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A MACHINE OF TERROR (c) 2002, 2012 Julius Wachtel and The California State University For use by public schools and universities and registered non-profit institutions only
ON CUE...
ON CUE...
ON CUE...
ON CUE...
PYATAKOV'S WIFE WRITES, THINKS, CONTINUES. MOMENTARILY SHE STOPS WRITING, READS TO AUDIENCE PYATAKOV'S WIFE: (Sadly) My beloved Yuri. I write this with a sad heart, not knowing if you will read it, or if we will ever meet again. A few weeks after they took you away they came back for me. A judge accused me of being the wife of Pyatakov, the Trotskyite! I didn't even know what that meant! So they explained it. It was ridiculous! I told them that you only took Trotsky's side one time, at the Party Congress in 1927, when it was perfectly legal to agree with him. Then when Trotsky was exiled you broke all contact with him and served Stalin with absolute loyalty. Pyatakov, Chairman of the Board of the State Bank. Pyatakov, Chairman of the Chemical Industry. Pyatakov, Deputy Commissar of Heavy Industry! After ten years of faithful service, how could they accuse you? So they showed me a copy of your confession. Hah! You, a leading member of the Party, a top engineer, plotting with that absurd little man Radek? It's a fantasy! No – an obscene fantasy! Of course, they wouldn't listen and sent me to Siberia. It was a horrible trip. The train was stuffed with smelly, unspeakably filthy exiles. When we arrived they crammed us into tiny apartments. There's hardly any room to sit, much less lie down. We have little food and less heat. We toil endlessly, even on God's day. (Despairs) Oh, Yuri, what is to become of us? And...why? PYATAKOV'S WIFE STARES AT HER LETTER, CRUMBLES IT, DROPS HER HEAD IN DESPAIR.
ON CUE...
STALIN STANDS, DELIVERS MONOLOGUE (STARTS WITH SNIDE REMARKS ABOUT THOSE HE EXILED)
STALIN GOES TO THE TABLE, LOOKS AT CANDLE, SHRUGS, TURNS IT ON, SITS, READS. VYHINSKY STANDS, DELIVERS MONOLOGUE GERCHIKOVA STANDS, DELIVERS MONOLOGUE VYSHINSKY AND GERCHIKOVA GO BACKSTAGE
ON CUE...
VYSHINSKY APPROACHES STALIN STAGE RIGHT, WAVING THE ENVELOPE STALIN (irritated by the interruption, hardly looks up): Yes, Comrade Prosecutor, what is it? VYSHINSKY (offers the envelope, then mockingly): Comrade Stalin, see what that fool Pyatakov has sent you! STALIN (waves off the envelope, sighs): Read it to me. VYSHINSKY MAKES A SHOW OF OPENING THE ENVELOPE VYSHINSKY (mockingly): Dear Comrade Stalin. I understand completely why my assignment to be the judge in this trial, like I was in others, was canceled. My failure to root out the Trotskyites in the Commissariat of Heavy Industry is unforgivable. But please believe that I have had absolutely no contact with Trotsky since his exile. I wasn't involved with Trotsky or anyone else in any plot to harm you, weaken the USSR through sabotage, or turn our beloved country over to Germany and Japan. Should the vile creatures responsible for such things be found it would be my honor to shoot them myself... STALIN: (Interrupts) Ah, enough. Listen to this: STALIN READS OUT LOUD STALIN (softly, then with growing rage): On Lenin's mausoleum stood Stalin in his gray soldier's greycoat. His peaceful eyes gazed thoughtfully on the hundreds of thousands of proletarians as they marched past Lenin's tomb with the firm step of the future conquerors of the capitalist world. He knew that he had fulfilled the oath he had sworn ten years earlier at Lenin's tomb: all the workers of the USSR knew it; all the revolutionary proletariat of the world knew it. And toward the calm, invincible figure of our leader there rolled waves of love and confidence of the masses marching by, strengthened by the knowledge that there, on Lenin's tomb, was arrayed the General staff of the coming victorious world revolution. STALIN BRUSQUELY HANDS VYSHINSKY THE NEWSPAPER. STALIN (rises menacingly): What do you think, comrade Vyshinsky? Was Radek trying to mock me? SCARED OF STALIN AND CONFUSED BY HIS REACTION, VYSHINSKY IS UNSURE HOW TO RESPOND VYSHINSKY (checks Stalin's expression, then firmly shakes his head): No, Comrade General Secretary. I think he was sincere in his sentiments. They are, if I might add, absolutely correct. STALIN, A SUCKER FOR PRAISE, SNEERS BUT CALMS DOWN
ON CUE...
RADEK STANDS, DELIVERS MONOLOGUE
GUARD RUDELY ESCORTS RADEK TO CHAIR RADEK SITS, GUARD TAKES POSITION STAGE LEFT ON CUE...
RADEK FIDGETS, GUARD WARILY SUPERVISES
STALIN, CARRYING NEWSPAPER, ENTERS STAGE RIGHT GUARD SNAPS TO ATTENTION STALIN (to Guard): Leave us. GUARD EXITS STALIN WALKS TO RADEK'S LEFT, SLAPS NEWSPAPER AGAINST HIM. RADEK KNOWS WHAT IT'S ABOUT. SHAKEN, HE PREPARES FOR AN EXPLOSION. STALIN SAVORS THE MOMENT. STALIN: Very nice, comrade. Had you always felt so warmly about your General Secretary this visit might not be necessary. RADEK: But I have...well, nearly always. STALIN GLOWERS, THEN CHUCKLES. HE SPEAKS TO THE AUDIENCE WITH OCCASIONAL GLANCES AT RADEK.
STALIN: I read your letter. It seems that you're concerned about coming to the same end that you predict for the others. RADEK (shifts uncomfortably): Ah... STALIN (laughs, slaps thighs): I knew it! You, the famous journalist, is looking for special treatment. Isn't that right? RADEK (defensively, to the audience): As a Communist, I only wish to be rewarded for what I contribute. STALIN (jovially): Well, comrade, perhaps we can accommodate you. My secret police have many talents, but writing isn't one of them. You're an author. Comrade Vyshinsky will arrange for you to speak with the accused. Once you've written your confession, you can help them with theirs. That, Comrade Radek, will be your "contribution." Do it well and you have my personal guarantee that you will not be executed. That, Comrade Radek, will be your reward. GUARD SOLICITOUSLY ESCORTS STALIN TO AUDIENCE, WAITS THERE FOR PYATAKOV ON CUE...
GUARD RUDELY ESCORTS PYATAKOV TO CHAIR PYATAKOV SITS, GUARD TAKES POSITION STAGE LEFT ON CUE...
PYATAKOV HEAD IN HANDS, DESPAIRS
RADEK ENTERS STAGE RIGHT, PAUSES PYATAKOV, STUNNED, LOOKS UP. HIS EYES, BIG, FOLLOW RADEK. RADEK TAKES POSITION TO PYATAKOV'S LEFT. SPEAKS MOSTLY TO AUDIENCE, OCCASIONALLY AT PYATAKOV. PYATAKOV REMAINS SEATED, LOOKS AT AUDIENCE, OCCASIONALLY GLANCES AT RADEK. RADEK (looks around): Ahhh, no view. That's what happens when you get an inside cell. Me, I've got a nice little window about...there (points to spot high on imaginary wall) PYATAKOV: What the devil are you doing here, Radek? RADEK (chuckles, pats Pyatakov on shoulder): Me? I'm here to help with your confession. And I just happen to have it with me! RADEK TAKES OUT PYATAKOV'S CONFESSION, FLIPS THRUGH THE PAGES, READS FROM THE TOP RADEK: Ah, here we go..."Two years ago, while in Berlin on official Soviet business, I secretly met with Trotsky's representative..." PYATAKOV ENRAGED, BOLTS UPRIGHT PYATAKOV: I never wrote that! RADEK GENTLY PUSHES HIM BACK DOWN RADEK: Excuse me. Didn't you inform Comrade Vyshinsky that you had changed your mind and were willing to cooperate? Didn't you write a confession? PYATAKOV (concedes): I have a wife to think of... RADEK (insolently): That's right, you do. May I continue? PYATAKOV IRRITATED BUT CAPITULATES WITH A SHRUG
ON CUE...
JUDGE STANDS, DELIVERS MONOLOGUE, TAKES THE BENCH
GUARD TAKES POSITION STAGE LEFT VYSHINSKY, GERCHIKOVA SIT ON CUE...
GUARD: The Supreme Court of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is in session, Military Judge Ulrich presiding. JUDGE (to Vyshinsky): Please call your next witness. VYSHINSKY: I call the accused Pyatakov. JUDGE (to Guard): Bring in Pyatakov. GUARD BRINGS IN PYATAKOV, TAKES HIM TO CHAIR VYSHINSKY STANDS TO PYATAKOV'S LEFT, SPEAKS MOSTLY TO AUDIENCE VYSHINSKY: State your name PYATAKOV: Georgy Leonidovich Pyatakov VYSHINSKY: What was your last position? PYATAKOV: Deputy People's Commissar of Heavy Industry VYSHINSKY: Tell us about your early activities on behalf of the terrorist organization. PYATAKOV: In 1931 I was in Berlin on official business. During my stay I met with several Trotskyites. One of them was Smirnov. He introduced me to Trotsky's son. VYSHINSKY (feigns disbelief): You met with the son of Trotsky, Russia's mortal enemy, in Berlin? PYATAKOV: Yes. He told me that Trotsky was helping Germany and Japan in a plot to overthrow Stalin and take over the Soviet Union. I agreed to help. VYSHINSKY: Why did you decide so quickly? PYATAKOV: I suppose that my old Trotskyite views had resurfaced. VYSHINSKY: Did you receive instructions from Trotsky? PYATAKOV: His son gave me a letter. VYSHINSKY: What did it say? PYATAKOV: Trotsky wanted to unite all the anti-Stalin forces, and to use every means to remove Stalin. VYSHINSKY: What happened when you returned to Moscow? PYATAKOV: I met with Kamenev. He said we would overthrow the government through terror and industrial sabotage. VYSHINSKY (feigns shock): You mean wrecking? PYATAKOV (nods): Yes, wrecking. VYSHINSKY: Did you ever meet with Trotsky? PYATAKOV: Later, in Oslo. He placed me in charge of wrecking in Ukraine and Western Siberia. VYSHINSKY (feigns disbelief): As Assistant People's Commissar of Heavy Industry, you used your contacts to further industrial sabotage? PYATAKOV SIGHS, A SLIGHT NOD VYSHINSKY (screams, points finger): You were a wrecker! Yes or no? PYATAKOV (head in hands, feigns despair): Yes! VYSHINSKY PAUSES DRAMATICALLY, LOOKS TO THE AUDIENCE AS THOUGH THUNDERSTRUCK. VYSHINSKY (dismissively waves, sneers): I am done with this... defendant. VYSHINSKY TURNS TO JUDGE VYSHINSKY: I request a brief conference on a matter of great importance. JUDGE: Very well. JUDGE ADDRESSES AUDIENCE
JUDGE BANGS GAVEL
INTERMISSION ON CUE...
ONCE AUDIENCE SEATED, ON CUE...
ON CUE...
GUARD: The Supreme Court of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is in session, Military Judge Ulrich presiding. JUDGE ENTERS. GUARD STIFFENS, GERCHIKOVA LEAPS TO HER FEET, VYSHINSKY PERFUNCTORILY RISES JUDGE (to audience): To prevent injuring the reputation of a high military official, all spectators, including Soviet and foreign diplomats and journalists, are strictly forbidden from making a record of the following testimony. JUDGE (to Gerchikova): Proceed. GERCHIKOVA: I call prisoner Radek. JUDGE (to guard): Bring the prisoner. GUARD LEAVES, RETURNS WITH RADEK. RADEK INSOUCIANTLY BREAKS FREE OF GUARD'S GRASP, SITS ON HIS OWN. GUARD RETURNS TO HIS POSITION GERCHIKOVA RISES, WARILY CIRCLES HER PREY. BOTH READY FOR A DUEL. GERCHIKOVA STANDS TO RADEK'S LEFT, SPEAKS MOSTLY TO THE AUDIENCE GERCHIKOVA: You informed the citizen investigators that a member of the terrorist organization came to you with a request from General of the Army Tukhachevsky. RADEK (nonchalantly): Tukhachevsky needed certain materials that I possessed. He sent one of his assistants to meet with me. It was perfectly legitimate. Coincidentally, this assistant belonged to our terrorist organization. GERCHIKOVA (feigns shock): The military man whom the General sent was a Trotskyite? RADEK: Yes, but as far as I know the General was unaware of his subordinate's true allegiance, or of mine. I never had – could not have had – any counter-revolutionary dealings with Tukhachevsky, because the general was completely loyal. He was absolutely devoted to the Party. GERCHIKOVA: So you say. RADEK (evasively): Well, I wasn't in on all of Trotsky's plans. GERCHIKOVA (angry): You were "in on it" enough to discuss the conspiracy with a deputy to the Soviet Union's leading General! RADEK: I cannot deny it. GERCHIKOVA: Was it the intention of your group to neutralize the military so that Trotsky could wage his despicable campaign of terrorism unimpeded? RADEK (slyly resists): First off, it wasn't "my" group. Like I said, I wasn't in on everything. And I'm not sure what you mean by "terrorism." GERCHIKOVA (growing frustrated): Terrorism is defined in Article 58 of the Soviet criminal code, which authorizes the most extreme penalty. Were you preparing for terrorist acts or not? RADEK (calmly): I am not a lawyer like the late Comrade Lenin, or yourself, so I cannot pretend to know the criminal code. GERCHIKOVA GLOWERS. WALKS AWAY, PAUSES, TURNS, STARES AT RADEK.
GERCHIKOVA (spits it out): I think you will know it better after the trial. ON CUE...
ZINOVIEV STANDS, DELIVERS MONOLOGUE, REMAINS STANDING AT END KAMENEV STANDS, DELIVERS MONOLOGUE
KAMENEV ENTERS, NERVOUSLY CIRCLES, GUARD WARILY SUPERVISES ON CUE...
ZINOVIEV STUMBLES IN FROM STAGE RIGHT AS THOUGH HE WAS PUSHED, ANGRILY GLANCES BEHIND HIM KAMENEV AND ZINOVIEV, TWO FORMERLY CLOSE FRIENDS, REGARD EACH OTHER WARILY ZINOVIEV TENTATIVELY STEPS FORWARD. BOTH POSITION TO FACE AUDIENCE. ZINOVIEV: Lev… KAMENEV (loudly, with forced finality): The answer is still "no" ZINOVIEV: But your son… KAMENEV (pauses, startled, scared): What of him? ZINOVIEV (brief pause): He was arrested. They said he was helping us. KAMENEV SINKS IN DESPAIR KAMENEV: Oh, my God… ZINOVIEV APPROACHES, CONSOLES ZINOVIEV: Lev, please! Be reasonable! Stalin promised that no harm would come to our families if we confess. KAMENEV (plaintively): Grigory, that despicable Radek has written a fantasy! We never... GUARD THROWS A HOSTILE GLANCE. ZINOVIEV SHUSHES KAMENEV, HELPS HIM TO HIS FEET. KAMENEV: Grigory, remember Lenin's promise of democracy in the Party? What's happened? How did disagreeing turn into a crime? ZINOVIEV (at wit's end): Please, Lev. We're all in this together. We're counting on you! KAMENEV REGAINS COMPOSURE, FACES ZINOVIEV SQUARELY
KAMENEV: You're certain that Stalin will keep his word? ZINOVIEV: He solemnly promised KAMENEV: To you? ZINOVIEV (hint of uncertainty): Yes, Lev. To me. GUARD RETURNS, TAKES PLACE STAGE LEFT VYSHINSKY, GERCHIKOVA ENTER, SIT ON CUE...
GUARD: The Supreme Court of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is in session, Military Judge Ulrich presiding. JUDGE ENTERS. GUARD STIFFENS, GERCHIKOVA LEAPS TO HER FEET, VYSHINSKY PERFUNCTORILY RISES. JUDGE (to Gerchikova): Call your next witness GERCHIKOVA: I call the accused Kamenev. JUDGE (to Guard): Bring Kamenev. GUARD LEAVES, RETURNS WITH KAMENEV, TAKES HIM TO THE CHAIR KAMENEV IS NOW A BEATEN, COMPLIANT MAN GERCHIKOVA: Accused Kamenev, tell us about your participation in the murder of distinguished Party member Kirov. KAMENEV STARES AT THE AUDIENCE AS THOUGH IN A TRANCE, DOES NOT RESPOND
GERCHIKOVA (impatiently): Accused Kamenev? KAMENEV (startled): Yes? GERCHIKOVA: How were you involved in the assassination of Kirov? KAMENEV (deep breath): In June 1934 I went to Leningrad to organize his assassination. GERCHIKOVA (feigns shock): Kirov's assassination was the work of your hands? KAMENEV (pauses, then reluctantly): Yes. GERCHIKOVA: What should we think of all the articles and statements you wrote in 1933, in which you expressed loyalty to the Party? Deception? KAMENEV: No, worse than deception. GERCHIKOVA: Perfidy? KAMENEV: Worse. GERCHIKOVA: Worse than deception, worse than perfidy? Find the word. KAMENEV: Treason. GERCHIKOVA TURNS TO ZINOVIEV (IN AUDIENCE) GERCHIKOVA: Accused Zinoviev, do you confirm this? ZINOVIEV RISES
ZINOVIEV (reluctantly): Yes. GERCHIKOVA: Treason, perfidy, double – dealing? ZINOVIEV: Yes. ON CUE...
GUARD: The Supreme Court of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is in session, Military Judge Ulrich presiding. JUDGE (to Vyshinsky): Comrade Prosecutor-General, please proceed with your closing argument. VYSHINSKY STANDS, FACES THE AUDIENCE VYSHINSKY: Comrade Judge, I accuse the defendants of having spied on behalf of States hostile to the Soviet Union, supplied foreign intelligence services with extremely important, secret materials, and carried out acts of wrecking and sabotage that resulted in the loss of life and undermined the economic power and defense capacity of the Soviet State. This trial revealed the face of Trotskyism – this old enemy of the workers and peasants, this old enemy of socialism, this loyal servant of capitalism. It revealed the criminal activities of the Trotskyites and their bloody, treacherous tactics. It revealed the stupid obstinacy, the reptile cold-bloodedness, the cool calculation of professional criminals who, while struggling against the U.S.S.R. stopped at nothing – neither wrecking, nor diversions, nor espionage, nor terrorism, nor treason to their country. Every honest man in our country, every honest man in every country in the world cannot but say: This is the abyss of degradation! This is the limit, the last boundary of moral and political decay! This is the diabolical infinitude of crime! I want to conclude by reminding you, Comrade Judge, of those demands that the law makes in cases of the gravest crimes. It is your duty, once you find these people guilty, to apply to them in full measure the appropriate punishment. I demand that these dogs gone mad be shot – every one of them! JUDGE: It is now time for the defendants' final pleas.... ON CUE...
RADEK (IN AUDIENCE) LEAPS TO HIS FEET RADEK: Comrade Judge, Prosecutor Vysh... JUDGE (irritated): Sit down, comrade, I think we've heard enough of you. RADEK, HUMILIATED, SITS JUDGE (looks through papers, then sternly): Accused Sokolnikov! SOKOLNIKOV (IN AUDIENCE) RISES, DELIVERS MONOLOGUE, INCORPORATES THE FOLLOWING: SOKOLNIKOV: (Pauses) I do not want to use my last plea to deny anything. I admitted my guilt and my crime at the preliminary investigation: I admit it here. (With emphasis) But how was it that I – a seemingly faithful member of the Party – would participate in counter-revolutionary activities? It should not be a surprise. If you inspect my past public utterances, you will find they contain the seeds of capitalism. Then I embraced it wholeheartedly. Why did our organization's methods sink to those miserable criminal activities described by the prosecutor? Because there was no public support. Our program was anti-Party, anti-socialist, therefore anti-people. We had to get help where we could. Our adventures led us to the fascists; they seized hold of us and made us their puppets. I shrink in horror from the picture of our crimes. The prosecutor said that all of us deserve death – he is of course correct. And not for a minute do I doubt the fairness of our system of justice. Thanks to our efficient security services, Trotskyism is finished and cannot rise again. I hope that this fact can be taken into consideration by the Court, the righteous voice of the proletariat, as a reason for clemency. That is my plea. SOKOLNIKOV SITS JUDGE (sternly): Accused Smirnov! SMIRNOV (IN AUDIENCE) RISES SMIRNOV DELIVERS MONOLOGUE, INCORPORATES THE FOLLOWING: SMIRNOV: Perhaps I was too loyal. When Trotsky was exiled to Europe I became confused. Comrades realized that my views were deviating from the correct line and did all they could to return me to the right track. For a while it worked, but in 1931 I resumed my struggle against the people. My mistakes brought me into terrorism. I became one of Trotsky's implements, and we began our criminal campaign. There is not, and cannot be, any leadership other than what history has given us. There is no path for our country but the one it presently treads. (Voice weakens) …Trotsky, who sends directions and instructions on terrorism, is our enemy, he is on the other side of the barricade, he must be fought... SMIRNOV'S PAIN IS EVIDENT. HE BREATHES HEAVILY, RUBS HIS BROWS, LOOKS DOWN. SMIRNOV (softly): Dearest Irena, Arseni and Galya, no matter what my sentence may be, I in advance consider it just. Please don't look back. Together with the Soviet people, follow Stalin. SMIRNOV SLUMPS INTO HIS CHAIR
ON CUE...
GUARD: The Supreme Court of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is in session, Military Judge Ulrich presiding. JUDGE ENTERS. GUARD STIFFENS, GERCHIKOVA LEAPS TO HER FEET, VYSHINSKY PERFUNCTORILY RISES. JUDGE: The session is resumed. (To prisoners) Rise to be sentenced. PRISONERS (IN AUDIENCE) STAND STIFFLY, THEIR EYES GLUED ON THE JUDGE. JUDGE: I will announce the verdict of the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the U.S.S.R. On the basis of Articles 58-6 and 58-7 of the Criminal Code, and guided by Articles 319 and 320 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the accused are sentenced as follows: Pyatakov, Yuri; Kamenev, Lev; Zinoviev, Grigori; Smirnov, Ivan, as members of the anti-Soviet Trotskyite organization, who organized and guided treasonable, espionage, undermining, wrecking and terrorist activities, to the supreme penalty – to be shot... Sokolnikov, Grigori; and Radek, Karl; as members of the anti-Soviet Trotskyite organization, responsible for its criminal activities, but not directly participating in the organization and execution of its acts, each to imprisonment for a term of ten years. RADEK VISIBLY SIGHS, GLANCES AT THE OTHERS SOKOLNIKOV DROPS HIS HEAD, CLASPS HIS HANDS KAMENEV, ANGUISHED, SCREAMS "NO, NO!" SMIRNOV AND ZINOVIEV CROSS THEMSELVES PYATAKOV, STEELY, BETRAYS NOTHING GUARD APPROACHES PRISONERS. HE SIGNALS, THEY FILE OUT ROW BY ROW. GUARD STEPS ASIDE, FOLLOWS THE LAST MAN. ALL EXIT AUDITORIUM STAGE LEFT. RADEK TURNS AROUND, SMIRKS AS HE LEAVES AS GUARD AND PRISONERS ARE COMING DOWN THE JUDGE, VYSHINSKYAND GERCHIKOVA IGNORE THEM, CONVERSE AT THIS POINT TROTSKY (IN THE AUDIENCE) LEAPS TO HIS FEET, DELIVERS HIS MONOLOGUE. NO ONE PAYS HIM ANY MIND. TROTSKY WALKS TO THE STAGE, THREADS HIS WAY AROUND , MAKES FACES AND WAVES HIS HANDS TO PROVE HIS INVISIBILITY TROTSKY TAP DANCES TO THE EXIT, STAGE LEFT. JUST BEFORE LEAVING HE TAKES ONE LAST LOOK AT THE JUDGE, VYSHINSKY AND GERCHIKOVA, NOW TRADING JOKES. TROTSKY MAKES A RUDE GESTURE, EXITS ON CUE...
GERCHIKOVA EXITS, BRINGS IN PERFORMERS FROM HALLWAY IN A SINGLE FILE, THEY PAUSE
ALL FILE ON STAGE, LINK ARMS, TAKE A BOW
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