Scene I
Setting: Early morning in Butchersville, main square.
At rise: Rooster crows. Vladimir Bolshevik enters from stage right carrying a cleaver. Stalks out to middle of stage. Pauses, looks around, takes cleaver and raises it high toward audience.
Bolshevik: Just kidding. (Is about to walk to his butcher shop, near the back on stage left, when Hélène wanders on from stage left. Bolshevik stops and smiles. Hélène smiles back.)
Hélène: Good morning, Mr. Bolshevik. How are you today?
Bolshevik: I'm doing pretty good. (Glances around to make sure no one's looking, then pulls out a flower from behind his back.) I brought you something. (Hands the flower to her.)
Hélène: It's lovely! Thank you, Mr. Bolshevik! I have to go now. See you later! (Walks back off stage left. Bolshevik continues to shop and changes the "Closed" sign to "Open". Cornelius Einsford and Victor Crumb walk onstage from opposite sides and see each other.)
Einsford: Morning, Crummy. How's the library business going?
Crumb: Oh, just fine. Had a record number of overdues. Yeah, the total is a whopping 5 books. The other 73 are still checked in. So, how's the bakery?
Einsford: Oh, pretty good. I'm fixing up some special stuff.... (Both go into pantomime speech as Flora Monte enters from stage right. Town gossips enter from stage left and stand around silent talking. Mr. Periwinkle also enters from stage left and sits in front of his shop. Flora enters butcher shop, where Bolshevik is chopping some meat.)
Flora: Good morning, Mr. Bolshevik. I would like 2 pounds of chicken and 3 pounds of turkey, please. (Bolshevik slams cleaver onto cutting board, gets meat, and wraps it up. Slams package in front of Flora.)
Bolshevik: That will be 5 dollars.
Flora: My, the price of meat sure has gone up in a hurry, hasn't it?
Bolshevik: Mmm.
Flora (nervously): Yes, well, I suppose I'd better be going now. Have a nice day, Mr. Bolshevik. (Turns and starts to exit butcher shop as Pisclapski Bolshevik enters from stage right.)
Mr. Periwinkle: Hey, Slops! (Pisclapski pretends not to hear. Flora meets him in the middle of the stage.)
Flora: Why, good morning, Piggy. You on your way to help your brother in his butcher shop?
Pisclapski (Through his teeth): Yes. (Flora exits stage right. Mr. Periwinkle continues to taunt Pisclapski.)
Mr. Periwinkle: Having a good morning, Piggy? (Starts to make oinking noises, then begins to roll on the ground, laughing at his own joke. Pisclapski growls and bares his teeth, then enters the butcher shop. Bolshevik looks up.)
Bolshevik: You're late. Don't let it happen again.
Pisclapski: I'm sorry, Vlad. I overslept.
Bolshevik: Sweep the floor. (Curtains close on this happy scene.)