Playwright Portrait, Jonathan Leaf, Excerpt from Pushkin

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The Playwright Jonathan Leaf, 2006

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PUSHKIN

PUSHKIN

You’ve been paid, yes? (She nods.) Tell me, where is my wife?

SERVING-MAID

She and her sister, Katarina,

Are visiting again that gorgeous Count, 

The Dutch ambassador’s adopted son.

PUSHKIN

Again?

 SERVING-MAID

            Once more.  He’s very handsome, yes?

Pushkin looks at her. The Serving-Maid exits. Pushkin walks to a corner panel in his woodwork, taps it, and it opens. He pulls out some papers and looks at them. He then closes the compartment and sits down, dejectedly, with the papers.

PUSHKIN

Have I eyed earth without a proper eye

And seen - or thought I saw - a hectic strand -

Shore beckoning - where beach's not, not one grain, 

Worlds through glass eyes themselves composed of sand?

Lights out.