The Pact: A creation out of desperation

 As a part of internal assessment, we were given a chance to pick a chapter from George Orwell's novella Animal Farm and create a short play based on it. Our group selected chapter 8 where the Battle of the Windmill takes place. We decided to take a historical outlook on it. This chapter was quite a crammed one with a lot of historical implications so, we focused on the main one- the pact with humans and its similarity to Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. I was skeptical when I took the role of script writer but to my surprise I enjoyed the research I did and the script I wrote. Even though we forgot a lot of lines and turned it into an improv on stage, the sleepless night created the first script I have written and I sincerely hope you enjoy it. 

Molotov- Ribbentrop pact

Characters

Narrator

Vyacheslav Molotov - Foreign minister of Soviet Union

Joachim von Ribbentrop – Reich Minister of foreign affairs

Joseph Stalin- Prime minister of Soviet Union

Winston Churchill- Prime minister of Great Britain

Soviet officer

German officer

Act 1

Narrator: In 1939, Europe stands on the edge of the war. Joseph Stalin greatly concerned about a two front war decides to contemplate on a temporary truce with the Nazi. Two sworn enemies decided to make a pact. A cynical arrangement, a deal between predators.

 

(Sitting in a grand study is Stalin, talking to himself about the current situation)  

Stalin: Churchill refuses to be an ally in case of a two front war. The recent purge has left our defenses in shambles. Well… we need time to gather our army even if it means deploying unconventional methods.

(Turns towards the door upon hearing knocks) yes, enter

(Molotov enters with a German officer who has a document in his hand)

 

 Molotov (formally): Comrade Stalin, may I introduce to you Herr Joachim von Ribbentrop, the Foreign Minister of Germany. He comes bearing proposals that we, too, have long considered.

(Ribbentrop bows slightly, his movements careful and calculated.)

 

Ribbentrop (smiling): Herr Stalin, it is an honour. The Führer sends his regards and his assurances that this pact will serve both our nations well.

 

(Stalin watches him, his face unreadable.)

 

Stalin (calmly): Assurances? I have learned that words are the cheapest currency in diplomacy, Herr Ribbentrop.

 

(Ribbentrop shifts slightly but maintains his diplomatic smile. Molotov quickly steps in.)

 

Molotov: We are realists, Comrade Stalin. Realists understand that history bends towards necessity and not morality.

 

Ribbentrop (nodding): Precisely. The Führer and I recognize that war is inevitable. But between our nations, it need not be immediate. (Places the document in front of Stalin)

 

Stalin (leaning forward): And in exchange for this… postponement?

 

Ribbentrop (smoothly): Poland, divided. Resources shared. A guarantee that neither of us shall turn on the other.

 

Stalin: We shake hands today Herr Ribbentrop, but don’t think we don’t see the knife in the other hand.

 

(Churchill pops up right behind Stalin like conscience speaking)

Churchill: This is a bad idea.

 

(Molotov and Ribbentrop still focusing on the document)

 

Stalin: Churchill, do I look like I care about your opinion?

 

Churchill: No, but from experience with the colonies this is …stupid.
Stalin: shut up. (Pushes Churchill off the stage like a delinquent child)

 

(Molotov and Ribbentrop finally signs the document, a copy left at the table and one in Ribbentrop’s hand and they both walk out)

(Stalin sighs)

 

Narrator: was this a deal of trust? No. This was a deal of necessity where both sides pretend to be friends while sharpening the knife behind their back. Orwell captured this kind of deception in Animal farm, where Napoleon negotiates a timber deal with Frederick. In the end, Frederick cheats him with fake notes and attacks the farm similar to how Hitler betrays Stalin two years later.

 

 

 

Act II

 

Narrator: September 1, 1939. The German Reich unleashes blitzkrieg upon Poland. Bombs rain down on Warsaw. The Polish cavalry fought courageously but was hopelessly outmatched. Ribbentrop listened in on the reports and send them to Moscow through German officers.

 

(A Molotov stands waiting for someone, A German officer enters salutes Molotov)

Molotov: I assume a report.

German Officer (smugly): Herr Minister sends his regards. Warsaw will fall within days. Herr Minister expects response from the eastern partners.

Molotov: The Red army will move… but not yet.
German officer: but we agreed on…
Molotov (cutting in): We agreed that Germany would handle the west and USSR would secure the east. It is only fair that we observe…before engaging.

(German solider and Molotov leaves the stage)

 

Narrator: as the Germans advanced rapidly Soviet Union crossed the Polish border on 17^th September 1939. A half devoured by Nazis and another devoured by Soviet. Poland kneeled. In Britain, Churchill was furious

 

Churchill (at the audience): the soviet claims they crave peace yet they march with the Nazis. Do not think for a moment that Stalin’s hunger stops at the Polish border. He has devoured the Baltic States. Finland stands next. How far will the bear roam? (Churchill leaves)

 

Narrator:  This was the trade of timber between Frederick and Napoleon. The world watched in horror as the sworn enemies took baton to their hand. The commandments where changing and nobody knew how and why they were changing. The pact holds… for now.

 

Act III

 

Narrator: June 22, 1941. Operation Barbarossa, The inevitable betrayal. Nazi ideology of eradicating communism and repopulating Russia with pure Germans was the main goal.  Hitler’s tanks rolled towards Moscow. Stalin, the observer, the schemer was hunted. Ribbentrop was nowhere to be seen.

 

(Stalin sitting in his office, Molotov standing nearby scheming through and a soviet solider rushes into the office and gives a hasty bow)

 Soviet Solider: Comrade Generalissimo! Urgent message from the western front! The Germans have crossed the border! Minsk is under attack!

 

(Molotov stiffens. Stalin just stares)

Molotov: But comrade the pact…This must be a provocation. The Fuhrer wouldn’t be reckless.

 

Soviet Solider (shaking his head): No Comrade Commissar! They are bombing our positions. Infantry, tanks and aircraft- it’s a full invasion. Our outposts are being overrun.

 

Stalin (quietly): are you certain?

 

(Molotov takes the crumpled dirty paper from the solider)

 

Molotov (reads, voice cracking):” Heavy enemy assault….severe causalities….Luftwaffe dominates the sky…” they are heading for Smolensk.

You don’t seem surprised.

 

Stalin: bring me reports on the loss comrade (the soviet solider leaves) I expected much.
Molotov: then how come you didn’t….

Stalin (with a disappointed look): I hoped the lack of provocation would delay the inevitable.

 

Molotov: I shall take my leave and open dialogues with the west. (Molotov bows and leaves)

 

(Churchill pops up again)

Stalin (exasperated): Don’t you dare

Churchill (smugly): I told you so.

 

(Soviet Solider comes back in)

Soviet Solider: Comrade Generalissimo! There is a telegram from Britain.

Stalin: what is it?

Soviet solider: It’s from Mr.Churchill sir, Britain expects you to reciprocate the betrayal back to Nazis.

(Solider salutes and leaves) (Stalin buries his head in his hand and leaves)

 

Narrator: Nazis attacked the soviet the way Frederick and his men attacked the Animal farm. Napoleon and Stalin both saw the pact like a move in chess so, they were able to win the battle but their inactivity despite having known the oncoming attack attributed to the heavy loss. Despite having an upper hand in terms of arms and strategy Nazis were defeated by the unexpected terrain and harsh Russian winter, the same way how animals managed to defeat Frederick’s men.  

 

The Molotov-Ribbentrop pact gives the lesson of how deception and impatience leads to different kinds of destruction. As it nears a hundred years since being signed, it is still one of the justification given by Poles, Balts and Ukrainians for their mistrust in Russia and its endeavours.

THE END