection of pure
pus, circumstance of fascists, Moors of shutters, an injection of
pure pus, circumstance of fascists, Moors of shutters, an
injection of pure pus, an injection of pure pus, an injection of
pure pus, an injection of pure pus, an injection of pure pus, an
injection of pure pus, an injection of pure pus.
(The door in the center of the backcloth opens, and seven
hospital nurses in white coats enter quickly, syringes ready in
their hands. The hospital attendants seize the patients by their
arms and press them to the stools. The nurses advance, one nurse
to a patient, and quickly give an injection in the
shoulder-blade, and the patients react differently: somebody
cries, somebody weeps, somebody swears, and somebody is silent.
The hospital attendants hold the patients, pressing them to the
stools. The nurses exit. In a while, the patients calm, and the
hospital attendants release their arms.)
VOICE
Dress the patients.
(The hospital attendants take the sacks from the floor, take out
costumes, and dress the patients. Patient H. puts on the Hamlet
costume, Patient J. puts on the Juliet costume, Patient K. puts
on the King costume, Patient Q. puts on the Queen costume,
Patient T. puts on the Tybalt costume, Patient N. puts on the
Nanny costume, Patient H. puts on the Horatio costume. The
hospital attendants put the patients' clothes and the things on
the small stools into the sacks, take the stools and the sacks,
and go out, leaving the patients on stage.)
VOICE
Play.
(The stage is plunged into darkness.)
ACT TWO
(Stage goes dark. After a while a bright daylight comes on in
the square and city of Verona in front of Elsinor's castle. In
the middle of the square is Tibalt's own guard. Placed on the
square is; a can plaster, a cork, a spine stretcher, some kind of
plate, a stretcher of ye siuze and a collar. All subjects are
white. some of them enormously enlarged (i.e. the can is human
size.) Horatio enters.)
TIBALT
Who is here?
HORATIO
No, you answer first as the rules require. Stop and answer.
TIBALT
Long live the Queen!
HORATIO
Tibalt?
TIBALT
He.
HORATIO
I came on time when the clock struck twelve. Go and sleep
Tibalt.
TIBALT
Thanks for coming to replace me. Its so cold. I don't feel well
HORATIO
Was everything quiet?
TIBALT
The mice did not move.
HORATIO
Well, sweet dreams. If you will meet Nanny, send her quickly.
(Nanny enters.)
NANNY
Servant of the country, friend of Danish service!
TIBALT
Goodnight.
NANNY
God be with you honest soldier.
(Tibalt exits.)
NANNY
Well did it appear again today?
HORATIO
I haven't seen anything.
NANNY
Nonsense, nonsense. It won't appear.
HORATIO
Last night the star to the left of the polar star came from that
part of Heaven where its brightest, when it struck one.
(On the side of the stage appear two male nurses with a giant
black worm on a wide stretcher. The worm moves a little.)
NANNY
Shhhh. Silence. He is here again.
HORATIO
Exactly the same as our dead king.
NANNY
Bookworm address yourself to him Horatio!
HORATIO
Who are you who to dare attack this hour and this good and
honorable image in which our dead master of dance was under and
thought and made of many a good deed?
I command you answer us!
NANNY
He is offended.
HORATIO
Look, he takes leave. Stop! Talk, I order you speak
(Male nurses take away the worm.)
HORATIO
He leaves and does not answer.
NANNY
Horatio, You're shaken and pale as a pig!
It's not only a fantasy or made-up story true? What can you say
Horatio?
HORATIO
I swear by God I would not have believed were it not for the
unquestionable guarantee of my own eyes.
NANNY
He is in the image of the King, is he not?
HORATIO
The way I resemble myself. Exact. Everything was the same with
him as when he fought the obnoxious Norwegian on ice in the
brutal fights in which he defeated the Polacks. How strange! How
unexplainable everything!
NANNY
Pigs!
HORATIO
Ye', but to tell the truth. Yet to think exactly or precisely, I
know not. But in general I see in all of that some sign of some
strange turbulence of the state.
NANNY
Perhaps my friend Horatio. Yet today my thoughts are occupied by
different matters. Today is the Queen's masquerade, but quiet
somebody comes.
(Enter Tibalt.)
TIBALT
Follow me follow me. I will tell to one of them one word and what
will follow will be dictated by the mood.
HORATIO
What word to one of us and only add to this one word something
else, a strike or blow for example.
TIBALT
I'm always ready to do Signor if you will give me a reason.
HORATIO
Really is it so difficult for you to find the reason by yourself?
TIBALT
Horatio you sing in one voice with Hamlet.
HORATIO
Sing in one voice. What does it mean? You want to make out of us
some street musicians, guitar players, different stupid folks.
Be careful. You may hear some unpleasant, unwanted sounds. Here
is my violin bow. and it will force you to dance, to shake your
clothes, your legs to jump or dance. Yeah! I don't sing in one
voice do you understand this?
NANNY
You're having this conversation On the street. Wouldn't it be
better for you to leave and solve your grievances in cold blood
and not this way like serpents. Everybody here is just staring
at you.
HORATIO
That's what they have eyes for. Let them stare. I'm not moving
from here anywhere and eyes are given to humans to stare. Human
beings cannot stare with his hands or chest. He stares with his
eyes.
(Enter Hamlet.)
NANNY
God be with you, Here comes my man.(MAYBE THIS SHOULD BE
TIBALT?)
HORATIO
Oh Ah Oh Signor. Let them hang me or cut me into pieces, unless
this man in your uniform goes to the field, he will follow. You
will understand then what kind of person he is.
TIBALT
Hamlet my intolerance to you has no other word beside a bastard.
HAMLET
But Tibalt, I have a reason to love you and that's why I will
forgive all your angry words. I am not a bastard. Goodbye. I
see that you don't know me at all.
(Attempts to leave.)
TIBALT
Oh baby boy. This cannot excuse thee of thy grievances; the
insults which you did unto me. Come back and take out your
sword.
HAMLET
I swear I did not insult thee. I love thee more than thou can't
fathom. I love thee more than anything in thy world. Though I
won't reveal the reason for thy love yet so my darling Capulet,
thine name is as dear to me as mine own. Goodbye forever, I
will take leave. I have things to do.
HORATIO
All low in this despicable patience. It could be repaid only by
striking a blow.
(Takes out his sword.)
HORATIO
Tibalt you rat! Come well on!
TIBALT
What is it you wish from me?
HORATIO
I will try. My dear King of Kittens. I want to take one of your
nine lives and maybe I shall find it necessary to shake out of
you the other eight. Would you be so kind as to take your sword
by the ears from its sheath? Hurry up lest my sword cut off both
ears and then you will know you hath no ears and then you will
feel bad and sad. You will feel blue. Hurry up Tibalt!
TIBALT
I'm at your serve!
(Takes out his sword.)
HAMLET
Horatio, my friend replace your sword.
NANNY
Put it back, put it back!
HORATIO
Please. (To Tibalt) Please Signor please, your strike shall be
first. I am ready to answer each blow I'm ready.
(They fight.)
HAMLET
Tibalt, Horatio! The King prohibits fighting on the streets of
Verona. Its a crime! Its dangerous. Don't. Tibalt stop!
Horatio friend! Now I will be separating you.
NANNY
Yes take apart the fools. Oh my ugly mother.
Under Hamlet's hand, Tibalt hits Horacio and runs away.
HORATIO
I'm wounded, I'm wounded. A plague on both of your houses. I'm
gone, I'm in pain. I don't believe that he is not wounded.
HAMLET
Your wounded! Collect yourself, your wound is not so dangerous!
NANNY
Just a little bit.
HORATIO
Yes a little bit of curse my wound is not as deep as well, or
some kind of tunnel , and not as wide as the church gates, and
perhaps is not a wide as Lenin prospect. But enough for me to
feel bad, very bad. Come tomorrow and you will find me quietly
lying down as if I'm asleep. But I won't be asleep plague in both
your houses. To this world, I'm giving my resignation. It's ugly.
and it's unpleasant. Rat killer, dirty and bad man wounded me!
I was stricken by a rat or an animal! Why the devil did you get
between us. He wounded me from under your arm. and it wasn't
pleasant. You behaved badly, not like a friend.
Hamlet. I tried to do my best...
HORATIO
That turkey tried it's best to. Call the doctor. Call the
doctor right away. Plagues plague on both of your houses because
of your mistakes and bad behavior the worms will be eating me.
you are people without honor. You do only bad things to me.
Hamlet! Doctor! call the doctor.
Enter two male nurses, take away Horatio.
Hamlet. How unpleasant. How disgusting.
Nanny. After losing your voice , you don't cry over your lost
hair. Lets go they will start soon. Follow me as we are not
together and don't forget your mask.
Hamlet puts on his masks. Nanny goes towards the castle,
Hamlet after a while follows her Nanny enters the castles and
goes to the queens bedroom . The queen's room lit with a little
bit of blue light.The whole room is stuffed with white cans of
different sizes, the queen is sitting on one of the cans.
Queen. Where is my daughter? Nanny, send her in.
Nanny. I swear with my innocence when I was twelve, I called her
in a long time ago. My little lamb, my little bird, my sweet baby
flower. Where did she disappear to?
Enters Juliet
Juliet. Who called me?
Nanny. Signor call you.
Juliet. Here I am, Madam. What do you want?
Queen. Well, Nanny please leave it would be better if we talked
alone, on second thought Nanny stop stay, You know my daughter
from her youth.
NANNY
I couldn't be mistaken about your age, even by one hour. You can
torture me how you like, I won't be mistaken.
QUEEN
She's not even fourteen years old.
NANNY
I will give fourteen of my teeth, you can cut fourteen pieces
from any place on my body, she's not fourteen yet. Definitely.
Well, on St. Paul's Day, closer to midnight, she will be
fourteen. She and my Suzy were the same age. God took away my
Suzy---Praise the Lord, praise the Lord. I'm not sorry. I
wasn't worthy of her. And yours will be fourteen on St. Peter's
Day precisely. Well, remembering eleven years ago, on the year
of the Earth-Shaking, when I took her away from my breast. I
remember, I remember. Unforgettable! Oh Lord, all are such
pigs! The girl was so nice. I remember everything as if it was
today. I rotted my nipples with wormwood to break this breath
feeding. Sitting under the sun, near the aviary. You and Master
were somewhere. Somewhere, yes---I remember as if it was now
when she sensed my bitter nipples, she got so angry, the silly
little kootchy-wootchy, and she raised her little hand to strike
my breast! And suddenly, the aviary was shaken, and I, Devil
take it, went away! Crushed, buried, Hell! Since that time, the
past eleven little years, a coma. She couldn't even stand on her
feet then. All what I say, cross my heart! Yes, she was
waddling like a duck, like a ducky, left and right, left and
right, and then, that very day, she broke her forehead, and that
husband of mine, God protect his soul, he was such a merry man,
such a joker, he picked up the little darling. What he
says---"You've fallen on your forehead? When you'll grow up,
you'll fall on your back!" And the little birdie, my darling,
stopped crying right away and told him, "Yes, I will fall on my
back." That is real children, nice ones! Not like the pigs they
will be when they grow. I could live for a hundred years, I'll
never forget. "On my back I'll fall, when I grow up"!
QUEEN
Well, enough about this, be quiet!
NANNY
Well, it's just laughter, laughter bubbles up in me! The mood
ravishes me! Oh, my mother, my serpent! On my back I'll fall,
when I grow up! What a lovely creature! Oh, I can't restrain
myself! Sweetie-pie! Kootchy-wootchy! On my back! Oh, ha-ha!
JULIET
Shut up, I beg you.
NANNY
Alright, I'm silent, silent! Oh! I didn't nurse anyone quieter
than you. Oh, I only wish to live long enough to see your
wedding---nothing more do I need.
QUEEN
Yes, yes, I would like to talk about her wedding. Tell me,
Juliet, dear daughter, do you agree to be married?
JULIET
I wouldn't dream of such an honor.
NANNY
Such honor! Good Lord! If not for me, who nursed you, I would
say reason, and honor, and consciousness you sucked in with my
milk, little darling, my birdie!
QUEEN
So, it's time to think about marriage. In Verona, many noble
ladies are younger than you and have children already. To speak
about myself, at your age, I was already your mother. In one
word: noble Hamlet has asked for your hand.
NANNY
What a gentleman. Oh, Madam! What a man! Handsome as a
waxwork! Built! He's a good man.
QUEEN
And in Verona's garden, he's the best lover.
NANNY
Flower! Flower, precisely flower! Flower of all flowers, and
perhaps flowering flower! But... Oh, never mind---I know that,
as a flower, he's better than any flower!
QUEEN
(to Juliet) Tell me, could you love him? Today, he will be at
our party. Read his young face as a book. Beauty draws in his
face cuteness. Take a good look at his pictures. Learn his
skills... Well, different riddles to say. But not only riddles.
Sometimes Hamlet says quite interesting things. Very
interesting. He's a smart man. And he, I would say, is a book
without a cover. He is waiting for this cover to be bound. You
might become his glorious binding. You can bind his book with
your fate. Together with him, you won't become lesser.
NANNY
No, you will be fatter---that's as usual! That's how it happens
in the world.
QUEEN
How do you measure his love? Answer me.
JULIET
I will try to see his love tenderly. But will remember all your
instructions.
QUEEN
Then let's go, Juliet. Perhaps all are already gathered. The
King is waiting for us.
NANNY
God care for you all.
(NANNY leaves, QUEEN and JULIET cross to main hall of Elsinore
castle. Hall is brightly lit; hall floor is full of white cans
and white back-stretchers of different sizes. Further down, on
the throne, sits the KING. In the distance, TYBALT stands, and
bows to QUEEN and JULIET. KING rises from the throne, takes
QUEENS hand, and sits her next to himself. JULIET stands next to
them. Enter HAMLET and HORATIO, wearing masks. ALL also put
masks on. HAMLET and HORATIO bow to KING and QUEEN.)
KING
Welcome! And let the ladies with no blisters on their feet,
dance with us. I swear that the one who will put on airs, they
will have blisters! Musicians, play! Leap, let's get wild,
right away.
(Lute plays. TYBALT and JULIET dance.)
HAMLET
(to HORATIO) Tell me, who is the one whose beauty glorifies he
who dances with her?
HORATIO
I know not, my friend. I am wounded, I am in pain. Because of
you, I was bit by a steel serpent. I am in pain. And that
bastard is joyous. I don't know, I don't know, I know nothing.
HAMLET
The torch' light fades before hers! Her beauty shines into night
as a pearl earring in a Moor's ear! An exceptional gift, too
precious for the world! She is as a white pigeon in a flock of
ravens! My beauty among the crowd! When the dance ends, I shall
find a moment, and shall touch her and, filled with awe! I never
loved? No! I refuse all the nonsense I had before! Until now,
I had not see a beauty!
TYBALT
(stops) Oh, that voice! Hamlet among us! Hey, where's my
sword! What! That rascal allowed himself to come here beneath
the cover of his mask, that he might humiliate us unpunished!
Here's my sword!
KING
What has happened, my nephew? Why are you so stormy?
TYBALT
Your royal majesty, Hamlet is here!
KING
Calm down, and leave him be. He has behaved himself as a true
nobleman. I won't let him be insulted here in the castle. Calm
yourself, stop wrinkling your brow. Anger has no place at our
celebration.
TYBALT
My anger and my patience combat each other. I shake as the
rushes. I shall leave for now, but vengeance shall return.
(leaves)
HAMLET
(comes to JULIET and touches her hand) If my unworthy hand does
defile your holy altar, forgive me! As two obedient, honest, and
truly good pilgrims overleap the kiss, so kissing might erase the
trace of sin.
JULIET
Gallant pilgrim, you are o'er harsh to your own hand, there is
naught in your hand save grace and honor.
HAMLET
Is it true that mouth and lips are giving to saints and pilgrims?
JULIET
Yes, for prayers good pilgrim.
HAMLET
My angel! Then let my lips touch yours. Don't be unhearing.
JULIET
The saints above are still though they listen.
HAMLET
Don't move, answer my prayers (kisses her). Your lips take the
sins from my lips.
JULIET
So my lips took away your sin?
HAMLET
My sin... it is not sin. There is no sin. But your answer, your
words confuse me. Return my sin.
JULIET
Your guilt is removed. (kisses him, King and Queen leave the
hall. Horatio leaves, enters Nanny)
HAMLET
(To Nanny) Who is your mother?
NANNY
What young sinner? You don't know? That's news. The hostess of
this house is her mother. Yes. Honorable and wise senora, I
nursed her daughter. Little cutie, little birdie, a good little
girl. My goodie-goodie.
HAMLET
The Queen's daughter! Seems like all my life has been in my
enemies' hands. Given to my enemies' hands, given away, and now
everything has been given away.
JULIET
Nanny, tell me who's that senor?
NANNY
That is Hamlet.
JULIET
In my heart was only hatred - this hatred gave life to unique
love. I don't know, did I see him too early or too late but I
recognize it. And I can not defeat the feeling. I'm on fire
with my love to my mortal enemy.
HAMLET
(To Nanny) Tell her I will come to her tonight.
NANNY
I will I will senor.
JULIET
Nanny, darling tell that I will wait for him at night in the
garden.
NANNY
I will I will my little lamb, my birdie.
(Nanny and Juliet exit)
HAMLET
I will come, I will. The light of day is not lovely without my
angel, without my darling whose image in my heart my mind my soul
came so unexpectedly, so interesting. Well, strange somehow.
She's lovely, she's so natural and straight and feels nice to be
with her. I will think about her all the time. What else can I
do? This perhaps is what they call love. Love? Before I only
heard about it and now I am face to face with it. In my very
face love is breathing. Her breath is hot.
(Hamlet exits the hall, comes to the moonlit garden. Scattered
on the floor are white corks of different sizes. Juliet comes to
the balcony)
HAMLET
Oh here's my love, my queen! Is she speaking? No, she's silent.
Her eyes are speaking, perhaps her heart. A heart could also
speak, but let her be silent! I will talk instead. Although my
speech is not for me. Here in the sky, two stars. Seems to me
they are from the "Big Bear". Yes. They are her eyes asking to
take place of stars and shine within the night. But if she would
agree and instead of eyes on her face will shine the stars then
the light of her face would outshine those stars the way daylight
does outshine a candle. Her eyes from heaven would shine so
strong that birds would confuse everything, they would get mixed
up and think day is night and night is day. They would sing.
Yes. She stands, she touches her cheek with her hand. I would
like to be the skin of her hand. Simple human skin.
JULIET
Oh sorrow in me!
HAMLET
She said something. Oh speak my light bearing angel. Speak.
Speak. You shine above me my darling, my little messenger from
something heavenly and soft. And I'm standing and watching,
seeing as you shine. As you're floating, floating on the air as
an angel.
JULIET
Oh Hamlet! Hamlet! Why he is Hamlet? Leave your father and
forget forever your own name. And if you don't want then swear
that you love me. Enough of that after...I won't be Capulet
anymore.
HAMLET
I catch you on your word: Call me the love. I never will be
Hamlet anymore. My name they would call me love, not Hamlet.
JULIET
Who is here? Who is listening? Hamlet! How did you get her?
Tell me why? Everything here is high and unapproachable and
scary. Everything is frightening. Death is waiting for you if
one of my relatives or one of my family will see you.
HAMLET
I was flying on the wings of love and stone walls are not an
obstacle. Love can penetrate anything. It goes through stone,
through earth. Through metal of every sort, nothing could be an
obstacle for me and your relatives too.
JULIET
But if they will meet you here they will kill you.
HAMLET
There is more danger in your eyes. If you will look at me with
tenderness, nothing else matters swords, people, killings.
JULIET
O' I wish they wouldn't see you.
HAMLET
The night will cover me with it's blanket, but if you don't love
me nothing would help, nothing would help me. Then I'm ready for
any death.
JULIET
Who directed you here?
HAMLET
Love. Love was my rudder and my sail. Love whispered to my ear
everything and I was sailing as a fated stranger.
JULIET
My face is hot with shame although it is covered by the mask of
night. I wish I could here it from you...but no! O' heart it is
about to fly away like a bird. Do you love me? Would you say
yes? Well, I believe you. But even after swearing they could
lie: Jupiter himself is laughing about promises. O' Hamlet. If
you love me tell me honestly. If you think that you want me too
quickly I would say no! You can think of me as capricious and
bad, but I simply can not put...I must know. I must exactly
about our love. I'm not capricious. Forgive me.
HAMLET
I swear by the moon that silver everything. The garden, the
trees, and different buildings, and your head. Lovely head of
Juliet.
JULIET
O' don't swear by the unfaithful moon, the moon who changes its
face so often. Your love could change the same way.
HAMLET
But then by what could I swear?
JULIET
Don't swear by anything. Or if you have a desire to swear, swear
by yourself. Your own self. My holy monk. And I will believe
you. I will always believe you.
HAMLET
Well, I'm ready if my heart...
JULIET
NO! i'M afraid. No need for promises. Everything, everything
that's happening gives me joy. Perfect. But this hour my
conversation scares me, it's too quick to unexpected, too
strange... it's like lightening that hits at the top of an oak
tree. It's strikes and we sat lightening. And it's already gone.
Was it there? Then let our love bloom slowly and sweetly the way
all flowers are blooming in the summer. When the flower of our
love will bloom, will open then we will see each other my Hamlet.
Good night, Hamlet. Find in your soul a peace, such peace as I
have in my soul.
HAMLET
Would you leave with out giving me your promise?
JULIET
What kind of promise would you like?
HAMLET
Love promise in exchange for mine.
JULIET
I give it before you ask for it. But I'm afraid... I would like
to take a bath.
HAMLET
To take a bath? Why my love?
JULIET
Then I will have something to return. But I'm afraid and perhaps
it isn't necessary. My tenderness unbounded, like the sea. My
love is deep. As the deepest place in the sea. And the more I
give away, the more I take from that deepest place and give to
you, the more is left in this place. Everything is infinitive.
JULIET
You want to leave? But daylight will not touch your beautiful
head soon. Don't leave, be with me a little bit longer.
JULIET
Three words, my Hamlet, and then we will say good-bye, yes we
will say good-bye. If you love me honestly, truly, and you think
about marriage, the future, good things, tomorrow morning, you
will let my messenger know all that. In other words, where and
when you would like to have a wedding ceremony. Where and when.
And then I will put my life at your feet, all my life I will
follow you to the end of the universe. But if you have something
bad in your mind, if you plan to insult me, I pray tell me
honestly. Otherwise I will suffer. I will torture myself. And
then leave me with your tortures.
HAMLET
My angel, the savior of my soul...
JULIET
So until tomorrow, I will send for you.
HAMLET
I could answer today that I'm ready to do it today, but I don't
know where we can take the vows, I don't know the place we can do
it because there are too many complications. Tomorrow I will tell
you everything in detail. My darling, my saint.
JULIET
Dawn is here, and the light is coming. I wish that you won't go
away father than the bird that sometimes as a joker is a joyful
as a little girl flies as if on a string like a puppet although
your better that a bird, you are not a bird. But I would like not
to let you go, and that's why I would like it if you were a
wooden bird on a string.
HAMLET
I would like to be such a bird.
JULIET
And I my darling wish it also. And I would caress you until you
died. Forgive me, forgive me for everything. Forgiveness in the
moment of separation has in it such a sweet pain that I could
keep saying good-bye until morning. Forgive, Forgive me!
HAMLET
Peaceful dreams to yours eyes, peace in your heart, and peace to
all of you. Oh, I wish I could be a dream or blanket to find such
a sweet refuge with you.Now to you will come all dreams of all
worlds to find in you sweet a cover. I love you as I don't love
anybody in the entire world.
JULIET
Wait for my messenger, and remember your Juliet.
(JULIET exits.)
HAMLET
All my life is simply waiting for you. Well, I will wait until
tomorrow because I was waiting for so long. I waited for you
almost seventeen years. That's a lot. Good-bye my radiant saint.
Peace to you.
(Crosses the garden, comes to fence. In the far corner of the
garden, in a bleak violet lights, two white male nurses appear,
holding white stretchers on which lies a black worm.)
HAMLET
Lord save me! Oh, who are you? Blessed or cursed spirit sent by
heaven or do breath with evil from hell or do you have good
intentions in you? Answer me! I call you, I Hamlet the rule of
Danes! Don't let me be rotten in my harsh ignorance, tell me why
did you leave our family tomb and tear apart the burial cloth,
you came you stand here. You stand and you don't say anything?
It's strange and scary. You horrible shake my essence. Tell me
why?
FIRST MALE NURSE
He is a spirit, he is your father.
SECOND MALE NURSE
He is sentenced to wander during the night.
FIRST MALE NURSE
During the day he is to be tortured by fire.
SECOND MALE NURSE
Until he sins of his earthly nature.
FIRST MALE NURSE
Would be burned to ashes.
SECOND MALE NURSE
IF not for the mystery of his imprisonment.
FIRST MALE NURSE
He could tell such story.
SECOND MALE NURSE
That the human soul or your soul is shaken.
FIRST MALE NURSE
Your eyes would be out of your eye-sockets.
SECOND MALE NURSE
And every hair would be straight as your sword.
FIRST MALE NURSE
But mysteries must be kept a secret.
SECOND MALE NURSE
But what you have to know, listen to!
FIRST MALE NURSE
If you ever loved your father.
SECOND MALE NURSE
Take revenge for his disgusting murder.
HAMLET
Murder?
FIRST MALE NURSE
Any murder in itself is disgusting.
SECOND MALE NURSE
But this one is the most disgusting and the most inhuman.
HAMLET
Tell me right away so that I on my wings as fast as thought, no,
as fast as passionate fantasy would rush myself to that revenge.
FIRST MALE NURSE
There are rumors that he died in the garden.
SECOND MALE NURSE
Bitten by the snake.
FIRST MALE NURSE
That's how Denmark was fooled by treoraous.
SECOND MALE NURSE
False fairy tales about his aunt.
FIRST MALE NURSE
But you should know, Oh honorable son.
SECOND MALE NURSE
The snake which struck your father.
FIRST MALE NURSE
Put on his crown.
HAMLET
Oh, prophesying spirit. My Uncle?!
SECOND MALE NURSE
This lusting animal the incestuous.
FIRST MALE NURSE
Through the magic of his mind, and that magic gift.
SECOND MALE NURSE
He seduced.
FIRST MALE NURSE
Your father, and his seeming pure wife.
SECOND MALE NURSE
When he was asleep in the garden.
First Male NURSE
Your uncle approached him with poison. (THE NAME OF THE POISON IS
IN THE PLAY HAMLET).
SECOND MALE NURSE
And poured into his ear the dammed poison.
FIRST MALE NURSE
Spoiling his life blood.
SECOND MALE NURSE
That's how the king in his sleep from the hand of his brother.
FIRST MALE NURSE
Lost his life, crown, and his queen.
SECOND MALE NURSE
He was knocked down in the midst of his blooming sins.
FIRST MALE NURSE
Suddenly without blessing and retention.
SECOND MALE NURSE
Do not accept this if you have a kingly nature.
FIRST MALE NURSE
Don't let the family bed of Danish kings.
SECOND MALE NURSE
To become the place of lust and incest.
FIRST MALE NURSE
And take revenge for your poor father.
MALE NURSE TAKE AWAY THE WORM.
HAMLET
Oh,Lord, Oh, Heaven! Army of angels! Oh earth! What else should I
add to this list. The Gates of Hell? Stop my heart, stop! My
muscles, legs, head, all my body stop. Don't, Don't. Take me
straight, carry me firmly. Now, now everything I will erase
everything from my memory. Everything earthly, disgusting, bad.
Everything temporary, everything unnecessary, I will write in me,
in my head only one thing. Only one thing. Only the commandment
of my father. He was killed, killed my traitorous hands. Killed
by traitorous disgusting enemy, who doesn't know mercy.
Scoundrel! And my mother? Oh, woman of sin! So it is you uncle!
So here you are my mother! My motto from now on will be,"Fare
well!fare well! And remember me!"
CLIMBS OVER THE FENCE AND APPEARS ON THE STREETS OF VERONA.
THE WHOLE STREET IS COVERED WITH PLASTERS OF DIFFERENT
COLORS.HORATIO LIES DOWN IN THE FETAL POSITION.
HAMLET
RUSHES TO HORATIO. Horatio, Horatio, wake up. It's time for all
of us to wake up. New times.
HORATIO
I'm wounded. I'm traitorously wounded. I"m in pain.
HAMLET
I discovered something which is somehow strange and unpleasant to
tell. I'm a little bit confused. But from now on my friend
Horatio, in my brain will be written, "fare well, fare well, and
remember me."
HORATIO
I'm wounded, I'm in pain. I don't understand why in life
everything is so unpleasant, everything is not secured. I'm a
little bit afraid.
HAMLET
You know I am also afraid of something. But I want to tell you
that I saw something that my hair could become a sword. My hair
would be so straight, so strong, so hard, that it would not be
different from the sword.
HORATIO
Me also was struck by a sword. I was struck by the sword because
of you. I'm in pain. Do not talk to me about sword .
HAMLET
HAMLET TAKES UP HORATIO AND HELPS HIM TO WALK. Come, come, I
simply want to say that I do not understand things a little bit.
HORATIO
There are many things in the world, my friend Hamlet, that
children nor fathers understand. Overall people know very little
about nature, about wounds. If they would know more, they would
live much longer our body could be rejuvenated. Wounds cause
pain, unpleasantness. All sorts of bad sensations. I'm in pain
and it;s not pleasant.
HAMLET
Your are preoccupied only with your wound. But I"m thinking of
different matters. I must concentrate on how I must react to all
this. In other words I must do everything right. Everything must
be changed, I wish that everything could be changed, and that
everything would be different. Everything got rotten through our
Danish kingdom. Everything is getting rotten and is falling
apart.
THEY ENTER THROUGH SOME KIND OF NICHE, AND APPEAR IN A ROOM WITH
HUGE WHITE SUBJECTS-A JAR, A PLASTER CORK, BACK STRETCHER, PLATE,
STRETCHER OF EYELASHES, AND AN ANIMAL COLLAR. EVERYTHING IS LITE
WITH WHITE BRIGHT LIGHT. HORATIO LIES DOWN ON THE FLOOR AND
FREEZES.
HAMLET
To be or not to be, here are two questions. What's better for a
man? What's better for a normal man-to agree to do everything as
necessary, or not to agree to do everything that necessary?
Quietly do things with closed eyes and only cry and nothing else,
or to do everything loudly so everybody would says he lives
loudly and widely? And not desire so much simply to sleep and to
seed dreams. What kind of dreams? Of different kinds? I'm afraid
of dreams a little bit. Sometimes you can see something in your
dreams something bad...
HORATIO
SCREAMS. Ohhh! Everything in me is in pain, everything is ugly,
bad. After all to live is a difficult business and to live with
you even more so.
HAMLET
Yes. Everything is exactly the way you think- everything is not
clear. The way when you were little- everything is good and your
parents loves you, and everything turns out normally. Then as if
you never had parents. Almost as if you are in boarding school
and prison. But in prison, speaking generally is worse. You
better not go to jail.
ENTER JULIET
JULIET
My prince, how were you all of those days?
HAMLET
O.K. in other words I lived all right, but I find myself some hoe
not secure. I don't feel very well. But in general everything is
ok.
JULIET
I have a different presents from you. You gave them to me.
Hamlet
Me? No? Perhaps you are confusing something. I never gave gifts
to anybody.
JULIET
You gave. You gave.
Hamlet
Hell I didn't.
Juliet
You did. You presented me with different words. Propositions. And
I want to return it back to you.
HAMLET
I don't know.
HORATIO
Pain comes to you when you don't expect it...
JULIET
I will return everything. All words and propositions. When decent
girls are being fooled, and then being told different, well,
different stuff. That is not decent.
HAMLET
You are a very decent girl.
JULIET
I am a decent girl.
HORATIO
You are both decent. But I am in pain.
ENTER NAKED NANNY WITH A LOAD OF RYE BREAD
NANNY WITH LAUGHTER SITS ON THE FLOOR.
NANNY
My mommy was a piece of white iron. HA!HA! OH! And how fast am I!
Every time I look around-all of them carrying on and carrying on,
as mad. OH! That's the way we live. And we live in a way that not
everybody else lives. Like bricks. OH! HA!HA! My old sweating
mommy!
SHE CRUMBLES THE BREAD AND EATS IT.
JULIET
Decent girls do not value when they've been touched by a
knife-sharpener, whetstone, by screws, if after that, they're
betrayed.
HAMLET
And do you know?
HORATIO
[screams] Five! Five times, and the same wound. And pain, and
poles.
NANNY
My old mommy dear gave birth to me in her bag, and my old papa
dear went to Moscow, the capital of our motherland, and over
there he sniffed out all the bits and pieces of bags. And
ladies' little bags. Coo-coo, mommy dear honey darling, my
sweaty hand!
JULIET
I've wanted to tell you for a long time... You know, I have very
nice legs.
HORATIO
To believe in family's tombs is our wound. The way they wounded
me, the way I showed it.
HAMLET
[cleaning his costume] I saw many, but people, how should I say,
people don't understand, after all. They understand little bugs.
JULIET
[lifts her dress and shows her legs] Look at these.
HAMLET
This is simply so definite, as somehow... Surely.
NANNY
Surely little splinters to the old little woman! Show you little
bellybutton, to friend.
[Enter KING and QUEEN, in turned-up dresses, with bruises and
black on their faces. TYBALT runs after them carrying a metal
bowl. TYBALT throws the bowl on the floor.]
TYBALT
Later! Later! Our fathers, later! Our mothers! Our favorite
branches! Our twigs crack! Our splinterings!
[KING and QUEEN piss on the floor.]
HAMLET
No, no. Leave and sleep, sleep. [Runs away and appears in the
same room, but smaller in size.] To be or not to be, here are
two questions. What's better for the man, for a normal man, to
agree to do everything the way it should, or not to agree to do
everything as it should?
[HORATIO crawls, and with a scream, freezes on the floor.]
HORATIO
Oh, everything is in pain. Everything is ugly, bad.
HAMLET
Yes. Everything is this way. And if you think about it, it's
not understandable. As when you are little, everything is nice,
and parents love you and everything turns somehow normally.
[Enter JULIET]
JULIET
My prince, how were you all those days?
HAMLET
Okay.
JULIET
I have different gifts from you.
HAMLET
Me? No.
JULIET
You gave it to me.
HAMLET
No I didn't.
JULIET
You did.
HAMLET
Well, I don't know.
HORATIO
Pain always comes this way...
JULIET
I will return everything.
HAMLET
You're a very decent girl.
JULIET
I am a decent girl.
HORATIO
You are decent.
[Naked NANNY enters with a load of rye bread.]
NANNY
[laughing, sits on the floor] My little mommy was a piece of
white iron.
JULIET
Decent girls do not value when they're touched by
knife-sharpeners...
HAMLET
And how do you know?
HORATIO
[screams] Five, five times, and the same wound.
NANNY
My little mommy gave birth in her little bag.
JULIET
I've wanted to tell you for a long time.
HORATIO
To believe in family tombs is our wound.
HAMLET
[cleaning his costume] I saw many.
JULIET
[lifts her dress, shows her legs] Look!
HAMLET
This is simply, absolutely, truly.
NANNY
Show to an old little woman these splinters!
[Enter KING and QUEEN in fully turned-up dresses, with traces of
bruises and black on their faces. TYBALT runs after them,
carrying a metal bowl. TYBALT throws the bowl on the floor.]
TYBALT
[screams] Our fathers!
[KING and QUEEN stand and piss on the floor.]
HAMLET
No, no. To leave, and sleep, sleep. [runs away and enters the
same room, but smaller in size.] To be or not to be, here are
two questions.
HORATIO
[crawls, and, with a scream, freezes on the floor] Oh,
everything is in pain.
HAMLET
Yes, everything is the way as you start thinking...
[Enter JULIET]
JULIET
My prince, how are you?
HAMLET
Alright.
JULIET
I have.
HAMLET
I?
JULIET
You gave it.
HAMLET
I don't know.
HORATIO
Pain.
JULIET
I will return.
HAMLET
You are very.
JULIET
I am honest.
HORATIO
You are both honest.
[Enter naked NANNY with load of rye bread]
NANNY
[laughing, sitting on the floor] My little mommy.
JULIET
Decent girls.
HAMLET
How do you know?
HORATIO
[screams] Five, five times.
NANNY
My mommy gave birth.
JULIET
I've wanted for a long time.
HORATIO
To believe in family tombs.
HAMLET
[cleaning his costume[ I saw many.
JULIET
[lifts her dress, shows her legs] Look!
HAMLET
This is simply.
NANNY
Show splinters.
[Enter KING and QUEEN in torn-up dresses, with traces of bruises
and black marks on their faces. TYBALT runs after them carrying
a metal bowl.]
TYBALT
[throws bowl on the floor, screams] Later! After!
[KING and QUEEN piss on the floor]
HAMLET
No, no. [runs out and enters in the same room but smaller in
size] To be or not to be.
HORATIO
[crawls and, with a scream, freezes on the floor] Oh.
HAMLET
Yes.
[Enter JULIET] My prince.
HAMLET
All right.
JULIET
I have.
HAMLET
Me?
JULIET
You gave.
HAMLET
I don't know.
HORATIO
I don't know.
HORATIO
Pain.
JULIET
I will return.
HAMLET
You.
JULIET
I.
HORATIO
Both of you.
[Enter NANNY, naked, with a load of rye bread.]
NANNY
[laughing, sitting on the floor[ My mommy.
JULIET
Decent.
HAMLET
And you?
HORATIO
[screams] Five.
NANNY
My mommy.
JULIET
I've wanted.
HORATIO
To believe.
HAMLET
[cleaning his costume] I saw many.
JULIET
[raises her dress, shows her legs] See!
HAMLET
This.
NANNY
Show.
[Enter KING and QUEEN, in turned-up dresses, with traces of
bruises and black marks on their face. TYBALT follows, carrying
a metal bowl.]
TYBALT
[throws the bowl on the floor and screams] Later!
[KING and QUEEN piss on the floor]
HAMLET
No. [runs ways, enters the same room but smaller in size] To
be.
HORATIO
[crawls, and with a scream, freezes on the floor] Oh...
HAMLET
Yes.
[Enter JULIET.]
JULIET
My.
HAMLET
Alright.
JULIET
I have.
HAMLET
I?
JULIET
You gave.
HAMLET
I.
HORATIO
Pain.
JULIET
I.
HAMLET
You.
JULIET
I.
HORATIO
You both.
[Enter naked NANNY with load of rye bread.]
NANNY
[with laughter, sitting on floor] Mommy.
JULIET
Decent.
HAMLET
Eh?
HORATIO
[screams] Five.
NANNY
Mommy.
JULIET
I.
HORATIO
Believe.
HAMLET
[cleaning his costume] I.
JULIET
[raising her dress] See!
HAMLET
This.
NANNY
Show.
[KING and QUEEN squeezing in torn-up dresses, with traces of
bruises and black marks on their face. After them TYBALT
squeezes through with metal bowl in his hands.]
TYBALT
[Throws down the bowl and screams] Later!
[KING and QUEEN piss.]
HAMLET
No.
[White subjects, taking up big space, begin to move as a piston,
pressing, crowded in between people. People scream in horror.
Everything goes dark. After a while, green, dim light lights the
stage, where there are seven big and seven small stools. On the
small stools lie a cork, plaster, jar, "back-straightener",
plate, and "eyelid-dialators", and a collar. On the big stools
are destroyed, bloody bodies of the owners of these objects.
Above each body, suspended, turning, holographic image of each
subject, with bright contours. Voice over loudspeaker.]
VOICE
There no sadder tale of woe,
Than Juliet and her Hamlet.
THE END DAMMIT!
(Russian text published in Theater Life magazine, December 1990.)
AFTERWARD, AS FOREWORD
Summary: Stressing of Sorokin's special dramatic qualities,
mainly concern with the unconscious. Mentioning that he has
Christian roots. Sorokin, born 1957 in Moscow, Russian, married,
wrote short stories, novels, and plays. Lives in Munich,
Germany. Paints.
This translation was workshoped during the Summer Session of 1993 in St.Petersburg with American theatre students and Formal Theatre actors, director Andrey Mogoochy. Performed at the Baltic House Second Stage. Editors: Andrey Makarov and Daniel Kleinfield.
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Film-North * Anatoly Antohin 
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