36
PETER WEISS
achievement. While the huge mass of workers in Europe, with their
powerful parties, stood still, gave in. What was this terror, this force,
against the terror of the capitalists? But in one way we miscalculated.
The class enemy did not collapse under the weight of its own con–
tradictions. Not yet. It gathered new strength. Expanded unchecked.
The German empire, the British empire, they were surpassed by Amer–
ican capital, now busy taking over one continent after another. The rev–
olution? Yes, it will go on. But in difficulties we couldn't at that time
foresee. More force will be needed before the masses can get free of
our modern imperialists. The enemy is vast. And vast too its number
of lickspittles, arse-crawlers. Mass terrorism. Revolutionary force. Yes.
Without doubt. Without hesitation.
II. THE DEATH OF LENIN
TROTSKY
goes to the desk. With pedantic thoroughness he arranges
the papers on it. Then he sits for a while as at the beginning of the
play.
LENIN
enters. He walks heavily, bowed down, his head lowered. He
lies down on the camp bed {lnd presses his head with his hands.
LENIN: We always started from the idea that you can't build socialism
in a single land. We avoided too much haste in planning our indus–
tries and collectives. Always reckoned on growing support from the
workers of the more advanced countries. But now there's a tendency
to neglect the international program. Bureaucracy flourishing in–
side the party. I ask for information, and the general secretary in–
solently cuts my contact to the Politburo. Says I'm too
ill
to bother
with problems of organization. Lev Davidovich, set up a commission
to cut down bureaucracy in the administration.
TROTSKY
gets up and sits down again in a chair beside the camp
bed.
TROTSKY: That wouldn't be enough. It's not only in the administra–
tion it's taken root. In the party leadership too.
LENIN: Oollect the best and most experienced revolutionaries together.
Set up inspectorates of workers and peasants. An examining commis–
sion with powers on a level with the leadership. We must do some–
thing before it's too late.
(He presses his temples)
We wanted to
build a workers' state. Tried to make it a living, democratic thing.
We needed a centralized party
to
do it. And now the machine has
turned against us. It's true. I try to steer, but the wheels won't respond.
The vehicle swerves about in all directions. I can't control it any
more. Stalin must be got out. Much too much power in his hands.
He's just waiting for me to go. To grab the party for himself alone.
