Rodion. Go on!
Olga. Rodion, please set my hands free! Otherwise I am going to complain your father and he will punish you.
Rodion. You are laughing at me, Olya!
Olga. Should I cry? Oh, no way! Such times had passed long ago. Once upon a time, at one apocalyptic day of my life I was lying on a hospital bed bowelled and devastated and I swore. Oh, that was a terrible vow! From now on I will never take trust any man in the world. I am not going to break my vow even for the sake of such good little boy as you are.
Rodion. Go on laughing at me! But believe me – once everything will change.
Olga. I will wait for such a day, Rodion.
Rodion. Is that true, Olya? Can I hope?
Olga. Even a mouse in a trap has a right to hope. The question is: for what and for how long? For example, my hope to see your father today has almost died. So, what can I do?
Rodion. Okay, I am going to pledge my dad. Maybe he will have mercy on me and finally send that guy packing.
Olga. I will very much appreciate that!
Rodion. But only if you are coming with me, Olya!
Olga. Are you afraid your dad mopping up on you?
Rodion. I am afraid to leave you alone. What if you disappear like a ghost? Maybe you are not a woman at all.
Olga. Who am I then?! You, smart ass!
Rodion. I mean you are not real. Sometimes it seems to me that you are just my pipe-dream.
Olga. Here is my hand, it’s of flesh and blood. Can you feel its warm? Hold it tightly. Maybe in such a way you will keep me beside you.
Rodion. Do you really want it?
Olga. Oh, if I only knew what I want!
Rodion holding Olga by her hand comes up to the office door. The voices are heard out of the closed room. Instead of coming in he tried to kiss Olga’s hand. She pulls it back and starts listening to the conversation.
Myshevskiy. Thank you for coffee Stalver Udarpayovich.
Golyshkin. Would you like one more cup?
Myshevskiy. If you don’t mind professor I’d rather jump to the point.
Golyshkin. Sure. So, Mr. Myshevsky if I understood your right you are attracted by the otherworld and its mysteries?
Myshevskiy. Actually, I am a pragmatic professor. Mysteries of the otherworld… Well, I will start caring about them when I move to that otherworld. Hopefully, it will happen not so soon. Meanwhile, I am more interested in the mysteries of the living world. I would say, only one of them. And like Orpheus I am ready to follow this mystery down to the kingdom of the dead.
Golyshkin. What is that mystery, Mr. Myshevsky? Is it worth it?
