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MOTHERS AND SON (from `The Lifework` by Yuri Herrmann)
Vladimir: Army Surgeon Ustimenko came to your order, Ma`am.
Ashkhen(strong Armenian accent): At last. I hope you agree that our profession is based on a moral law, do you? Do you agree with me?
Vladimir: No doubt!
Ashkhen: No doubt! Then how could you, Army Surgeon Ustimenko, sleep up to noon at that time? Be free to explain us, Sir!
Vladimir: I"m sorry.
Ashkhen: It"s out of all reason. One may think you rushed into attack! You keep silence. Nothing to say. Step back or you squash the kitten. What an example do you set by your behaviour and appearance for your subordinates? How could you dare to spend so much time for a sleep, eh?
Vladimir: I did not dare. It"s happened occasionally.
Ashkhen: Oc-ca-si-o-o-nal-ly?! Xenochka (informal from `Xena`. - AAO), just look at this Mr. `Occasionally`!
Xena: It seems to me, Ashkhen, that Army Surgeon Ustimenko should be given an exemplary penalty. And, on the whole, his generation is not too ...
Vladimir: What, Madam Military Doctor, is wrong with my generation?
Army Surgeon Veresova: Vladimir Ivanovich is not guilty. He kept awake till dawn.
Xena: It's beside the point in here now.
Army Surgeon Veresova: You haven"t understood me right, Xenaida Mikhailovna.
Vladimir (to Veresova): I can speak for myself.
Army Surgeon Veresova: I"m sorry, Sir!
Vladimir: Well, I was doing something no less important than your feeding the kittens!
Ashkhen: What?! What have you said, Sir?
Xena: Take it easy, Ashken. Don"t pay attention!
Ashkhen: Xena, be kind to leave us. Go! Army Surgeon Veresova, dismissed too! (to Vladimir) You insolent fella! Greenhorn! How could you say those awful words? What a bitchy thing to say! That person lost all her relatives in this war! All by herself! And you ... What do you know about her life? After graduating from the Sorbonne she went to the Saranski district, to the back of beyond! There were syphilis and trachoma at every turn there. The village constable told her `thee and thou` because ... do you know what is a village constable? The village did not address her `Madam` because she was a subjection to police supervision. Xenochka had got no firewood to warm up the cold log hut. But despite all she gained her point! She drove out those dreadful diseases!
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Vladimir: We also have some achievements! She must have gone there because she was in love with somebody.
Ashkhen: What does it have to do with love? She went there just to conquer sluggishness and ignorance! ... Tell me the truth, were you again at forefront helping the wounded? Well, sit down! It"s my order! To feed the kittens ... Xenochka was always at the most dangerous places. In 1919 she joined the Party and we were together the field surgeons aboard the armoured train `Death to the enemies!` Eat something. Later you can"t. You look not good. Help yourself to butter. Spread it thicker, get more.
Vladimir: Thanks. I don"t want to.
Ashkhen: Don"t be offended! Lately one patient has called me an old witch because I prohibited smoking. But, on the other hand, I really must have had something of an old witch.
A LITTLE MOUSTACHE
Ashkhen (singing the iconic Revolutionary songs `Kakhovka` and `The fatal battle`): Anything wrong, Ustimenko?
Vladimir: Honestly speaking, Ashkhen, I am afraid that this soldier can die...
Ashkhen:`I am afraid` is not a manly lexicon, Volodichka, you"d better leave these words for children. Baby, we have not right to be afraid here! And call for help! Do you still feel you are flying in your dreams?
Vladimir: Sometimes.
Ashkhen: It"s because you are still not adult. Teenagers often have such dreams. Even if these boys grow a ...
Vladimir: A what?
Ashkhen: A very little moustache!
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