Peter and Alexis. Frank J. Morlock
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to himself again and amend his ways.
Alexis
Are you aware, old man, that it is my duty, as a citizen and as my father’s son, to report this type of sedition?
Dokoukin
It is for you to decide, Tsarevitch.
Alexis
Are you aware that the penalty for sedition is death?
Dokoukin
For myself, I am willing to suffer for Christ’s sake.
Alexis
Are you in your right senses? Think what you are about. Once in the torture chamber, you will be hanged by the ribs and roasted to death like Gregory of Talitsa who called my father Antichrist.
Dokoukin
We must all die once. Today. Tomorrow. What difference? With God’s help I am prepared to give up my life.
Alexis (sizing him up)
Listen, old man, I will not report you. I see that you are honest; I trust you. (pause) Tell me, do you wish me well?
Dokoukin
With all my heart.
Alexis
If you do, then banish all this nonsense from your head. Never think of writing seditious petitions. This is not the time for them. If it were known I had seen you, I too should fare ill. My father spares no one. Go, God be with you! Don’t come again. I’ll put in a word for you. You shall be exonerated. Now, go—no, wait. Give me your handkerchief. (filling it with gold) Take this for your journey back to Moscow. On your return have a mass said for God’s servant, Alexis. Only be careful you don’t know who this Alexis is.
(Dokoukin stands with bowed head, in deep respect, before Alexis.)
Dokoukin
What else can one do but obey you? Who but you can aid us against your terrible father? Fair child of the Church...Russia’s hope.
Alexis
Enough, enough, old man. Am I blind and deaf? Does not my heart ache for you? Should God grant me once to rule this country, I will do all I can to ease the people’s lot. Nor will I forget you. Now, goodbye, Dokoukin. We shall meet someday, God willing.
(Dokoukin goes out with profound but clumsy reverence.)
(A slight pause and Afanassief, Alexis’ aged valet, enters.)
Afanassief
It is time to be going. Would you like to get ready?
Alexis (musing)
I’m not going.
Afanassief
As you please. The order was for everyone to be present. Your father will be in a passion.
Alexis
All right, all right. But, bring me some liquor, my head is splitting from last nights drinking—
Afanassief (bowing)
Yes, Tsarevitch.
ACT I
SCENE 2
The Peterhof Gardens.
Beautiful classical gardens with mythological statues. Benches are set for a banquet. Alexis, Princess Charlotte, his wife, Peter, Count Peter Tolstoi, Catherine, the Tsaritsa, Courtiers and Servants stand before a draped statue.
Tolstoi
It was my great luck to purchase this masterpiece. The statue differs in no wise from the celebrated Florentine Venus and is in a better state of preservation. I had many adventures connected with obtaining this statue. (he opens his snuff box and takes snuff) In Naples, I was inamorata with a certain cittadina Francesca, celebrated for her beauty. (laughing) She cost me more than this masterpiece, and to this day, I do not grudge her a single florin.
(Peter pulls the cord; the drapes part, revealing a well preserved classical Venus. Peter holds the statue in his arms like a doll.)
Tolstoi
Behold Venus in the embrace of Mars.
Princess Charlotte
Were I the Tsaritsa, I would be jealous!
Tolstoi (reciting)
Cupid once upon a bed
Of roses laid his weary head
Luckless archer not to see
Within the leaves a slumbering bee!
The bee awakened with anger wild.
The bee awaked and stung the child.
Loud and piteous are his cries;
To Venus quick, he runs, he flies!
Oh, mother! I am wounded through;
I die with pain, in sooth I die.
Stung by some angry little thing,
Some serpent on a tiny wing.
Thus he spoke, and she the while,
Heard him with a soothing smile;
Then said, my little infant if so much
Thou feel the little wild bee’s touch
How must the heart, ah Cupid be,
The helpless heart that’s stung by thee!
(All present applaud Tolstoi who executes a faultless bow.)
Theodosius
This will not be a flattering oration, but I speak the truth from my heart: by Your Majesty’s actions Russia has been led from ignorance to light and joined the throng of civilized nations. What was Russia in your father’s day? What is she today? And thou, city of Peter, young in thy supremacy! How great is the renown of thy founder. On a cheerful site thou art erected. Verily, a metamorphosis hast thou accomplished.
(Courtiers applaud.)
Alexis
What a hypocrite! I heard him call this city a devil’s bog not more than a week ago.
Peter
I am eager that the people should know how the Lord has helped us hitherto. Yet we must not slacken. We must bear any burden and work for the advantage of Russia.
(Applause from the Courtiers.)
Peter
The philosopher Leibnitz told me that science had traveled from the Orient to Greece, thence to Italy, France, and Germany and now is turning eastward to Russia. Now, it is our turn. The circle is complete.
(Applause.)
Theodosius
The Hellenes are not to be wondered at for bowing to heathen idols, but rather we Christians who bow to icons as idols.
Peter (as on cue)
There are many false wonders.
Theodosius
For example, the weeping Virgin of Petersburg.
Peter
Ah, I have it. (to a servant) Bring it here.
Alexis
This was well rehearsed.
(The servant produces an icon and gives it to Peter who holds it up for everyone to see.)
Peter
Here you see Milady of the Sorrows. She weeps for our sins. See. Tears flow. But how? A miracle, perhaps? (pause) No. Two little cavities in the eyes and a small hole in the body large enough to contain a sponge. Presto, the tears flow. (he dismantles the icon expertly)
(Alexis has winced during this whole proceeding. Peter discards the icon