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Your hands are always so warm so soft. I love to hold them and kiss them…

(He tries to kiss Olga’s hand)

OLGA. Misha, not now… not the right place…

MICHAEL. Galochka, try to understand… This paper is the biggest chance in my life… I have to grovel before… The Party Committee didn’t want to give me permission to go to Paris. For a little professional recognition… I had to be stubborn humiliated and have Dima follow me all the time… But… They added a special condition about you and me… I can’t come to you after Paris (Pause) Please, forgive me… Galochka.. I hope you will understand… I don’t want to give up this chance… Do you understand? (Pause) Galochka! What do you say? Why are you silent? Say something… Galochka! Where are you?

OLGA. (own voice) Papa! What are you saying?

MICHAEL. Where is Galochka?

OLGA. She went away…

MICHAEL. Where? Why?

OLGA. To get your shoes…

MICHAEL. Call her back… I have to explain all and to ask her forgiveness…

OLGA. Why… do you have to ask Galya’s forgiveness?

MICHAEL. She and I had an agreement…

OLGA. Agreement? What about?

MICHAEL. I was to go to her with one suitcase… You and Mama would stay in the apartment with all the furniture the paintings, money, everything…

OLGA. How could you? Did Mama know anything about you and Galya?

MICHAEL. I think she knew something…

OLGA. But you never left us, Papa…

MICHAEL. The Party Committee said I could only go to Paris if I completely ended my relationship with Galya… Galya never forgave me my trip to Paris… Now I have missed another chance to ask her forgiveness…

(MICHAEL jumps up)

I have to try to find her…

(He puts feet on the floor. All the tubes have fallen off… He starts to walk gasps and falters… OLGA forces him back to bed)

OLGA. Papa, lie down again! I’ll call the nurse…

MICHAEL. (weakly) You don’t need to call anybody but Galochka.

OLGA. Listen to me! You are now in… the hospital! Do you understand? You are in Memorial Hospital

MICHAEL. Where?

OLGA. In the hospital… Not Leningrad… Papa, you are in America… In Boston Ame-ri-ca!!

MICHAEL. How could I be in America?

OLGA. After Perestroika we came to Boston… Five years ago on your 80th birthday… Remember?

MICHAEL. Where is Mama?

OLGA. Mama died…

MICHAEL. She died? (Pause) When?

OLGA. We came to America after she died…

(Beat)

MICHAEL (suddenly jumping up again shouting). Galochra! Galochka! Here I am!

OLGA. Papa, she isn’t here…

MICHAEL. I saw Galochka in the crowd…I’m calling to her…. There! She has on her blue knitted cap… She knitted it during lunch breaks… Then she knitted my scarf…

OLGA. Papa, lie down. The nurse will fix your tubes…

MiICHAEL (pushing the intravenous tree aside). No tubes… I tear them out! I don’t want Galochka to see me helpless and weak with tubes all over me…

OLGA (almost crying). Papa! I don’t know what to do with you… You must lie still…

MICHAEL. I’ll lie down when Galochka gets here.

OLGA. OK… Papa, she is coming… Here she is… (Galya’s voice) Misha, please lie back…

MICHAEL. Galochka! You brought my shoes?

OLGA. Yes, I have them…

MICHAEL. Put them on me, please…

OLGA. Misha, why do you want your shoes?

MICHAEL. I can’t go to Paris like this barefoot… My feet are cold… (OLGA finds his slippers and puts them on his feet) Is Olga gone?

OLGA. Just for a minute…

MICHAEL. I have something very important to tell you… Listen carefully (dreamily) Galya! We are in America! We are in a free country! Now we can go to Paris together… We will go up the EIFFEL Tower and walk along the Elysian Fields… What more? The Louvre! We will stroll by the river at night… Oh, and the bridges… What is that river?

OLGA. The Seine…

MICHAEL (weakly). Yes, yes the Seine… Now we are as free as birds… No Communist Party to take you away from me and mess up our lives… Give me your hand… I want to feel beside me…

(OLGA gives him her hand)

Galochka, I’m so glad you forgave me… On the train I will lie on my bank and sleep… Just don’t go away, Galochka, and don’t take away your hand… We are going to Paris… We’re together… Now we are together… Forever…

(Michael lies peacefully on his bed. Olga covers him with blanket)

Galochka, put your hand over my eyes… This bright light… It disturbs my sleep… Thank you, thank you… I love you…

(OLGA puts her hand over her father’s eyes as lights fade)

THE END