SCENE: A room at the ******** Hospital in Moscow.

Sunlight strains and filters on occasion through the overcast sky, as lighting through the single but wide window in the room.

An austere hospital bed, white-framed and barred, beds a tall, well-built man. The covers are pulled up his chin, and his eyes flicker with considerable strain to open against the sting of light.

Sitting drowsily on a wooden chair beside the bed, is an equally tall, well-built, but more sleek and slender looking man in a uniform. His cap rests jauntily on his knee as he dozes off, waiting for his friend to wake from a much-needed sleep after an operation.

The man in bed is Andrei, while the man seated by his bedside is his friend, Mirka (Miron Kozmovich Koschevoi).

Mirka looks at Andrei with concern and a bit of curiosity, wondering what Andrei thinks of the whole situation. He feels and knows that his old friend is impatient to get this over with as soon as possible, and will probably awaken any second.

Slowly, Andrei stirs under the covers. A dull, dry groan escapes his grimacing lips, and his eyes finally flicker open. He blinks several times, slowly, then quickly, as though slightly alarmed and fumbling to get his wherewithal of where he is. When his sight clears from the grogginess, he finally sees Mirka sitting beside him. Andrei tries to prop himself on his elbow, but the effort only rewards him with a sharp of pain. He hisses a sharp groan, winces and laid down, looking at his friend.

Andrei: Mirka? What are you doing here? How did you get here?

Mirka: *dips his head* What do you think? I know my way around here. I knew I needed to check up on my oldest friend I have around these parts.

Mirka smiles at his old friend and continues.

Mirka: So how are you?

Andrei: Grateful you're here. *a smile pulls on his hard-set mouth, and then frowns tiredly* I feel like a sick dog. Damn doctors and their anesthetics or whatever the hell they use on us. But how did you get away? Are you on furlough as well?

Mirka: Yes, I'm..on furlough, you could say. *sly grin* I'm supposed to have an inflammation of the lungs. Really, I just want to be in Moscow right now, to see a certain someone.

Mirka gives a small, gruff laugh as he recalls his plans and how he had plotted his furlough.

Mirka: I figured that I could come to see you since I have some free time now. I've just come from seeing the other person I wanted to see in Moscow. *he tilts his head slightly, curiously at Andrei as he observes him* So are you up and ready to go now? Knowing you, I think you personally think you're all recovered. But what do the doctors say? Are you still going to be on furlough for some time?

Andrei: You're always the fox, Mirka. Figured you could get furlough easy enough. Glad you did. Not fond of this city much.

Mirka: You were never one for the urban areas, anyways. I recall now--two months, wasn't it? The surgeon had told you it would be at least two months before you can resume service. *pursing his lips* I remember how much of a big baby you acted, Andrei.

Mirka laughs as he recalls the scenario.

Andrei: What do you mean? What did you see, you fox?

Mirka: You were bellowing like a bull, like you always do when you get pissed! Perhaps you shouldn't barked, 'Oh hell, I'll do it myself- just give me the damn scalpel and I could cut it out!'"- that didn't sit well with the surgeon, did it? Before you bellowed anything else, I saw him stab you with that injection and you blacked out like a rock crashing down in a matter of seconds. Ah, you'll never learn to take advantage of these furloughs, will you, like I do when I can? Imagine! Two whole months of medical leave! I envy you.

Andrei: Where the hell were you? I didn't see you, you dog! *growls and is grizzled with annoyance*

Mirka: Perhaps you were just too mad to notice. I was there all along, observing you and the doctor!

Mirka smiles again and then looks a bit more serious.

Andrei: You shouldn't envy me, you dog- but then again, you never did turn down a chance for leisure. Well, these damn doctors are like old women!

Mirka: You know, I came here for that person, my girlfriend. But I think you already know, don't you.

Andrei: Not like the field surgeons, they stitch you up and you're right out again in a day. Girlfriend? You? You have a girlfriend?

Mirka: Andrei, I may have to go to see her again tomorrow. I'm somewhat worried. You see, I had impregnated her, to my knowledge. And I'm afraid she may do something to our child, or perhaps...maybe not. I'm not quite sure.

Mirka sighs and looks out the window before resuming.

Andrei: *annoyance evaporates and is replaced with amusement* You have a girlfriend- what convinced her to go after a fox like you?

Mirka: I feel guilty, Andrei. This is why I had to do this. I had to come back to Moscow to see her. I can't leave her like this.

Andrei: *humor turns to concern*

Mirka: *shrug* It's already happened. Don't ask why or how it happened. *sounds a bit nervous and then sighs again*

Andrei: *his brow furrows* Are you certain impregnated her?

Mirka: I do sometimes wonder how it would be like to be married. Perhaps I should propose. She's not a bad sort.

Andrei: What does she want to do with the child?

Mirka: I am quite certain. She seems to be quite crazy about me, and she swears she has never slept with anyone before. She's on the fence about whether to abort it or keep it.

Andrei: Surely she wasn't a virgin, was she? *grows more concern and rises from bed slightly, now successfully propping himself on one elbow, but with much pain effort* What you will do? You should marry her, but damn, you know what a piss-poor husband you'd make. You always went from one girl to the next. Are maybe you've wised up over the years- do you think she wants marriage, though? You should try anyways, try to propose and convince to keep the child. *remembers his own experiences which were like Mirka's*

Mirka: I'm truly considering marrying her. *bites down his lip* I'm going to be spending more time with her over the next couple of weeks. I'll make up my mind eventually.

Mirka: Perhaps it's about time for me to change my ways and finally settle down. I'm not getting any younger, anyways.

He says this with a somewhat sarcastic, confused tone. It's clear he's not sure what he's going to do.

Mirka: Anyways, I shouldn't bother you with this anymore. You have more things to think about. How about you, old bean? Do you have a woman in your life right now...? *small smile, trying to get Andrei to discuss a different topic since he feels a bit irritated talking about his girlfriend right now*

Andrei: All right, I'll leave you at that. Both of us aren't getting younger, for sure. But Mirka? Please do right by her, either way. Don't charge in blindly. See what's ahead, since marriage can be like a punishment if it's done for "respectability". Do you really love her? You never were the one for devote yourself to a woman. You always had the women fawning over you. But I'll leave it at that.

Andrei: Me? A woman in my life? *laughs* Honestly think I'd want a woman right now? *laughs fades into a pensive mood suddenly* There was a girl- we met at the station. But she probably forgot me. We won't find each other, I doubt it. Not in this city.

Mirka's ears perk up at the sound of that.

Mirka: Andrei, really? A random person you met at a station? I didn't know you were the type to have such casual romances. But I'm curious. What struck you about this girl?

Andrei: *grows ireful, a grimace rigidly twists on his face. With much pain, he leans over to reach in the nightstand's drawer, hoping for a pack of cigarettes*

*Mirka helps him find the much-coveted pack, and though Andrei, shaking slightly with anger at his friend's jibes, tries to pick one, Mirka picks one out and offers a light for Andrei's cigarette.*

Andrei: Damn you, Mirka. You know of... you know how it is for me and women. Don't bring it up. It's all bad luck for me. You're the gentle Romeo, you always were. That's why women love you. Me? Well, best for the girl we don't get involved. I wouldn't do her much good, would I?

Andrei: *takes a sharp drag of his cigarette* Struck by? What do you mean?

Mirka: Never mind, you don't have to tell me about this if you don't want to. Clearly it's a sore spot for you.

Mirka lights Andrei's cigarette and watches him.

Mirka: But maybe you should be more open, Andrei. You have two months of furlough, for better or for worse. Who knows what you can do in the next two months? Who you may meet?

Andrei: Damn well I don't have to tell you. *sighs and looks down in regret, he feels older* I've done enough damage. *piques at his friend suggestion* Two months? That's a punishment. Damn! Two months, stuck here. Meet? Who could I meet?

Mirka: That woman you told me about. You may see her again.

Andrei: How could that happen? Moscow is a like little country itself. How could we find each other again? *relents and shrugs shoulders* Besides, she may not want to see me. But she was... she was... *thinking about how Katya impressed him upon their initial encounter*

Mirka: Yes?

Andrei: *leans back on pillow a bit, as he takes a slow, thoughtful drag on his cigarette* She- there was something about her. I don't know. The way the light played on her hair. And she had these green eyes, soft like a cat and just as a bright. She was firm, hardened by life, but there was a gentleness about her, like she could do the most delicate thing ever, almost like a dream. *rouses from reverie* It's nothing. Just nothing.

Mirka nods, not sure how to respond.

Mirka: It seems like you find her very memorable. What was her name?

Andrei: *blinks* Katya- Ekaterina Timofeenva Luneva. Luneva, you know, like the bird (loon). She seemed almost like a bird, ready to fly away any moment.

Mirka: Andrei, I didn't know you were a poet. Ah, it could be interesting, you and her together. It'd be interesting to find out what she thinks of you as well.

Andrei: Poetical? Not me. I like to read, that's it. I was just describing her. We won't meet again. Besides, she doesn't think much of me, I wager. Most don't. *looks out the window, pensively, growling and sighing lowly.*

Mirka pats him on the shoulder.

Mirka: come on, be more optimistic. I'm sure you'll find someone very soon. Anyways, old bean, I have to go now--I have an appointment. It was nice to talk to you again. We'll definitely meet up tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, whenever we both are free.

Andrei: *nods and lays back down, suddenly exhausted* Thanks, Mirka.