ANNA PAVLOVNA ( with difficulty ). I can’t. My legs have given way… ( Alexander enters. Balding thin, he walks calmly and evenly, without passion. Behind him, Evsei and Anna Pavlovna’s servants with the baggage. Anna Pavlovna gets up with difficulty and goes toward Alexander. )Sashenka! My dear!… ( Stops suddenly, looks at Alexander, as if at a stranger. )But where is Sashenka?
ALEXANDER. Why it’s me, Mama dear!
ANNA PAVLOVNA. Is it really you, my dear? No, this isn’t you… What’s the matter? Aren’t you well?
ALEXANDER. I’m fine, Mama.
ANNA PAVLOVNA (gradually coming to, manages to say ). Fine! But what has happened to you, my darling? Did I send you away like this? Where is your hair? It was like silk! Your eyes shone like two stars, your cheeks were blood-red and milk-white. You were just like a ripe apple! (She grasps her heart. )
ANTON IVANOVICH ( in her ear ). What’s this, dear lady, you’re wailing over him as if he were dead! Welcome, Alexander Fyodorovich! (They greet each other. )
ANNA PAVLOVNA ( coming to ). Come with me, your room is ready.
(Anton Ivanovich takes leave, bowing; exits. Anna Pavlovna and Alexander go upstairs. )
AGRAFENA ( to Evse i). Why don’t you speak? Such an idiot, doesn’t even greet me! (Evsei goes to Agrafena and embraces her. )See what the Devil’s brought home! So those Petersburg folk have turned your heads, your master’s and yours. What a little mustache you’ve grown!
(Evsei gives little presents to Agrafena. )
ANNA PAVLOVNA ( returning, to Evsei ). Whatever has happened to Sashenka, huh?
EVSEI ( remains silent ).
AGRAFENA. Why are you silent? Do you hear, the mistress is asking you!
EVSEI. I can’t tell you, Madam! That’s a question for the master! It must be from writing, Ma’am.
ANNA PAVLOVNA. Did he write a lot?
EVSEI. A lot, every day.
ANNA PAVLOVNA. And why didn’t you restrain him?
EVSEI. I did, Ma’am. “Don’t sit there, Alexander Fyodorovich,” I’d say ; “you’ll hurt your lungs; your mama,” I’d say, “will be angry.”
ANNA PAVLOVNA. And what did he say?
EVSEI. “Go away,” he’d say, “you’re a fool!”
AGRAFENA. And he’s right, a fool!
ANNA PAVLOVNA. But didn’t his uncle restrain him then?
EVSEI. Not he, Ma’am! He’d come, and if he found him idle, then he’d fall upon him. “What,” he’d say, “you’re not doing anything? Here,” he’d say, “you’re not in the country. You have to work!”
ANNA PAVLOVNA. A plague on him! Let him have some rascals of his own to rail at! Or let him yell at his wife, the wench! You see, he found someone to abuse with his “work! work!” A dog, he’s truly a dog, God forgive me!… Has Sashenka been this thin for long?
EVSEI. It’s been three years now since Alexander Fyodorovich began to feel quite down and didn’t eat much.
ANNA PAVLOVNA. Why was he so low?
EVSEI. God knows, Ma’am. Pyotr Ivanovich deigned to say something to him about that. I would have listened, but it was beyond me, I made no sense of it.
ANNA PAVLOVNA. But what did he say?
EVSEI. He called him something, but I’ve forgotten what.
ANNA PAVLOVNA. Well?
AGRAFENA. So, simpleton, say something, the mistress is waiting.
EVSEI ( with difficulty ). Dis… I think, disill… disillu… sioned…
ANNA PAVLOVNA. What’s that?
EVSEI. Disill… disillusioned, that’s it! I remembered!
ANNA PAVLOVNA. What kind of calamity is that now? Heavens! Is it a sickness perhaps?
AGRAFENA. Oh dear, it doesn’t mean depraved, maybe, Ma’am?
(Alexander enters. )
ANNA PAVLOVNA ( to the servants ). Go away!… Sit down, Sashenka, and eat! (Both sit down at the table. )My dear, if you’d only smile just once… Like a dark cloud, you only look at the ground. Has someone offended you? I shall find out!
ALEXANDER ( simply ). Don’t worry, Mama… I’ve grown up, become more reasonable, and for that reason, more thoughtful.
ANNA PAVLOVNA. But why thin? And where’s your hair?
ALEXANDER. I can’t say why… You can’t tell all that’s happened in eight years… Perhaps my health has suffered a little…
ANNA PAVLOVNA. What pains you?
ALEXANDER ( pointing to his head and heart ). I have pains both here and there.
ANNA PAVLOVNA ( feels Alexander’s forehead ). You don’t have any fever… Does your head throb?
ALEXANDER. No… Yes…
ANNA PAVLOVNA. Shall I send for the doctor?
ALEXANDER. No, Mama, he won’t help me. It will go away by itself.
ANNA PAVLOVNA. But why are you so tired of life? What is this misfortune?
ALEXANDER. It’s just that way…
ANNA PAVLOVNA. What do you want?
ALEXANDER. I don’t know myself. I’m just bored.
ANNA PAVLOVNA. Heavens, how very strange! Sashenka! (In a low voice. )Isn’t it time you got married?
ALEXANDER. What an idea! No, I’m not getting married.
ANNA PAVLOVNA. But I have a girl in mind–pretty as a doll; a pink, tender little thing, so thin you can almost see through her.
ALEXANDER. I’m not getting married.
ANNA PAVLOVNA. What, never?
ALEXANDER. Never.
ANNA PAVLOVNA. Heaven have mercy! We’re all human… you’ll fall in love with her…
ALEXANDER. I’ve already fallen out of love, Mama.
ANNA PAVLOVNA. How could you fall out of love? Without marrying? Whom did you love there?
ALEXANDER. A girl.
ANNA PAVLOVNA. Why didn’t you marry her?
ALEXANDER. She betrayed me.
ANNA PAVLOVNA. How could she betray you? You weren’t married to her yet? Fine girls you have there–they love before marriage! She betrayed you! What a loathsome creature! Happiness itself was within her grasp and she didn’t know how to appreciate it, the good-for-nothing! If I’d seen her, I’d have spit in her face… But what of it, is she the only girl in the world? You’ll fall in love again.
ALEXANDER. I did love another time.
ANNA PAVLOVNA. Whom?
ALEXANDER. A widow.
ANNA PAVLOVNA. Well, and why didn’t you marry her?
ALEXANDER. I betrayed her.
ANNA PAVLOVNA. You betrayed!… Obviously some kind of loose woman! A real pitfall there, God forgive me. What does go on in this world as soon as you look closely! (In a sudden gesture she presses her hand to her heart again. )
ALEXANDER. Don’t get excited, Mama! It’s quiet for me here, it’s fine… Now I’m with you for good…
(Anna Pavlovna straightens herself up at the table. Tears run down her face. Alexander sits motionless. )
SCENE 18
A spotlight pulls Alexander out of the darkness of his attic room, as he sits at his desk, feverishly writing.
ALEXANDER. “Dear Aunt, As you took leave of me, you promised me your friendship and sympathy if ever I needed them. The moment has come when I appreciate the full value of your words. Indeed, I reached it long ago! How much time has passed! An eternity! Mama died three months ago. I am now running away from here for good!” ( He stops writing and thinks aloud. )What am I doing here? What am I languishing here for? Why am I wasting my talents? How is Uncle better than I? How are others better than I? They all set forth into the world… while I… I shall come back to you not as an oddball, a romantic dreamer, or a disillusioned man, but just a person like so many in Petersburg, such as I should have been long ago… You’ll see what I’m capable of! (He takes another sheet of paper and again writes feverishly. )“Dear, kindest Uncle, and along with that, Your Excellency! I dare to remind you of the promise you gave me upon my departure. You said if I should need work, or need an occupation or money, to turn to you. And here I am needing work and an occupation, and maybe I’ll need money too.”
( Stops writing and thinks aloud. )Leave here, leave! My best years are passing; I’ve accomplished nothing… “Uncle, I’ve understood how right you were in what you said. I’ve understood you, your soul, or, better still, your mind, because the soul–in actuality is nothing!”
SCENE 19
Room in Pyotr Ivanovich’s apartment. A certain disorder. Pyotr Ivanovich has grown older and lost his former self-assurance. A physician is with him.
PYOTR IVANOVICH. What am I to do, Doctor? Her health grows worse every day…
DOCTOR. It does indeed grow worse! I only wanted to say that she … is in a not quite normal situation…
PYOTR IVANOVICH. Isn’t it all the same? I don’t understand why I didn’t notice earlier! My government position and my business rob me of time and my health… and look, now, indeed, that of my wife too! Did you question her today?
DOCTOR. Yes, but she doesn’t notice anything wrong… Perhaps there’s a psychological cause.…
PYOTR IVANOVICH. “Psychological cause”?
DOCTOR. That is, do you see why I say “psychological.” A person who didn’t know you could suspect some kind of worries in this case.… or suppressed desires… or sometime’s it’s a case of need…
PYOTR IVANOVICH ( interrupting ). “Need,” “desires”! Her every wish is anticipated. I know her taste, her habits… How cunning fate is, Doctor! Haven’t I been careful with her? I’ve weighed, it seems, every step… No, somewhere something went wrong. And when? At the height of success, of such a career… Alas!
DOCTOR. Why are you getting so excited? Anemia, a certain decline in strength… Go south this summer, to Italy in the fall, and next winter to Paris…
PYOTR IVANOVICH ( hearing steps ). Sh-sh… ( Elizaveta Alexandrovna enters. )Goodbye, Doctor! (Doctor, bowing takes leave of Elizaveta Alexandrovna and Pyotr Ivanovich. )What are you doing?
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA ( carrying the account books ). Why, I’m going through our expense book. Imagine, Pyotr Ivanovich, last month around fifteen hundred rubles went for food alone. That’s unheard of!
PYOTR IVANOVICH. Listen, the doctor says that my illness may get worse here. He advises taking the waters abroad. What do you say?
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. What should I say? We must go if he so advises.
PYOTR IVANOVICH. But you? Would you want to take this trip?
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. If you want to…
PYOTR IVANOVICH. But perhaps you’d rather stay here?
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. Good, I’ll stay.
PYOTR IVANOVICH. Which of the two do you mean?
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. If you say so, I’ll go; if not, I’ll stay here…
PYOTR IVANOVICH. The doctor says that your health too has somewhat suffered… from the climate.
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. Where did he get that idea? I’m healthy; I don’t feel anything wrong.
PYOTR IVANOVICH. Or should we both go to the Crimea for the summer?
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. The Crimea would be fine too.
PYOTR IVANOVICH. Is it all the same to you wherever you are?
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. All the same.
PYOTR IVANOVICH. Why?
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. It’s up to you, Pyotr Ivanovich; we must cut expenses… Fifteen hundred rubles for food alone…
PYOTR IVANOVICH ( snatches the account book out of her hands and throws it under the table ). Why are you so preoccupied with this? Or do you begrudge the money?
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. How can I not be preoccupied? After all, I’m your wife. You yourself taught me… and now you reproach me for my concern. I’m doing my work!
PYOTR IVANOVICH ( after a pause ). Listen, Liza… I leave you complete freedom…
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. What shall I do with it? I don’t need freedom…
PYOTR IVANOVICH. For a long time I haven’t heard any request from you, any wish, any capricious fancy.
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. I don’t need anything.
PYOTR IVANOVICH. You have no special… hidden wishes?
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. Give me your bills, books, business deals… I’ll work on them… ( Reaches for the account book under the table. )
PYOTR IVANOVICH. Liza!… ( The book remains under the table. )But I was thinking, shouldn’t you renew some of your acquaintances?
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. For Heaven’s sake, please, no!
PYOTR IVANOVICH. Why not, Liza, it’s… ( Elizaveta Alexandrovna doesn’t answer. )You know, I’m considered the most active official in the ministry. This year I shall be nominated a Privy Councillor, and, of course, I’ll get it. Don’t think my career will stop there. I can go still further…
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. I’m completely convinced you won’t stop halfway, but will go to the end of the road…
PYOTR IVANOVICH. No, I shan’t go on. In a day or so I shall hand in my resignation.
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. Resignation? Why?
PYOTR IVANOVICH. Hear me out. You know that I bought out my partner, and the factory belongs to me alone.
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. I know. So what about it?
PYOTR IVANOVICH. I shall sell it.
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. What do you mean, Pyotr Ivanovich! What’s the matter with you? What’s all this for? I’m confused, I can’t understand…
PYOTR IVANOVICH. You really can’t understand?
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. No!
PYOTR IVANOVICH. You can’t understand that seeing how bored you are, how your health suffers… from the climate, I would place less value on my career and the factory and would take you away from here, devote the rest of my life to you?… ( He kneels beside Elizaveta Alexandrovna’s chair. )Liza! Did you really think me incapable of sacrifice?
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. So this is for me! No, Pyotr Ivanovich, for Heaven’s sake, no sacrifice for me! I shan’t accept it, do you hear? I absolutely won’t!
PYOTR IVANOVICH. My intentions are immutable, Liza!
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA ( with a cry of sorrow ). If a person doesn’t want to, he doesn’t have to live… Will God not pity me and take me?
PYOTR IVANOVICH. We’ll go to Italy.
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. But perhaps the sacrifice is useless, perhaps it’s… too late…
PYOTR IVANOVICH. Spare me, Liza, don’t think ahead that far. Otherwise you’ll see that I’m not made of iron… I tell you again that I want to live not by reason alone! Not everything in me is frozen yet.
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. And that is… sincere? You truly are going away not just for me?
PYOTR IVANOVICH. No, no! I’m not well, I’m tired of everything… Liza! It even seems to me that Alexander was right about some things long ago! (He kisses her hand with warmth. )
(Steps are heard. Pyotr Ivanovich gets up from his knees. Alexander enters. He has put on weight, become bald and ruddy. He has a little belly and an award ribbon around his neck. His eyes sparkle with joy. He kisses his aunt’s hand and squeezes his uncle’s. )
PYOTR IVANOVICH. Where have you come from?
ALEXANDER. I’ll bet you can’t guess!
PYOTR IVANOVICH. A while ago I’d have said you’re in love…
ALEXANDER. You haven’t guessed.
PYOTR IVANOVICH. It’s not… are you getting married?
ALEXANDER. Yes! Congratulate me.
In unison: PYOTR IVANOVICH. Really?
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. Who is she?
ALEXANDER. To Alexander Stepanych’s daughter. What do you say? I’ve just come from them. Her father embraced me and said that now he could die in peace. “Just follow in the footsteps of your uncle,” he said.
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. And what did the daughter say?
ALEXANDER. Why… she… like, you know, all young girls, didn’t say anything, only blushed.
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. She didn’t say anything! Did you really not take the trouble to find out anything from her before you made the proposal! Don’t you care? Why are you getting ma
rried?
ALEXANDER. What do you mean why? Am I always to be on the loose like this? I’m tired of living alone. The time has come, dear Aunt, to settle down, put down roots, set up one’s own household, fulfill one’s duty… The bride is pretty, rich… Uncle here will give you reasons to get married…
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. But if she doesn’t like you? Perhaps she can’t love you?
ALEXANDER ( not listening ). Love is one thing and marriage another. These two things don’t always go together, and it’s better when they don’t… Isn’t that so, Uncle? At least you taught me so…
PYOTR IVANOVICH. You see, Alexander, Elizaveta Alexandrovna and I…
ALEXANDER. And remember how I wanted to marry that… What was her name?…. (Chuckles. )I’ve forgotten!
ELIZAVETA ALEXANDROVNA. Nadenka!
ALEXANDER ( goes on laughing ). Yes, yes! That’s it! Youth! Uncle, if you’d like, I’ll show you I’m not the only one who once love, raged, was jealous, wept…
PYOTR IVANOVICH. What’s this?
ALEXANDER. A written document exists… ( Takes out a folder and pulls out of it a yellowed little sheet of paper. )Here, dear Aunt, is proof that Uncle was not always such a reasonable and pragmatic person… My dying auntie took this dried-out scrap of paper from her dried-out breast to give to me as she lay dying. For a long time I’ve been waiting for an occasion to expose Uncle, but would keep forgetting.
PYOTR IVANOVICH. Give it here, Alexander!
ALEXANDER. Why here, take a look. (He holds the paper before his uncle’s eyes. )
PYOTR IVANOVICH ( trying to seize it ). Give it to me…
ALEXANDER. Aha! You’re blushing! No, Uncle, not until you confess here in Aunt’s presence that you once loved like me and were, pardon me, “stupid” like everyone.… ( Unfolds the yellowed sheet. )Listen, Aunt, and laugh with me at Pyotr Ivanovich. (Reads. )“My adored angel…”
PYOTR IVANOVICH ( shouts ). Stop!
ALEXANDER ( puzzled ). What’s the matter! If you insist… ( Tears up the letter. )I wanted to make Aunt laugh and to say that I’m not the only one…
PYOTR IVANOVICH ( going up close to Alexander, in a low voice ). Can’t you see what condition my wife is in?
ALEXANDER. What condition?
PYOTR IVANOVICH. Nothing you can see on the surface now. But enough that I’m quitting government service, my business, and going with her to Italy…
An Ordinary Story Page 46
