tell me everything later, all about the diamond mines of King Solomon, and about your conversation with the mysterious guest of the professor.
Rodion. Are we going to meet today?
Olga. Of course, my goofy boy! Do you really think I would let you spend all the money on yourself?
Rodion. See you tonight then?
Olga. I told you that. Now let me go. It is no good to prevent a woman from fulfilling her professional duty.
Rodion. And what about tonight?
Olga. What about tonight?
Rodion. Will you be off duty then?
Olga. After work? Of course not. Definitely, you're really stupid. What are you so happy about? For being stupid?
Rodion. Because I will see you soon again. And you will no longer say that I am a boy.
Olga. Let’s wait and see.
Rodion. And what about your goodbye kiss?
Olga. Here's a blown kiss to you, my naughty boy. So far, be happy with it. And tonight…
Rodion. And tonight?!
Olga. Oh! It depends on what you tell me when we meet.
Olga leaves. Rodion jumps high, doing a somersault with his feet in the air, and hides in one of the rooms. Golyshkin looks out of his office warily. Seeing no one, he hides behind the door again.
The light gets down.
The doorbell rings several times in the darkness. Suddenly, light flashes out. Golyshkin opens the door and Rodion comes in.
Rodion. Did I wake you up, dad? Sorry. I couldn’t find my keys. I might have left them at home or lost in a taxi.
Golyshkin. I wasn’t sleeping. By the way, what time is it?
Rodion. It’s about six o’clock at night. Or should I say morning? How would it be correct from a philosophical point of view?
Golyshkin. Why are you coming back so late? And also drunk.
Rodion. Father, I am no longer a child. And I really want to sleep. Let's talk tomorrow. If you don’t mind.
Golyshkin. But what if I do mind?
Rodion. Okay, today then. But only after I get a good sleep. It will be sometime after lunch. Closer to sunset.
Golyshkin. You're in a wonderful mood, as I see.
Rodion. Did you like it better when I was locked up in my room and never went out?
Golyshkin. Of course not. But you could have called me, at least. And let me know that you were late.
Rodion. I’ve apologized, dad!
Golyshkin. For losing your keys. But not for making me worry.
Rodion. Couldn’t it be all at once? Father, let's finish this topic, please. Don't ruin this beautiful evening.
Golyshkin. Maybe you would tell me where you've been?
Rodion. Okay, I’ve been at a cool party and with a very pretty pussy. Hopefully, you are not interested in details? Like a really educated person.
Golyshkin. Aren't you interested that your old father was worrying about you? I might have had a heart attack!
Rodion. Daddy, as one person has recently said, you are outrageously healthy for your age. So don't make me feel sorry for you. It won't work.
Golyshkin. Do you mean Olga Alekseevna?
Rodion. And who else? Luckily, we don't have many common friends, especially women.
Golyshkin. When did you see her?
Rodion. Me? I don’t remember now… And why are you asking me about it in such a tone?
Golyshkin. I haven’t seen her for a week. I thought…
Rodion. Dad, has anyone told you that you think too much?
Golyshkin. Thinking never hurts anyone.
Rodion. Sometimes in life it is necessary not only to think, but also to act. But, by the way, do as you wish. Teach your grandmother to suck eggs.
Golyshkin. You're right, cool egg. Go to sleep!
Rodion. This is great! Why don't you just say goodnight to me, father? Just like mom always did.
Golyshkin. I also miss our mother, son …
Rodion. What did you say? I didn't hear, sorry.
Golyshkin. Nothing. Good night!
Rodion. Yeah. And the same to you!
Rodion leaves. Golyshkin goes to his office and walks nervously from corner to corner in the dimly lit room, thinking about something. The phone rings. The spotlight beam snatches out Myshevsky with a mobile phone in his hands.
Myshevsky. Good morning professor. Am I too early?
Golyshkin. Oh, that’s okay, Mr. Myshevsky! In fact, I haven't even gone to bed yet.
Myshevsky. Are you still thinking about my offer?
Golyshkin. You are right.
Myshevsky. So, have you made a decision?
Golyshkin. I’ve already told you – I am a philosopher, not an adventurer.
Myshevsky. I don’t like adventures either, as any serious businessman. But now it’s quite a different case. It has nothing to do with adventure. This time it has to do with gold. Oh, how it smells, professor! Much better that your favorite jasmine… Do you remember a legend about the falcon and the raven? It is better to live thirty years, eating fresh blood, than three hundred years, eating carrion.
Golyshkin. Maybe you are right.
Myshevsky. In that case… take a decision, professor!
Golyshkin. Give me another half an hour.
Myshevsky. What for?
Golyshkin. Only half an hour. And then I'll call you back. And I will definitely say yes or no.
Myshevsky. Good. Thirty minutes are not three hundred years.
Golyshkin hangs up. The spotlight beam goes down and Myshevsky disappears. Golyshkin dials the number again. The beam snatches Olga out of the darkness.
Olga. Oh, who is there so early? Just don’t say that you’ve dialed the wrong number!
Golyshkin. This is professor Golyshkin.
Olga. Stalver Udarpyatovich, is that you? Did something happen to you?
Golyshkin. Olga Alekseevna, sorry for my early call.
Olga. That’s okay… Anyway, I had to get up. The working day at our clinic starts at eight a.m., oh, dam it all! Go, tell me, what's happened to you?!
Golyshkin. You haven't come to see me for ages…
Olga. Oh, so that's the point!
Golyshkin. So, I thought… I just wanted to ask… Did I offend you somehow, Olga Alekseevna?
Olga. Oh, don’t worry, Stalver Udarpyatovich. I’m just having a lot of work these days. Besides, you don’t need the nurse aid any longer.
Golyshkin. And what about tonight, after work? Not as a nurse… But as a friend… If you let me put it like that.
Olga. What for? To discuss eternal problems? It’s so boring, Stalver Udarpyatovich! We have already talked about it. Your philosophy
