Savva and The Life of Man | Page 6

Quick! (Pause)
Who opened the window?
LIPA
I did.
YEGOR
What for?
LIPA
It's hot. The stove in the restaurant makes it so close here you can't
breathe.
YEGOR
Shut it, shut it, I say. If it's too hot for you, you can go down into the
cellar.
LIPA
But what do you want to have the window shut for?
YEGOR
Because. Shut it! You have been told to shut the window--then shut it!
What are you waiting for? _(Lipa, shrugging her shoulders, closes the

window and is about to leave)_ Where are you going? The moment
your father appears, you run away. Sit down!
LIPA
But you don't want me.
YEGOR
Never mind whether I want you or not--sit down! Oh, my! _(He yawns
and crosses himself)_ Where is Savva?
LIPA
I don't know.
YEGOR
Tell him I'll turn him out.
LIPA
Tell him so yourself.
YEGOR
Fool! (He yawns and crosses himself) Oh, Lord Jesus Christ, have
mercy on us sinners! What was it I was dreaming about just now?
LIPA
I don't know.
YEGOR
Who asked you? You stupid, how could you tell what I was dreaming?
You've got brains, haven't you?
PELAGUEYA (handing him cider)

There.
YEGOR
There. Put it down and don't "there" me. (Takes the jug and drinks)
What was I talking about? (Pelagueya finishes scrubbing the floor) Oh
yes, about the Father Superior. A smart fellow he is. You'll have to go a
long way to find another like him. He had the old coffin exchanged for
a new one. The pilgrims chewed the old one to pieces, so he put a new
one in its place. He put a new one in place of the old one. They'll chew
this, one to pieces too, the fools! Anything you give them, the fools! Do
you hear or don't you?
LIPA
I hear. What's so remarkable about it? A swindle, that's all.
YEGOR
What's remarkable about it is that, he didn't ask your advice. They
chewed the old one to pieces, so he put a new one in its place exactly
like it; Yes, just exactly like the one in which the saint lay before.
Remember us in heaven where thou dwellest, O Saint! _(He crosses
himself and yawns)_ You can lose your teeth on this one too. They
chewed the old one to pieces completely. Where are you off to? Sit
down!
LIPA
I can't, it's so hot in here.
YEGOR
But I can. Sit down, you won't melt. (Pause) They chewed up the old
one, so he put up a new one. Where is Savva?
PELAGUEYA
He's playing; jackstones with the children.

YEGOR
I'm not asking you. What time is it?
PELAGUEYA
It just struck two.
YEGOR
Tell him I'll turn him out. I won't stand it.
LIPA
Stand what? Be reasonable.
YEGOR
I won't stand it. Who is he anyway? Never at home in time for dinner.
He comes and feeds like a dog by himself--knocks about at night and
doesn't lock the gate. I went out yesterday and found the gate wide
open. If we are robbed, who'll pay for it?
LIPA
There are no thieves here. What thieves have you ever seen in this
place?
YEGOR
What thieves? A lot. When all people are asleep, he is knocking about.
Who ever heard of such a thing?
LIPA
But if he doesn't want to sleep, what is he to do?
YEGOR

What, you too? He doesn't want to? Let him go to bed, and he'll sleep.
No one wants to sleep, but once you lie down you fall asleep. He
doesn't want to? I know him. Who asked him to come? He was making
bank-notes over there--then why didn't he stay where he was and do
what he pleased? What business has he here?
LIPA
What bank-notes?
YEGOR
What bank-notes? Not real ones. Nothing is done to you for making
real bank-notes. Counterfeit bank-notes, that's what. Not the sort of
thing you get patted on the head for, when you are caught, no sirree! It's
very strict now. I'll go to the police captain and tell him: "It's like
this--just search him."
LIPA
Oh, nonsense.
PELAGUEYA
You are the only, one who doesn't know it. Everybody else knows it.
LIPA
Oh, Lord!
YEGOR
Well, about the Lord we know better than you. You needn't appeal to
Him. I want you to tell Savva that I am not afraid of him. He didn't
strike the right person. I'll just make him skip. I'll turn him out. Let him
go where he came from. The idea of my having to be responsible for
his robberies. Who's ever heard of such a thing?
LIPA

You are not quite wide awake, father, that's what's the matter with you.
YEGOR
I am wide awake all right, and have been for