VOICE BEHIND THE DOOR. You gone crazy or what? Ten rubles! You’re a mad dog! Taking advantage of folks in trouble!
TIKHON. You know best . . . Take it or leave it . . .
VOICE BEHIND THE DOOR. Well, all right, hold on . . .
Pause.
The lady said: Go ahead.
TIKHON. A very warm welcome to you! (Opens the door and lets the COACHMAN in.)
SCENE I V
The same and the COACHMAN.
COACHMAN. Evening, good Christians! Well, let’s have the bit o’ rope! Hurry up! Boys, who’s gonna lend a hand? There’s a tip in it!
TIKHON. Never mind about tips . . . Let ‘em snooze, the two of us can handle it.
COACHMAN. Oof, I’m all done in! Cold, mud, wet to the bone . . . One more thing, friend . . . You got a little room here, so’s the lady can warm up? The carriage is broke down on one side, no way she can go on sitting in it . . .
TIKHON. Now she wants a room too? Let her warm up in here, if she’s froze . . . We’ll make some space. (Walks over to Bortsov and clears off a place beside him.) Get up, you lot, get up! You can spawl on the floor for an hour, whiles a lady gets warm. (To Bortsov.) Get up, your honor! Have a seat! (BORTSOV raises himself a bit.) Here’s a spot for you.
The COACHMAN exits.
FEDYA. So now we got visitors, dern her hide! Now we won’t get to sleep till it’s light!
TIKHON. Sorry I didn’t ask for fifteen rubles . . . She’d have give it . . . (Stands in front of the door expectantly.) You mind yer manners, you lot . . . None of yer backtalk . . .
Enter MARIYA YEGOROVNA followed by the COACHMAN.
SCENE V
The same and MARIYA YEGOROVNA.
TIKHON (bowing). A very warm welcome to you, your ladyship! Ours is just a humble peasant hut, a hangout for spiders. But there’s no call to be finicky!
MARIYA YEGOROVNA. I can’t see a thing here . . . Where am I to go?
TIKHON. This way, your ladyship! (Leads her to a place nearby Bortsov.) This way, if you’ll be so kind! (Blows on the place.) A separate room I ain’t got, sorry, but don’t you fret, ma’am: the folks here is nice and quiet . . .
MARIYA YEGOROVNA (sits next to Bortsov). How dreadfully close it is in here! At least open the door a bit!
TIKHON. Right away, ma’am! (Runs and opens the door to the outside.)
MERIK. Folks is freezin’, but they got to keep the door wide open! (Gets up and slams the door shut.) Who’s she to give orders ‘round here? (Lies down. )
TIKHON. Sorry, your ladyship, we got this here idjit . . . a kind of halfwit . . . But don’t you be skeered, he’s harmless . . . Only, excuse me, ma’am, I can’t fix it for ten rubles . . . Fifteen rubles, if you like . . .
MARIYA YEGOROVNA. Very well, only be quick about it!
TIKHON. Right this minute . . . We’ll just be a second . . . (Fishes out a rope from under the bar.) Right this minute . . .
Pause.
BORTSOV (takes a look at Mariya Yegorovna). Marie . . . Masha . . .
MARIYA YEGOROVNA (staring at Bortsov). What now?
BORTSOV. Marie . . . Is that you? Where did you come from?
MARIYA YEGOROVNA, recognizing Bortsov, cries out and leaps to the middle of the tavern.
(Goes to her.) Marie, it is I . . . I! (Roars with laughter.) My wife! Marie! Where in the world am I? People, let’s have lights!
MARIYA YEGOROVNA. Get away from me! You’re lying, it isn’t you! Impossible! (Hides her face in her hands.) It’s a lie, nonsense!
BORTSOV. That voice, those gestures . . . Marie, it is I! Wait a minute and I’ll stop . . . being drunk . . . My head’s spinning . . . My God! Hold on, hold on . . . I can’t figure it out. (Shouts.) My wife! (Falls at her feet and sobs.)
A group forms around the couple.
MARIYA YEGOROVNA. Will you get away from me! (To the Coachman.) Denis, let’s go! I cannot stay here another minute!
MERIK (jumps up and stares fixedly in her face). The pitcher! (Seizes her by the arm.) It’s her her own self! Hey, folks! It’s the gent’s wife!
MARIYA YEGOROVNA. Get away from me, you clodhopper! (Tries to tear her arm away from him.) Denis, what are staring at? (DENIS and TIKHON run over to her and grab Merik by the arms.) This is a den of thieves! Let go of my arm! I’m not afraid of you! . . . Get away!
MERIK. Take it easy, I’ll let you go right now . . . Just let me speak my piece to you . . . Speak my piece so’s you understand . . . Take it easy . . . (Turns to Tikhon and Denis.) Git off me, you lugs, let go o’ me! I ain’t letting her go till I speak my piece! Take it easy . . . right now. (Beats his fists against his forehead.) No, God ain’t give me the brains! I can’t come up with the right words!
MARIYA YEGOROVNA (tears away her arm). Go away, you! You’re all drunk . . . Let’s go, Denis! (About to walk to the door.)
MERIK (stands in her way). Hey, you should at least take a look at him! You should at least treat him to one kind word. For Christ’s sake!
MARIYA YEGOROVNA. Get this . . . halfwit . . . away from me.
MERIK. Then the hell with you, you goddam bitch! (Swings his axe.)
Terrible commotion. Everyone leaps up noisily and shouts in horror. SAVVA stands between Merik and Mariya Yegorovna . . . DENIS forcefully shoves Merik aside and carries his mistress out of the tavern. After this everyone stands around like blocks of wood. Prolonged pause.
BORTSOV (grasps at the air with his hands). Marie . . . Where are you, Marie!
NAZAROVNA. My God, my God . . .You’ve tore my heart to shreds, you murderers! There’s a curse on this night!
MERIK (dropping the arm holding the axe). Did I kill her or not? . . .
TIKHON. Thanks be to God, you saved your neck . . .
MERIK. I didn’t kill ‘er, I guess . . . (Staggering, he goes to his bedding.) Fate didn’t want me to die over a stolen axe . . . (Falls on the bedding and sobs.) My heart is breaking! My wretched heart is breaking! Take pity on me, good Christians!
Curtain
NOTES
1 Capital of the Vologda Guberniya in northern Russia, noted for its cathedral and cluster of ancient buildings.
2 St. Tikhon of Zadonsk (1724–1783), a famous Russian monk, preacher, and devotional author, gave his name to a monastery in the northern Voronezh province. The Holy Mountains are a monastery in Kharkov in the Ukraine.