JOANNA Dear heart, do you want to put your hand in my muff?

  —followed by a suppressed shriek, laughter and shushing.

  Tata, wearing a shawl, comes to Herzen with another.

  TATA Papa …

  Herzen puts the shawl on Sasha.

  HERZEN I'm not cold at all. It's dry cold, like in Switzerland. You don't remember.

  SASHA I do.

  TATA Kolya was at the deaf school—I remember Switzerland.

  Herzen collects the children into his embrace.

  HERZEN It's good to be talking Russian together. We must always … Mummy was teaching Kolya Russian words, do you—?

  TATA They're both dead, and that's all. Well, they are. We can't help it. (She frees herself without fuss and goes away.)

  HERZEN You'd better go to bed, too.

  He kisses Sasha, who follows Tata out. Herzen emits a private howl.

  He becomes aware of someone—MICHAEL BAKUNIN— standing a few paces behind him. He does not turn.

  HERZEN (cont.) Who is … ? (He turns.) Oh! … Bakunin! … (He gives a small embarrassed laugh.) I thought it was Natalie.

  BAKUNIN No, she's dead.

  HERZEN How are you? I mean apart from …

  BAKUNIN Well, you know. (Pause.) What is it?

  HERZEN Oh, Michael … I want her back so that I can take her for granted again and be busy and full of sap putting idiots in their place. I'm surrounded by them.

  BAKUNIN You always were.

  HERZEN No, that was friendly argument. Being proved wrong has made them cocky. They're more certain than ever that the people are natural republicans waiting to be led out of bondage. But the people are more interested in potatoes than freedom. The people think equality means everyone should be oppressed equally. They love authority. They're suspicious of talent. They want a government to govern for them and not against them. To govern themselves doesn't enter their heads. We thought we could educate the people like a horse doctor blowing a pill into a horse. We thought we could set the pace for social change. The emperors did more than keep their thrones, they pushed our faces into the wreck of our belief in the revolutionary instincts of the people.

  BAKUNIN A minor setback!

  Herzen laughs.

  BAKUNIN (cont.) Reaction is only the optical effect of the river running backwards on the tide, while the river runs always to the sea, which is liberty boundless and indivisible!

  HERZEN Dear Michael! Dear irreplaceable friend. For as long as I've known you, your unquenchable spirit, your unwavering conviction, have filled me with the desire to smash you over the head with a—baguette.

  BAKUNIN (happily) You faintheart. You need me to remind you what it is to be free.

  HERZEN But you're in prison.

  BAKUNIN That's why you aren't free.

  HERZEN I'm dizzy.

  BAKUNIN To be freedom, freedom must be freedom for all—for the equality of each!

  HERZEN Stop … Stop …

  BAKUNIN It's within our grasp, Herzen, if we can only remove the fetters from humanity.

  HERZEN I think you're saying we'd all be free if humanity were given its liberty.

  BAKUNIN Yes!

  HERZEN I was afraid of that.

  BAKUNIN Left to themselves, people are noble, generous, uncorrupted, they'd create a completely new kind of society if only people weren't so blind, stupid and selfish.

  HERZEN Is that the same people or different people?

  BAKUNIN The same people.

  HERZEN You're doing it on purpose.

  BAKUNIN No—listen! Once—long ago, at the beginning of history—we were all free. Man was at one with his nature, and so he was good. He was in harmony with the world. Conflict was unknown. Then the serpent entered the garden, and the name of the serpent was—Order. Social organisation! The world was no longer at one with itself. Matter and spirit divided. Man was no longer whole. He was riven by ambition, acquisitiveness, jealousy, fear … Conflict became the condition of his life, the individual against his neighbour, against society, against himself. The Golden Age was ended. How can we make a new Golden Age and set men free again? By destroying everything that destroyed their freedom.

  HERZEN (nostalgically) Ah, the zig and the zag.

  BAKUNIN I knew you understood. The age has arrived at its reversal, and we were born to be the turning point. The year of revolution cracked the foundations of the old world. Things will never be the same again.

  HERZEN (exasperated) Things are the same again! Reaction has triumphed, and the same idiots are making the same speeches, calling on people to sacrifice themselves for abstract nouns that have no connection with reality. Who is there brave enough to say that dying for liberty or progress is not the apex of human happiness when the sacrifice is for vainglory and five kinds of authority dressed up in revolutionary slogans? I offended Blanc just now. His version of utopia has come through without a scratch: the organisation of labour on the Ancient Egyptian model, without the Pharaoh's concern for personal liberties. It's going to have to be up to us.

  BAKUNIN You, now.

  HERZEN I mean Russia. The Russian people. (vehemently) Cutting myself off from home was the worst mistake of my life! The Tsar was going to be swept off the board by the tilt from … from what? Card-house republics? Bickering parliaments terrified equally of emperors and the masses? Constitutions and militias from Vienna to Berlin to put the fear of God into the Russian army? What fools we look now! Tsar Nicholas just tightened the screws—no more passports, no contact, no discussion, perpetual fear, lights out and no whispering! With the Free Russian Press I thought I could start people at home thinking again. I imagine Nick Ogarev reading me—I write everything for Nick—but I might as well put it in a bottle and throw it in the sea. I'm left stranded like the sole survivor of a disaster of my own making.

  BAKUNIN Not at all, not at all, this is just a hiccup! The Tsar could die tomorrow.

  Herzen laughs. Tata is heard calling for him.

  MARCH 1855

  It is daytime. The area around the table erupts into celebration. ‘Every Russian in London’ and affiliated Poles and others are dancing and embracing as though it were New Year's Eve again. But the Christmas decorations have gone. Herzen tumbles in from the door with several new arrivals. He is showing ‘everyone’ a story in The Times.

  Tata and Olga (still about four and a half) are dancing hand in hand and barefoot on the table amid glasses and bottles (perhaps). Tata is shouting, ‘Papa! Papa!‘

  TATA Papa—Papa—listen to Olga!

  HERZEN Yes—yes—come in—every Slav in London is already here—we're drunk—we're mad—we're young again!

  TATA AND OLGA (sing) ‘Zarnicol is dead! Zarnicol is dead! Hip-hooray and fiddle-di-dee, Zarnicol is dead!’

  Olga is applauded and lifted down from the table by Malwida. Tata steps down using a chair.

  MALWIDA (to Tata) Feet off, feet off! (to the Nurse) Did she do her business?

  TATA (hurt) Ow!

  Tata examines her bare foot.

  The proceedings continue, noisily at first.

  The Parlourmaid meanwhile re-sets the table, removing bottles and glasses and laying places, at the same time joining in.’

  Worcell, physically overcome, settles in an armchair. He falls asleep as one of the guests and remains to awake in the next scene.

  HERZEN I met the new Tsar once, you know, when he was the Crown Prince and I was in exile in Vyatka.

  SASHA What was he like?

  HERZEN I liked him.

  A decent fellow.

  MALWIDA Did you meet his father too?

  HERZEN No, but I saw him once. His eyes were like pewter, I never looked into a colder face.

  ÉMIGRÉ He's even colder now!

  TATA (to Malwida) I've got a splinter in my foot … Don't touch it, don't touch it!

  MALWIDA Who said I was going to touch it? … Oh yes, I can see it, it's sticking out. That's lucky. It's gone.

  On the word, Malwida deftly removes the splinter. Tata yelps.

  MALWIDA (cont.) With pain, quick is best. No tears, please.

  A song is taken up. The celebration disperses. Herzen ends up at his desk.

  APRIL 1856

  Evening.

  The Parlourmaid completes setting the table and leaves. Herzen sorts papers, reads proofs, scribbles. He has a new periodical, the Polar Star. Worcell sleeps. Malwida enters with Olga, who is dressed for bed. Herzen kisses Olga and they say good night in Russian [‘Spakóynoy nóchi’]. Malwida takes Olga out. Worcell's congested chest wakes him.

  WORCELL What?

  HERZEN (pauses to think) I said, ‘Why don't you have a nap?’

  WORCELL Oh … no, no …

  HERZEN Letters, people travelling again—the universities wide open, censorship in retreat … I've had letters from young men who were children when I left home. I swear I wept.

  Worcell looks about.

  WORCELL You've changed the furniture.

  HERZEN Yes, we moved house while you were asleep, we're in Finchley.

  WORCELL Of course, I remember. When I lived up in the world in Burton Crescent, a ground-floor terrace, I came home one day and found a man sitting by the fire. I said, ‘Oh—I am afraid you have been waiting for me. How can I help you?’ He said, ‘Before I answer, may I know to whom I have the honour of speaking?’ Then I noticed the furniture was different. A few days later the same thing happened again, only this time he was at the table eating supper with his wife. He simply raised his hand and said, ‘No, you live at Number 43.‘ (Pause.) He was an Englishman. I wonder what Poles would be like if we had a navy.

  Herzen comes to him and takes both his hands.

  HERZEN Worcell, come and live with me. I'll give you two rooms to yourself, you can breakfast alone, dine alone if you like, keep open hours for your people, sit in the garden …

  WORCELL I should certainly live twice as long on the Finchley heights … but it's impossible. Our fellows are split and fractious, it would look as though I'd deserted them. I thank you with all my heart, but forgive me, Herzen, while Tsar Nicholas was alive, the Russian and Polish exiles had a common cause … Now, with the mood of reform …

  HERZEN It's only the committee you surround yourself with who won't trust us.

  WORCELL But it's far too late to alter that.

  HERZEN Then let them shift for themselves. They're living off sacred relics and a history of glorious defeats—

  WORCELL (sharply) It's when you speak like this that they, and I, too, find my affection for you ill-directed.

  HERZEN Worcell, forgive me. Will you forgive me?

  WORCELL No, not tonight.

  Malwida enters. He nods a courteous farewell and moves to leave.

  MALWIDA You're not staying?

  WORCELL No—thank you.

  MALWIDA Wait till I get your coat. It's chilly in the hall.

  (Malwida leaves.)

  HERZEN All right, then, let me take a room for you at the Brompton Consumption Hospital for a few weeks while you're thinking about it—to set you right.

  WORCELL I'm sure that would be an excellent thing, but it's a fearful distance for Szebicki to come with the daily report. It's impossible …

  Malwida returns with his coat and helps him into it.

  WORCELL (cont.) … and far too late. Thank you. I seem to be a glove short.

  HERZEN A glove … ?

  WORCELL No matter. Last time I had three. That probably explains it.

  MALWIDA Are you walking home?

  WORCELL It's all downhill.

  Malwida shows Worcell out and returns. Herzen is looking at the Polar Star.

  MALWIDA I've been trying to read your open letter to the Tsar, but it's too difficult for me.

  HERZEN Malwida, I never took you seriously enough.

  MALWIDA Oh?

  HERZEN As a political exile.

  MALWIDA Oh, really … (Pause.) Alexander … you're not wearing your wedding ring.

  HERZEN I know—it broke! During the night. I found it in the bed, in two pieces.

  MALWIDA It broke by itself?

  HERZEN (amused) Are you superstitious?

  The doorbell is heard as the Parlourmaid enters with a dish for the table.

  PARLOURMAID It's people with luggage, I saw from the area—Sasha's gone.

  Herzen hurries towards the sound of loud greetings.

  HERZEN It's Ogarev's voice! (offstage) Éto gólos Agaryóva! Nyevyerayátna! [I don't believe it!]

  The arrivals are OGAREV and NATALIE. The noise is considerable, Natalie highly emotional, weeping over Sasha and Tata. The scrum of five people with twice as many parcels, bundles, bags, etc., explodes into the room, kissing and weeping, and exclaiming at the length of the journey, the ages of the children, the changed appearances …

  Offstage, the language is Russian and on re-entry remains theoretically in Russian.

  Malwida, who had remained motionless, rises to face the invasion.

  NATALIE Where's Olga? I want to see Olga.

  HERZEN This is the children's governess, Miss von Meysenbug.

  MALWIDA I'm quite pleased to meet you.

  HERZEN She's learning Russian.

  NATALIE Enchantée.

  HERZEN Nick!

  NATALIE I am Madame Ogarev. I was Natalie Herzen's best friend.

  HERZEN And Nick is mine.

  NATALIE I was only nineteen and she was thirty, but we were inseparable … before I went home and met this charming gentleman here—I know we shall get on beautifully.

  Malwida is uncomprehending. Ogarev greets her.

  HERZEN (ignored) Parlez français … [Speak French …]

  MALWIDA Non—je vous en prie … [No—please—I insist …]

  NATALIE (to Tata) You were no bigger than a mushroom.

  SASHA I remember you. You came one day wearing nothing but a tricolour.

  OGAREV What's this, what's this?

  NATALIE It's all nonsense, I was dressed, it was Natalie. (She laughs freely, then cries out dramatically.) Where's my little Olga? I promised Natalie!

  OGAREV Olga wasn't born.

  It becomes obvious that Ogarev is a physical wreck. He sits at the table.

  NATALIE What difference does that make? Born or unborn, it was her dying wish.

  HERZEN Olga's asleep. Sit down, sit down—when did you eat? There's plenty …

  OGAREV Is there a drink?

  NATALIE Well, we'll get her up in a minute.

  Malwida, half understanding, speaks to Herzen.

  NATALIE (cont.) Then she'll remember all her life how we met.

  HERZEN Malwida says she'll be up all night with the excitement.

  NATALIE ‘Malwida!’ Charming name. Well, don't worry about that—she can have a lie-in while I take the children out.

  Natalie takes off her coat and throws it anywhere. Malwida picks it up and places it. Herzen, meanwhile, has been supplying a bottle and a glass to Ogarev, who knocks back a drink and refills his glass.

  OGAREV I'm exhausted.

  HERZEN How did you come?

  OGAREV Berlin—Brussels—Ostend. It wasn't the journey, it was the shopping. She can't pass a toy shop, a hat shop, a shoe shop … (to Tata) What size are you? Well, never mind, you're the right size for toys and trinkets.

  TATA We're not allowed toys.

  NATALIE What nonsense is that?

  SASHA What did you get me, Natalie?

  NATALIE I got you myself, isn't that enough? … And … ! (She snatches up a parcel and hands it to Sasha.)

  OGAREV Well, Berlin hasn't changed, except that you can now smoke in the street.

  NATALIE (to Tata) And, and, and … (to Ogarev) How are you feeling, Nick?—He's not well.

  Sasha opens the parcel, which contains a cheap ‘toy’ telescope.

  SASHA (to Malwida, forgetting language) Can I go outside and try it, Malwida?

  MALWIDA Qu'est-ce que vous … ?

  Sasha dashes out.

  The Parlourmaid hurries in with a loaded tray and sets about reorganising the table.

  Natalie gives Tata a parcel and sits down in Malwida's place, investigating the soup tureen. She starts ladling soup around.

  HERZEN Tell me everything! (to the Parlourmaid) For the next two days I'm not at home to anyone—do you understand?

  TATA (laughs) No, she doesn't, Papa!

  HERZEN ‘Nobody's to be admitted for the next two days—nobody at all.‘ (resuming) How are all my friends?

  OGAREV (laughs) You haven't got any friends. First of all, your scepticism—no, your wholesale slaughter—in your despatches from the revolution—

  HERZEN Completely vindicated!

  OGAREV That makes it worse. Your friends had hardly forgiven you when your pamphlet on so-called revolutionary ideas in Russia arrived …

  Sasha dashes back in.

  SASHA There's no moon. (He ‘tries out’ his telescope in all directions.)

  HERZEN I only named people who were dead.

  OGAREV Count Orlov boasted, ‘It's from the dead we can work our way back to the living if we care to!’ Your friends could have wrung your neck. Sasha, you don't know what it was like at home after ‘48, you can't imagine.

  TATA ‘Sasha!’

  SASHA Do you call Papa ‘Sasha'?

  OGAREV Naturally—he was only as old as you when we became friends.

  NATALIE Is this English soup?

  HERZEN (to Malwida) Asseyez-vous, asseyez-vous. [Sit down, sit down.]

  Malwida takes the sixth chair.

  HERZEN (cont.) I'm listening.

  OGAREV You couldn't move, it was dangerous to think, to dream—even to show you weren't afraid—the air we breathed seemed thick with fear. There was a cookbook censored for commending the free circulation of fresh air.