THE FLY. That's a good boy. You don't have to tell everything they said. I'm sure they talked nonsense. Report on what you heard.
THE SMART CAT. I'm reporting: I didn't understand a word. I was lying in wait.
THE FLY. What for then?
THE SMART CAT. What for? We, cats, have this habit.
THE FLY. So you didn't hear a word?
THE SMART CAT. Pains me to hear it! We cats have a keen ear… But my memory…
THE FLY. Can you remember at least one word?
THE SMART CAT. Mm… We often repeat it.
THE FLY. «Promise»?
THE SMART CAT. Another one… One says, when he's lying.
THE FLY. «Honest».
THE SMART CAT. That's right. That's what they were talking about.
THE FLY. How interesting! Could you even imagine it? Such a little but harmful seed has flown here from behind these thistles!
THE SMART CAT. What are you talking about?
THE FLY. Wait, you'll see what the things will be like!
THE SMART CAT. I don't like anybody, saying contradictions. I can't understand it!
THE FLY. It's quite easy — As you sow, you shall reap.
THE SMART CAT. What shall one sow?
THE FLY. Sow the wind…
THE SMART CAT. And what shall one reap?
THE FLY. And reap the whirlwind. As you sow you shall reap!
THE SMART CAT. But why does one reap not, what he's sown?
THE FLY. Nobody knows, what grow on our ground!..
THE SMART CAT. What will grow?
THE FLY. Well, Smart Cat!..
THE SMART CAT. Oh, Fly!.. Well… We need a plan! How to save ourselves from it!
THE FLY. How nice of you to understand it! Let's think it over.
They are whispering.
THE SMART CAT. Hush! Who is coming here?
They disappear. The Old Boot and The Pot.
THE OLD BOOT. How are you?! Still rattling, aren't you?
THE POT. I am. Well, is the night over?
THE OLD BOOT. Of course, it is. And the day will certainly be over. Everything passes: morning, day, evening, night…
THE POT. It is an old custom.
THE OLD BOOT. But we shall never be worn out.
THE POT. We are inanimate objects.
The Moth and The Little Carp.
THE LITTLE CARP. I'll soon get my golden fins.
THE MOTH. And they promised to give me the wings!
THE OLD BOOT. Oh, as soon as you start dreaming of something they'll immediately interrupt you!
THE POT. They'll immediately interrupt you!
THE POT. They'll find and certainly interrupt! Certainly!
THE LITTLE CARP. Oh, Moth, if you ever could imagine, how these two old whimperers bother me!
THE MOTH. Little Carp, I'm bored to death with this lame Boot!
THE OLD BOOT. Come! Come! If you were more careful, you could notice long ago that I'm the left one!
THE POT. And I'm always right!
THE LITTLE CARP. And I'll get the fins!
THE MOTH. And I'll get the wings!
THE LITTLE CARP. I'll swim away!
THE MOTH. I'll fly away!
THE OLD BOOT. I say! We can dream better, can't we, Pot?
THE POT. We can! You can't even imagine!
THE LITTLE CARP. Well, try then and show us how you do!
THE MOTH. You can't!
THE OLD BOOT. Ah! Well… I… Mm…
THE POT (
THE OLD BOOT. Can dream so…
THE POT (
THE OLD BOOT. That!..
THE MOTH. Is that all?
THE OLD BOOT. It is all!
THE LITTLE CARP. It is clear.
THE POT. Feel envious? Well, Boot, Tell them, how the day passes.
THE OLD BOOT. Day passes and…
THE LITTLE CARP. Stop talking! You are dreaming in the wrong way! One shouldn't dream as you do!
THE OLD BOOT. I am right!
THE MOTH. Try to dream of the most important thing.
THE OLD BOOT. That's what I'm doing: everything passes, everything goes to its end…
THE LITTLE CARP. Boot, tell me, do you have something valuable?
THE OLD BOOT. I have… My thoughts!
THE LITTLE CARP. No, the most important thing, you've got is your sole.
THE OLD BOOT. My sole!
THE MOTH. And what about you, Pot?
THE POT. My soul!
THE MOTH. No, Pot, it's your cover.
THE POT. Cover!
THE MOTH and THE LITTLE CARP. And you should dream of this!
THE POT. My Cover!
THE OLD BOOT. Sole!
THE LITTLE CARP. Oh, my fins.
THE MOTH. My wings.
THE LITTLE CARP. I'll swim to the black sea!
