Redemption and Two Other Plays | Page 8

still are. (To SOPHIA.) I never hoped that you would wish to see me.
SOPHIA KARÉNINA. I knew your husband quite well. He was a great
friend of Victor's and used frequently to visit us in Tambov, (politely)
where you were married, I believe.
LISA (looking down). Yes.
SOPHIA KARÉNINA. But when you returned to Moscow we were
deprived of the pleasure of his visit.
LISA. Yes, then he stopped going anywhere.
SOPHIA KARÉNINA. Ah, that explains our missing him.
[Awkward pause.
PRINCE SERGIUS (to LISA). The last time I'd the pleasure of seeing
you was in those tableaux at the Dennishovs. You were charming in
your part.
LISA. How good of you to think so! Yes, I remember perfectly.
[Another awkward silence.
(To SOPHIA KARÉNINA.) Sophia Karénina, please forgive me if
what I am going to say offends you, but I don't know how to cover up
what's in my heart. I came here to-day because Victor Karénin
said--because he said that--because he--I mean because you wanted to
see me. (With a catch in her voice.) It's rather difficult--but you're so
sweet.
PRINCE SERGIUS (very sympathetic). There, there, my dear child, I
assure you there's nothing in the world to---- (He breaks off when he
sees SOPHIA KARÉNINA pointing impatiently to the floor. She has
dropped her handkerchief.) Permit me. (He picks it up, presenting it to
her with a smile and a bow; then looks casually at his watch.) Ah, five
o'clock already. (To SOPHIA KARÉNINA.) Madame, in your salon
pleasure destroys the memory of time. You will excuse me.
[He kisses her hand.
SOPHIA KARÉNINA (smiling). Au revoir, mon ami.
PRINCE SERGIUS (bowing and shaking hands with LISA). Elizaveta
Protosova, au revoir.
[He goes out R.
SOPHIA KARÉNINA. Now listen, my child. Please believe how truly
sorry for you I am and that you are most sympathetique to me. But I

love my son alone in this world, and I know his soul as I do my own.
He's very proud--oh I don't mean of his position and money--but of his
high ideals, his purity. It may sound strange to you, but you must
believe me when I tell you that at heart he is as pure as a young girl.
LISA. I know.
SOPHIA KARÉNINA. He's never loved a woman before. You're the
first. I don't say I'm not a little jealous. I am. But that's something we
mothers have to face. Oh, but your son's still a baby, you don't know. I
was ready to give him up, though--but I wanted his wife to be as pure
as himself.
LISA (flushing hotly). And I, am I not----
SOPHIA KARÉNINA (interrupting her kindly). Forgive me, my dear. I
know it's not your fault and that you've been most unhappy. And also I
know my son. He will bear anything, and he'll bear it without saying a
word, but his hurt pride will suffer and bring you infinite remorse. You
must know how strongly he has always felt that the bond of marriage is
indissoluble.
LISA. Yes. I've thought of all that.
SOPHIA KARÉNINA. Lisa, my dear, you're a wise woman and you're
a good woman too. If you love him, you must want his happiness more
than you want your own. You can't want to cripple him so that he'll be
sorry all his life--yes, sorry even though he never says a word.
LISA. I've thought about it so much. I've thought about it and I've
talked to him about it. But what can I do when he says he can't live
without me? I said to him only the other day, "Victor, let's just be
friends. Don't spoil your life. Don't ruin yourself by trying to help me."
And do you know what he did? He laughed.
SOPHIA KARÉNINA. Of course he would, at the time.
LISA. If you could persuade him not to marry me, you know I'll agree,
don't you? I just want him to be happy. I don't care about myself. Only
please help me. Please don't hate me. Let's do all we can for him,
because, after all, we both love him.
SOPHIA KARÉNINA. Yes, I know. And I think I love you too. I really
do. (She kisses her. LISA begins to cry.) Oh, it's all so dreadful. If only
he had fallen in love with you before you were married!
LISA (sobbing). He--he says he did--but he had to be loyal to his
friend.

SOPHIA KARÉNINA. Alas, it's all very heart-breaking. But let us love
each other, and God will help us to find what we are seeking.
KARÉNIN (entering L. I). Mother darling. I've heard what you just
said. I knew you'd love her. And now everything must come right.
SOPHIA KARÉNINA (hastily). But nothing's decided. All I can say