Mother Russia, While We Can

(Cliveden: the area by the pool, which glimmers just offstage, in the shadow of the immense house. WARD and CHRISTINE sit with IVANOV, drinking champagne on a summer's day.)

[IVANOV]
(Singing in Russian)
Mother Russia
You are always with me
Mother Russia
Weeping for your children
Hold me in your mighty arms

(Now in English)
Mother Russia, I can hear your music

(In Russian)
Playing softly

(In English)
In my soul forever

And those melodies still play
Even when I'm far away
So far away from Russia
You are always in my soul
In my soul forever

You know what Premier Khrushchev said this week to your ambassador in Moscow?

[WARD]
No, what?

[IVANOV]
He told him, with only six bombs, he can destroy whole of United Kingdom!

[CHRISTINE]
Well, that wasn't very nicе!

[IVANOV]
You don't understand, Christine, we arе working blindfold on tightrope across Niagara Falls!

[CHRISTINE]
What are you talking about?

[IVANOV]
We are driving fast towards edge of cliff! Next war will be the last

How can people
Understand what's happening?
Propaganda
Everything's distorted
By your politician's lies

[WARD]
And your politician's lies

Mother Russia
Stupid situation
There's no reason we should fight each other
There must be something we can do

[WARD AND IVANOV]
Those bloody lies will kill us!

We are doing what we can
To stop the bombs from falling

[IVANOV]
This could be our very last day on Earth
Let's have fun while we can!
Let's go wild and party for all we're worth
Come, let's sing and let's dance while we still can!

By dawn, all of us could go up in smoke
So let's live while we can
Let's go out and - what you say?
Go for broke!
We are alive
So let's live while we still can!

(He starts tearing off his shirt. They start enjoying themselves.)

[IVANOV]
First thing - I take a swim!

[CHRISTINE]
Oh, it's so hot, wouldn't that be lovely!

I don't have a swimming costume!

(after approval from WARD)

Oh, okay!

I'm coming!

(By this time, IVANOV, who is wearing swimming trunks under his trousers, is rushing offstage; a mighty splash announces his arrival in the pool. CHRISTINE undresses and hurries after him. Sounds of aquatic pleasure. WARD pinches one of IVANOV's cigarettes and lights it, settling back luxuriously

Presently, from the other direction, comes BILL ASTOR, in a dinner jacket, with his guest, JOHN "JACK" PROFUMO, the Minister for War. As they arrive, WARD, moving like lightening, gathers up CHRISTINE's clothes and hides them under the table; then he picks up a nearby towel

WARD shakes hands with PROFUMO - but PROFUMO is much more interested in what's going on in the pool. He moves in that direction, where shrieks and splashes can be heard...)