Redemption and Two Other Plays | Page 5

I hate those I hate.
F��DYA. Oh, you must be happy to be like that.
MASHA. I'm always happy when handsome gentlemen come and say nice things to me. (Gypsies stop singing.)
[A GYPSY entering speaks to F��DYA.
GYPSY. Some one asking for you.
F��DYA. Who?
Gypsy. Don't know. He's rich, though. Fur coat.
F��DYA. Fur coat? O my God, show him in.
AFR��MOV. Who the devil wants to see you here?
F��DYA (carelessly). God knows, I don't. (Begins to hum a song.)
[KAR��NIN comes in, looking around the room.
(Exclaiming). Ha! Victor! You're the last man in the world I expected to break into this enchanting milieu. Take off your coat, and they'll sing for you.
KAR��NIN. Je voudrais vous parler sans t��moins.
[MASHA rises and joins the group R.
F��DYA. Oh.... What about?
KAR��NIN. Je viens de chez vous. Votre femme ma charg�� de cette lettre, et puis--
[F��DYA takes the letter, opens it, reads. He frowns, then smiles affectionately at KAR��NIN.
F��DYA. You know what's in this letter, Victor?
[He is smiling gently all the time.
KAR��NIN (looking at F��DYA rather severely). Yes, I know. But really, F��dya, you're in no--
F��DYA (interrupting). Please, please don't think I'm drunk and don't realize what I'm saying. Of course I'm drunk, but I see everything very clearly. Now go ahead. What were you told to tell me?
KAR��NIN (is standing L. C. Shrugging his shoulders). Your wife asked me to find you and to tell you she's waiting for you. She wants you to forget everything and come back.
[Pause.
KAR��NIN (stiffly). Elizaveta Protosova sent for me and suggested that I--
F��DYA (as he hesitates). Yes.
KAR��NIN (finishing rather lamely). But I ask you not so much for her as for myself--F��dya, come home.
F��DYA (looking up at him, smiling rather whimsically). You're a much finer person than I am, Victor. Of course that's not saying much. I'm not very much good, am I? (Laughing gently.) But that's exactly why I'm not going to do what you want me to. It's not the only reason, though. The real reason is that I just simply can't. How could I?
KAR��NIN (persuasively). Come along to my rooms, F��dya, and I'll tell her you'll be back to-morrow.
F��DYA (wistfully). To-morrows can't change what we are. She'll still be she, and I will still be I to-morrow. (Goes to the table and drinks.) No, it's better to have the tooth out in one pull. Didn't I say that if I broke my word she was to leave me? Well, I've broken it, and that's enough.
KAR��NIN. Yes. For you, but not for her.
F��DYA (down L. Politely insolent). You know ... it's rather odd, that you, of all men, should take so much trouble to keep our marriage from going to pieces.
KAR��NIN (revolted). Good God, F��dya! You don't think--
[MASHA crosses L., goes to F��DYA. F��DYA interrupting him with a return of his former friendliness.
F��DYA. Come now, my dear Victor, you shall hear them sing.
MASHA (whispering to F��DYA). What's his name? We must honor him with a song.
F��DYA (laughing). O good God, yes! Honor him by all means. His name is Victor Michaelovitch. (Saluting Kar��nin.) Victor, my lord! son of Michael!
[The gypsies sing a song of greeting and laudation. As they begin to sing, MASHA and F��DYA sit on couch L.
(When song is finished.)
KAR��NIN (in an imploring tone). F��dya!
[Exits quietly L. U.
F��DYA (business with MASHA). Where's the fur coat? Gone, eh? All right. May the devil go with it.
F��DYA. Do you know who that was?
MASHA. I heard his name.
F��DYA. Ah, he's a splendid fellow. He came to take me home to my wife. You see she loves even a fool like me, (caressing her hair) and look what I'm doing.
MASHA. You should go back to her and be very sorry.
F��DYA. Do you think I should? (He kisses her.) Well, I think I shouldn't.
MASHA. Of course, you needn't go back to her if you don't love her. Love is all that counts.
F��DYA (smiling). How do you know that?
MASHA (looking at him timidly). I don't know, but I do.
F��DYA. Now, let's have "No More at Evening." (As the gypsies sing, MASHA lies on her back across his lap, looking up into his face, which she draws down to her, and they kiss until the music begins to cease.) That's wonderful! Divine! If I could only lie this way forever, with my arms around the heart of joy, and sleep ... and die.... (He closes his eyes; his voice trails away.)
[Lights dim and out, then the
CURTAIN

SCENE III
SOPHIA KAR��NINA'S boudoir. SOPHIA KAR��NINA, VICTOR'S mother, is reading a book. She is a great lady, over fifty, but tries to look younger. She likes to interlard her conversation with French words. A servant enters.
SERVANT (enters R., announcing). Prince Sergius Abr��skov.
SOPHIA KAR��NINA (on sofa over L.). Show him in, please.
[She turns and picks up hand mirror from table back of couch, arranging her hair.
PRINCE SERGIUS (enters R. I. Entering). J'esp��re que