Savva and The Life of Man | Page 8

do and maybe I don't. Maybe I'll send the whiskey and maybe
I won't.
SAVVA
What a sceptic. You've grown silly, Tony.
LIPA
Leave him alone, Savva. He has got that from the seminary student,
from Speransky. Anyhow, he is full of--
TONY (sitting down)

I didn't get it from anybody. I can understand everything myself. The
blood has congealed in my heart.
SAVVA
That's from drink, Tony. Stop drinking.
TONY
The blood has congealed in my heart. You think I don't know what's
what. A while ago you weren't here with us, and all of a sudden you
came. Yes, I understand everything. I have visions.
SAVVA
What do you see? God?
TONY
There is no God.
SAVVA
How's that?
TONY
And no devil either. There's nothing, no people, no animals, nothing.
SAVVA
What is there then?
TONY
There are only faces, a whole lot of faces. It's faces, faces, faces. They
are very funny, and I keep laughing all the time. I just sit still, and the
faces come jumping and gliding past me, jumping and gliding. You've
got a very funny face too, Savva. (Sadly) It's enough to make one die of

laughter.
SAVVA (laughing gayly)
What kind of a face have I?
TONY
That's the kind of face you have. (Pointing his finger at him) She also
has a face, and she. And father too. And then there are other faces.
There are a lot of faces. I sit in the tavern and see everything. Nothing
escapes me. You can't fool me. Some faces are small and some are
large, and all of them glide and glide--Some are far away, and some are
as close to me as if they wanted to kiss me or bite my nose. They have
teeth.
SAVVA
All right, Tony, now you can go. We'll talk about the faces later. Your
own face is funny enough.
TONY
Yes, of course. I, too, have a face.
SAVVA
All right, all right. Go now. Don't forget to send in the whiskey.
TONY
As in the daytime so at night. A lot of faces. (From the door) And in
regards to whiskey, maybe I'll send it and maybe I won't. I can't tell yet.
SAVVA (to Lipa)
Has he been that way a long time?
LIPA

I don't know. I think so. He drinks an awful lot.
PELAGUEYA (going)
No wonder. You're enough to drive a man to drink. Cranks. (Exit)
LIPA
My, how stifling! I don't know what to do with myself. Say, Savva,
why aren't you nicer to Polya? She is such a wretched creature.
SAVVA
A slavish soul.
LIPA
It isn't her fault if she's that way.
SAVVA (coldly)
Nor mine either.
LIPA
Oh, Savva, if you only knew the terrible life people lead here. The men
drink, and beat their wives, and the women--
SAVVA
I know.
LIPA
You say it so calmly. I have been waiting very much to have a talk with
you.
SAVVA

Go ahead.
LIPA
You'll soon be leaving us, I suppose.
SAVVA
Yes.
LIPA
Then I won't have any chance to talk to you. You are scarcely ever at
home. This is the first time, pretty nearly. It seems so strange that you
should enjoy playing with the children, you a grown man, big as a bear.
SAVVA (merrily)
No, Lipa, they play very well. Misha is very good at the game, and I
have a hard time holding up my end of it. I lost him three pairs
yesterday.
LIPA
Why, he is only ten years old.--
SAVVA
Well, what of it? The children are the only human beings here. They
are the wisest part of the--
LIPA (with a smile)
And I? How about me?
SAVVA (looking at her)
You? Why, you are like the rest.

[A pause. Being offended, Lipa's languor disappears to some extent.
LIPA
Maybe I bore you.
SAVVA
No, you make no difference to me one way or another. I am never
bored.
LIPA (with a constrained smile)
Thank you, I am glad of that at least. Were you in the monastery to-day?
You go there often, don't you?
SAVVA
Yes, I was there. Why?
LIPA
I suppose you don't remember--I love our monastery. It is so beautiful.
At times it looks so pensive. I like it because it's so old. Its age gives it
a solemnity, a stern serenity and detachment.
SAVVA
Do you read many books?
LIPA (blushing)
I used to read a lot. You know I spent four winters in Moscow with
Aunt Glasha. Why do you ask?
SAVVA
Never mind. Go on.

LIPA
Does what I say sound ridiculous?
SAVVA
No, go on.
LIPA
The monastery is really a remarkable place. There are nice spots there
which no one ever visits, somewhere between the mute walls, where
there is nothing but