The NOTE FROM the AUTHOR: the author perfectly understands, how many directors, especially, young directors would be desirable to bring in each play something new, something individual. Therefore he would not be object if the director does not follow author's notes if he removes the Ballerina and will make a solo performance or, on the contrary, will occupy performance by numerous characters. The most important thing that the sense and feelings the author has tried to enclose would not be lost. Though, nobody knows, what sense of the simplest words becomes in future…

I.

In darkness of a scene on the braided old-fashioned cord hangs down the lamp under an iron plate. In the middle of a scene there is the big and old suitcase which has been pasted over with cuttings from fashionable magazines, there are there Hollywood actors, the American skyscrapers, there is also a cover of Russian "Ogonyok"… From a twilight comes up the woman in a white dress and the white leggings, resembles the dancer, we name her Ballerina. She slightly touch with lamp, walls, as she searches some space for herself, then stands still in a graceful ballet pas… The switch sound is audible. The lamp on a trailing cord lights up and we see the man in a shirt worn outside jeans, in hands he has the small portable tape recorder like Sanyo. He approaches to the Ballerina, some times thoughtfully bypasses her, shrugs shoulders and goes to a stage border to see spectators…

The STORY-TELLER: (quickly inspecting a scene). So, so, so, so, so... So. (He bows in a hall.) Good evening to everybody, as they say. So, I have come on this scene, mmm… (He searches where to put the tape recorder.) To tell you story about travel to America … (He reflects for a second.) No. It is boring… Here! About panic flight from Russia to America. Aa… It is strange story – at first sight. I’ll tell it to you. (He points to the Ballerina) And she will dance this entire story, I hope. Understand, improvisation, unpredictability. Here… I ran from Russia or not I ran from Russia it’s not important. More truly, I did not run anywhere. After all some know-all men ask me after performance: «So you have run to USA, because of your wife, because of her lover?! It’s crazy!» Certainly, no. If I speak «I was there», I mean, I speak about someone else, but on my own behalf … Aa… The most important thing you have believed, as if I was there. So, that is the mess…

He approaches to the Ballerina, theatrically falls before her on a knee. In some instants he, having slapped himself on a forehead, jumps and runs to include the tape recorder, but it hopelessly is silent. He swears, ready just about to throw the tape recorder about a floor, suddenly meets the amazed look of the Ballerina and calms down. The story-teller steals up to a proscenium.

(He addresses to spectators.) Mm … one small question. Simply to tell about the flight is boring, it is more important to understand why it happens… One question: who knows, what for to the loser the native land?. (Somebody answers from a hall.) Well, I understand, if you the deputy. Full up. Satisfied with yourself, dissatisfied with others. Protection, even inviolability. The native land protects you. What to do without it? Well, there's president. What is the president without motherland, without country, what? Terribly to think, a certain Dmitry Anatolevich and that is all!. (He as though answers a question from a hall.) The creative person?. Please, poet. He writes about the people, glorify the native land. And what for that?. Just so – award, fees. Everybody love them, embrace like dear friend. Women adore. That kind of people without the native land like a big fat zero. And what difference to the loser where to be. In general all try to see him as seldom as possible, like from him it is possible to pick up an infection… And what? As they say, misfortunes is more terrible than a flu… Here is crisis. Also from some loser… Hop! – one after another – chain reaction!.

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