Читать бесплатно онлайн книгу Ping-Pong
Valeriy Khazin
PING-PONG
If you reach the page 15 of the play- you won’t be able to break away. A young ambitious table tennis coach, nicknamed Tops, in order to win the sympathy of the young national team’ players comes up with a "detective game", which, according to his plan, should enthrall his young charges for a month of training in a country-camp. However, the game gets out of the control eventually, subjugates the players and becomes unexpectedly dramatic. Seemingly unharmed and cozy world of adolescent ping pong players explodes. The amusing "Treasure Hunt" turns into something much more serious.
How far are the adults willing to go to in their desire to manipulate the teenagers and to govern their lives? What is the price of a social success? How far are the teenagers willing to go in their controversial efforts to resist the grownups and, at the same time, to “reach for the secret” and to grow up as soon as possible?
The swift and irreversible vicissitudes make you feel sometimes that it is not the characters who collide in the search for "magic paddle", but the "magic paddle" itself decides their fate. The game embroils the players in a series of betrayals and real crimes leading to an unpredictable denouement.
Characters:
Adults
The head coach, nicknamed Tops, 23 years old.
The second coach, nicknamed Cap, 40 years old.
Nurse, later nicknamed Splinter, 19 years old.
The team
Boys:
The top player of the team, nicknamed Cadeau, 17 years old.
The second player of the team, nicknamed Spin, 16 years old.
The third player of the team, nicknamedChang, 14 years old.
The reserve player of the team, nicknamed Fisher, 14 years old.
Girls:
The top player of the team, nicknamed Sharon, 16 years old.
The second player of the team, nicknamed Chancy, 16 years old.
The third player of the team, nicknamedLoo, 14 years old.
The reserve player of the team, nicknamed Bunny, 14 years old.
Players of the junior team, boys and girls, aged 11–13.
Scene 1
The action takes place in a sport camp on the shore of a large forest lake in August.
August, 1
Evening. Chancy and Bunny’s room. A tape recorder is playing. Bunny, dressed in a tracksuit, is lying in bed on the blanket dangling her legs. Her open bag is on the floor, the bundle of her clothes and a box of ping-pong balls sticking out. Chancy has just finished tidying her closet. She closes the door, comes to her bed, sits down. She looks at Bunny and gives her a smile.
Chancy.So… we're going to call you Bunny?
Bunny.Yeah. Everyone calls me that. At school and in the old team too. I never mind. Do you?
Chancy.Why?
Bunny.… being nicknamed?… I mean, can I call you… Chancy? Like the others?
Chancy.Sure. Nobody gets offended here. Everyone has a nickname.
Bunny.It’s so strange… And why Chancy?
Chancy. (laughing) It’s an old story. Because of my sliced shots. Cap didn’t like them and used to say that, instead of a proper defence, I kept on making chancy moves. So they called me Chancy.
Bunny.I see… And Cap is that old and tall one?
Chancy.He’s not old. Just grey.
Bunny.Was it him who trained you?
Chancy.Yes. Me and the whole team. He was the head coach for five years.
Bunny.Ah… And what about Tops? I thought he…
Chancy.He’s been appointed recently. About three months.
Bunny.Ah…So what’s he like?
Chancy.He’s all right.
Bunny.Aha. Look, what should I call them?
Chancy.Who?
Bunny.The coaches.
Chancy.Like everyone does. Cap… and Tops.
Bunny.Really? And you all call them that? To their faces? What about names?
Chancy. (smiling) It’s a custom. Everyone in the team has a nickname. It’s like a talisman, you see? You shouldn’t get offended. We leave names for events. And for the records.
Bunny.It’s so strange… (sits down on the bed) Have you been here before?
Chancy.Several times.
Bunny.I’m so glad they’ve picked me. It’s a gorgeous place… The lake… You know, I didn’t believe they’d pick me — until the last minute… The weight and stuff, you know… Neither did Mo… And this, er…Tops — does he make you sweat at the workouts?
Chancy.That’s his job.
Bunny. (whispering) You know, I always wear mini and shorts on purpose, but, actually I feel dreadfully shy, you know… What about you?
Chancy.I don’t know. It depends…th.
Pause.
Bunny.Have you ever tried smoking?
Chancy.What?
Bunny.Well, they say you can lose weight if..
Chancy.Nonsense! Yout know very well that’s rubbish, don’t you? (pause) After all, you don’t have to be skinny because this isn’t… gymnastics… Look at me…
Bunny.Yes, of course.
Pause.
Bunny. (lies down again) Isn’t it wonderful they've put us together?
Chancy.It’s great. Aren’t you going to unpack?
Bunny.Unpack? Ah yes… Sure… Later… Tomorrow.
Pause.
Bunny.Listen. I was just wondering… about that guy — Cadeau — he’s number one, right?
Chancy.Yes.
Bunny.Have you ever played doubles with him?
Chancy.Couple of times during competitions. And, of course, at the workouts. Sharon usually plays with him.
Bunny.Sharon? But that isn’t her name, is it?
Chancy.Yes, it is. I mean, that’s what she’s called here. It’s not really a name. She just looks very much like…
Bunny.Sharon Stone? Yes, I’ve noticed…
Pause.
Bunny.And Cadeau?
Chancy.What?
Bunny.How come he’s called that?
Chancy.His surname is Cadoryan. His father’s Armenian. He left them… or something — a long time ago. Besides, “cadeau” is the French for present, you know?… And some of his freaky left serves are pretty tough. He calls them “my precious presents”. And, when he's serving he often mutters: “here we go now — un petit cadeau”…
Bunny.Got you… He’s handsome… Everyone must be crazy about him here…
Chancy.Not everyone. (pause) Well, it’s late… Bedtime…
Scene 2
The same evening. Cap’ and Tops’s room in a cottage. Cap and Tops sitting at a table with a half empty bottle of cognac, two wine-glasses and fruit on it. Tops puts a knife and an apple in the saucer, stands up. He goes to the chair in the corner, sits down, starts peeling the apple.
Cap.Would you like some more?
Tops.No, thanks. It’s good stuff.
Pause.
Cap.Well, I think, I’ll have some, if you don’t mind… I feel tired (pours cognac in the glass).
Tops.Go ahead, sure. (puts the apple slice in his mouth) Has everyone settled in?
Cap.Oh yes. eEverything’s fine.
Tops.It must have been a mess — handling the kids, eh? I mean, there’re twenty of them! Especially the boys?
Cap.No, it was allright (drinks).
Tops.I’ve heard the morning forecast. Awful. They’ve promised a rainy August.
Cap.Really?
Tops.I was thinking… about the seniors… We should keep them busy somehow.
Cap.What do you mean?
Tops.In the evenings. I’d like to think something up, some kind of game or a treasure hunt perhaps, I don’t know yet… Just to keep the busy for the whole month. They’re not exactly childrenany more, are they? I remember myself at their age. What if it rains August out? I mean, they’ll be messing about sitting in their rooms and playing cards, and so on, you know… We should do something with them, I guess. What do you say?
Cap.I don’t know. They have to be in training. And work hard. The Games in Seoul aren’t a jaunt across the lake (pours more cognac).
Tops.Yes. I know what you mean.
Pause.
Cap.You know, I’d like to say that you’re very good at what you’re doing.
Tops.Really?
Cap.Absolutely. You see, I’ve never meddled, never tried to influence anything, which wasn’t that easy for me. I think you’re very good.
Tops.Thank you.
Cap.All these cross trainings and things. It’s good. They’re already mad about you, you know? Totally. Not to mention the girls…
Tops.Thank you, Cap. I knew you’d be, er… on my side. I really did. And I’ve always thought that you were the one to work with the kids.
Pause.
Cap.I’m planning to bring the juniors to your sessions sometime, if you don’t mind. It would be good for them to watch the seniors playing. Particularly, if Sharon warms up. And Chancy, too. Spin seems to be making good progress too. I think you should go easy on him… And as for those games and stuff — well, actually, I’m not sure. It’s up to you.
Tops.Yes. Of course.
Cap.The main thing is, you shouldn’t allow them to play with the kids just for fun. I mean Spin and Cadeau, in the first place. Might spoil the skill. Don’t overload the new guys. What did they call this new girl?
Tops.Bunny.
Cap.Bunny? Well, put her against Chancy. And let this titch — Fisher, isn’t it? — let him start with Chang. Not with Spin. Let him a chance to show what he can do. I think something’s going to come of him. Keep your eye on Sharon: she often goes ape over attack and opens up the left corner. And I’m worried about Cadeau. He loses stability in the net area. Have you noticed?
Tops.Yes. Maybe, that’s it for him? I mean the guy’s over the hill?
Cap.I don’t think so. It just needs fixing, that’s all. (pause). Everything’s going to be fine. You’re going to make it. No problems.
Tops.I hope so.
Cap.Only… you shouldn’t have taken on this nurse.
Tops.The Federation recommended her.
Cap.I wish you hadn’t agreed. She’s too young. Of course, there are skilful doctors here, but… If anything serious happens… at the workout… you’ll be needing someone you can count on, you know. I’m afraid she’s too young… Have they given her a nickname yet?
Tops.I don’t know.
Cap.They will. (pause). Well (raises the wine-glass). To a sunny August… and good luck to us all(drinks).
Pause.
Tops.Cap, I didn’t want to say, but… There was a call from the Federation. In the afternoon, when you were busy with the accomodation…
Cap.Yes?
Tops.They said they hoped that there wouldn’t be any sign of the old problems with you, and so on, you know…
Cap. (grinning) I do appreciate this.
Tops.That’s not all. Things have changed. About Seoul…
Cap.In what way?
Tops.It’s possible that they’ll only send four players there. Just the top two players. No thirds or reserves. And no juniors.
Cap.What?
Tops.Something about sponsors. Refusal or something. The budget’s been cut down. And the program is liable to be reduced.
Cap.Oh yes. (Covering his face with his hand). I thought something of the kind might happen… Those weird talks…
Tops.They said it wasn’t settled yet. There is a hope. They’re working on it now. They’ll probably manage to sort something out within the month, you know…
Cap. (without taking his arm off) Oh yes… It was the same… the year before last…
Pause.
Tops.Cap, I didn’t say anything…
Cap.What?
Tops.It’s between you and me.
Cap.What? You mean, you’re not going to tell the guys?
Tops.Why? It might all be okay.
Cap.You don’t want to tell guys?
Tops.Cap! It’s not a final decision. Why should I upset them so soon? To have the whole month spoilt? Can you imagine what will happen to the team if I tell? How are they supposed to play the trials? (Pause). Cap, please don’t say anything… For the team’s sake. After all, everything might still change…
Pause.
Cap.Well. Okay… Maybe you’re right…
