Without a Dowry and Other Plays

by Alexander Ostrovsky

  BELOGUBOV. Yes, miss… Now I understand, miss. But you know, miss, it isn’t the kind of business that… you just can’t do it right off, miss.

  JULIE. Then how come Zhadov can?

  BELOGUBOV. That’s quite another matter, miss. He has a rich uncle, miss, and he himself is an educated man, he could get a job anywhere. He could even become a teacher; he’ll always have his bread, miss. But what can I do, miss? Until I’m given the position as department head there’s nothing I can do, miss. And you yourself wouldn’t want to eat soup and porridge, miss. Only men can do that, but you’re a young lady, miss, that’s not for you. But once I get that position then there’ll be a real turnabout.

  JULIE. And when will that turnabout be?

  BELOGUBOV. It’ll be soon, miss. They promised. As soon as I get the position, then at that very moment… only first I’ll sew myself a new office uniform… I’ve already spoken to your mama, miss. Don’t you get angry, Julia Ivanovna, because it doesn’t depend on me. Your hand, please.

  Julie, not looking at him, stretches out her hand. He kisses it.

  As for me I can hardly wait.

  Zhadov and Pauline enter.

  JULIE. Let’s go. We’ll leave them alone.

  They go out. Zhadov and Pauline sit down.

  PAULINE. Do you know what I’m going to tell you?

  ZHADOV. No, I don’t.

  PAULINE. Only please, don’t you tell Mama.

  ZHADOV. I won’t tell, don’t worry.

  PAULINE (thinking a bit). I’d tell you, but I’m afraid you won’t love me any more.

  ZHADOV. Won’t love you any more? Could that really happen?

  PAULINE. Are you telling me the truth?

  ZHADOV (taking her by the hand). I’m not going to stop loving you, believe me.

  PAULINE. See that you don’t. I’ll tell you out of my simplicity. (Quietly.) In our house everything is deception, everything, everything, absolutely everything. Please, don’t you believe anything you’re told. We don’t have a thing. Mama says she loves us, but she doesn’t love us at all; she just wants to get rid of us the sooner the better. She makes up to the suitors to their face but runs them down behind their back. She makes us pretend.

  ZHADOV. Does this disgust you? Does it?

  PAULINE. Only I’m not pretending, I really do love you.

  ZHADOV. You’ll drive me mad! (He kisses her hand.)

  PAULINE. And another thing, we’re not educated at all. Julie knows something, but I’m an absolute idiot.

  ZHADOV. What do you mean, idiot?

  PAULINE. Just that, the same as any idiot. I don’t know a thing; I haven’t read anything… Sometimes when you talk I don’t understand a word of it.

  ZHADOV. You’re an angel! (He kisses her hand.)

  PAULINE. I may be kinder than Julie, but I’m a lot dumber.

  ZHADOV. And that’s just why I love you, because they haven’t managed to teach you anything, haven’t managed to spoil your heart. What we have to do is get you out of here as soon as we can. You and I’ll begin a new life. I’ll take up your education with loving care. What delights are in store for me!

  PAULINE. Ah, the sooner the better!

  ZHADOV. Then why put it off? I’ve made up my mind already. (He looks at her passionately.)

  Silence.

  PAULINE. Do you know any merchants?

  ZHADOV. What kind of a question is that? Why do you want to know?

  PAULINE. No special reason. I just want to know.

  ZHADOV. But I still don’t understand. There must be a reason.

  PAULINE. Well, here’s why. Belogubov says he knows some merchants, and they give him vests, and that when he gets married they’re going to give him dress materials for his wife.

  ZHADOV. So that’s it! Well, no, they won’t be giving things to us. You and I are going to work. Isn’t that so, Pauline?

  PAULINE (with a distracted air). Yes, sir.

  ZHADOV. No, Pauline, you don’t yet know the high bliss of living by your own work. You’ll be taken care of in everything, God will provide, you’ll see. Everything we acquire will be ours; we won’t be obliged to anyone. Do you understand that? There are two delights in this: the delight of work and the delight of managing one’s own possessions freely and with a calm conscience, not being accountable to anyone. And that’s better than any gift. It’s really better, Pauline, isn’t it?

  PAULINE. Yes, sir, it’s better.

  Silence.

  Would you like me to ask you a riddle?

  ZHADOV. Go ahead.

  PAULINE. What comes down but doesn’t have feet?

  ZHADOV. What kind of a riddle is that? The rain.

  PAULINE. How you do know everything! That’s disgusting. I couldn’t guess it at all when Julie asked me.

  ZHADOV. What a child you are! Always stay such a child.

  PAULINE. And can people count stars in the sky?

  ZHADOV. They can.

  PAULINE. No, they can’t. I don’t believe you.

  ZHADOV. But there’s no need to count them; they’ve already been counted.

  PAULINE. You’re making fun of me. (She turns away.)

  ZHADOV (tenderly). Me make fun of you, Pauline! I want to dedicate my whole life to you. Take a good look at me, could I make fun of you?

  PAULINE (she looks at him). No, no…

  ZHADOV. You say you’re an idiot; I’m the idiot. Make fun of me. A lot of people do make fun of me. With no means or money I’m going to marry you with nothing but hopes for the future. Why get married, they ask me. Why? Because I love you, because I have faith in people. I admit I’m going ahead without giving it much thought. But when can I think about it? I love you so much I just don’t have time to think.

  Mme Kukushkin and Yusov enter.

  PAULINE (with some feeling). I love you too.

  Zhadov kisses her hand.

  MME KUKUSHKIN (to Yusov). Just look at them, cooing like doves. Don’t disturb them. It’s so touching to see them!

  Belogubov and Julie enter.

  ZHADOV (turning around he takes Pauline by the hand and leads her to Mme. Kukushkin). Felisata Gerasimovna, give away this treasure to me.

  MME KUKUSHKIN. I’ll have to confess, it’s painful for me to part with her. She’s my favorite daughter… she would have been a consolation in my old age… but God go with her, take her… her happiness means more to me. (She covers her face with her handkerchief.)

  Zhadov and Pauline kiss her hands. Belogubov gives her a chair. She sits down.

  YUSOV. You’re a real mother, Felisata Gerasimovna.

  MME KUKUSHKIN. Yes, that’s something I can boast of. (With heat.) No, bringing up daughters is a thankless task! You raise them, you cherish them, and then you give them away to a stranger… you’re left alone like an orphan… it’s awful! (She covers her eyes with her handkerchief.)

  PAULINE and JULIE (together). Mama, we won’t desert you.

  ACT THREE

  Between the second and third acts about a year has passed. A tavern. In the background is a rear curtain, in the middle a gramophone. On the right is an open door through which another room is visible. On the left is a clothes tree. At the front of the stage are tables and divans.

  Vasily is standing by the gramophone reading a newspaper. Grigory is standing by the door looking into the other room. Zhadov and Mykin enter. Grigory shows them in, wipes off the table, and places napkins.

  MYKIN. Well now, old friend, how are things?

  ZHADOV. Bad, brother. (To Grigory.) Give us some tea.

  Grigory leaves.

  And how are you?

  MYKIN. All right. I manage, I get in some teaching.

  They sit down.

  ZHADOV. Do you make much?

  MYKIN. Two hundred rubles.

  ZHADOV. Is that enough for you?

  MYKIN. I keep within my means. As you see, I don’t have too many amusements.

  ZHADOV. Yes, a bachelor can do that.

  MYKIN. Y
ou shouldn’t have gotten married! Men like us shouldn’t marry. How can we, poor as we are! Just having a full stomach and being protected from the elements, and that should be it. You know the saying: a single person isn’t poor, because even if he is poor, he’s by himself.

  ZHADOV. The deed’s been done.

  MYKIN. Look at yourself and what you used to be. Have the steep hills worn down the gray horse? No, men like us shouldn’t get married. We are workers. (Grigory serves the tea. Mykin pours.) If we have to work, then work; we can do our living later if it ever comes to that.

  ZHADOV. But what could I do! I was so much in love with her.

  MYKIN. What does that matter, that you were in love! Don’t you think other people can be in love? I too, friend, was in love, but I didn’t get married. And you shouldn’t have gotten married either.

  ZHADOV. But why not?

  MYKIN. Very simple. A bachelor thinks about his work, a married man about his wife. A married man is unreliable.

  ZHADOV. That’s nothing but nonsense.

  MYKIN. No, it’s not nonsense. I don’t know what I wouldn’t have done for the girl I was in love with. But I decided it was better to make a sacrifice. It’s better, my friend, to overcome that very natural feeling than surround yourself with temptations.

  ZHADOV. I suppose it wasn’t easy for you, was it?

  MYKIN. What can I say! Denying yourself in general isn’t easy, but denying yourself the woman you love when the only obstacle is poverty… Do you love your wife very much?

  ZHADOV. I’m crazy about her.

  MYKIN. A bad business! Is she smart?

  ZHADOV. I really don’t know. All I know is, she’s unusually nice. If some little thing upsets her, she cries so nicely and so sincerely that just looking at her you cry yourself.

  MYKIN. Tell me frankly how you’re living. You know, I haven’t seen you for a year and a half.

  ZHADOV. All right. My story won’t be long. As you know, I married for love. I took an uneducated girl, brought up in the prejudices of society, like practically all our girls. I dreamed of educating her in the convictions you and I have, and now I’ve been married a year…

  MYKIN. And has the plan worked out?

  ZHADOV. Nothing’s come of it, of course. I don’t have the time to educate her, and I don’t even know how to go about it. So she’s left with her own ideas, and in arguments, of course, I’m the one to give in. You can see it’s not a good situation, and there’s no way to correct it. She doesn’t even listen to me; she just doesn’t consider me an intelligent man. According to their idea an intelligent man absolutely has to be rich.

  MYKIN. So that’s how far it’s gone! And how’s your financial situation?

  ZHADOV. I work day and night.

  MYKIN. And you still don’t have enough?

  ZHADOV. We survive.

  MYKIN. And what about your wife?

  ZHADOV. She sulks some, and sometimes she cries. What can you do!

  MYKIN. I’m sorry for you. No, my friend, people like us shouldn’t get married. Once I was without work for a whole year; all I ate was black bread. What would I have done with a wife?

  Dosuzhev enters.

  DOSUZHEV (sitting down at another table). Garçon, you there, show some life!

  VASILY. What would you like?

  DOSUZHEV. Some ashberry brandy. And a side dish appropriate for a man of my position.

  VASILY. Yes, sir. (He goes toward the door.)

  DOSUZHEV. And some French mustard! Did you hear? I can shut down this tavern. Grigory, start that hurdy-hurdy going.

  GRIGORY. Right away, sir. (He winds up the gramophone.)

  MYKIN. That man has just got to be a bachelor.

  DOSUZHEV. What are you looking at me for? I’m waiting here for my fish, the carp.

  ZHADOV. What do you mean, carp?

  DOSUZHEV. He’ll come with a red beard; I’ll eat him up.

  Vasily brings vodka.

  Vasily, keep an eye out for him. When he comes, let me know.

  The gramophone plays.

  Gentlemen, have you ever seen how drunk Germans cry? (He acts out a crying German.)

  Zhadov and Mykin laugh. The gramophone stops playing.

  MYKIN (to Zhadov). Well, good-bye. I’ll drop in on you sometime.

  ZHADOV. Good-bye.

  Mykin leaves.

  VASILY (to Dosuzhev). He’s come, sir.

  DOSUZHEV. Call him here.

  VASILY. He won’t come, sir. He sat down in the rear room.

  DOSUZHEV (to Zhadov). He’s embarrassed. Good-bye. If you’re going to stay awhile, I’ll come talk with you. I like the look of your face. (He leaves.)

  ZHADOV (to Vasily). Give me something to read.

  VASILY (gives him a book). There’s a piece in there you might like to read. People like it, sir.

  Zhadov reads. Yusov, Belogubov, and two officials enter.

  BELOGUBOV. Akim Akimych, we had dinner there. Let me treat you to some wine here, and we’ll have some music, sir.

  YUSOV. Treat me, treat me.

  BELOGUBOV. What would you like? Some champagne, sir?

  YUSOV. Let’s have that.

  BELOGUBOV. The Rhine brand, sir? Gentlemen, be seated.

  Everyone sits down but Belogubov.

  Vasily! Bring some Rhine champagne, bottled abroad.

  Vasily leaves.

  Oh brother, hello there! Wouldn’t you like to join us? (He comes up to Zhadov.)

  ZHADOV. No, thank you. I don’t drink.

  BELOGUBOV But really, come now, brother! Do it for me!… One little glass… we’re relatives now!

  Vasily brings the wine. Belogubov goes back to his own table.

  Pour it.

  Vasily pours.

  YUSOV. So, friend, to your health! (He takes a glass and stands up.)

  THE TWO OFFICIALS. To your health, sir. (They take glasses and stand up.)

  YUSOV (pointing to Belogubov’s head). In this brow, in this mind I have always seen something worthwhile.

  They clink glasses.

  Let’s kiss.

  They kiss each other.

  BELOGUBOV. No, you must let me kiss your hand, sir.

  YUSOV (hides his hands). That’s not necessary, not necessary. (He sits down.)

  BELOGUBOV. It was through you, sir, that I became somebody.

  THE TWO OFFICIALS. Sir, allow us. (They clink glasses with Belogubov, drink, and sit down.)

  BELOGUBOV (pours out a glass and hands it on a tray to Zhadov). Brother, do us a favor.

  ZHADOV. I told you I don’t drink.

  BELOGUBOV. You mustn’t be like that, brother; you’ll hurt our feelings.

  ZHADOV. I’m getting tired of this.

  BELOGUBOV. If you don’t like champagne, is there something you would like? Whatever you want, brother, it’s my pleasure.

  ZHADOV. I don’t want a thing. Leave me alone! (He reads.)

  BELOGUBOV. Very well, as you wish. I don’t know why you want to hurt our feelings, brother. I meant it all for the best…(He goes back to his table.)

  YUSOV (quietly). Let him be.

  BELOGUBOV (sits down). Gentlemen, another glass each! (He pours.) Wouldn’t you like a fancy cake? Vasily, bring a large fancy cake.

  Vasily leaves.

  YUSOV. You’re really letting loose! You were smart and caught somebody. Am I right?

  BELOGUBOV (pointing to his pocket). Right! And who is it I owe it to? All to you.

  YUSOV. You caught him pretty good, eh?

  BELOGUBOV (takes out a packet of paper money). There it is, sir.

  YUSOV. I know you. You wouldn’t be making a false move.

  BELOGUBOV (puts the money away). No, really. Who am I in debt to? Would I really have understood things without you? Who made me somebody, who made me begin to live, if not you? I was brought up under your wing! Anyone else wouldn’t have learned all that in ten years, all those fine touches and moves you taught me in four. I made you my example in everything, for
what could I have done with my mind! Anyone else’s own father wouldn’t do for his son what you did for me. (He wipes his eyes.)

  YUSOV. You have a noble soul. You can feel. But there are some who can’t.

  Vasily brings the fancy cake.

  BELOGUBOV. What would I have been? An idiot, sir! But now I’m a member of society, everyone respects me. I go through the market section, and all the merchants bow to me; they invite me to their homes, want me to sit in the place of honor. My wife loves me. Why else would she want to love a fool like me? Vasily! Don’t you have any expensive candy?

  VASILY. We can get it, sir.

  BELOGUBOV (to Yusov). It’s for my wife, sir. (To Vasily.) Look, wrap a lot of it up in paper. You can charge what you want, I won’t mind.

  Vasily starts to go.

  Wait! And put in all kinds of fancy cake.

  YUSOV. She has enough; you’ll spoil her.

  BELOGUBOV. That’s impossible, sir. (To Vasily.) Put in some of everything, do you hear?

  VASILY. Yes, sir. (He leaves.)

  BELOGUBOV. I love her, I love my wife very much, sir. If I give her a treat, then she’ll love me more, Akim Akimych. What am I compared to her, sir? She’s educated, sir… I just bought a dress for her, sir… that is, I didn’t buy it, I just took it. I’ll settle with him later.

  YUSOV. It doesn’t matter. Why pay money? Maybe some sort of business deal will turn up, and then you and he are quits. A mountain doesn’t get together with a mountain, but a man can get together with a man.

  Vasily brings the candy wrapped in paper.

  BELOGUBOV. Put it in my hat. Another glass each, sir. (He pours.) Vasily! Another bottle.

  YUSOV. We’ve had enough.

  BELOGUBOV. No, allow me, sir. Here you’re not in charge, I am.

  Vasily leaves.

  FIRST OFFICIAL. Let me tell you something that happened! One of our good- for-nothing clerks really pulled a fast one! He made a false copy of a decision (what an idea!), forged the signatures, and then took it to a plaintiff. It was an interesting case, there was money in it. Only the sly dog didn’t let go of that copy; he just showed it. Anyway, he made a lot of money out of it. Later the plaintiff showed up in court, but the case didn’t turn out at all the way he expected.

  BELOGUBOV. How disgusting! For that he ought to be fired.

  YUSOV. Fired is right. Don’t stain the reputation of officials. If you take some-thing, do it for something real, not a swindle. Take so the man making a request won’t be hurt and you’ll be satisfied. Live within the law; live so the wolves have their fill and the sheep stay safe. Why chase after something big! The hen pecks at the grain but is filled. What kind of a man is that! One of these days they’ll pack him off to the army.4