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MP3 9.5 MB • 112 kbps • 11:51
Story behind the song
Synopisis
Daytime, in the Waiting room at the Cancer Ward Clinic. It is crowded with people waiting for appointments and examinations. One bench is occupied by a single young man, who, cries his pain and discomfort throughout the scene. Asking to sit at an open place on a bench, two patients converse, and make small talk, the screams of the patient in pain sometimes interrupting their conversation. Doctor Bahramovich, Senior Doctor, and head of the Cancer Clinic, asks Meath, the nurse on station, to call Doctor Dontsova for a special meeting in his office. The chorus sings a lament about their plight. Doctor Bahramovich informs Dr. Dontsova that to meet the increased demand on the services of the clinic, that new measures, to increase patient bed turnovers will be implemented. First Yuri, the young son of Pavel Pavlov, enters with a suitcase, followed by Kapa, Pavel's wife, dressed richly, and in furs. Pavel enters, the tumor on his neck forces him to move and respond gingerly. The man on the bench yells, adding to the disorientation of Pavel, who cannot control his revulsion at being at the clinic. Turning to Kapa, he announces his intention to leave. Kapa pleads with Pavel -- they have nowhere else to go. Kapa moves with impatience to the Nurses station. She angrily rings the bell at the desk, and, then impatiently goes off to search for the nurse, who was supposed to meet them. A patient comes into the lobby, with a jar of his urine sample. He asks one of the patients in the lobby where he is supposed to take it. Mita comes in, followed by Kapa, apologizing for not being in the lobby to meet them -- there was a shipment of medicine she had to be present at. After making sure Pavel has a completely new store bought set of pajamas, she unlocks the small room next to the nurses station, and let's Pavel change out of his street clothes. Kapa talks to Mita, letting her know that her husband is an important person in society, and would like to make arrangements for private care for him. As a matter of fact, she pulls out three 50-note rubles to bribe Mita to make these arrangements. Mita declines, saying that is not how things are done at the clinic. Pavel comes out of the dressing room, and chats with his son, Yuri, who is following in his father's footsteps as a public prosecutor. Kapa finds a scarf for Pavel to wrap his neck in so it won't get cold. Mita asks Pavel if he can manage on his own, and Kapa curtly admonishes Mita, saying that he can barely stand, and to take his bags to his patient bed for him. Mita carries the bag to the top of the stairs, yells for Maria, and dashes off to another part of the clinic. At the top of the stairs, Maria points out his bed to him, "second bed from the window." End of scene.
Lyrics
Daytime, in the Waiting room at the Cancer Ward Clinic. It is crowded with people waiting for appointments and examinations.
(First Yuri, the young son of Pavel Pavlov, enters with a suitcase, followed by Kapa, Pavel's wife, dressed richly, and in furs. Pavel enters, the tumor on his neck forces him to move and respond gingerly).
Doctor Bahramovich, (Senior Doctor, and head of the Cancer Clinic)
Mita, please tell Doctor Ludmila Dontsova to meet with me in half an hour.
Mita
Of course, Dr. Bahramovich!
A bench is occupied by a single young man, who, cries his pain and discomfort throughout the scene.
Man in Pain
Help! Help! Ah! Ah! Please! God!
Asking to sit at an open place on a bench, two patients converse, and make small talk, the screams of the patient in pain sometimes interrupting their conversation.
1rst Patient
Good day!
2nd Patient
Good day!
Pavel
Kapa! I willl die here! I don’t want to be here. Let’s leave!
Kapa
Pashenka! And where would we go…and then what?
1rst Patient (indicating the open seat on the bench)
May I ?
2nd Patient
Help yourself!
1rst Patient, (sitting down)
Thank you.
Women’s voices
Time destroys everything. Things were already difficult, who has time to go see a doctor?
Full chorus
And then the diagnosis – cancer! Cancer! Cancer!
Pavel
Well, perhaps something can be arranged in Moscow….
Kapa
Pahenka! Moscow is perhaps a two week wait, and perhaps even longer. How are we going to wait? Everyday it grows bigger!
2nd Patient
How is the weather?
1rst Patient
Cold, windy. You have been sitting here for a while?
2nd Patient
Yes. I was here this morning. But by no means –
Man in Pain, (interrupting)
I am in pain! God! In pain! God!
2nd Patient
But by no means the first.
1rst Patient
I understand. Busy.
2nd Patient
Yes. Very busy.
Pavel
Perhaps a doctor will be willing to come to the house….We would pay him.
Kapa
Pasik! –
--You know, that I would be the first to agree to pay. But we have been over this.
Man in Pain
God! My pain is too much for me, I do not have the strength for it. Somebody! Help me! Ehhh! There is no one to help? Ah-h-h-h! Ah! Please. My stomach! My pain!
1rst Patient
He sounds as if he will die on the spot.
Man in Pain
Help me, please!
2nd Patient
True, isn’t it? Time is the best medicine. But will it help him?
Kapa
These doctors won’t visit, and don’t accept money. And then there is the equipment.
Man in Pain
Ahhh!
Kapa
Impossible.
Man in Pain
There is no one to help me?
(She angrily goes to the nurses station)
No one here to meet us! (Angrily rings desk bell). For what do these people get paid?
(Impatiently goes off to search for the nurse)
Chorus (patients on the ward)
Things were already difficult, who has time to go see a doctor? Time destroys everything.
Doctor Bahramovich
Hello, Lumila Afanasievna!
Doctor Dontsova
Hello, Mutadin Bachramovich!
Doctor Bahramovich
Thank you for coming to this meeting at my request. I know you are busy.
Doctor Dontsova
Not at all. Administration is part of my responsibilities.
Doctor Bahramovich
Because there has been an increase in the requests coming in from provincial cancer clinics asking permission to send patients, and because there is a constant line of applicants for admission in the waiting room, sometimes for days on end, we will need to increase the turnover of beds. In all doubtful cases, where there is no assurance of improvement, the patient is to be discharged.
Doctor Dontsova
I agree with this.
Doctor Bahramovich
I insist too, on discharging those who are doomed. So far as possible, their deaths should occur outside the clinic. This will help the statistics.
I’d like to give you the opportunity to go over the list with me.
Doctor Dontsova
I understand. Thank you.
(Both)
Because the world is in pain, many of its people suffer. A docto
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