Il'ia Averbakh. The Monologue - 1972

Where's Nina? She said she'd be home by eight o'clock, and it's already eleven. You've been too easy with her. She's gotten even more ill-mannered than she used to be. Something's not right here. She's fallen in love. She told you about that? No, but you can't fool me. I have a mother's sense about it. She's insolent and impertinent. What can you ask of her when she hasn't had a mother's attention. --And who's fault is that? --Thank you. It's mine. It's all my fault. Look how thin he's gotten. It's all because of that damned research. So, you still haven't finished it? I'm checking my calculations, each demands its own thing. He keeps checking everything. Finally. --Where were you? --I was swimming. --Alone? --Of course not. With whom? Does that really interest you? With my sweetheart. How am I supposed to understand that? --Look, I'm asking you, be quiet. --Nina! Grandpa, she should just be quiet. Who do you think you're talking to. I'm your mother. You? Listen, mom, you go home, and take your husband with you. Nina! --And why are you being so quiet? --Tasya, I'm not being quiet. Yes, you are. Why don't you defend your wife, say that you won't permit anyone to talk to me like that. Everything was so good without you, so quiet and peaceful! --Tasyenka, maybe we should really go home. --Sit! --And you must love this ... --Calm down. I know that it make you happy when she's rude to me, you like everything about her. Even the fact that she has a lover. --You're ridiculous, do you understand ... --Get off of Grandpa. Everything about you is ridiculous, everybody is laughing at you. --Is that what you think. --I know it. That's not the half of it. Leaving your position for some nonsense. Three years of ... Do you want to know what they say about you? That you've run out of steam, that Samson has you twisted around his finger, and you can't accomplish anything in your research, that you're a nothing. And that's not all they're saying about you. Tell him that that's the truth. Don't get so agitated, Tasyenka. Just think! To be everything, and then to become nothing. And for what? Typical intellectual. Is that all? You're right, I am an intellectual. And your grandfather was an intellectual. I come from those Russian intellectuals. And as an intellectual I tell you that I love you, Tasya but if you or your husband ever allow yourselves to interfere with my life and work then you really can fly out of here like a puff of dust. You remember that. And now, go home. Good night. Good night. Let's go home. Boy did you come into a wonderful family. Tell me, is it true? What? About the lover. Not yet. But understand, grandpa, that it might become the truth.