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Please note that all dialogue is under United States
Copyright protection.
Hercules in Russia
A drama in two acts by Allyson Currin
4 men, 2 women
Synopsis:
Jim Hercules, a black man born in the American Reconstruction South, finds his way
to the court of Tzar Nicholas II in Russia on the eve of the Russian
Revolution. As the specter of violent change looms over his adopted
country, Jim must weigh his love for the royal family and loyalty
to them against his growing awareness of the cruelly unjust world
the tsarist system has created – while at the same time battling
demons from his own tortured American past who threaten to unleash
a dangerous retributive passion in him. Based on a true story. Sample
dialogue:
Grand Duke Nicholas blows into the palace, throwing
his hat and coat onto the floor.
NICHOLAS
NICKY! Where the hell is Nicky?
Jim scrambles after the grand duke, picking up
his discarded items.
JIM
Most high radiance –
NICHOLAS
Jim, there you are! A voice of reason in this – What the hell
are you doing on the floor?
JIM
I was –
NICHOLAS
Don’t have time to discuss. Having a crisis.
JIM
Yes, Most High Radiance!
NICHOLAS
I’m not in the field. Let’s dispense with the formalities.
JIM
Yes, Your Radiance.
NICHOLAS
That’s better. I need a drink.
JIM
Allow me to –
NICHOLAS
I pour my own damn drinks on the front, why shouldn’t I do
it here? Matter of principle. Not that principle matters much in
this house of REPTILES – where the hell is Nicky? I’m
pouring, I’m pouring! Here. Have a damn drink.
JIM
Thank you, excellency. The family is at Livadia for the –
NICHOLAS
Livadia, eh? Country’s going to hell in a hand basket and
he’s off hunting and fishing… Squiring Alix around like
this was a goddamn house party! Well, he’s not Bertie and
this insane country bears no resemblance whatsoever to England.
I want him back here!
JIM
The Tzar has requested –
NICHOLAS
Don’t give me the family line. I invented the family line.
JIM
Yes, Your Radiance.
NICHOLAS
I want him cabled immediately.
JIM
But surely –-
NICHOLAS
National security, Jim! Do those words mean anything to you?
JIM
Yes, excellency, but – Nicholas takes his gun out of its holster
and flails it around wildly.
NICHOLAS
Goddammit, why won’t that fucking wife of his let his balls
go long enough for him to get on a bleeding train and get his ass
back to St. Petersburg – where it belongs – and deal
with Cousin Willie before that little German prick rides his goddamn
tanks all over Europe? Tell me! Tell me why that bitch and that
fucking Rasputin won’t let go of Nicky’s nuts long enough
for him to give me a straight fucking answer?
JIM
If I may –
NICHOLAS
Yes? Yes?!?!?!?!
JIM
I think she objects to your language, excellency.
NICHOLAS
FUCK HER!
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