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MP3 9.3 MB • 80 kbps • 16:18
Story behind the song
Vera greets Lev Leonidovich, chief surgeon and head of the surgery clinic, back from his seminars in Moscow. Lev invites Vera to attend a court session, where a doctor is being tried for the death of a child. Zoya comes down the stairs, just off her shift, and greetings are exchanged. Vera tells Lev that she is too busy to attend the trial, but she will think about it. In the men’s ward, there are new patients, Vadim and Shulibin, replacing discharged patients, Azovkin and Mursalimov. An orderly, Nelya, enters the ward with a bucket and mop, and informs everyone that Efrem Poddyev has passed away, just after having been released from the hospital. A third new patient, Chaly, boldly enters the ward. He is a flamboyant, energetic person, and of dubious character. He chats with his neighbor, Pavel, before an orderly calls out Chaly, and tells him that his wife has arrived for a visit. Chaly leaves to see his wife, and a political discussion ensues on the floor. Tempers and accusations rise, but, the pain and illness of the participants soon leaves them too tired to argue. Chaly arrives, with a bag of delicious foods and bottles of vodka. Though strictly forbidden, Pavel and Chaly toast to their health, and, as Chaly plies Pavel with his gourmet foods, and liquor, it turns out that Chaly is a marketeer, a smuggler. Chaly sings a song, “I will not deceive myself…“, (a poem by Sergei Esenin), about the life of being an irresponsible vagabond. The scene shifts back to a small conference room, where Lev has come, looking for Vera. Vera is at a table, sitting with Dr. Dontsova. Lev says that he will be given his own clinic soon, and that he wants Vera to be his diagnostician. Dontsova says she will not give up Vera for anything. Sensing something wrong, he suggests that Dontsova is not happy to see him. “On the contrary,” Dontsova tells him, “I’m trying to get on your good side.” The scene ends, with Dontsova asking Lev, “Would you be willing to operate on me?”
Lyrics
11. Why Not Live Well?
Vera
I’m so glad you’re back. We really missed you.
Lev, (admiring Vera’s grey-green taffeta dress)
Why are you so happy? Make me happy too.
Vera
Oh no, it’s nothing really. Well, how was your trip?
Lev
It was all right, but a bit upsetting. Moscow’s a disturbing place.
Vera
You can tell me more about it later.
Lev
I brought you some records. Three.
Vera
Did you? Which ones?
Lev
Well, you know, I’m never too sure about Sain-Saens and those people…they’ve got a new LP record department in GUM now. I gave them your list and they wrapped three of them up for me. I’ll bring them in tomorrow. Verusya, let’s go to the trial today.
Vera
What trial?
Lev
Didn’t you know about it? They’re putting one of the surgeons on trial. He’s from Number 3 Hospital.
Vera
What’s he charged with?
Nurse Zoya comes down the stairs, having just finished her night duty. Good morning, Lev Leonidovich and Vera Kornilyevna!
Lev and Vera, to Zoya
Good morning, Zoya Sergayovicha.
Lev, (to Vera)
A child died after an operation…I’d better go while I’ve got a bit of Moscow energy in me. I want to make a hell of a fuss. Shall we go?
Vera
I can’t, Lev. I’ve got too much work…Let me think about it.
(Men’s ward)
Nelya (enters Men’s ward with a bucket and mop)
Hey I’ve got news for you. The one who was over there, he shut up shop, he bought his lunch, he did.
(places bucket down by one of the beds, downstage)
Dyomka
Who? Who died?
Nellya
You know, that poxy-faced guy, the one with all the bandages. It happened yesterday at the railway station, just by the ticket office. They’ve just brought him in for a post-mortem.
Pavel, to Nellya as she exits to get a mop.
Oh God! Why spread such dreadful news around? Can’t you find something cheerful to tell us?
Nellya, (mimicking Yefrem Poddyev)
It’s a sad position we are in…very sad…..
Pavel
How can you be so tactless, comrade orderly?
A shortish, energetic-looking man walked briskly and healthily into the ward, straight past the nurse who is showing him in.
Chaly, (whistles)
Hey boys, you’re a lot of dopes, aren’t you? Have your feet shriveled up or something? Chaly, Maxim Petrovich! It’s a pleasure! Stand at ease! Well then…
(He sits down on the bed, next to Pavel’s.)
Sixty per cent worn out. The senior doctor’s no rat catcher, you can see that.
Pavlov
But….what’s wrong with you?
Chaly
Me? I’ve got polyps.
Pavlov
Does it hurt?
Chaly
Well, as soon as it started to hurt I came along here. You want to cut it out? All right, go ahead. Why stall?
Pavlov
Where is it, then?
Chaly
In my stomach, I think. I reckon they’ll cut out my beautiful old stomach. They’ll hack away three quarters of it.
Pavlov
What will you do then?
Chaly
Not a thing. I’ll just have to get used to it. As long as it still soaks up the vodka!
Pavlov
But you have such wonderful self-control.
Chaly
Listen to me neighbor. If you don’t want to croak, you shouldn’t get yourself upset. Less talk, less pain. That’s my advice to you!
Pavlov
But what do you do exactly? What’s your job?
Chaly
Me? I’m a technician, even though I didn’t finish technical school. I do a bit of middleman work on the side. I do it so I can always have a bit left in my pocket. And when they stop paying the right money I leave and go somewhere else. See?
(Takes out a razor from one pocket, and a pack of card from the other).
Do you indulge?
Pavlov
Yes, sometimes.
Chaly
Do you play preference?
Pavlov
Not really. I like Casino best.
Chaly
That’s not a game. What about whist? Or twenty-one? Or poker?
Pavlov
Well not really. There was no place to learn.
Chaly
We’ll teach you here, where else? It’s like they say: If you can’t we’ll teach you, if you won’t we’ll make you.
Orderly`1
Which one of you is Chaly?
Chaly
I’m Chaly.
Orderly 1
Get on para
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