Read online Ostrovsky's lucrative place. Education portal. An excerpt characterizing a profitable place
It remains for us to give an account of the last of Ostrovsky's great works, of his comedy "Plum". <...>What to say about this mysterious, wonderful, unfinished and discordant work - the only discordant work between all the works of Ostrovsky.<...>If the comedy "Lucrative Place" seemed to us a work full of some sharp and easily noticed shortcomings, we would point out these sins without any difficulty - but the trouble is that the said comedy, with its shortcomings and merits, is not easily amenable to critical analysis.
It is a chaos of strange colors, brilliant undertakings, dramatic ideas, the most impeccable, and didactic tirades, the most inexplicable. All the faces are new and remarkable in design, but only one of them (Yusov) has been processed in accordance with the design. The rest, with the exception of one or two of the most minor ones, seem to have been spoiled on purpose. In insignificant details of the action, we see the usual, amazing language of Ostrovsky, in most of the main action of the comedy - an unprecedented business! - the language is bookish. Zhadov, captivating us with the drama of his production, sometimes speaks tirades as if taken from a magazine of the forties; Vyshnevsky is a Moscow dignitary and a bribe-taker, a person who is almost equal to Famusov in the author's plan, then he expresses his own vices, like a classic villain, then he speaks as an allegorical personification of a whole vicious class of people. The other faces are half trimmed, half spoiled by incomprehensible arbitrariness. So, the widow Kukushkina, directly taken from nature, in a monotonous tone of speeches only does what she tries to betray the nasty side of her personality, as if she was already as clear as possible. To top it all off, the very end of the play, sharply whimsical, nevertheless leaves the intrigue unfinished and the focus of light, brightly thrown by the author in this part of the work, as if intensifies the darkness that is poured everywhere.
Where exactly, in order to complete the comparison we have begun, is that corner of the picture, which is striking in its execution, where is that amazing detail, because of which the strongest artists should respectfully stop before the comedy "Profitable Place"?<...> it is not the small detail of the picture, executed artistically, that amazes us, but the whole large scene, which is finishedly outstanding in front of everything that is in the comedy of the unsuccessful exclusion of the first and last phenomena. Zhadov, the hero of the comedy, married for love and already drunk to the bottom of the cup of hardship, disaster and fruitless struggle, which cannot be avoided by any honest young man in his position. He works tirelessly and barely earns his daily bread, he passionately loves his wife, and his wife foolishly complains about his official disinterestedness; he is imbued with noble convictions, and these convictions only harm him in the eyes of his family and comrades. In a bitter moment of thought, he enters a tavern, where before that his relative Belogubov had a merry dinner with his boss Yusov and other officials of his own analysis. These people look at Zhadov without malice. Belogubov even asks for being ashamed of a gloomy guest; the officials are having fun and talking to each other to their liking. Zhadov silently listens to their conversation. There is nothing vividly immoral in their speeches. They are even kind and amiable in their own way, they are completely serene in spirit, they do not have the slightest doubt about the purity of their moral code, they are even right in their own way, clean before society in their own way. What a contrast to the gloomy meditation of an honest worker! Before him, Belogubov affectionately recalls his family happiness, with sincere tears thanks Yusov for his guidance and patronage. The officials cheered up and begged Yusov to dance to the music of the tavern organ, the old man agrees without breaking down and doing nothing indecent; he dances with all his heart, and his friends are in complete admiration. Perhaps Zhadov smiled at this, but even here Yusov did not get very angry. “I can dance,” says the old official, in all the clarity of his spirit, “I can dance. I have done everything in my life that is prescribed for a person. My soul is calm, the burden does not pull from behind, I have provided for my family; I can now dance. now I only rejoice in God's peace. I will see a bird, and I rejoice in that, I will see a flower, and I rejoice in it: I see wisdom in everything. Remembering my poverty, I don’t forget the poor brethren. I don’t condemn others, like some milk-suckers from scientists. Whom we can We do not know what else we will ourselves ... Now you laughed today that I danced, and tomorrow, perhaps, you will dance worse than me. What brings! Pride, pride! I am not afraid of anyone! At least in the square in front of all the people I will dance. Those passing by will say: "This man is dancing, he must have a pure soul! "- and everyone will go about their business!"
This speech evokes a loud, unprepared "hurray!" from Belogubov and other officials.
Is it necessary to clarify the power and deep meaning of the scene we have conveyed, whether it is necessary to indicate its importance among all the provisions of the comedy, whether it is necessary to interpret the meaning of this unshakable self-confident gaiety of immoral members of society in front of its only honest spectator, a spectator poor in pocket, suspected of service bitter for family life and already deeply shaken in the depths of his consciousness? It is impossible to depict such a contrast from one head, no matter how smart it is, the power of a true, direct artist is at work here, although, apparently, the dance to the car and the tirade of the old bribe-taker are objects that do not speak with inspiration. This is the result of a truly dramatic vocation in a writer. Yusov's scene, obviously, poured out on its own, without preparation, without witty considerations, and, pouring out, suppressed the whole comedy with its merits and sins, with everything that should not even be suppressed in it. The scene broadcast now marks one of the highest points to which Ostrovsky's talent has ever risen. It is less poetic than, for example, the fifth act of "The Poor Bride", it will shock you less than the disaster of the comedy "Our people - we will be numbered", but it has its own special power in front of them, a special depth of worldly wisdom that can surprise anyone, how much any developed connoisseur.
Our article has long gone beyond the bounds of an ordinary journal review, and we have not yet had time to say a word about the dramatic scenes and individual dramatic sketches of Mr. Ostrovsky, which, both in dignity and in their diversity, alone can serve as a pretext for an article of very serious content. Only now, having re-read these small works, one after another in a general connection and in a general collection, do you appreciate them with dignity and rejoice that the scattered works of our author have finally been collected and published in a dignified manner. The fact that among the things we are analyzing there is not a single one that does not deserve attention in any respect, that almost all of them are distinguished by first-class beauties, of course, every lover of literature knows, but not all readers and even far from all connoisseurs have given complete justice of the endless versatility of the sketches sketched by the hand of Mr. Ostrovsky. What an amazing language they are written in!<...>How many faces, living, true, very often typical, in the highest sense of this expression, rise before us, as soon as we want to recall these dramatic sketches one after another. Some of the faces we imagine are suitable for the most extensive and correct comedy - you cannot add a single additional feature, not a single extra touch to them. Such are Puzatov and Shiryalov in "A Family Picture", old Bruskov in the scenes "A Hangover in Another's Feast", incomparable Serafima Karpovna in the play "They Did Not Get Together", Nadya and Vasilisa Peregrinovna in "Foster-child".
How many other persons, outlined and outlined in such a way that they can be developed at the discretion of the author, raised to types, made the protagonists of new, harmonious works! Let us recall Paul Prezhnev and Misha Balzaminov, whose life, of course, is not exhausted all by an unsuccessful marriage or expulsion from the house of a rich bride, let us name Andrei Titich Bruskov, who barely flickered in front of us, but has all the guarantees of wonderful positions in the future. But how to list the entire collection of secondary, secondary persons, persons who barely utter a few phrases, persons who do not have an important influence on the course of action and, with all that, new, truthful, true to reality, smart and stupid, serious and funny. Practical and lively in the language of Matryona, the stuffed fool Nichkina, so suffering from the hot weather ("Festive sleep before dinner"), the merchant son of Kapitosha, reciting in a theatrical manner, smoking makhorka and having a bass, such that "as if someone fired from a cannon" ("There is a hangover in someone else's feast"), thoughtful coachmen talking about military subjects, sentimental m-me Prezhneva and talkative Ulita Savishna ("We did not agree with the characters"), the politician Potapych and the clerk Neglintov ("Pupil") - all these persons barely make up half of what should be seen. In the scenes we are analyzing, in all without exception, life itself is in full swing and every minute speaks to us of diverse sides, very often important and sad, even more often funny and funny.
/ Alexander Vasilievich Druzhinin (1824-1864).
Works by A. Ostrovsky. Two volumes (SPb., 1859) /
The action of the comedy takes place in Moscow, in the first years of the reign of Alexander II. An old important official Aristarkh Vladi-mirovich Vyshnevsky, who goes out into a large "richly furnished room" with his young wife Anna Pavlovna (both in the morning negligee) from her rooms, rebukes her in the cold -nost, complains that nothing can overcome her equal-mindedness. Vyshnevsky leaves for the office, and Vyshnevsky boy brings a letter, which turns out to be a love message from a dumb man who has a beautiful wife. The indignant Vyshnevskaya gathers together with her acquaintances to laugh at the disagreeable admirer and leaves.
An old experienced official Yusov, an employee in his department, who came to Vyshnevsky with business, appears and goes into his office. Belo-lipov, Yusov's young subordinate, enters. Visibly self-important, he leaves the boss Yusov and orders Belo-gubov to re-write the paper cleaner, informing him that Vyshnevsky himself chose him in the census, satisfied with his handwriting. This delights Belo-gu-bov. He only complains that he is not strong in literacy and for this Zhadov, Vyshnevsky's nephew, who lives in his house with everything ready and also serves under Yusov's command, laughs at him. Belo-gubov asks for a place as a table-chel-nik, which will be for him "for the rest of his life," and explains the request with a desire to marry. Yusov graciously promises and also informs that Vyshnevsky, dissatisfied with his nephew, intends to offer him to leave the house and try to live independently for ten - ruble sting-vanier. Zhadov appears to talk to his uncle, but he has to wait in society for Belo-gu-bov and Yusov, who grumbles at him and reproaches him with excessive ambitions and unwillingness to do black office work. Appearing to his aunt, with whom he is friends, Zhadov informs that he decided to marry a poor girl and live with her by his own labor. Auntie expresses doubt that the young wife will want to live in poverty, but Zhadov thinks to raise her in his own way, assures that, no matter how difficult it is for him, he will not yield even “a millionth share of those convictions that<...>obliged to education. " However, he says that he wants to ask his uncle for an increase in his sting. Vyshnevsky and Yusov, who appeared, began to scold Zhadov for inaccurate walking into office, for the "stupid speeches" he made in front of the exiles, laughing over him behind the eyes. Vyshnevsky sharply condemns the intention of a nephew who has no means to marry a lawless woman, they quarrel, and Vyshnevsky, declaring that he is terminating his kinship with Zhadov, leaves.
Vyshnevsky asks Yusov whom his nephew is going to marry, learns that one of the daughters is the heavenly widow of the official Kukush-kina. Vyshnevsky also instructs to warn the widow so that she does not ruin her daughter, does not give up "for this fool." Left alone, Yusov scolds the new times, when "the boys began to talk," and admires the "genius" and scope of Vyshnevsky. However, he expresses fear that he "is not entirely firm in the law, from another department."
The second action takes place in the heavenly living room in the house of the widow Kukushkin. Sisters Yulenka and Polina talk about their suitors. It turns out that Yulenka does not like Belo-Lubov ("terrible rubbish"), but she is glad-glad-honk at least marry him in order to get rid of her mother's grumbling and reproaches. Polina says that she is in love with Zhadov. Having appeared-la-yu-shchaya Kukush-kina begins to nag Julia for the fact that Belo-Gubov has not made an offer for a long time. It turns out that Belo-Lubov intends to marry as soon as he gets a place as a table-cheer. Kukush-kina is satisfied, but at the end of the conversation she says to her daughters: “Here is my advice to you: don’t give your husbands a hand, so remember them and sharpen them so that you can get money”.
Belo-Lubov and Yusov arrive. Kukush-kina, left alone with Yusov, asks for a place for Belo-gubov, he promises. Yusov warns Kukush-kin about the "unfavorable-reliability" and "free-thinking" of the groom Polina Zhadov. But Kukush-kina is sure that all the "vices" of Zhadov "from a cold life", if he marries, will change. When Zhadov appears, the elders leave the young people alone with the girls. Belo-lipov raves with Yulenka and promises that the wedding is not far off. From the conversation between Polina and Zhadov, it is clear that, unlike her sister, she sincerely loves Zhadov, honestly talks about her poverty, that at home they have "all deception." However, Zhadov asks if he has acquaintances of merchants who, according to Belo-gubov, will give them gifts. Zhadov explains that this will not happen and that he will reveal to her "the high bliss of living by her labor." Zhadov declares his love and asks Polina's hand from Kukush-kin.
The third action takes place in the truck-dash, about a year later. Zhadov and his university comrade Mykin enter, drink tea and ask each other about life. Mykin is a teacher, he lives, “in accordance with the means,” this is enough for the hollow. “Our brother is not going to marry,” he teaches Zhadova. Zhadov excuses himself by the fact that he fell in love with Polina very much and “married for love. He took a girl who was not twisted, brought up in public pre-judgments, "and the wife suffers from poverty," sulks a little, and sometimes cries. " Yusov, Belo-gubov and two young officials appear, who have come to go shopping on the occasion of a successful business, which brought "kush" to Belo-gu-bov, who treats the company. He kindly tries to invite "brother" Zhadov (now they are related by their wives), but he rather sharply refuses. Yusov formulates his own-different ethics of the bribe: "Live by the law, live so that the wolves are fed and the sheep are safe." Satisfied with his youth, Yusov starts dancing and makes a speech about his good deeds: the father of the family, the mentor of the youth, the blessing, don’t forget and the poor. Before leaving, Belo-Lubov offers money to Zhadov "in a relative way," but he indignantly refuses. Officials-nicknames leave. The solicitor Dosuzhev comes to Zhadov, ironically comments on the scene he saw. They are drinking. Remaining alone, the drunken Zhadov sings "Rays-Nushka", sexual excuses him with the words: "Charm, sir! Neho-rosho-s! No way, sir! "
The fourth action unfolds in Zhadov's "very poor room", where Polina sits alone by the window, complains of boredom and sings. A sister comes, tells how well her husband's business is, how Belo-Lubov pampers her, Yulia pities Polina, scolds Zhadov, indignant that he “doesn't know his current tone. He must know that man was created for society. " Yulia gives her sister a hat and tells her to tell Zhadov that his wife "will not love him for nothing." Leave alone, Polina admires her sister's mind, rejoices in her hat. Here comes Kukush-kina. She scolds Polina that she does not demand money from Zhadov, considers her daughter "shameless" because she has "all the tenderness in her mind", praises Yulia, discusses the dangers of clever people who ask what to take bribes are dishonorable. “What is the word bribe? Themselves invented him to offend good people. Not bribes, but gratitude! "
Zhadov appears, Kukush-kina begins to scold him, and Polina gives in to her. There is a quarrel, Zhadov asks his mother-in-law to leave. He sits down to work, but Polina, remembering the lessons of her relatives, starts nagging him for the lack of money for pleasures and outfits, repeating the words of Yulia. They quarrel and Polina leaves. Zhadov feels that he is unable to part with his wife, and sends a servant to catch up with Polina. Returning Polina demands that he go to his uncle to ask for a lucrative job. Zhadov surrenders, sobbing, he sings the song of the bribes from the comedy Kapnist "Yabeda". Frightened Polina is ready to back off, but Zhadov calls her to go to Vyshnevsky together.
The last action takes us back to Vyshnevsky's house. Vyshnevskaya alone reads a letter from her ridiculed admirer, who informs her that, in revenge for her act with him, he will send her husband Vyshnevskaya's letters to to the young house official Lyubimov. She is not even frightened, she is going to reproach her husband for buying her from her family and ruining her life. At this time, Yusov appears, muttering vague phrases about the vicissitudes of fate and the destructiveness of pride. Finally it turns out that Vyshnevsky "for omissions" and "discovered shortcomings of the sums" is being brought to justice, and the cautious Yusov says that he himself "is not subject to great responsibility. ”, Although under the current string-sts he will probably be dismissed. Vyshnevsky appears. Angrily repulsing his wife expressing compassion, he turns to Yusov: “Yusov! Why did I die? " “Vicissitude ... fate, sir,” he answers. "Nonsense! What is the fate? Strong enemies are the reason! " - objected Vyshnevsky. Then he gives Vyshnevskaya the letters sent to him to Lyubimov and calls her "a depraved woman." In an extensive monologue, Vyshnevskaya denies the accusations.
Here the Zhadovs appear. Reluctantly, Zhadov humbly asks for a lucrative job for his wife. The amazed Vyshnevsky displays a gloating delight at such a turn of events. He and Yusov mock Zhadov and see the essence of the new generation in his fall. Zhadov came to his senses, talks about his personal weakness and that there are honest people in any generation, promises that he will never leave the straight path, and, turning to his wife, he lets her free , if it is difficult for her to live in poverty, but Polina assures that she was not going to leave him, but only followed the advice of her relatives. The Zhadovs kiss and leave, Vyshnevskaya will help them wishing for happiness. Yusov runs in with the message that Vyshnevsky has a blow.
"Plum"- a play in five acts by Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky. Published in the magazine "Russian conversation", No. 1, 1856; in the same year it came out as a separate edition. However, she was not allowed to be staged in theaters. Only six years later - September 27, 1863 - was first staged in St. Petersburg, on the stage of the Alexandrinsky Theater, in the benefit performance of the artist Levkeeva; at the Moscow Maly Theater - October 14 of the same year, at the benefit performance of the artist Vasilyeva.
| Plum | |
|---|---|
| genre | Comedy |
| author | Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky |
| Original language | Russian |
| Date of writing | 1856 |
| Quotes on Wikiquote | |
History of creation
In the summer of 1856, Alexander Ostrovsky set off on a journey to the sources of the Volga. There was a road accident: the horses carried, the tarantass overturned. For several months he lay with complex fractures and wrote a play with a catchy and expressive title "Profitable Place".
Characters (edit)
Plot
In the center of the plot of the play is the young official Zhadov, ambitious, but adhering to idealistic views. He does not want to curry favor, please, take bribes, flatter, use protection. He is ready to live, albeit poor, but honestly. As the plot develops, Zhadov is subjected to more and more pressure from others, who believe that material well-being is more important than principles, Zhadov increasingly quarrels with his wife Polina over money. In the last act, the hero concedes to his wife and goes to ask for a lucrative job, but is mocked at the “weak generation” and, as a result, his adherence to principles will prevail. Zhadov says that in every generation there are honest people, and if his wife is burdened by poverty, then he lets her go. Polina assures that she was not going to leave him, but only followed the advice of her relatives. The Zhadovs say goodbye and leave.
Some famous productions
- The very first production - 1857 at the Kazan Theater (Miloslavsky's entreprise; Zhadov- Dudukin, Yusov- Vinogradov, Kukushkina- Strelkova 1st).
- October 14, 1863 - staged at the benefit performance of E. N. Vasilyeva at the Maly Theater. Director Bogdanov, Vyshnevsky- Dmitrevsky, Vyshnevskaya- Vasilyeva, Zhadov- Shumsky, Mykin- Kolosov, Yusov- P. Sadovsky, Belogubov- Stories, Kukushkina- Akimova, Yulinka- A. P. Savina, Pauline- Kolosov, Dosuzhev- V. Lensky) (1907; directed by N. Popov, Vyshnevsky- Aydarov, Vyshnevskaya- Yablochkina, Zhadov- Ostuzhev, Yusov- K. Rybakov, Belogubov- N. Yakovlev, Kukushkina- O. Sadovskaya, Dosuzhev- M. Sadovsky.
- Maly Theater (Nikolai Alexandrovich Annenkov played the roles of Zhadov and Belogubov).
- - Armenian Theater named after Sundukyan staged by Ruben Simonov (Vyshnevsky - Vartanyan, Kocharyan, Zhadov - G. Nersesyan, Yusov - Manvelyan, Belogubov - Vagharshyan, Kukushkin -
A. N. Ostrovsky
Plum
Comedy in five acts
Moscow, EKSMO Publishing House, 2004 OCR & spellcheck: Olga Amelina, November 2004
ACTION ONE
CHARACTERS
Aristarkh Vladimir Vyshnevsky, a decrepit old man with signs of gout. Anna Pavlovna, his wife, a young woman. Vasily Nikolaich Zhadov, a young man, his nephew. Akim Akimich Yusov, an old official, serving under the command of Vyshnevsky. Onisim Panfilich Belogubov, a young official subordinate to Yusov. Anton, a man in Vyshnevsky's house. Boy.
Large hall in Vyshnevsky's house, richly furnished. To the left is the door to Vyshnevsky’s office, to the right — to Anna Pavlovna’s rooms; on both sides on the walls on the mirror and tables under them; right outside the front door.
THE FIRST APPEARANCE
Vyshnevsky in a sweatshirt coat and without a wig and Vyshnevskaya in her morning dress. They leave the half of Vyshnevskaya.
Vyshnevsky... What ingratitude! What anger! (Sits down.) You have been married to me for five years, and at five years old I cannot earn your favor in any way. Weird! Maybe you are unhappy with something? Vyshnevskaya... Not at all. Vyshnevsky... I think. Was it not for you that I bought and decorated this house splendidly? Did I build a dacha for you last year? What is not enough for you? I think not a single merchant has as many diamonds as you do. Vyshnevskaya... Thank you. However, I did not demand anything from you. Vyshnevsky... You didn't demand; but I had to reward you with something for the difference in years. I thought to find in you a woman capable of appreciating the sacrifices I have made to you. I am not a magician, I cannot build marble chambers with one gesture. You need money for silk, gold, sable, velvet, in which you are wrapped from head to toe. You need to get them. And they are not always easy to get. Vyshnevskaya... I do not need anything. I have already told you about this more than once. Vyshnevsky... But I need to finally win your heart. Your coldness drives me crazy. I am a passionate person: out of love for a woman I am capable of anything! I bought you this one near Moscow. Do you know that the money with which I bought it ... how can I tell you that? .. well, in a word, I risked more than prudence allowed. I can be held accountable. Vyshnevskaya... For God's sake, do not make me a participant in your actions if they are not entirely honest. Don't justify them by loving me. I ask you. This is unbearable for me. However, I do not believe you. Until you knew me, you lived and acted the same way. I don't even want to answer for your behavior before my conscience. Vyshnevsky... Behavior! Behavior! Out of love for you, I am ready even for a crime. To only buy your love, I am willing to pay with my dishonor. (Gets up and goes up to Vyshnevskaya.) Vyshnevskaya... Aristarkh Vladimirich, I cannot pretend. Vyshnevsky(takes her hand). Pretend! Pretend! Vyshnevskaya(turning away). Never. Vyshnevsky... But I love you! .. (Shivering, she drops to her knees.) I love you! Vyshnevskaya... Aristarkh Vladimirich, do not be humiliated! It's time for you to get dressed. (Calls.)Vyshnevsky rises. Anton enters from the office.
Dress for Aristarkh Vladimirich. Anton... Please, you're done, sir. (Goes into the office.)
Vyshnevsky follows him.
Vyshnevsky (in the door). Snake! snake! (Leaves.)THE SECOND PHENOMENON
Vyshnevskaya (one, sits pensively for a while).A boy enters, hands in a letter, and leaves.
Who is it from? (Prints out and reads.) That's still cute! Love message. And from whom! An elderly man, a beautiful wife. Disgusting! Insulting! What should a woman do in this case? And what vulgarities have been written! What stupid tenderness! Send it back? No, it is better to show it to some of your friends and laugh together, after all, entertainment ... phew, how disgusting! (Leaves.)
Anton leaves the office and stands at the door; enters Yusov, then Belogubov.
PHENOMENON THREE
Anton, Yusov and Belogubov.
Yusov (with a portfolio). Report back, Antosha. Anton leaves. Yusov is recovering in front of the mirror. Anton (in the door). Please, please.Yusov leaves.
Belogubov (enters, takes a comb out of his pocket and brushes his hair). What, Akim Akimych is here, sir? Anton... Now they went into the office. Belogubov... How are you today? Affectionate sir? Anton... Do not know. (Leaves.)Belogubov stands at the table by the mirror.
Yusov (when leaving, she is visibly important)... Oh, you're here. Belogubov... Here, s. Yusov (looking through the paper)... Belogubov! Belogubov... What will you please, sir? Yusov... Here, my brother, take it home, rewrite it cleaner. Ordered. Belogubov... I was ordered to rewrite, sir? Yusov (sitting down). You. He was said to have good handwriting. Belogubov... I am very pleased to hear, sir. Yusov... So listen, brother: take your time. The main thing is to be cleaner. You see where to send ... Belogubov... I understand, Akim Akimych, sir. I’ll write calligraphically, I’ll sit all night. Yusov (sighs). Oho-ho-ho! oho-ho-ho! Belogubov... Me, Akim Akimych, if only they paid attention. Yusov (strictly). What are you kidding about with that, or what? Belogubov... How can you, sir! .. Yusov... Noticed ... Easy to say! What else does an official need? What more could he want? Belogubov... Yes, sir! Yusov... Pay attention to you, well, you and the man, you breathe; and not turned - what are you? Belogubov... Well, what really, sir. Yusov... Worm! Belogubov... I think I’m Akim Akimych, I’m trying, sir. Yusov... You? (Looks at him.) I have you on a good note. Belogubov... I, Akim Akimych, even deny myself food in order to be cleanly dressed. A cleanly dressed official is always in full view of his superiors, sir. Here, if you please see how the waist ... (Turns.) Yusov... Wait. (looks at him and sniffs the tobacco.) Thalia is good ... And besides, Belogubov, look, be more literate. Belogubov... Here's the spelling, I, Akim Akimych, it's bad ... So, believe me, it's a shame myself. Yusov... Eka importance, spelling! Not all of a sudden, you get used to it. Write a rough draft first, and ask to correct it, and then write from this. Do you hear what I say? Belogubov... I’ll ask someone to fix it, otherwise Zhadov is laughing, sir. Yusov... Who? Belogubov... Zhadov-s. Yusov (strictly). What is he himself? What kind of bird? Still laughing! Belogubov... Why, sir, you have to show that you are a scientist. Yusov... Ugh! That's what he is. Belogubov... I can’t even define him Akim Akimych, what kind of person he is. Yusov... Insignificance! ..Silence.
I was there now (pointing to the office) so they said (quiet): I don’t know what to do with my nephew! Understand from this. Belogubov... But he dreams a lot of himself, sir. Yusov... Flies high, but sits down somewhere! What is better: he lived here on everything ready. What do you think, he felt any gratitude? Have you seen the respect from him? How not so! Rudeness, freethinking ... After all, although a relative to him, but still a person ... who will endure? Well, so they told him, dear friend: go and live with your mind, for ten rubles a month, maybe you will be smarter. Belogubov... This is stupidity to what it leads, Akim Akimych! It seems, that is ... Lord ... such happiness! I have to thank God every minute. After all, this is what I say, Akim Akimych, should he thank God, sir? Yusov... Still would! Belogubov... He runs from his own happiness. What else does he need, sir! Chin has, in kinship with such a person, the content was ready; if he wanted, he could have a good place with a large income, sir. After all, Aristarkh Vladimirich would not have refused him! Yusov... Well, come on! Belogubov... My opinion is, Akim Akimych, that another person, with a feeling, in his place, would start cleaning Aristarkh Vladimirich’s boots, but he still grieves such a person. Yusov... All pride and reasoning. Belogubov... What kind of reasoning! What can we reason about? I, Akim Akimych, never ... Yusov... Why, you’re something! Belogubov... I never ... because it doesn't lead to anything good, except for troubles. Yusov... How could he not talk! I must show him that I was at the university. Belogubov... What is the use of learning when there is no fear in a person ... no trepidation before the authorities? Yusov... What? Belogubov... Awe, sir. Yusov... Well, yes. Belogubov... I would, Akim Akimych, the clerk, sir. Yusov... Your lip is not stupid. Belogubov... I’m more because I have a bride now, sir. A young lady and well-educated, sir. Only without a place is impossible, sir, who will give it up. Yusov... What can't you show? Belogubov... The first duty, sir ... even now ... as instead of a relative, sir. Yusov... And I will report on the place. We will think about it. Belogubov... I would really like this place for life, sir. At least I'll give you a subscription, because I can't go higher, sir. I am beyond my ability.
Enter Zhadov.
PHENOMENON FOUR
The same and Zhadov.
Zhadov... What, is uncle busy? Yusov... Busy. Zhadov... Oh, sorry! And I really need to see him. Yusov... You can wait, they have more important things to do than yours. Zhadov... How do you know my business? Yusov (looks at him and laughs). What are you doing! So, some nonsense. Zhadov... It's better not to talk to you, Akim Akimych; you always ask for rudeness. (He walks away and sits down in the foreground.) Yusov (Belogubov). What? Belogubov (loudly). It’s not worth talking about! Only you, in your old age, bother yourself. Goodbye, sir. (Leaves.)APPEARANCE FIFTH
Zhadov and Yusov.
Yusov (About myself). Ha, ha, ha! We lived, we lived, yes, thank God, we lived. The boys began to lift their noses. Zhadov (looks around). What are you grumbling there? Yusov (continues). We do not like to do what is ordered, but to reason is our business. How can we sit in the office! We should all be made ministers! Well, what can you do, you made a mistake, excuse me, please, they did not know your talents. We will make them ministers, we will certainly make them ... wait a little ... tomorrow. Zhadov (About myself). Tired of it! Yusov... Oh my God! Oh my God! No shame, no conscience. The other's lips are not dry yet, and it shows ambition. Who am I! Dont touch me!Anton enters.
Anton (To Yusov). Welcome to the master.Yusov goes into the office.
Zhadov... Tell Anna Pavlovna that I want to see them. Anton... I'm listening, sir. (Leaves.)APPEARANCE SIX
Zhadov (one). That this old bastard grumbled! What have I done to him! University, he says, I can not stand. Am I to blame? So serve under that kind of command. However, what will he do to me if I behave well? But as the vacancy opens, so, perhaps, the place will be bypassed. From them it will become.Vyshnevskaya enters.
APPEARANCE SEVEN
Zhadov and Vyshnevskaya.
Vyshnevskaya... Hello, Vasily Nikolaich! Zhadov... Ah, auntie, hello! (Kisses her hand.) I'll tell you the news. Vyshnevskaya... Sit down.What's the news? Zhadov... I want to get married. Vyshnevskaya... Is not it too early? Zhadov... In love, auntie, in love. And what a girl! Perfection! Vyshnevskaya... Is she rich? Zhadov... No, auntie, she has nothing. Vyshnevskaya... What will you live with? Zhadov... And the head, and what about the hands? Do I really live on someone else's expense all my life? Of course, someone else would be glad, since there is a case, but I cannot. Not to mention the fact that for this I must, to please my uncle, contradict my own convictions. And who will work then? Why did they teach us! Uncle advises first to make money, in any way, buy a house, get horses, and then get a wife. Can I agree with him? I fell in love with a girl, as they love only in my summer. Should I give up happiness just because she has no state? Vyshnevskaya... They suffer not only from poverty; they also suffer from wealth. Zhadov... Remember our conversations with your uncle? Whatever you say, it used to be against bribes or generally against any untruth, he has only one answer: go live, or you’ll start talking. Well, so I want to live, and not alone, but with my young wife. Vyshnevskaya (sighing). Yes, you will envy the women who are loved by people like you. Zhadov (kissing hand). How I will work, auntie! More, probably, my wife will not demand from me. And if it happens even to endure the need for some time, then, probably, Polina, out of love for me, will not show even the sight of displeasure. But, in any case, no matter how bitter life is, I will not give in even a millionth share of the convictions that I owe to education. Vyshnevskaya... You can be vouched for; but your wife ... is a young woman! It will be difficult for her to bear any drawback. Our girls are very badly brought up. You young people imagine us as angels, but believe me, Vasily Nikolaich, we are worse than men. We are more selfish, more biased. What to do! we must admit that we have much less sense of honor and strict justice. What else is bad about us is the lack of delicacy. A woman is able to reproach that a rare developed man will allow himself. The most offensive taunts are not uncommon between short friends. Sometimes a woman's stupid reproach is heavier than any offense. Zhadov... It's true. But I myself will educate her. She is still quite a child, you can still make everything out of her. Only it is necessary to snatch her out of the family as soon as possible, before they have time to spoil her with vulgar upbringing. And how they make her a young lady, in the full sense of the word, then it's too late. Vyshnevskaya... I dare not doubt and do not want to disappoint you. It would be ignoble of me to chill you at first. Give more freedom to your heart before it gets stale. Do not be afraid of poverty. God bless you. Believe me, no one wishes you happiness like I do. Zhadov... I've always been sure of that, auntie. Vyshnevskaya... One thing worries me: your intolerance. You are constantly making enemies for yourself. Zhadov... Yes, everyone tells me that I am intolerant, that I am losing a lot from this. Is intolerance a flaw? Is it better to look indifferently at the Yusovs, Belogubovs and all the abominations that are constantly being done around you? It is not far from indifference to vice. To whom vice is not disgusting, he will gradually be drawn into it. Vyshnevskaya... I do not call intolerance a disadvantage, only I know from experience how uncomfortable it is in life. I've seen examples ... someday you'll know. Zhadov... Do you think my uncle will refuse me or not? I want to ask for a raise. I would be very helpful now. Vyshnevskaya... Do not know. Ask.
Enter VYSHNEVSKY in a tailcoat and a wig, followed by YUSOV.
APPEARANCE EIGHT
The same, Vyshnevsky and Yusov.
Vyshnevsky (To Zhadov). Hello! (Sits down.) Sit down! Sit down, Akim Akimych! You are all lazy, you rarely go to work. Zhadov... Nothing to do. Do not give business. Yusov... You never know what we have to do! Zhadov... To rewrite something? No, I am a humble servant! You have officials more capable of this than I am. Vyshnevsky... You still haven't left, my dear! You read all the sermons. (To his wife.) Imagine: he reads morality to the clerks in the office, but they naturally do not understand anything, they sit with their mouths open, their eyes wide open. Ridiculous, dear! Zhadov... How will I be silent when I see abominations at every step? I have not yet lost faith in a person, I think that my words will have an effect on them. Vyshnevsky... They have already produced: you have become the laughing stock of the entire chancery. You have already achieved your goal, managed to make everyone look at each other with a smile and whisper when you enter, and a general laughter spreads when you leave. Yusov... Yes, sir. Zhadov... However, what is so funny about my words? Vyshnevsky... Everyone, my friend. Ranging from unnecessary hobbies that violate decency, to childish, impractical conclusions. Believe that every scribe knows life better than you; knows from his own experience that it is better to be full than a hungry philosopher, and your words naturally seem silly to them. Zhadov... And it seems to me that they only know that being a bribe-taker is more profitable than an honest person. Yusov... Um, um ... Vyshnevsky... Stupid, my dear! Both bold and stupid. Zhadov... Excuse me, uncle! Why have we been taught, why have we developed such concepts that cannot be uttered out loud without you being accused of stupidity or insolence? Vyshnevsky... I don't know who you were there and what taught you. It seems to me that it is better to teach how to do business and respect elders than to talk nonsense. Yusov... Yes, it would be much better. Zhadov... Excuse me, I will be silent; but I cannot part with my convictions: they are the only consolation in my life for me. Vyshnevsky... Yes, in the attic for a piece of black bread. Glorious consolation! With hunger, praise your virtue and scold comrades and bosses for the fact that they knew how to arrange their lives and live in contentment, family and happiness. Wonderful! Here and envy will help. Zhadov... Oh my God! Vyshnevskaya... It's cruel. Vyshnevsky... Please do not think that you are saying anything new. It has always been and always will be. A person who did not know how or did not manage to make a fortune for himself will always envy a person with a fortune - this is in the nature of a person. Justifying jealousy is easy too. Envious people usually say: I do not want wealth; I am poor but noble. Yusov... Honey-flowing lips! Vyshnevsky... Noble poverty is good only in the theater. And try to transfer it to life. This, my friend, is not as easy and pleasant as we think. You are used to obeying only yourself, perhaps you are still getting married. What will happen then? That's curious! Zhadov... Yes, uncle, I'm getting married and I wanted to talk to you about it. Vyshnevsky... And, probably, for love, on a poor girl, and also, perhaps, on a fool who has as much idea about life as you do; but she's probably educated and sings to the out of tune pianoforte: "With dear heaven and in the hut." Zhadov... Yes, she is a poor girl. Vyshnevsky... And great. Yusov... For breeding beggars, sir ... Zhadov... Akim Akimych, do not insult me. I didn’t give you any right to do that. Daddy, marriage is a great thing, and I think that everyone in this matter should follow their own suggestion. Vyshnevsky... Be merciful, no one bothers you. Have you just thought of this? Surely you love your bride? Zhadov... Of course I do. Vyshnevsky... What are you preparing for her, what joys in life? Poverty, all kinds of deprivation. In my opinion, whoever loves a woman tries to lavish her path, so to speak, with all the pleasures. Yusov... Yes, sir. Vyshnevsky... Instead of hats and different fashions that women consider necessary, you will lecture her on virtue. She, of course, out of love will listen to you, but she still won't have hats and coats. Vyshnevskaya... In his summer, love is still not bought. Zhadov... Auntie is telling the truth. Vyshnevsky... I agree, you don't need to buy love; but everyone is obliged to reward it, to repay for love, otherwise the most disinterested love will cool down. Reproaches, complaints about fate will go. I don’t know how it will be for you to endure when your wife continually regrets aloud that, out of inexperience, she has tied her fate with a beggar. In a word, you must make up the happiness of the woman you love. And without wealth, or at least contentment, there is no happiness for a woman. You, perhaps, as usual, will contradict me; so I will prove to you that it is true. Look around you: what smart girl would consider marrying a rich old man or a freak? What mother would doubt to give her daughter in this way, even against her will, considering her daughter's tears for stupidity, for childishness and thanks to God that he sent her Mashenka or Annushka such happiness. Each mother is confident in advance that her daughter will thank her afterwards. And for his own peace of mind, which is also worth something, the husband must provide his wife completely materially; then even ... even if the wife is not entirely happy, she has no right ... does not dare to complain. (With heat.) For a woman taken out of poverty and surrounded by care and luxury, who will believe that she is unhappy? Ask your wife if I'm telling the truth. Vyshnevskaya... Your words are so clever and convincing that they can do without my consent. (Leaves.)APPEARANCE NINTH
The same, without Vyshnevskaya.
Zhadov... Not all women are as you say. Vyshnevsky... Almost all. There are, of course, exceptions; but it is surprising that this exception fell to your lot. To do this, you need to live, look, and not fall in love, like you, with the first person you meet. Listen, I'm going to talk to you as a relative, because I feel sorry for you. What do you really think of yourself? How will you live with your wife without funds? Zhadov... I will live by labor. I hope that a calm conscience can replace earthly blessings for me. Vyshnevsky... Your labor will not be enough to support your family. You will not get a good job, because with your stupid character you will not be able to win over a single boss in your favor, but rather arm you. A calm conscience will also not save you from hunger. You see, my friend, luxury is noticeably spreading in society, and your Spartan virtues do not live with luxury. Your mother instructed me to take care of you, and I am obliged to do everything I can for you. This is what I advise you for the last time: tame your character a little, give up lying ideas, stop it, it’s stupid, serve as all decent people serve, that is, look at life and at service in practice. Then I can help you with advice, money, and patronage. You are not little - you are getting ready to marry. Zhadov... Never! Vyshnevsky... How loud it is: "never!" and how stupid it is! I think that you will take up the mind; I've seen enough of such examples, just don't be late. Now you have a chance and patronage, but then you may not: you will ruin your career, your comrades will go ahead, it will be difficult for you to start over again. I tell you as an official. Zhadov... Never ever! Vyshnevsky... Well, live as you know, without support. Don't rely on me. I'm tired of talking to you. Zhadov... Oh my God! Support will be for me in public opinion. Vyshnevsky... Yes, wait! We have no public opinion, my friend, and it cannot be, in the sense in which you understand. Here's the public opinion: if you are not caught, you are not a thief. What does society matter, what income do you live on, so long as you live decently and behave like a decent person should. Well, and if you go about without boots and read morality to everyone, then I’m sorry if you are not accepted in decent houses and they will talk about you as an empty person. I served in provincial cities: they know each other better there than in the capitals; they know that everyone has what they live, therefore, it is easier to form public opinion. No, people are people everywhere. And there they laughed in my presence at one official who lived only on a salary with a large family, and they said in the city that he sews his own frock coats; and there the whole city respected the first bribe-taker because he lived openly and had evenings twice a week. Zhadov... Is that really true? Vyshnevsky... Live so you will know. Come on, Akim Akimych. (Rises.) Zhadov... Daddy! Vyshnevsky... What's happened? Zhadov... I receive very little salary, I have nothing to live on. Now there is a vacancy - let me fill it, I will marry ... Vyshnevsky... Um ... For this place, I don't need a married man, but a capable man. I cannot, in all conscience, give you more salary: firstly, you are not worth it, and secondly, you are my relative, they will consider it disingenuous. Zhadov... As you wish. I will live on the means that I have. Vyshnevsky... Yes, here's another, my dear! I'll tell you once and for all: I don't like your conversation, your expressions are harsh and disrespectful, and I don't see any need for you to be upset. Do not think that I find your opinions offensive - this is too much honor for you, I just think they are stupid. And therefore, all my relations with you, except for those in charge, you can consider completely finished. Zhadov... So I’d better move to another place. Vyshnevsky... Do mercy. (Leaves.)APPEARANCE TENTH
Zhadov and Yusov.
Yusov (looking into his eyes). Ha, ha, ha, ha! .. Zhadov... What are you laughing at? Yusov... Ha, ha, ha! .. But how can you not laugh? Who are you arguing with? ha, ha, ha! What does it look like? Zhadov... What's so funny about that? Yusov... Well, is uncle more stupid than you? More stupid? Does he understand you less in life? Why, this is a laughing matter for the chickens. After all, that way you will someday die with laughter. Have mercy, mercy, I have a family. Zhadov... You do not understand this, Akim Akimych. Yusov... There is nothing to understand here. Bring at least a thousand people, everyone would die of laughter looking at you. You should have listened to this man with your mouth open, so as not to utter a word, but to hack his words on the nose, and you are arguing! After all, this is a comedy, by God, a comedy, ha, ha, ha! and still not enough. Whether it should have been. If I were in his place ... (Makes a stern grimace and goes into the office.)PHENOMENON ELEVEN
Zhadov (one, thinking). Yes, talk! I don’t believe you. I also don’t believe that an educated person cannot provide himself with his family with honest labor. I also don’t want to believe that society is so depraved! This is the usual way of old people to disappoint young people: to present everything to them in a black light. The people of the old century are jealous that we look at life with such joy and hope. Oh, uncle! I understand you. You have now achieved everything - both nobility and money, you have no one to envy. You only envy us, people with a clear conscience, with peace of mind. You cannot buy this for any money. Tell me what you want, but I will get married and live happily ever after. (Leaves.)Vyshnevsky and Yusov leave the office.
APPEARANCE TWELVE
Yusov and Vyshnevsky.
Vyshnevsky... Who will he marry? Yusov... On Kukushkina. Daughter of the widow of a collegiate assessor. Vyshnevsky... Do you know her? Yusov... So, sir, I knew my husband. Belogubov wants to marry another sister. Vyshnevsky... Well, Belogubov is another matter. In any case, you go to her. Explain to her so that she does not ruin her daughter, does not give up the fool for this. (Nods his head and walks away.)PHENOMENON THIRTEEN
Yusov (one). What a time this is! What is happening now in the world, you will not believe your eyes! How to live in the world! The boys began to talk! Who's talking? Who can argue? So, nothing! Blew on him, phew! (blowing) - here and there is no man. And even with whom he argues! - With a genius. Aristarchus Vladimir is a genius ... a genius, Napoleon. Immense mind, speed, courage in business. One thing is missing: the law is not quite firm, from another department. If Aristarkh Vladimirich, in his mind, knew the laws and all the orders like his predecessor, well, the end ... the end ... and there is nothing to talk about. Follow him like a railroad. So grab hold of it, and go. And ranks, and orders, and all sorts of land, and houses, and villages with wastelands ... Captures the spirit! (Leaves.)ACT TWO
CHARACTERS
Felisata Gerasimovna Kukushkina, widow of the collegiate assessor. Yulinka | Polina) of her daughter. Akim Akimich Yusov. Vasily Nikolaich Zhadov. Onisim Panfilich Belogubov. Stesha, the maid girl.
A room in Kukushkina's house: an ordinary living room in poor houses. There is a door in the middle and a door to the left.
THE FIRST APPEARANCE
Yulinka, Polina stand in front of the mirror and Stesha with a brush and a wing in their hands.
Stesha... Well, my young ladies are ready. At least now the grooms come, as they are exhibited at the exhibition, the first grade. We will show such a force - it will rush into the nose. What general is not ashamed to show! Pauline... Well, Yulinka, in places; let's sit like smart young ladies sit. Now mamma will do a show for us. The person sells the product. Stesha (dusting off). Yes, no matter how you look, everything is in order, everything is in its place, everything is pinned and sub-column. Yulinka... She is such an auditor for us; will find something. Stesha (stops in the middle of the room). Indeed, young lady, you have no life at all from her. Drills, drills, like a soldier in training. Everything is on the hood and on the hood - just doesn’t make me raise my legs. And she is mocked at me, mocked - she overcame me with only one purity. (Dust off.) Yulinka... Do you like your fiancé, Vasily Nikolaich? Pauline... Oh, just darling! And your Belogubov for you? Yulinka... No, horrible rubbish! Pauline... Why don't you tell your mama? Yulinka... Here's another! Save God! I'm glad to marry him at least, just to get out of the house. Pauline... Yes, the truth is yours! If I didn't get caught, Vasily Nikolaich, it seems, would be glad to throw himself on the first person he meets: no matter how bad he was, if only he could help out of trouble, he would take him out of the house. (Laughs.) Stesha (bending over under the sofa). Truly torment of martyrdom. That's the truth, young lady, speak. Pauline... Other girls are crying, Yulinka, how they are getting married: how is it to part with the house! Every corner will be paid. And you and I - even far away now, at least some mountain snake carried away. (Laughs.) Stesha... Here, do not erase me here - so it will be on the nuts. And who will see here, who needs! (She erases under the mirror.) Yulinka... You are happy, Polina; everything is funny to you; and I'm starting to think so seriously. Getting married is not tricky - we know this science; you need to think about how you will live married. Pauline... And what is there to think about? It certainly won't be worse than at home. Yulinka... Not worse! This is not enough. It must be better. Already if you get married, so as to be a lady, as a lady should. Pauline... It would be very good, what is better, but just how to do it? You are clever with us: teach! Yulinka... It is necessary to notice from the conversation who has what, who hopes for what. If now there is no, so what does not mean. Already now from the words it is clear who is what kind of person. Your Zhadov, what does he say to you, how do you stay alone? Pauline... Well, Yulinka, even now my head is cut off, I don’t understand what he’s saying. He squeezes his hand so tightly and starts talking, and starts ... he wants to teach me something. Yulinka... What then? Pauline... I really don't know, Yulinka. Something very tricky. Wait, maybe I'll remember, just not to laugh, the words are so funny! Wait, wait, I remembered! (Mimicking.)"What is the purpose of women in society?" He spoke about some other civic virtues. I don't even know what it is. We weren't taught that, did we? Yulinka... No, they didn't. Pauline... He must have read in those books that were not given to us. Remember ... at the boarding house? True, we haven't read any of them. Yulinka... There is something to regret! and without them mortal melancholy! That would be for a walk or a theater - another matter. Pauline... Yes, sister, yes. Yulinka... Well, Polina, I must admit that there is little hope for yours. No, mine is not like that. Pauline... What is yours? Yulinka... My Belogubov, although a little disgusting, shows great hopes. “You, he says, will love me, sir. Now it’s not time for me to marry, sir, but as they will make me a clerk, then I will marry.” I asked him what a clerk was. "This, he says, is the first grade, sir." It must be something good. “I, he says, am an uneducated person, but I have a lot to do with the merchants, sir: so I’ll bring you silk and various materials from the city, and everything will be done about the provisions, sir.” Well? this is very good, Polina, let her carry. There is nothing to think about, you have to go for such a person. Pauline... And mine must have no merchant acquaintances, he does not tell me anything about it. Well, how will he not bring me anything? Yulinka... No, it must be, and yours has. After all, he is an employee, and all employees are given whatever they need. To whom matters are different, if married; and if single - cloth, tights; who has a horse - that is oats or hay, and then so and money. The last time Belogubov was in a vest, remember, it was so colorful, the merchant gave it to him. He told me himself. Pauline... Still, one must ask if Zhadov has acquaintances with merchants.Kukushkina enters.
THE SECOND PHENOMENON
The same and Kukushkina.
Kukushkina... How not to praise yourself! I have cleanliness, I am in order, I have everything in string! (Sits down.) And what's that? (He points to the maid under the sofa.) Stesha... Yes, have mercy, my strength is not enough, my whole loin has broken. Kukushkina... How dare you, you vile one, talk like that! You get your salary for that. I have cleanliness, I have order, I have a thread.The maid sweeps and leaves.
Yulinka!
Yulinka gets up.
I want to talk to you. Yulinka... What do you want, mamma? Kukushkina... You know, madam, that I have nothing behind me or in front of me. Yulinka... I know, mamma. Kukushkina... It's time to know, madam! I have no income from anywhere, one pension. Make ends meet as you know. I deny myself everything. I turn around like a thief at a fair, and I'm not an old woman yet, I can find a party. Do you understand this? Yulinka... I understand, sir. Kukushkina... I make fashionable dresses and various knick-knacks for you, and for myself I paint and reshape from the old. Don't you think that I dress you up for your pleasure, for your smartness? You are so wrong. All this is done in order to marry you off, to sell you off. In my condition, I could only drive you in chintz and shabby dresses. If you don’t want or don’t know how to find a groom for yourself, so be it. I do not intend to cut off and cut myself unnecessarily for you. Pauline... We, mamma, have heard this for a long time. Tell me what the matter is. Kukushkina... You be silent! not talking to you. God gave you happiness for your stupidity, so you keep quiet. No matter how fool this Zhadov is, so would you grieve for a century, sit in girls for your frivolity. Which of the smart ones will take you? Who needs? You have nothing to brag about, your mind wasn’t a hair's breadth: you can’t say that you bewitched him - he ran over, climbed into the noose himself, no one pulled him. And Yulinka is a smart girl, she must make herself happiness with her mind. Let me know whether your Belogubov will be useful or not? Yulinka... I don’t know, mamma. Kukushkina... Who knows? You know, madam, that I do not accept strangers into my house. I only accept grooms or those who can be grooms. With me, if he looks a little like a groom, you are welcome, the house is open, and as he wagged his tail, so turned from the gate. We don't need those. I shore my reputation, and yours as well. Yulinka... What am I to do, mamma? Kukushkina... Do what is ordered. You remember one thing, that you cannot remain in girls. You will have to live in the kitchen. Yulinka... I, mamma, did everything that you ordered. Kukushkina... What did you do? Excuse me, I will listen to you. Yulinka... When he came to us for the second time, remember, you also brought him by force, I made eyes at him. Kukushkina... Well, what is he? Yulinka... And he somehow strangely pursed his lips, licked his lips. It seems to me that he is so stupid that he did not understand anything. Today every schoolboy is more agile than he is. Kukushkina... I don’t know your sciences there, but I see that he is respectful, and there is in him some kind of pleasant seeking to the authorities. So he will go far. I knew it right away. Yulinka... When he was with us for the third time, remember, on Friday, I read him love poems; he, too, did not seem to understand anything. And for the fourth time I wrote him a note. Kukushkina... What is he? Yulinka... He came and said: "My heart has never turned away from you, but always was, is and will be."
Polina laughs.
Kukushkina (shaking her finger). What's next? Yulinka... He says: "As soon as I get the place of the head of the clerk, so I will tearfully ask your mama for your hand." Kukushkina... Will he get it soon? Yulinka... Says soon. Kukushkina... Come, Yulinka, kiss me. (Kisses her.) Getting married, my friend, is a great thing for a girl. You will understand this later. I am a mother, and a strict mother; do whatever you want with the groom, I will look through my fingers, I am silent, my friend, I am silent; and with a stranger, no, you are naughty, I will not allow! Go, Yulinka, sit in your place.Yulinka sits down.
And when you marry, children, here's my advice: don't give your husbands a hand, so sharpen them every minute so that they can get money; otherwise they will be lazy, then you will cry yourself. Much instruction would have to be done; but now, girls, you still can't tell everything; if anything happens, come straight to me, I always have a reception for you, never a ban. I know all the means and can give any advice, even on the doctoral side. Pauline... Mamma, someone has arrived. Yulinka (looking out the window). Belogubov with some old man. Kukushkina... Sit in your seats. Yulinka, pull the mantilla down a little from your right shoulder.
Yusov and Belogubov enter.
PHENOMENON THREE
The same, Yusov and Belogubov.
Belogubov (To the young ladies.) Hello. (Pointing at Yusov.) Here they wished ... This is my boss and benefactor, Akim Akimich Yusov, sir. Still, it's better, Felisata Gerasimovna, when the bosses ... Kukushkina... You are welcome, you are welcome! We humbly ask you to sit down. Akim Akimych and Belogubov sit down. Here I recommend to you: my two daughters, Yulinka and Polina. Perfect children have no idea about anything; they would still play with dolls, and not just get married. And it's a pity to part, but there is nothing to do. You can't keep such a product at home. Yusov... Yes, sir, this is the law of fate, sir, the circle of everyday life, sir! What has been foreseen from time immemorial, that man cannot, sir ... Kukushkina... I'll tell you the truth, Akim Akimych, they are brought up in strictness, they are distant from everything. I cannot give much money for them, but husbands will be grateful for morality. I love children, Akim Akimych, but strict, very strict. (Strictly.) Pauline, go ahead and arrange your tea. Pauline (rises). Now, mamma. (Leaves.) Yusov... I'm strict myself, sir. (Strictly.) Belogubov! Belogubov... What will you please, sir? Yusov... Am I strict? Belogubov... Strict, sir. (To Yulinka.) I have a new vest again, sir. Look here, sir. Yulinka... Very good. Did the same merchant give this to you? Belogubov... No, another one, sir. This one has a better factory. Yulinka... Let's go to the living room, I'll show you my work. (They leave.)PHENOMENON FOUR
Yusov and Kukushkina.
Kukushkina... How they love each other, it is touching to watch. One thing the young man lacks - a place, he says, there is no good. I cannot, he says, provide my wife with all complete peace of mind. If, he says, they made him the head of the clerk, I would, he says, could support my wife. But it's a pity, Akim Akimych! Such a lovely young man, so in love ... Yusov(sniffing tobacco). Little by little, Felisata Gerasimovna, little by little. Kukushkina... However, you should know if he will get a seat soon. Maybe even that depends on you. I am a petitioner for him. (Bows.) You cannot but respect my request; I am a mother, a gentle mother, I am busy for the happiness of my children, my chicks. Yusov (making a serious face). Soon, soon it will be. I have already reported to our general about him. And the general is completely in my hands: what I say will happen. We will make him the head of the clerk. I want to, I will be a clerk, but I don’t want to, I will not be a clerk ... Heh, heh, it will be, it will be! Here's where the general is. (Shows his hand.) Kukushkina... To tell you the truth, I don't even like singles. What are they doing? so only the earth is weighed down. Yusov (important). Burden on earth, burden ... and idle talk. Kukushkina... Yes, sir. Yes, and it is dangerous to take a single person into the house, especially those who have daughters or a young wife. Who knows what is on his mind. In my opinion, a young man should be married as soon as possible, he will be grateful afterwards, otherwise they are stupid, they do not understand their benefits. Yusov... Yes, sir. From absent-mindedness. After all, life is the sea of life ... absorbs. Kukushkina... A bachelor cannot start a household, does not care about the house, goes to taverns. Yusov... Why, we also walk, sir ... a respite from labors ... Kukushkina... Ah, Akim Akimych, a big difference. You will go when they call you, they want to treat you, show you your respect, but you will not go to yours. Yusov... As far as possible, no, sir, I will not go. Kukushkina... Now take this: the petitioner will invite a bachelor to a tavern for some business, treat him to dinner, and that's all. They will spend a lot of money, but not a penny of benefit. And the married one, Akim Akimych, will tell the petitioner: what do I need your dinners for, I'd rather go to dinner with my wife, in a family way, quietly, in my own corner, and you give me clean ones. Yes, it will bring money. So it has two benefits: a sober one will come and with money ... What year have you been married? Yusov... Forty-third year-s ... Kukushkina... Tell! And how young you are! Yusov... Regularity in life ... I put banks yesterday. Kukushkina... Everything is healthy for a healthy person, especially when a person is at peace with his soul, he lives in contentment. Yusov... I'll tell you what kind of play of nature happens ... with a person ... from poverty to wealth. I, madam, - it was a long time ago - they brought me into the presence in a shabby dressing gown, I just knew how to read and write ... Sitting, I see, all the people are elderly, important, angry, then they did not shave often, so it gives even more importance. Fear attacked me, I could not utter a word. For two years I was running errands, correcting various commissions: I ran for vodka, and for pies, and for kvass, someone with a hangover, and I was sitting not at the table, not on a chair, but at the window on a bunch of papers, and I wrote not from ink, but from an old fondant jar. But he went out to the people. Of course, all this is not from us ... from above ... to know, I really needed to be a man and occupy an important post. Sometimes we think with my wife: why did God seek us out with his mercy? For everything, fate ... and good deeds need to be done ... to help the poor. Yes, sir, now I have three houses, at least far away, but it doesn't bother me; I hold four horses. It’s farther away, it’s better: there’s more land, and not so noisy, and I’ll gossip for less talk. Kukushkina... Oh sure. Do you have a kindergarten, tea at home? Yusov... How, sir. In the summer heat, coolness and relaxation for members. And there is no pride in me, sir. Pride blinds ... I am at least a man ... I am with him, as with my brother ... everything is smooth, neighbor ... In the service you can't ... I don't particularly like overlookers, today's educated ones. With these he is strict and exacting. Dreamed very much. I don’t believe these prejudices, as if scientists grab stars from the sky. I saw them: no better than us sinners, and they are not so attentive to the service. My rule is to push them in every possible way for the benefit of the service ... therefore they are harmful. Somehow, Felisata Gerasimovna, my heart lies more with ordinary people. With the current severity, misfortune happens to a person, they will be expelled from the district school for failures or from the lower classes of the seminary: how not to look after him? He is already killed by fate, he is deprived of everything, offended by everyone. Yes, and people come out in our business more understanding and servile, their souls are open. According to your Christian duty, you will bring such a person into people, he is grateful to you all his life: he calls for the planted fathers, and calls for godfathers. Well, in the next century there will be bribes ... Belogubov, after all, he does not know letters, and I love him, Felisata Gerasimovna, like a son: he has a feeling. And I must confess to tell you, your other fiance ... he is also under my command ... So I can judge ... Kukushkina... What is it? Yusov (makes a serious face). Unreliable. Kukushkina... From what? After all, he is not a drunkard, not a bastard, is not lazy to the service? Yusov... Yes, sir. But... (sniffs tobacco) unreliable. Kukushkina... How, then, explain to me, father, Akim Akimych, because I am a mother. Yusov... But if you please see. Has such a person a relative ... Aristarkh Vladimir Vyshnevsky. Kukushkina... I know. Yusov... A person, one might say, is a person. Kukushkina... I know. Yusov... And he shows disrespect. Kukushkina... I know I know. Yusov... Against the authorities is rude ... arrogance beyond the boundaries ... and even such thoughts ... corrupts youth ... and especially freethinking. The bosses must watch strictly. Kukushkina... I know. Yusov... And if you know, you can judge for yourself. What times have come, Felisata Gerasimovna, there is no life! And from whom? From rubbish, from boys. Hundreds of them are released; will overwhelm us completely. Kukushkina... Eh, Akim Akimych, if he gets married, he will change. And I could not not know all this, I am not such a mother, I will not do anything without looking back. I have the following rule: as soon as a young man gets into the habit of us, I will send someone to find out all the ins and outs about him, or I’ll scout it myself from outside people. All this nonsense in him, in my opinion, comes from a single life. That's how he gets married, but we sit on him, so he will make peace with his uncle, and he will serve well. Yusov... He will change, and the bosses will change to him ... (After a pause.) There are no former officials, Felisata Gerasimovna! Officials disappear. The spirit does not. And what life was, Felisata Gerasimovna, paradise is simple! You don't have to die. Swam, just swam, Felisata Gerasimovna. The former officials were eagles, eagles, and now youth, skygazers, some kind of emptiness.Zhadov enters.
APPEARANCE FIFTH
The same and Zhadov.
Kukushkina... You are welcome, Vasily Nikolaich, you are welcome. Polina was completely yearning for you. All eyes overlooked, then run up to that window, then to another. To love so much, to love so much! .. I really have never seen it. You are happy, Vasily Nikolaitch. Why are you so loved, you tell me? Zhadov... Sorry, Felisata Gerasimovna, I'm a little late. Ah, Akim Akimych! (Bows.) How are you? Kukushkina... Akim Akimych are so kind, they care so much about their officials ... I really don't know how to be grateful to them. Themselves took the trouble to come and get to know each other. Zhadov (To Yusov). Thank you. However, they were in vain to worry. Yusov... I, Felisata Gerasimovna, are more for Belogubov. He has no relatives, I am his father instead ... Kukushkina... Don't tell me, Akim Akimych, you yourself are a family man, and I just saw that you are trying to encourage young people in every possible way to family life. I myself am of the same opinion, Akim Akimych. (To Zhadov.) You cannot imagine, Vasily Nikolaich, how I suffer when I see that two loving hearts share some obstacles. When you read a novel, you see how circumstances forbid the lovers to see each other, or the parents do not agree, or the state does not allow, how you suffer at this moment. I'm crying, just crying! And how cruel it is sometimes parents who do not want to respect the feelings of their children. Some even die of love for the occasion. But when you see that everything is heading towards a successful outcome, all obstacles are destroyed, (enthusiastically) love triumphs and young people are united by legal marriage, how sweet it becomes in the soul. So even some kind of bliss for all members. Pauline enters. Pauline... Please, tea is ready. (Seeing Zhadov.) Vasily Nikolaich! Isn't it a shame to make you suffer so? I was waiting, waiting for you. Zhadov (kisses the hand). I'm sorry. Kukushkina... Come, my child, kiss me. Pauline (To Zhadov). Let's go. Kukushkina... Come on, Akim Akimych!Leave. Belogubov and Yulinka enter with cups in their hands.
APPEARANCE SIX
Belogubov and Yulinka.
Yulinka... As far as I can see, you are all deceiving me. Belogubov... How dare I deceive you, sir? How does it fit? They sit down. Yulinka... Men cannot be trusted in anything, absolutely nothing. Belogubov... Why is there such criticism of men? Yulinka... What kind of criticism, when this is the true truth? Belogubov... It can't be, sir. This is one conversation; men usually say compliments, but young ladies do not believe them, they say that men are deceivers. Yulinka... You all know. You yourself must have said a lot of compliments in your life. Belogubov... I had no one, and I don’t know how. You know that I recently entered the house, sir, and before that I had no acquaintance at all. Yulinka... And you did not deceive anyone? Belogubov... What are you asking about? Yulinka... Do not speak. I believe you not a single word. (Turns away.) Belogubov... Why, sir? It's even insulting. Yulinka... You can seem to understand. Belogubov... I don’t understand. Yulinka... You do not want! (Covers his eyes with a handkerchief.) Belogubov... I can assure you with anything, sir, that I have always ... as I was in love, so now ... I have already reported to you ... Yulinka... Love, but hesitate. Belogubov... Yes, sir ... Now I understand, sir. But this is not that kind of business, sir ... soon it will not be possible, sir. Yulinka... Why is Zhadov allowed? Belogubov... Quite another matter, sir. He has a rich uncle, sir, and he himself is an educated person, he can have a place everywhere. Even though he will become a teacher, all is bread, sir. What about me? Until they are given the place of the head of the clerk, I can’t do anything ... And you yourself will not want to eat cabbage soup and porridge, sir. Only we can do this, sir, but you are a young lady, you cannot, sir. But if I get a seat, then there will be a completely different coup. Yulinka... When will this coup be? Belogubov... Now soon, sir. They promised. As soon as I get a job, that minute ... I'll just sew a new dress ... I've already told my mother, sir. You don’t get angry, Yulia Ivanovna, because it’s not dependent on me. Please, pen.Yulinka stretches out her hand without looking at him. He kisses.
I can't wait myself.
Enter Zhadov and Polina.
Yulinka... Let's go, leave them alone.APPEARANCE SEVEN
Zhadov and Polina (sit down).
Pauline... Do you know what I'll tell you? Zhadov... No, I do not know. Pauline... Only you, please, do not tell mamma. Zhadov... I will not say, rest assured. Pauline (thinking). I would tell you, but I'm afraid that you will stop loving me. Zhadov... Stop loving you? Is it really possible? Pauline... Are you telling the truth? Zhadov (takes her hand). Yes, I really will not stop loving, believe me. Pauline... Well, look. I'll tell you in simplicity. (Quiet.) Everything in our house is deception, everything, everything, absolutely everything. Please do not believe anything that you are told. There is nothing behind us. Mamma says that she loves us, but does not love us at all, only wants to get rid of us as soon as possible. He flatters the grooms in the eyes, and scolds for the eyes. It makes us pretend. Zhadov... Does this outrage you? Outraged? Pauline... Only I'm not pretending, I really love you. Zhadov... You're driving me crazy! (Kisses her hand.) Pauline... And I’ll tell you what, we’re not educated at all. Julia also knows something, I am so stupid at all. Zhadov... How foolish? Pauline... The way fools are. I don't know anything, I haven't read anything ... what you sometimes say, I don't understand anything, absolutely nothing. Zhadov... You are an angel! (Kisses her hands.) Pauline... I'm just kinder than Yulinka, and much stupider than her. Zhadov... That is why I love you, that they didn’t have time to learn anything, they didn’t have time to spoil your heart. You need to get out of here as soon as possible. We will start a new life with you. I will take care of your upbringing with love. What delight awaits me! Pauline... Oh, hurry up! Zhadov... So what to postpone? I've already made up my mind. (He looks at her passionately.) Silence. Pauline... Do you know merchants? Zhadov... What a question? What do you need? Pauline... So. I want to know. Zhadov... I do not understand, however, why do you need this? Pauline... But for what. Belogubov says that he has acquaintances merchants and that they give him vests, and when he gets married, then they will give his wife a dress for a dress. Zhadov... That's what! Well, no, they won't give us a gift. We will work with you ourselves. Isn't that right, Polina? Pauline (absently). Yes, sir. Zhadov... No, Polina, you do not yet know the high bliss of living by your own labor. You are provided with everything, God willing, you will find out. Everything that we acquire will be ours, we will not be obliged to anyone. Do you understand this? There are two pleasures here: the enjoyment of labor and the enjoyment of freely and with a clear conscience to dispose of one's good, without giving any account to anyone. And this is better than any gifts. Isn't it, Polina, is it better? Pauline... Yes, better.Silence.
Do you want me to ask you a riddle? Zhadov... Make a guess. Pauline... What goes without legs? Zhadov... What a riddle! Rain. Pauline... How do you all know! It's a shame, right. I just couldn't guess, Yulinka said. Zhadov... Child! Always remain such a child. Pauline... Can you count the stars in the sky? Zhadov... Can. Pauline... No. I won't believe you. Zhadov... Yes, there is no need to bother to count, they have already been counted. Pauline... You are laughing at me. (Turns away.) Zhadov(gently). I laugh at you, Polina! I want to devote my whole life to you. Take a good look at me, can I laugh at you? Pauline (looks at him). No no... Zhadov... You say that you are a fool - I am a fool. Laugh at me! Many people laugh. Without means, without a fortune, with only hopes for the future, I will marry you. Why are you getting married? - they tell me. What for? Then, that I love you, that I believe in people. That I am acting rashly - with this I agree. When I think, I love you so much that I have no time to think.
Kukushkina and Yusov enter.
Pauline ( With some feeling). I love you myself. Zhadov kisses her hand. Kukushkina (To Yusov). Look at the pigeons cooing. Don't bother them. It is touching to see!Belogubov and Yulinka enter.
APPEARANCE EIGHT
Zhadov, Polina, Kukushkina, Yusov, Belogubov and Yulinka.
Zhadov (turning around, takes Polina by the hand and leads her to Kukushkina). Felisata Gerasimovna, give me this treasure. Kukushkina... I confess to you, it's hard for me to part with her. This is my beloved daughter ... she would be a consolation for me in old age ... but God be with her, take her ... her happiness is dearer to me. (Covers his face with a handkerchief.) Zhadov and Polina kiss her hands. Belogubov hands her a chair. Sits down. Yusov... You are a true mother, Felisata Gerasimovna. Kukushkina... Yes, I can boast of that. (With heat.) No, raising daughters is a thankless task! Grow up, grow up close to you, and then give it to a stranger ... remain an orphan ... awful! (Covers his eyes with a handkerchief.) Belogubov... Mamma, we will not leave you. Polina and Yulinka (together.) Mamma, we will not leave you.About a year elapses between the second and third acts.
ACTION THREE
CHARACTERS
Zhadov. Mykin, his friend, teacher. Dosuzhev. Yusov. Belogubov. 1st | 2nd) officials. Gregory | Vasily) sex guests and sex guests in another room.
Tavern. The back curtain in the background, in the middle of the car, to the right is an open door through which a room is visible, to the left is a hanger for a dress, in the proscenium on both sides there are tables with sofas.
THE FIRST APPEARANCE
Vasily is standing by the car and reading a newspaper. Gregory stands at the door and looks into another room. Zhadov and Mykin enter. Gregory sees them off, wipes off the table and spreads a napkin.
Mykin... Well, old friend, how are you? Zhadov... Bad, brother. (To Grigoriev.) Give us some tea.Gregory leaves.
And how are you? Mykin... Nothing. I live for myself, teach a little. They sit down. Zhadov... How much do you get? Mykin... Two hundred rubles. Zhadov... Are you satisfied? Mykin... So I live, considering the means. As you can see, I'm not looking for unnecessary undertakings. Zhadov... Yes, a single person can live. Mykin... And you shouldn't have gotten married! Our brother is not going to get married. Where are we, beggars! Well fed, covered with something from the influence of the elements - and enough. You know the proverb: one head is not poor, and although poor, so one. Zhadov... It is done. Mykin... Look at you, if you were like that before. That, brother, it is obvious that the steep hills were rolling? No, our brother is not allowed to marry. We are workers. Gregory serves tea. Mykin pours it. Serve, so serve; we will have time to live for ourselves if we have to. Zhadov... What can I do! I loved her very much. Mykin... You never know, fell in love! Don't others love? Eh, brother, I also loved, but I didn’t get married. And you shouldn't have gotten married. Zhadov... But why? Mykin... Very simple. A single person thinks about the service, and a married person thinks about his wife. A married person is unreliable. Zhadov... Well, that's nonsense. Mykin... No, not nonsense. I don’t know what I’d do for the girl I loved. But I decided to make a sacrifice better. Better, brother, to freeze this very legitimate feeling within yourself than to be tempted. Zhadov... I think it was not easy for you? Mykin... Well, what can I say! Refusing isn't easy at all; but to give up your beloved woman, when there are no obstacles, except poverty ... Do you really love your wife? Zhadov... Crazy. Mykin... Well, that's bad! Is she smart? Zhadov... I really don't know. I only know that she is extraordinarily sweet. Some trifle will upset her, she will cry so sweetly, so sincerely that you yourself, looking at her, will cry. Mykin... Tell me frankly how you live. I haven't seen you for a year and a half. Zhadov... Please. My story is short. I married for love, as you know, I took an undeveloped girl, raised in social prejudices, like all almost our young ladies, dreamed of raising her in our convictions, and now I have been married for a year ... Mykin... And what? Zhadov... Nothing, of course. I have no time to educate her, and I do not know how to take up this business. She remained with her concepts; in disputes, of course, I must yield to her. The situation, as you can see, is unenviable, but there is nothing to fix it. Yes, she does not listen to me, she simply does not consider me an intelligent person. According to their concept, an intelligent person must certainly be rich. Mykin... That's where it went! Well, what about funds? Zhadov... I work from morning to night. Mykin... And everything is missing? Zhadov... No, you can live. Mykin... Well, what about your wife? Zhadov... She sulks a little, and sometimes she cries. What can you do! Mykin... I feel sorry for you. No, brother, we cannot marry. For a year I was without a place, I ate only black bread. What would I do with my wife?
Dosuzhev enters.
THE SECOND PHENOMENON
The same and Dosuzhev.
Dosuzhev (sitting down at another table). Garson, life! Basil... Which one do you order? Dosuzhev... Ryabinova. With a snack decent for our title. Basil... I'm listening, sir. (Goes to the door.) Dosuzhev... French mustard! Do you hear? I'll seal the pub. Gregory, start the organ. Gregory... Now, sir. (Starts the car.) Mykin... This must be single! Dosuzhev... What are you looking at me for? I'm waiting for the crucian carp. Zhadov... What kind of crucian carp? Dosuzhev... He will come with a red beard, I will eat it.Vasily brings vodka.
You, Vasily, look at him there. When it comes, so tell me.
The machine is playing.
Gentlemen, have you seen drunken Germans crying? (Represents a crying German.)
Zhadov and Mykin laugh. The car stops.
Mykin (To Zhadov). Well, goodbye! Somehow I'll come to you. Zhadov... Goodbye.Mykin leaves.
Basil (To Dosuzhev). Please come, sir. Dosuzhev... Call here. Basil... No, sir. He sat in the back room. Dosuzhev (To Zhadov). Confused. Farewell! If you sit here, I’ll come to talk to you, I liked your physiognomy. (Leaves.) Zhadov (To Vasily). Give me something to read. Basil (hands over the book). Please read the article here. Approve, sir.Zhadov reads. Enter: Yusov, Belogubov, 1st and 2nd officials.
PHENOMENON THREE
Zhadov, Yusov, Belogubov, 1st and 2nd officials.
Belogubov... Akim Akimych, sir, we dined there, let me treat you with wine here, and the music will play, sir. Yusov... Treat, treat! Belogubov... What do you want? Champagne, sir? Yusov... Well his ... Belogubov... So Rainwein, sir? Gentlemen, sit down!All sit down except Belogubov.
Basil! Bring the Rhine Wine Overseas Bottling.
Vasily leaves.
Oh, brother, hello! Would you like to join us for the company? (Goes up to Zhadov.) Zhadov... Thank you. I do not drink. Belogubov... What is this, brother, have mercy! For me! .. one glass ... we are now relatives!
Vasily brings wine. Belogubov walks over to his table.
Pour!
Vasily pours it.
Yusov... Well, brother, for your health! (He takes a glass and gets up.) 1st and 2nd officials... For your health, sir. (They take glasses and get up.) Yusov (pointing to Belogubov's head). In this forehead, in this head, I have always seen good.Clink glasses.
Let's kiss!
They kiss.
Belogubov... No, let me have a pen, sir. Yusov (hides his hand). Don't, don't. (Sits down.) Belogubov... Through you man has become, sir. 1st and 2nd officials... Excuse me. (They clink glasses with Belogubov, drink and sit down.) Belogubov(pours a glass and serves it on a tray to Zhadov.) Brother, do me a favor. Zhadov... I told you I don’t drink. Belogubov... You can't, brother, offend me. Zhadov... It's boring at last. Belogubov... If you don't like wine, what will you order you to regale? Whatever you wish, brother, all with pleasure. Zhadov... I don't need anything. Leave me alone! (Is reading.) Belogubov... Well, whatever you like. I don't know, brother, why you offend. I am with all the disposition ... (Goes back to his desk.) Yusov (quiet). Leave him. Belogubov (sits down). Gentlemen, one more glass! (Pours it.) Would you like some cake? Vasily, bring more cake!Vasily leaves.
Yusov... You've gotten some fun today! Must have been clever enough? Belogubov (pointing to his pocket). Got it! And to whom? I owe everything to you. Yusov... Hooked up, must be? Belogubov (takes out a bundle of banknotes). Here they are. Yusov... Yes, I know you, your hand will not falsify. Belogubov (hides money). No, excuse me! To whom do I owe? Would I have understood that if it hadn’t been you? From whom did I become a man, from whom did I begin to live, if not from you? I was brought up under your wing! Anyone else would not have learned that even at ten years old, all the subtleties and turns that I learned at four years old. I took an example from you in everything, otherwise where would I be with my mind! Another father will not do for his son what you did for me. (He wipes his eyes.) Yusov... You have a noble soul, you can feel, but others cannot.Vasily brings a cake.
Belogubov... What would I be? You fool! And now a member of the community, everyone respects, you walk around the city, all the merchants bow, they will call for a visit, they don't know where to put me, my wife loves me. Why would she love me, fool? Basil! Do you have any expensive candy? Basil... You can get it, sir. Belogubov... This is my wife. (To Vasily). Well, then you wrap it up in a little more paper. Take whatever you want, I won't regret anything.Vasily is coming.
Wait! And put any cake there. Yusov... Will be with her, spoil. Belogubov... No, sir. (To Vasily.) Put everything down, do you hear? Basil... I'm listening, sir. (Leaves.) Belogubov... I love, very much I love my wife, sir. You will please, and she will love more, Akim Akimych. What am I in front of her, sir? She is educated, sir ... I bought a dress today, sir ... that is, I did not buy it, but took it, then we will count. Yusov... Does not matter. Is it possible to pay money? Maybe there will be some business, well, quit. Mountain does not converge with mountain, but a person does not converge with a person. Vasily brings sweets in paper. Belogubov... Put it in your hat. Another glass, sir. (Pours it.) Basil! Another bottle. Yusov... Will. Belogubov... No, excuse me, sir. Here you are not in charge, but I am.
Vasily leaves.
1st official... What a chance it was! We have a little pisarek, so crappy, what a thing he threw! He wrote a fake copy of the decision (which occurred to him!) And signed for all those present, and took it to the plaintiff. And the matter is interesting, monetary. Only he did not give a copy, it was on his mind, but only showed it. Well, he took a lot of money. He later came to court, but the case is not at all like that. Belogubov... This is really mean! For this you need to expel. Yusov... Exactly expel. Don't mess with officials. Take it for business, not for fraud. Take it so that the petitioner is not offended and that you are satisfied. Live by the law; live so that the wolves are fed and the sheep are safe. What a big chase! The chicken pecks by the grain, but it happens to be full. And what a man he is! Not today, so tomorrow it will fall under the red hat. Belogubov (pours a glass). Welcome, Akim Akimych! What shall I ask of you, you will not refuse me? I'll bow down to your feet. Yusov... Ask. Belogubov... Remember, last time you walked under the car: "On the street pavement" -s? Yusov... Look what you invented! Belogubov... Make happy, Akim Akimych! So that I can remember all my life. Yusov... If you please, if you please. For you only! Tell them to start up "Along the street pavement". Belogubov... Hey Vasily! Let "Along the street pavement", but stand at the door, see that no one came in. Basil... I'm listening, sir. (Starts the car.) Yusov(pointing to Zhadov). This one! I do not like him. Perhaps he will think something. Belogubov (sitting down to Zhadov). Brother, be related to us. Here Akim Akimych will embarrass you. Zhadov... Why is he embarrassed? Belogubov... They want to dance. It is necessary, brother, to have some kind of entertainment after the labors. Not everyone does work. What is it! This is an innocent pleasure, we do not offend anyone! Zhadov... Dance as much as you like, I won't bother you. Belogubov (To Yusov). Nothing, Akim Akimych, he is with us in a relative way. Basil... Would you like to let it go? Yusov... Let it go!The car is playing "Down the street pavement." Yusov is dancing. At the end, everyone except Zhadov claps.
Belogubov... No, it’s impossible now, sir! I need to drink some champagne! Vasily, a bottle of champagne! Is there a lot of money for everything? Basil (counts on accounts). Fifteen rubles, sir. Belogubov... Get it! (Gives it.) Here's a fifty-kopeck piece of tea. Basil... Thank you humbly, sir. (Leaves.) Yusov (loudly). You youths, suckers, tea, laugh at the old man! 1st official... How can you, Akim Akimych, we do not know how to thank you! 2nd official... Yes, sir. Yusov... I can dance. I have done everything in my life that is prescribed for a person. My soul is calm, the burden does not pull from behind, I have provided for my family - now I can dance. Now I am only rejoicing in God's peace! I will see a bird, and I rejoice in that, I will see a flower, and I rejoice in it: I see wisdom in everything.Vasily brings a bottle, uncorks and pours it in the continuation of Yusov's speech.
Remembering my poverty, I do not forget the impoverished brethren. I don’t blame others, like some of the scientists! Whom can we condemn! We do not know what else we ourselves will be! You have laughed today at a drunkard, and tomorrow you yourself, perhaps, will be a drunkard; you will condemn a thief today, or maybe tomorrow you yourself will be a thief. How do we know our definition, who should be assigned what? We know one thing, that we will all be there. So you laughed today (pointing at Zhadov), that I danced; and tomorrow, perhaps, you will dance worse than me. May be (nodding his head at Zhadov), and you will go for alms, and you will stretch out your hand. Here is what pride leads to! Pride, pride! I danced with all my heart. The heart is fun, the soul is calm! I'm not afraid of anyone! At least I will dance in front of all the people on the square. Those who pass by will say: "This man is dancing; he must have a pure soul!" - and everyone will go on their own business. Belogubov (raising his glass). Gentlemen! To the health of Akim Akimych! Hooray! 1st and 2nd officials... Hooray! Belogubov... If only you, Akim Akimych, made us happy, stopped by somehow. My wife and I are still young people, we would advise us, we would tell us a lesson how to live in the law and fulfill all duties. It seems, be a stone man, and he will come to his senses, as he listens to you. Yusov... I'll stop by sometime. (Takes up a newspaper.) Belogubov (pours a glass and brings it to Zhadov). I will not leave you alone, brother. Zhadov... Why won't you let me read! An interesting article came across, and you are still getting in the way. Belogubov (sitting down beside Zhadov). Brother, you have a vain claim against me. Come on, brother, all this enmity. Eat it out! It means nothing to me now, sir. Let's live like a relative. Zhadov... We cannot live like a relative with you. Belogubov... Why, sir? Zhadov... We are not a couple. Belogubov... Yes, of course, to whom what fate. I am happy now, and you are poor. Well, I'm not proud. After all, this is like destiny to whom. Now I support the whole family, and my mother. I know, brother, that you are in need; maybe you need money; do not be offended as much as I can! I wouldn't even consider it a favor. What a score between relatives! Zhadov... Why did you come up with the idea of offering me money! Belogubov... Brother, I am now content, my duty tells me to help. I, brother, see your poverty. Zhadov... What a brother I am to you! Leave me. Belogubov... As you wish! I offered it from the bottom of my heart. I, brother, do not remember evil, not in you. I'm only sorry to look at you and your wife with yours. (Goes to Yusov.) Yusov (throwing the newspaper). What they write today! There is nothing preachy! (He pours it to Belogubov.) Well, finish it. Let's go! Belogubov (finishes). Let's go!
Vasily and Gregory are serving overcoats.
Basil (gives Belogubov two parcels). Here, grab it, sir. Belogubov (sweetly). For the wife, sir. I love you.Leave. Dosuzhev enters.
PHENOMENON FOUR
Zhadov and Dosuzhev.
Dosuzhev... Not a flock of crows flew! Zhadov... The truth is yours. Dosuzhev... Let's go to Maryina Rosha. Zhadov... I'm not allowed. Dosuzhev... From what? Family, or what? Do you need to babysit the children? Zhadov... Children cannot be cared for, but the wife is waiting at home. Dosuzhev... Have you seen her for a long time? Zhadov... How long ago? This morning. Dosuzhev... Well, it’s recently. I thought we hadn’t seen each other for three days.Zhadov looks at him.
What are you looking at me! I know what you think of me. You think that I am the same as these dandies who left; so wrong. Donkeys in lion's skin! Only the skin is terrible. Well, they scare the people. Zhadov... I confess to tell you, I can’t figure out what kind of person you are. Dosuzhev... But, if you please see, firstly - I am a cheerful person, and secondly - a wonderful lawyer. You studied, I can see it, and I also studied. I entered on a small salary; I can't take bribes - my soul can't stand it, but I have to live with something. So I took up my mind: I began to advocate, began to write tearful petitions to the merchants. If we don't go, let's have a drink. Vasily, vodka!
Vasily leaves.
Zhadov... I do not drink. Dosuzhev... Where were you born? Well, that's nonsense! With me you can. Well, sir, I began to write tearful petitions, sir. After all, you do not know what kind of people they are! I'll tell you now.VASILY enters.
Pour in two. Get it for the whole decanter. (Gives the money.) Zhadov... And for my tea. (Gives it.)
Vasily leaves.
Dosuzhev... Let's have a drink! Zhadov... Excuse me; for you only, and then, really, I don’t drink.Clink glasses and drink. Dosuzhev pours more.
Dosuzhev... Write a petition to the beard, just take it inexpensively, so he will saddle you. Where does familiarity come from: "Well, you, hack! Get your vodka for you." I felt an indomitable anger towards them! Have a drink! Drink to death, don't drink to death; so it's better to drink and die.I began to write to them according to their taste. For example: you need to present a bill for collection - and only ten lines of the letter, and you write four sheets to him. I begin like this: "Being burdened in a large family by the number of members." And you will insert all its ornaments. So you write that he is crying, and the whole family is crying hysterically. You make fun of him and take a lot of money from him, so he respects you and bows to the belt. At least weave the ropes from it. All their fat mother-in-law, all the grandmothers of the brides are wooing the rich for you. The man is already very good, they liked him. Have a drink! Zhadov... Will! Dosuzhev... To my health! Zhadov... Perhaps for your health. Dosuzhev... It takes a lot of mental strength not to take bribes from them. They themselves will laugh at an honest official; they are ready to humiliate - it is not with their hands. You have to be a flint! And there is really nothing to be brave of! Get the fur coat off him, and that's it. Sorry, I can't. I only take money from them for their ignorance and drink it away. Eh! hunting you were to marry! Have a drink. What is your name? Zhadov... Basil. Dosuzhev... Namesake. Let's drink, Vasya.
I see you are a good person. Zhadov... What kind of person I am! I am a child, I have no idea about life. All this is new to me, what I hear from you. It's hard for me! I don’t know if I’ll bear it! All around debauchery, little strength! Why were we taught! Dosuzhev... Drink, it will be easier. Zhadov... No no! (He puts his head in his hands.) Dosuzhev... So won't you come with me? Zhadov... I will not go. Why did you give me drink! What have you done to me! Dosuzhev... Well, goodbye! Let's get to know each other! Drunk, brother! (Shakes Zhadov's hand.) Vasily, cloak! (Puts on an overcoat.) Don't judge me harshly! I am a lost man. Try to be better than me if you can. (Goes to the door and returns.) Yes! here's my advice. Maybe with my light hand, you will drink it down, so don't drink wine, but drink vodka. We cannot afford wine, but vodka, brother, is the best: you will forget your grief and it is cheap! Adieu *! (Leaves.)[* Goodbye - French] Zhadov... Not! drinking is not good! Nothing is easier - even harder. (Thinks.) Vasily, on orders from another room, starts the car. The machine is playing Luchinushka. (Sings.)"Luchina, splinter, birch! .." Basil... Please, sir! Not good, sir! Ugly, sir!
Zhadov automatically puts on his greatcoat and leaves.
ACTION FOUR
CHARACTERS
Vasily Nikolaich Zhadov. Pauline, his wife. Yulinka, wife of Belogubov. Felisata Gerasimovna Kukushkina.
The scene represents a very poor room. There is a window to the right, a table by the window, a mirror on the left.
THE FIRST APPEARANCE
Pauline (one, looks out the window). How boring, just death! (Sings.)"Mother, darling, my sun! Have pity, darling, your child." (Laughs.) What song came to mind! (Thinks again.) Would fail, it seems, out of boredom. Is it possible to guess on the cards? Well, this will not be the case. It is possible, it is possible. What else, and we have this. (Takes cards from the table.) How you want to talk to someone. If someone came, that I would be glad, now I would be amused. And what is it like! sit alone, all alone ... There is nothing to say, I like to talk. It used to happen that we’re at mama’s house, the morning will come, crackle, crackle, and you will not see how it goes. And now there is no one to talk to. Should I run to my sister? It's too late. Eco, I'm a fool, I didn't guess early. (Sings.)"Mother, my dear ..." Ah, I forgot to tell fortunes! .. What could I think about? But I wonder if I will have a new hat? (Lays out the cards.) It will, it will be ... it will be, it will be! (Claps her hands, thinks, and then sings.)"Mother, darling, my sun! Have pity, darling, your child."Yulinka enters.
THE SECOND PHENOMENON
Polina and Yulinka.
Pauline... Hello hello!They kiss.
How glad I am to you. Throw off your hat! Yulinka... No, I'll come to you for a minute. Pauline... Oh, how well you are dressed, sister! Yulinka... Yes, now I buy myself everything that is best and new from abroad. Pauline... You are happy, Yulinka! Yulinka... Yes, I can say to myself that I am happy. And you, Polinka, how do you live? Terrible! This is not the tone at all these days. Nowadays it is customary for everyone to live in luxury. Pauline... What should I do? Am I to blame? Yulinka... And we were in the park yesterday. How fun it was - a miracle! Some merchant treated us to dinner, champagne, and various fruits. Pauline... And I all sit at home alone, dying of boredom. Yulinka... Yes, Polina, I’m not at all the same now. You cannot imagine how money and a good life ennoble a person. Now I don't do anything on the farm, I think it's low. Now I neglect everything except the toilet. And you! you! it's horrible! What is your husband doing, please tell me? Pauline... He won't even let me in to see you, he tells me to stay at home and work. Yulinka... How stupid it is! He is an intelligent person, but does not know the current tone. He must know that man is created for society. Pauline... As you say? Yulinka... Man is created for society. Who doesn't know! This is absolutely known to everyone today. Pauline... Okay, I'll tell him that. Yulinka... You should try to quarrel with him. Pauline... I tried, but what's the point. He is always right out, but I remain to blame. Yulinka... Does he love you? Pauline... Loves very much. Yulinka... Are you his? Pauline... And I love. Yulinka... Well, you yourself are to blame, my soul. You can't do anything with affection from men. You fondle him - so he sits with folded hands, neither about himself nor about you. Pauline... He works a lot. Yulinka... What's the use of his work, then? Mine works a little, but look how we live. It is necessary to tell the truth, Onisim Panfilich is an excellent person for the house, a real owner: what, what we don’t have, if only you looked. And in what a short time! Where does he get it from! And your! What's this? After all, it's a shame to watch how you live. Pauline... He keeps saying: sit, work, do not envy others; and we will live well. Yulinka... When will it be? You will grow old while you wait. What then the pleasure! All patience will run out. Pauline... What should I do? Yulinka... He's just a tyrant. What a lot to talk to him! Say that you don't love him - that's all there is to it. Or this is better: tell him that you are tired of this kind of life, that you don’t want to live with him and you’ll move in with your mother, and so that he doesn’t know you. And I will warn mamma about this. Pauline... Good good! I'll do it my best. Yulinka... Can you do it? Pauline... Still would! I'll play whatever scene you want, no worse than any actress. First, we were taught this at home from an early age, and now I’m all sitting alone, it’s boring to work; I keep talking to myself. So I learned that a miracle. It will only be a little sorry for him. Yulinka... Don't be sorry! And I brought you a hat, Polina. (Takes it out of the cardboard.) Pauline... Oh, how lovely! Thank you, sister, darling! (Kisses her.) Yulinka... And then your old one is really not good. Pauline... A terrible abomination! It's bad to go outside. Now I'll tease my husband. Let me tell you, my dear, strangers bought it, but you won’t guess. Yulinka... Yes, there’s nothing to do, Polinka, we will support you as long as we can. Please don't listen to your husband. You explain to him well that you will not love him for nothing. You, silly, understand, why love them with a gift, their husbands? This is pretty weird! Provide me, they say, in everything, so that I shine in society, then I will begin to love you. Out of caprice, he does not want your happiness, and you are silent. Just ask his uncle, and he will be given the same lucrative job as my husband's. Pauline... I’m going to dock with him now. Yulinka... Just imagine: you are so pretty, dress you tastefully and put you in the theater ... when the fire is on ... all the men will stare at you like that. Pauline... Don't tell me, sister, I'll pay. Yulinka... Here's some money for you (takes out of the wallet) sometimes what you need you can do without a husband. We now have the means, so we even decided to do good things to others. Pauline... Thank you sister! Only he, perhaps, will be angry. Yulinka... The importance is great! Why look at him! From relatives, not from strangers. Well, by his grace, sit hungry! Goodbye, Polina! Pauline... Goodbye sister! (Accompanies her, Yulinka leaves.)
PHENOMENON THREE
Pauline... What a smart Yulinka we have! And I'm a fool, a fool! (Seeing the cardboard.) New hat! new hat! (Claps her hands.) Now I will be cheerful for a whole week, if only my husband does not upset. (Sings.)"Mother, dear ..." etc.Kukushkina enters.
PHENOMENON FOUR
Polina and Kukushkina.
Kukushkina... You have all the songs on your mind. Pauline... Hello mamma! Boredom. Kukushkina... I didn't want to go to you at all. Pauline... Why, mamma? Kukushkina... It is disgusting for me, madam, to be with you. Yes, so I walked by, so I came to you. Poverty, poverty ... ugh ... I can't see it! I have cleanliness, I have order, but here, what is it! Rural hut! Disgusting! Pauline... What am I to blame for? Kukushkina... There are such scoundrels in the world! However, I don’t blame him: I never had any hope for him. Why are you silent, madam? Didn't I tell you: don’t give your husband a hand, just keep him up every minute, day and night: give money and give it where you want it, give it. I, they say, need something, something else. Mamma, they say, I have a slender lady, I must accept her decently. He will say: I have not. And what does it matter to me, they say? At least steal, but give. Why did you take it? He knew how to marry, and know how to maintain a wife decently. Yes, that way, from morning to night, I would have hammered into his head, so perhaps I would have come to his senses. If I were you, I would have had no other conversation. Pauline... What can I do, mamma, I have no strictness in my character. Kukushkina... No, you better tell me that you have a lot of stupidity, self-indulgence in your character. Do you know that your self-indulgence spoils men? You have all the tenderness on your mind, everything would be hung around his neck. I was glad that I got married, waited. But no, to think about life. Shameless woman! And who are you so ugly! In our family, everyone is decidedly cold to their husbands: everyone thinks more about outfits, how to dress more decently, to shine in front of others. Why not fondle her husband, but it is necessary that he should feel what he is being fondled for. Here is Yulinka, when her husband brings her something from the city, he will throw himself on his neck, and will freeze, they will be dragged away by force. That is why he brings gifts to her almost every day. But if he doesn't, she'll pout her lips and won't talk to him for two days. Hang, perhaps, on their necks, they are happy, they just need this. Be ashamed! Pauline... I feel that I am stupid; he caresses me, and I am glad. Kukushkina... But wait, we will both sit on it, so maybe it will be served. The main thing is not to pamper and not listen to his nonsense: he is yours, and you are yours; argue until you faint, and don't give in. Give in to them, so they are ready to carry water to us. Yes, pride, pride, he needs to knock down. Do you know what's on his mind? Pauline... Where should I know. Kukushkina... This, you see, there is such a stupid philosophy, I recently heard in one house, now it has become fashionable. They took it into their heads that they are smarter than everyone else in the world, otherwise they are all fools and bribe-takers. What an unforgivable stupidity! We, they say, do not want to take bribes, we want to live on one salary. Yes, after that there will be no life! For whom should I give my daughters? After all, what good, and the human race will end. Bribes! What is the word of a bribe? They themselves invented it to offend good people. Not bribes, but gratitude! And to refuse gratitude is a sin, to offend a person is necessary. If you are a bachelor, there is no court against you, be a fool, as you know. Perhaps, though, do not take a salary. And if you get married, so be able to live with your wife, do not deceive your parents. Why do they torment the parental heart? Another madman suddenly takes a well-mannered young lady who understands life from childhood and whom her parents, sparing nothing, bring up absolutely not in such rules, they even try, as much as possible, to distance herself from such stupid conversations, and suddenly locks her in some kind of kennel! What, in their language, of educated young ladies do they want to remake laundresses? If they wanted to marry, they would marry some erring people who do not care what a mistress or a cook, who, out of love for them, will be happy to wash their skirts and scuttle in the mud at the market. But there are such, without a clue, women. Pauline... So he must want to do the same out of me. Kukushkina... What is needed for a woman ... educated, who sees and understands her whole life like the back of her hand? They don't understand this. For a woman, it is necessary that she is always well dressed, that there is a servant, and most importantly, she needs peace of mind so that she can be distant from everything, in her nobility, and does not enter into any economic squabbles. Yulinka does just that with me; she is decisively distant from everything, except being preoccupied with herself. She sleeps for a long time; in the morning the husband must make arrangements about the table and absolutely everything; then the girl will give him tea and he leaves for presence. Finally she gets up; tea, coffee, all this is ready for her, she eats, dressed in the most excellent manner and sat down with a book by the window to wait for her husband. In the evening he puts on his best dresses and goes to the theater or to visit. Here is life! here is the order! that's how a lady should behave! What could be nobler, what is more delicate, what is more tender? Praise. Pauline... Ah, that's bliss! If only he lived for a week. Kukushkina... Yes, you will wait with your husband, of course! Pauline... You’re doing it well, mamma! And then I really envy. Yulinka, no matter how she arrives, is all in a new dress, and I am all in one and in one. Here he comes. (Goes to the door.)Zhadov enters with a briefcase. They kiss.
APPEARANCE FIFTH
The same and Zhadov.
Zhadov... Hello, Felisata Gerasimovna! (Sits down.) Oh, how tired! Polina sits down beside her mother. I earned it completely, I don’t know about rest. In the morning in the presence, in the afternoon in the classroom, at night I sit: I take extracts to draw up - they pay decently. And you, Polina, are forever out of work, always sitting with folded hands! You will never find you at work. Kukushkina... They are not so educated, they are not accustomed to work. Zhadov... It’s very bad. It is difficult to get used to it afterwards, when you are not accustomed from an early age. And it will be necessary. Kukushkina... There is no need for her to get used to it. I did not prepare them for maids, but to marry noble people. Zhadov... We have different opinions, Felisata Gerasimovna. I want Polina to obey me. Kukushkina... That is, you want to make her a worker; so they would be looking for such a pair. And excuse us, we are people who are not at all such concepts in life, in us nobility is innate. Zhadov... What nobility, this empty fanfare! And we, really, are not up to that. Kukushkina... Listen to you, your ears wither. But what needs to be said: if I knew that she, unhappy, would lead such a beggarly life, she would never give up for you. Zhadov... Please do not tell her that she is an unhappy woman; I ask you. And then she, perhaps, really thinks that she is unhappy. Kukushkina... And then happy? Of course, a woman is in the most bitter position. Another would be in her place, I really do not know what I did.Polina is crying.
Zhadov... Polina, stop fooling around, have pity on me! Pauline... You're all fooling around. Apparently, you do not like it when they tell you the truth. Zhadov... What is the truth? Pauline... Certainly the truth; mamma won't lie. Zhadov... We’ll talk about it with you. Pauline... There is nothing to talk about. (Turns away.) Kukushkina... Of course. Zhadov (sighs). What a misfortune!Kukushkina and Polina do not pay attention to him and talk in whispers. Zhadov takes papers out of his briefcase, puts them on the table and, during the next conversation, looks back at them.
Kukushkina (loudly). Imagine, Polina, I was at Belogubov's; he bought his wife a velvet dress. Pauline (through tears). Velvet! What colour? Kukushkina... Cherry. Pauline (crying). Oh my god! I think how it goes! Kukushkina... Miracle! Just imagine what a mischievous Belogubov! Laugh, really, laugh. Here, mother, I, she says, complain to you about my wife: I bought her a velvet dress, she kissed me like that, she even bit very painfully. Here is life! Here is love! Not like the others. Zhadov... It is unbearable! (Rises.) Kukushkina (rises). Let me ask you, my dear sir, why is she suffering? Give me a report. Zhadov... She has already come out from under your care and entered under mine, and therefore leave me to dispose of her life. Believe it will be better. Kukushkina... But I am a mother, my dear sir. Zhadov... And I am a husband. Kukushkina... Here we see what kind of husband you are! The love of a husband can never be compared with that of a parent. Zhadov... What are the parents! Kukushkina... Whatever they are, after all, you are not a match. We are, my dear sir, what parents! My husband and I raised money for pennies to raise our daughters, to send them to a boarding school. What do you think it is for? In order for them to have good manners, not to see poverty around them, not to see low objects, so as not to burden the child and from childhood to accustom them to a good life, nobility in words and deeds. Zhadov... Thank you. I've been trying to knock your upbringing out of her for almost a year now, but I just can't. It seems that I would give half of my life so that only she would forget him. Kukushkina... Did I cook her for such a life? I'd rather give a hand to cut off than to see my daughter in this position: in poverty, in suffering, in squalor. Zhadov... Leave your regrets, I beg you. Kukushkina... Did they live with me like that? I have order, I have cleanliness. My means are the most insignificant, and yet they lived like a duchess, in the most innocent state; they did not know where the entrance to the kitchen was; did not know what the cabbage soup was cooked from; only engaged, as young ladies should, in conversation about feelings and subjects of the most ennobled. Zhadov (pointing to his wife). Yes, I have never seen such a deep debauchery as in your family. Kukushkina... How can people like you appreciate a noble upbringing! My fault, I was in a hurry! If she married a man with tender feelings and education, he would not know how to thank me for my upbringing. And she would be happy, because decent people do not force wives to work, for this they have a servant, and a wife is only for ... Zhadov(quickly). For what? Kukushkina... How for what? Who doesn't know that? Well, you know ... in order to dress in the best way possible, to admire her, take her out to people, deliver all the pleasures, fulfill her every whim, like a law ... to idolize. Zhadov... Be ashamed! You are an elderly woman, you have lived to old age, you raised your daughters and raised them, but you don’t know why a man is given a wife. Aren't you ashamed! The wife is not a toy, but an assistant to her husband. You are a bad mother! Kukushkina... Yes, I know that you are very glad to make yourself a cook out of your wife. You are an insensitive man! Zhadov... Complete nonsense to talk! Pauline... Mama, leave him. Kukushkina... No, I won't. Why do you think I should leave him? Zhadov... Stop it. I won't listen to you, and I won't let my wife. You, in your old age, have all nonsense in your head. Kukushkina... What's the conversation, what's the conversation, huh? Zhadov... There can be no other conversation between you and me. Leave us alone, I beg you. I love Polina and am obliged to take care of her. Your conversations are harmful to Polina and immoral. Kukushkina... Yes, you are not very excited, my dear sir! Zhadov... You do not understand anything at all. Kukushkina (angrily). I do not understand? No, I understand very well. I saw examples of how women perish from poverty. Poverty brings everything to everything. The other is beating, beating, well, and will go astray. You can't even blame. Zhadov... What? How can you say such things in front of your daughter! Dismiss us from your visit ... now, now. Kukushkina... If it is cold and hungry at home, and your husband is lazy, you will inevitably look for funds ... Zhadov... Leave us, I beg you to be honored. You will drive me out of patience. Kukushkina... Of course I will leave, and you will never have my leg. (To Pauline.) What a husband you have! What a grief! What a misfortune! Pauline... Goodbye mamma! (Cries.) Kukushkina... Cry, cry, unfortunate victim, mourn your fate! Cry to the grave! You'd better die, poor wretch, so that my heart doesn't break. It will be easier for me. (To Zhadov.) Celebrate! You did your job: you deceived, pretended to be in love, seduced with words and then ruined. Your whole purpose was in this, I now understand you. (Leaves.) Polina sees her off. Zhadov... It will be necessary to have a stricter conversation with Polina. And what good, she will be completely confused.Polina returns.
APPEARANCE SIX
Zhadov and Polina (sits down at the window, pouting).
Zhadov(spreading the papers, sits down at the table). Felisata Gerasimovna will probably not come to us again, which I am very happy about. I wish, Polina, that you did not go to her, and also to the Belogubovs. Pauline... Would you order all your relatives to be abandoned for you? Zhadov... Not for me, but for myself. They all have such wild ideas! I teach you good, and they corrupt. Pauline... It's too late to teach me, I'm already learned. Zhadov... It would be terrible for me to be convinced of what you are saying. No, I hope that you will understand me at last. Now I have a lot of work; but there will be less, we will deal with you. You will work in the morning and read in the evenings. You have a lot to read, you haven't read anything. Pauline... How, then, will I sit with you! How much fun! Man is created for society. Zhadov... What? Pauline... Man is created for society. Zhadov... Where did you get that? Pauline... You really consider me a fool. Who doesn't know! Everyone knows. Why did you take me from the street? Zhadov... Yes, for society, you need to prepare yourself, educate. Pauline... None of this is needed, it's all nonsense, you just need to dress in fashion. Zhadov... Well, and we can’t even that, so there’s nothing to interpret. Better do some work, and I'll get down to business. (Takes up a pen.) Pauline... Get to work! How did you come up with this? You’ll have to command me ... push me around in every possible way and mock me! Zhadov(turning around). What is it, Polina? Pauline... And the same, that I want to live as people live, and not as beggars. I'm tired of it. And so I ruined my youth with you. Zhadov... Here's the news! I haven't heard that yet. Pauline... I have not heard, so listen. Do you think that I have been silent for almost a year, and so I will keep silent? No, sorry! Well, what is there to interpret! I want to live as Yulinka lives, as all noble ladies live. Here's a story for you! Zhadov... That's what! Just let me ask you: on what means do we live like this? Pauline... And what a business to me! He who loves will find the means. Zhadov... Have pity on me; I already work like an ox. Pauline... Whether you work or not work - I don't care at all. I didn’t marry you for ordeal, not for tyranny. Zhadov... You have completely exhausted me today. Shut up, for God's sake! Pauline... How, wait, I will be silent! By your grace, everyone laughs at me. What a shame I have endured! The sister was already taking pity. Today I came: "You, he says, are afraid of us, our whole surname: what do you wear!" And this is not a shame to you? And he also assured me that you love. With her own money, my sister bought and brought me a hat. Zhadov (rises). A hat? Pauline... Yes, there she is. Look at. Is that good? Zhadov(strictly). Take it back now. Pauline... Back? Zhadov... Yes, now, now take it down! And don't you dare take anything from them. Pauline... Well, this will never happen; so rest assured. Zhadov... So I'll throw it out the window. Pauline... A! so how did you become? Okay, my friend, I'll take it. Zhadov... And take it down. Pauline (with tears). I'll take it down, take it down. (Puts on a hat, mantilla, takes an umbrella.) Farewell! Zhadov... Goodbye! Pauline... Let's say goodbye well; you will never see me again. Zhadov... What nonsense is this? Pauline... I’ll go to my mother, and I’ll stay there; don't come to us. Zhadov... What nonsense are you talking about, Polina! Pauline... No, I thought it over for a long time! (Draws an umbrella across the floor.) What is my life? One torment, and no joy! Zhadov... Isn't it a sin to tell you? Didn't you see any joy with me? Pauline... What joy! If you were rich, it’s another matter, otherwise you’ll endure poverty. What a joy! Here the other day a drunk came; still, perhaps, you will beat me. Zhadov... Oh my god! What are you saying? Once he came drunk ... But who of the young people is not drunk? Pauline... We know that poverty leads to something. Mamma told me. You, perhaps, will drink, and I will die with you. Zhadov... All the nonsense that goes into your head! Pauline... Why should I expect something good? I already wondered about my fate on the cards, and asked the sorcerer: it turns out - the most unfortunate one. Zhadov(grabs his head). Guessing on the cards! Goes to the sorcerers! Pauline... In your opinion, tea, cards are nonsense! No, I'm sorry, I won't believe in life! Cards never lie. They always tell the truth. What is even on the mind of a person, and then on the cards is now visible. You don’t believe anything, you’re all nonsense; that's why we have no happiness. Zhadov(gently). Pauline! (He walks up to her.) Pauline (walking away). Be merciful, leave. Zhadov... No, you do not love me. Pauline... Why love you? It is very necessary to love for nothing! Zhadov(hot). How for nothing? how for nothing? For love, I pay you love. Why, you are my wife! Have you forgotten this? You are obliged to share with me both sorrow and joy ... if I were even the last beggar. Pauline (sits down on a chair and throws back his head and laughs). Ha, ha, ha, ha! Zhadov... This is really disgusting at last! it is immoral! Pauline (gets up quickly). I don’t understand what you want to live with an immoral wife. Farewell! Zhadov... God be with you, goodbye! If you can leave your husband indifferently, so goodbye! (Sits down at the table and props his head in his hands.) Pauline... And what is it! The fish is looking for where it is deeper, and where the man is better. Zhadov... Well, goodbye, goodbye! Pauline (in front of the mirror). Here's a hat, so a hat, not like mine. (Sings.)"Mother, my dear, my sweetheart ..." In this and along the street, you will walk, after all, someone will look, say: oh, how pretty! Farewell! (Crouches down and leaves.)APPEARANCE SEVEN
Zhadov(one). What a character I have! Where is he good for? I couldn't get along with my wife! What am I to do now? Oh my God! I’m going to lose my mind. I have no reason to live without her. How it happened, I really do not understand. How could I let her go! What will she do with her mother? There she will die completely. Marya! Marya!Marya behind the scenes: "Anything?"
Catch up with the lady, tell me that I need to talk to her. Yes, hurry, hurry! What is it really, Marya, how clumsy you are! Run, run quickly!
Marya behind the scenes: "Now!"
Well, how does she not want to return? And it will do great! She has every right. Why is she to blame for not being able to maintain her decently? She is only eighteen years old, she wants to live, wants pleasure. And I keep her in one room, I am not at home all day. Love is good! Well, here and live alone! Wonderful! very good! .. Again an orphan! what is better! In the morning I will go into the presence, after being present there is no need to go home - I will sit in the tavern until evening; and in the evening home, alone, on a cold bed ... I will burst into tears! And so every day! Very good! (Cries.) Well! I didn't know how to live with my wife, so live alone. No, you have to decide on something. I must either part with her, or ... live ... live ... how people live. We need to think about this. (Thinks.) Breake down? Do I have the strength to part with her? Oh, what a flour! what a flour! No, it's better ... to fight the mills! What am I saying! What thoughts come into my head!
Polina enters.
APPEARANCE EIGHT
Zhadov and Polina.
Pauline (sits down without undressing). What do you want ?! Zhadov (runs up to her). I came, I came! Came again! Aren't you ashamed! You upset me so, upset me so much, Polina, that I won’t get my thoughts together. I was completely confused. (Kisses her hands.) Polina, my friend! Pauline... Don't drive up to me with tenderness. Zhadov... You were joking, Polina, weren't you? Won't you leave me? Pauline... Where is it so interesting to live with you, it’s a pity to be bothered! Zhadov... You're killing me, Polina! If you don’t love, then at least have pity on me. You know how much I love you. Pauline... Yes, it can be seen! they love it. Zhadov... How else do they love? How? Tell me, I will do everything that you order me. Pauline... Go now to your uncle, make peace with him and ask for the same place as Belogubov's, and ask for money by the way; after we will give it back as we get rich. Zhadov... Not for anything in the world, not for anything in the world! And don't tell me that. Pauline... Why did you turn me around? Do you want to laugh at me? It will be so, I have become smarter now. Goodbye! (Rises.) Zhadov... Wait! Wait, Polina! Let me talk to you. Pauline (in front of the mirror). What to talk about? We've all talked over. Zhadov(with a pleading look). No, no, Polina, not everything yet. Much, much more I have to tell you. There is a lot you don’t know. If I could suddenly convey my soul to you, convey what I thought and dreamed of, how happy I would be! Let's talk, Polina, let's talk. You just, for God's sake, listen, I ask you for one favor. Pauline... Speak. Zhadov (hot). Listen, listen! (Takes her hand.) Always, Polina, at all times there have been people, and now there are people who run counter to outdated social habits and conditions. Not on a whim, not on their own, no, but because the rules they know are better, more honest than the rules that society is guided by. And they did not invent these rules themselves: they heard them from the pastoral and professorial departments, they read them in the best literary works of ours and foreign ones. They were brought up in them and want to spend them in life. That it is not easy, I agree. Social vices are strong, the ignorant majority is strong. The struggle is difficult and often disastrous; but the more is the glory for the elect: for them the blessing of posterity; without them, lies, evil, violence would grow to the point that they would block the sunlight from people ... Pauline (looks at him in amazement). You're crazy, really crazy! And you want me to listen to you; I already have a little mind, and you will lose the last one with you. Zhadov... Listen to me, Polina! Pauline... No, I'd rather listen to smart people. Zhadov... Whom will you listen to? Who are these smart people? Pauline... Who? Sister, Belogubov. Zhadov... And you equated me with Belogubov! Pauline... Please tell me! What kind of important person are you? It is known that Belogubov is better than you. The bosses have respect, he loves his wife, an excellent owner, his horses ... And what are you? just brag ... (Mimicking him.) I am smart, I am noble, all fools, all bribe-takers! Zhadov... What a tone you have! What manners! What an abomination! Pauline... You swear again! Goodbye! (He wants to go.) Zhadov (holding her). Wait, wait a little. Pauline... Let me go! Zhadov... No, wait, wait! Polinochka, my friend, wait! (Grabs her dress.) Pauline (laughs). Well, why are you holding me with your hands! what an eccentric you are! If I want to leave, you can't hold me back. Zhadov... What am I to do with you? What am I to do with you, with my dear Polina? Pauline... Go to your uncle and make peace. Zhadov... Wait, wait, let me think. Pauline... Think about it. Zhadov... After all, I love you, I’m ready for anything in the world for you ... But what do you offer me! .. Awful! .. No, we need to think. Yes, yes, yes, yes ... you need to think ... you need to think ... Well, if I don't go to my uncle, will you leave me? Pauline... I'm leaving. Zhadov... Are you going to leave altogether? Pauline... At all. Not ten times to say something, I'm tired of it. Goodbye! Zhadov... Wait, wait! (Sits down at the table, props his head with his hands and thinks.) Pauline... How long will I wait? Zhadov (almost with tears). But you know what, Polina? Isn't it good when a pretty wife is well dressed? Pauline (with feeling). Very good! Zhadov... Well, yes, yes ... (Shouts.) Yes Yes! (Stamps his feet.) And is it good to go with her in a good carriage? Pauline... Oh, how good! Zhadov... After all, a young, pretty wife must be loved, one must cherish her ... (Shouts.) Yes Yes Yes! need to dress her up ... (Calmed down.) Well, well, nothing ... nothing ... It's easy to do! (With despair.) Goodbye, my youthful dreams! Goodbye great lessons! Goodbye, my honest future! After all, I will be an old man, I will have gray hair, there will be children ... Pauline... What you? What are you? Zhadov... No no! we will bring up children in strict rules. Let them follow the century. There is no need for them to look at their fathers. Pauline... Stop it! Zhadov... Let me cry for something; I’m crying for the last time in my life. (Sobs.) Pauline... What happened to you? Zhadov... Nothing ... nothing ... easy ... easy ... everything is easy in the world. Only it is necessary that nothing resembles! It's easy to do! I will do this ... I will avoid, hide from my former comrades ... I will not go where they talk about honesty, about the sanctity of duty ... to work for a whole week, and on Friday and Saturday to collect various Belogubovs and get drunk on stolen money like robbers ... yes, yes ... and then you will get used to it ... Pauline (almost crying). You are saying something bad. Zhadov... Singing songs ... Do you know this song? (Sings.) Take it, there is no big science here. Take what you can only take. Why are our hands hung, How not to take, take, take ... Is this song good? Pauline... What is the matter with you, I really do not understand. Zhadov... Let's go to my uncle to ask for a lucrative job! (He casually puts on his hat and takes his wife by the hand.)ACTION FIVE
CHARACTERS
Aristarkh Vladimir Vyshnevsky. Anna Pavlovna Vyshnevskaya. Akim Akimich Yusov. Vasily Nikolaich Zhadov. Pauline. Anton. Boy.
First act room.
THE FIRST APPEARANCE
Vyshnevskaya and Anton (gives the letter on a tray and leaves).
Vyshnevskaya (is reading). "Dear Empress, Anna Pavlovna! Excuse me if you don't like my letter; your actions with me justify mine too. I heard that you laugh at me and show strangers my letters, written with enthusiasm and in a fit of passion. You cannot do not know my position in society and how much your behavior compromises me. I am not a boy. And by what right do you do this to me? My search was completely justified by your behavior, which, you yourself must admit, was not perfect. And although to me, as a man, some liberties are permissible, but I don’t want to be funny. And you made me the subject of conversation in the whole city. You know my relationship to Lyubimov, I already told you that between the papers that remained after him, I found several of your letters I offered you to get them from me.It was only necessary for you to overcome your pride and agree with the public opinion that I am one of the most beautiful men and more than others enjoy success between ladies. it pleased us to treat me contemptuously; in that case, you must excuse me: I decided to give these letters to your husband. "This is noble! Fu, what an abomination! Well, all the same, I had to end it someday. I'm not one of those women to agree to correct with cold debauchery a misdeed done out of hobby. Our men are good! A man who is forty years old, whose wife is beautiful, begins to court me, talk and do stupid things. What can justify him? Passion? What a passion! He is already, I think, at eighteen years he lost the ability to fall in love. No, it's very simple: various gossips about me reached him, and he considers me an accessible woman. And without any ceremony he begins to write passionate letters to me, filled with the most vulgar affections, obviously very cold-bloodedly invented. travels ten drawing rooms, where he will tell the most terrible things about me, and then comes to console me.Says that he despises public opinion, that passion in his eyes justifies everything. , says vulgar phrases, wanting to give his face a passionate expression, makes some strange, sour smiles. Doesn't even bother to pretend to be in love properly. Why work, it will do just that, if only the form was observed. If you laugh at such a person or show him the contempt he deserves, he considers himself entitled to take revenge. For him, the funny is worse than the dirtiest vice. He will brag about his relationship with a woman himself - this does him credit; and to show his letters is a disaster, it compromises him. He himself feels that they are funny and stupid. For whom do they consider those women to whom they write such letters? Shameless people! And now he, in a fit of noble indignation, is doing meanness against me and, probably, considers himself right. Yes, he is not alone, everyone is like that ... Well, so much the better, at least I will explain to my husband. I even want this explanation. He will see that if I am guilty in front of him, then he is more guilty in front of me. He killed my whole life. With his egoism he dried my heart, robbed me of the possibility of family happiness; he made me cry about the fact that it is impossible to turn back - about my youth. I spent it with him vulgarly, emotionlessly, while my soul asked for life and love. In the empty, petty circle of his acquaintances, into which he introduced me, all the best spiritual qualities died out in me, all noble impulses froze. And in addition, I feel remorse for a misdeed that was beyond my power to avoid.Yusov enters, visibly upset.
THE SECOND PHENOMENON
Vyshnevskaya and Yusov.
Yusov (bowing). Haven't you come yet, sir? Vyshnevskaya... Not yet. Sit down.Yusov sits down.
Are you worried about something? Yusov... No words, sir ... the lips go numb. Vyshnevskaya... What is it? Yusov (shakes her head). A man does not care ... a ship on the sea ... suddenly a shipwreck, and there is no one who saves! .. Vyshnevskaya... I do not understand. Yusov... I mean transience ... what is solid in this life? What will we come with? with what shall we appear? .. Some deeds ... one can say, like a burden behind our back ... in denunciation ... and even thoughts ... (waving his hand) all are recorded. Vyshnevskaya... Has anyone died or what? Yusov... No, sir, a revolution in life. (Sniffs tobacco.) In wealth and in nobility, an eclipse happens ... our feelings ... we forget the poor brethren ... pride, carnivorousness ... For that, the punishment happens according to our deeds. Vyshnevskaya... I have known this for a long time; I just don't understand why you are wasting your eloquence in front of me. Yusov... Close to my heart ... Suppose, although I am not subject to great responsibility here ... but still over such a person! What is strong? .. when the san does not protect either. Vyshnevskaya... What kind of person? Yusov... Has fallen on us, sir. Vyshnevskaya... Yes, speak! Yusov... Allegedly, omissions, shortfalls in amounts and various abuses were discovered. Vyshnevskaya... What? Yusov... So we are on trial, sir ... That is, I, in fact, am not subject to great responsibility, and Aristarkh Vladimir will have to ... Vyshnevskaya... What should? Yusov... Responsible for all their property and be prosecuted for allegedly illegal acts. Vyshnevskaya (looking up). Reckoning begins! Yusov... Of course, mortal ... They will find fault, so, perhaps, they will find something; I believe that, according to the current severity, they will be put aside ... I must live in poverty without a piece of bread. Vyshnevskaya... You seem to be far from that. Yusov... Why, children, sir.
Silence.
I kept thinking, dear, with sorrow I thought: what is the allowance for us? For pride ... Pride blinds a person, blinds his eyes. Vyshnevskaya... Completeness, what pride there is! just for bribes. Yusov... Bribes? Bribes, something unimportant ... many are susceptible. There is no humility, that's the main thing ... Fate is the same as fortune ... as depicted in the picture ... a wheel, and people on it ... rises up and down again, rises and then resigns itself, exalts itself and again nothing. .. so everything is circular. Arrange your well-being, work, acquire property ... ascend in dreams ... and suddenly you are naked! .. The inscription is signed under this fortune ... (With feeling.) A wonderful person in the world! A whole century is fussing, He wants to find happiness, But he does not imagine that fate controls him. That's what you need to figure out! Is this what a person should remember? We will be born, we have nothing, and into the grave. Why are we working? Here is the philosophy! What is our mind? What can he comprehend?
Vyshnevsky enters and silently walks into the office. Yusov gets up.
Vyshnevskaya... How he has changed! Yusov... I should send for a doctor. Something bad had happened to them in their presence just now. Such a blow ... to a man of noble feelings ... how to bear it! Vyshnevskaya (calls).A boy enters.
Go to the doctor, ask to come quickly.
Vyshnevsky comes out and sits down in an armchair.
PHENOMENON THREE
The same and Vyshnevsky.
Vyshnevskaya (going up to him). I heard from Akim Akimych that you are in misfortune. Do not give up.Silence.
You have changed terribly. Are you feeling unwell? I sent for a doctor. Vyshnevsky... What hypocrisy! What a heinous lie! What meanness! Vyshnevskaya (proudly). No lies! I feel sorry for you, as I would begin to feel sorry for everyone in misfortune - no more, no less. (He walks away and sits down.) Vyshnevsky... I don’t need your regrets. Don't feel sorry for me! I am dishonored, ruined! For what? Vyshnevskaya... Ask your conscience. Vyshnevsky... Don't talk about conscience! You have no right to talk about her ... Yusov! Why did I die? Yusov... Vicissitude ... fate, sir. Vyshnevsky... Nonsense, what a fate! Strong enemies are the reason! That's what killed me! Curse you! They envied my well-being. How not to envy! In a few years, a person rises, riches, boldly creates his own prosperity, builds houses and dachas, buys village after village, grows above them with his whole head. How not to envy! A person walks to riches and honors like a ladder. To overtake or at least catch up with him, you need a mind, a genius. There is nowhere to take the mind, well, so substitute his leg. I choke with rage ... Yusov... A person's envy can move everything ... Vyshnevsky... It is not the fall that enrages me, no - but the triumph that I will give them by my fall. What a conversation now! what a joy! Oh my gosh, I won't take it! (Calls.)
Anton enters.
Water!..
Anton gives in and leaves.
Now I need to talk to you. Vyshnevskaya... What do you want? Vyshnevsky... I want to tell you that you are a depraved woman. Vyshnevskaya... Aristarkh Vladimirich, there are strangers here. Yusov... Will you order to leave? Vyshnevsky... Stay! I will say the same to all the courtyard. Vyshnevskaya... Why are you insulting me? You have no one to pour out your impotent anger on. Is it not a sin for you! Vyshnevsky... Here's proof of my words. (Throws the envelope with letters.) Yusov lifts and serves Vyshnevskaya. Vyshnevskaya... Thank you. (He looks at them convulsively and hides them in his pocket.) Vyshnevsky... Yusov, what do they do with a woman who, despite all the good deeds of her husband, forgets her duty? Yusov... Um ... um ... Vyshnevsky... I'll tell you: kicked out in disgrace! Yes, Yusov, I'm unhappy, quite unhappy, I'm alone! Do not even leave me. A person, no matter how highly placed he is, when he is in grief, still seeks consolation in the family. (With malice.) And I find in my family ... Vyshnevskaya... Don't talk about the family! You never had it. You don't even know what a family is! Let me now, Aristarkh Vladimirich, tell you everything that I have endured while living with you. Vyshnevsky... There are no excuses for you. Vyshnevskaya... I don’t want to make excuses - I have nothing to make excuses for. For a moment's passion, I endured a lot of grief, a lot of humiliation, but, believe me, without a murmur at fate and without curses, like you. I only want to tell you that if I am guilty, then it is in front of myself, and not in front of you. You mustn't blame me. If you had a heart, you would feel that you have ruined me. Vyshnevsky... Ha, ha! Blame someone else for your behavior, not me. Vyshnevskaya... No, you. Did you take a wife for yourself? Remember how you wooed me! When you were the groom, I did not hear a single word from you about family life; you behaved like an old red tape, seducing young girls with gifts, you looked at me like a satyr. You saw my disgust for you, and in spite of this, you nevertheless bought me for money from my relatives, just as slaves are bought in Turkey. What do you want from me? Vyshnevsky... You are my wife, don't forget! and I have the right to always demand that you fulfill your duty. Vyshnevskaya... Yes, you, I will not say, sanctified your purchase, no - but closed it, disguised it as a marriage. There was no other way: my family would not agree, but for you it is all the same. And then, when you were already my husband, you did not look at me as a wife: you bought my affection for money. If you noticed in me disgust for you, you hurried to me with some expensive gift, and then you approached boldly, with every right. What was I supposed to do? .. you are still my husband: I obeyed. O! stop respecting yourself. What it feels like to feel contempt for yourself! This is what you have brought me to! But what happened to me later, when I found out that even the money you give me is not yours; that they were not purchased honestly ... Vyshnevsky(stands up). Shut up! Vyshnevskaya... Excuse me, I will shut up about this, you have already been punished enough; but I will continue about myself. Vyshnevsky... Say what you want, I don't care; you will not change my opinion of you. Vyshnevskaya... Maybe you will change your mind about yourself after my words. You remember how I was shy of society, I was afraid of him. And not without reason. But you demanded - I had to give in to you. And now, completely unprepared, without advice, without a leader, you introduced me into your circle, in which temptation and vice are at every step. There was no one to warn or support me! However, I myself have learned all the pettiness, all the debauchery of those people who make up your acquaintance. I took care of myself. At that time I met Lyubimov in the company, you knew him. Remember his open face, his bright eyes, how clever and how pure he was! How fervently he argued with you, how boldly he spoke about all lies and untruths! He said what I already felt, although not clearly. I expected objections from you. There were no objections from you; you only slandered him, invented vile gossip behind his back, tried to drop him in public opinion, and nothing more. How I wished then to intercede for him; but I had neither the ability nor the intelligence to do this. All I could do was ... love him. Vyshnevsky... Is that what you did? Vyshnevskaya... So I did. Then I saw how you ruined him, how little by little you achieved your goal. That is, you are not alone, but everyone who needed it. You first armed the society against him, said that his acquaintance was dangerous for young people, then you constantly repeated that he was a free-thinker and a harmful person, and restored his superiors against him; he was forced to leave the service, relatives, acquaintance, leave here ... (Covers his eyes with a handkerchief.) I saw it all, I suffered all on myself. I saw the triumph of anger, and you still consider me the girl you bought and who should be grateful and love you for your gifts. My pure relationship to him was made vile gossip; the ladies began to clearly slander me, and secretly envy me; old and young red tape began to persecute me without ceremony. This is what you have brought me, a woman who, perhaps, deserves a better fate, a woman who can understand the true meaning of life and hate evil! That's all I wanted to tell you - you will never hear me reproach again. Vyshnevsky... In vain. I'm a poor man now, and poor people let their wives swear. They can do it. If I were the Vyshnevsky that I was up to this day, I would have driven you away without speaking; but now, thanks to my enemies, we must descend from the circle of decent people. In the lower circle, husbands scold their wives and sometimes fight - and this does not make any scandal.
Enter Zhadov with his wife.
PHENOMENON FOUR
The same, Zhadov and Polina.
Vyshnevsky... Why are you? Zhadov... Daddy, I'm sorry ... Pauline... Hello uncle! Hello auntie! (Whispers to Vyshnevskaya.) I came to ask for a place. (Sits down beside Vyshnevskaya.) Vyshnevskaya... How! Really? (Looks curiously at Zhadov.) Vyshnevsky... You came to laugh at your uncle! Zhadov... Daddy, I may have offended you. Excuse me ... the fascination of youth, ignorance of life ... I shouldn't have ... you are my relative. Vyshnevsky... Well? Zhadov... I experienced what it means to live without support ... without patronage ... I'm married. Vyshnevsky... Well, what do you want? Zhadov... I live very poorly ... For me it would be; but for my wife, whom I love very much ... Let me serve again under your command ... uncle, provide me! Give me a place where I ... can ... (quiet) get something. Pauline (Vishnevskaya). More profitable. Vyshnevsky (laughs). Ha, ha, ha! .. Yusov! Here they are, the heroes! A young man who shouted at all crossroads about bribe-takers, talked about some new generation, comes to us to ask for a profitable place to take bribes! Good new generation! ha, ha, ha! Zhadov (rises)... Oh! (Grabs his chest.) Yusov... He was young! Did he speak! Words alone ... So they will remain words. Life will make itself felt! (Sniffs tobacco.) Give up philosophy. Only that is not good that before it was necessary to listen to smart people, and not be rude. Vyshnevsky(To Yusov). No, Yusov, do you remember what the tone was! What self-confidence! What indignation at vice! (To Zhadov, getting hotter and hotter.) Didn't you say that a new generation of educated, honest people, martyrs of truth is growing up, who will expose us, throw mud at us? Are you not? I confess to you, I believed. I hated you deeply ... I was afraid of you. Yes, not joking. And what turns out to be! You are honest until the lessons that have been hammered into your head are exhausted; honest only until the first meeting with need! Well, you have made me happy, there is nothing to say! .. No, you are not worth hatred - I despise you! Zhadov... Despise, despise me. I despise myself. Vyshnevsky... Here are the people who have taken the privilege of being honest! You and I are disgraced! We were put on trial ... Zhadov... What do I hear! Yusov... People are always people. Zhadov... Daddy, I did not say that our generation is more honest than others. There have always been and will always be honest people, honest citizens, honest officials; there have always been and will be weak people. Here's proof - myself. I only said that in our time ... (begins quietly and gradually becomes animated) society is gradually abandoning its former indifference to vice, energetic exclamations against social evil are heard ... I said that the consciousness of our shortcomings is awakening in us; and in the mind there is hope for a better future. I said that public opinion is beginning to form ... that a sense of justice, a sense of duty is being brought up in young men, and it is growing, growing and bearing fruit. You will not see, so we will see and thank God. You have nothing to rejoice at in my weakness. I am not a hero, I am an ordinary, weak person; I have little will, like almost all of us. Need, circumstances, lack of education of relatives, surrounding debauchery can drive me as they drive a mail horse. But one lesson is enough, even the one we have now .... thank you for it; one meeting with a decent person is enough to resurrect me, to maintain firmness in me. I can hesitate, but I will not commit a crime; I can trip but not fall. My heart is already softened by education; it will not grow stiff in vice.Silence.
I don't know where to go from shame ... Yes, I am ashamed, ashamed that I am with you. Vyshnevsky (rising). So go out! Zhadov (meekly). I’ll go. Polina, now you can go to mamma; I won't hold you. Now I will not betray myself. If fate brings me to eat one black bread, I will eat one black bread. No good will tempt me, no! I want to retain the dear right to look everyone in the eye directly, without shame, without secret remorse, to read and watch satires and comedies on bribe-takers and to laugh from the bottom of my heart, with frank laughter. If my whole life consists of labors and hardships, I will not grumble ... I will ask God for one consolation, I will wait for one reward. What do you think?
There is a short silence.
I will wait for the time when the bribe-taker fears the public court more than the criminal one. Vyshnevsky (rises). I'll strangle you with my own hands! (Staggers.) Yusov, I feel bad! Take me to the study. (Leaves with Yusov.)
APPEARANCE FIFTH
Vyshnevskaya, Zhadov, Polina and then Yusov.
Pauline (goes up to Zhadov). Did you think that I really want to leave you? This is me on purpose. I was taught. Vyshnevskaya... Make peace, my children. Zhadov and Polina kiss. Yusov (in the door). The doctors! The doctors! Vyshnevskaya (sitting up in the chairs). I'm sorry, what? Yusov... With Aristarkh Vladimirich blow! Vyshnevskaya (crying weakly). Oh! (Sinks into chairs.)Polina clings to Zhadov in fear; Zhadov rests his hand on the table and lowers his head.
Yusov stands at the door, completely confused.
Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky
Plum
(Comedy in five acts)
Action one
Characters
Aristarkh Vladimir Vyshnevsky, decrepit old man, with signs of gout.
Anna Pavlovna, his wife, a young woman.
Vasily Nikolaich Zhadov, a young man, his nephew.
Akim Akimich Yusov, an old official serving under the command of Vyshnevsky.
Onisim Panfilich Belogubov, a young official subordinate to Yusov.
Anton, a man in Vyshnevsky's house.
Boy.
Large hall in Vyshnevsky's house, richly furnished. To the left is the door to Vyshnevsky’s office, to the right — to Anna Pavlovna’s rooms; on both sides on the walls on the mirror and tables under them; right outside the front door.
The first phenomenon
Vyshnevsky in a biker coat and without a wig and Vyshnevskaya in the morning dress. They leave the half of Vyshnevskaya.
Vyshnevsky... What ingratitude! What anger! (Sits down.) You have been married to me for five years, and at five years old I cannot earn your favor in any way. Weird! Maybe you are unhappy with something?
Vyshnevskaya... Not at all.
Vyshnevsky... I think. Was it not for you that I bought and decorated this house splendidly? Did I build a dacha for you last year? What is not enough for you? I think not a single merchant has as many diamonds as you do.
Vyshnevskaya... Thank you. However, I did not demand anything from you.
Vyshnevsky... You didn't demand; but I had to reward you with something for the difference in years. I thought to find in you a woman capable of appreciating the sacrifices I have made to you. I am not a magician, I cannot build marble chambers with one gesture. You need money for silk, gold, sable, velvet, in which you are wrapped from head to toe. You need to get them. And they are not always easy to get.
Vyshnevskaya... I do not need anything. I have already told you about this more than once.
Vyshnevsky... But I need to finally win your heart. Your coldness drives me crazy. I am a passionate person: out of love for a woman I am capable of anything! I bought you this one near Moscow. Do you know that the money with which I bought it ... how can I tell you? .. well, in a word, I risked more than prudence allowed. I can be held accountable.
Vyshnevskaya... For God's sake, do not make me a participant in your actions if they are not entirely honest. Don't justify them by loving me. I ask you. This is unbearable for me. However, I do not believe you. Until you knew me, you lived and acted the same way. I don't even want to answer for your behavior before my conscience.
Vyshnevsky... Behavior! Behavior! Out of love for you, I am ready even for a crime. To only buy your love, I am willing to pay with my dishonor. (Gets up and goes up to Vyshnevskaya.)
Vyshnevskaya... Aristarkh Vladimirich, I cannot pretend.
Vyshnevsky(takes her hand)... Pretend! Pretend!
Vyshnevskaya(turning away)... Never.
Vyshnevsky... But I love you! .. (Shivering, she drops to her knees.) I love you!
Vyshnevskaya... Aristarkh Vladimirich, do not be humiliated! It's time for you to get dressed. (Calls.)
Vyshnevsky rises. Enters Anton from the office.
Dress for Aristarkh Vladimirich.
Anton... Please, you're done, sir. (Goes into the office.)
Vyshnevsky is following him.
Vyshnevsky(in the door)... Snake! snake! (Leaves.)
The second phenomenon
Vyshnevskaya(one, sits for a while thinking).
Enters boy, gives the letter and leaves.
Who is it from? (Prints out and reads.) That's still cute! Love message. And from whom! An elderly man, a beautiful wife. Disgusting! Insulting! What should a woman do in this case? And what vulgarities have been written! What stupid tenderness! Send it back? No, it is better to show it to some of your acquaintances and laugh together, after all, entertainment ... phew, how disgusting! (Leaves.)
Anton leaves the office and stands at the door; enters Yusov, Then Belogubov.
The third phenomenon
Anton, Yusov and Belogubov.
Yusov(with portfolio)... Report back, Antosha.
Anton leaves. Yusov is recovering in front of the mirror.
Anton(in the door)... Please, please.
Yusov leaves.
Belogubov(enters, takes a comb out of his pocket and brushes his hair)... What, Akim Akimych is here, sir?
Anton... Now they went into the office.
Belogubov... How are you today? Affectionate sir?
Anton... Do not know. (Leaves.)
Belogubov is standing at the table by the mirror.
Yusov(when leaving, she is visibly important)... Oh, you're here.
Belogubov... Here, s.
Yusov(looking through the paper)... Belogubov!
Belogubov... What will you please, sir?
Yusov... Here, my brother, take it home, rewrite it neatly. Ordered.
Belogubov... I was ordered to rewrite, sir?
Yusov(sitting down)... You. He was said to have good handwriting.
Belogubov... I am very pleased to hear, sir.
Yusov... So listen, brother: take your time. The main thing is to be cleaner. You see where to send ...
Belogubov... I understand, Akim Akimych, sir. I’ll write calligraphically, I’ll sit all night.
Yusov(sighs)... Oho-ho-ho! oho-ho-ho!
Belogubov... Me, Akim Akimych, if only they paid attention.
Yusov(strictly)... What are you kidding about with that, or what?
Belogubov... How can you, sir! ..
Yusov... Noticed ... It's easy to say! What else does an official need? What more could he want?
Belogubov... Yes, sir!
Yusov... Pay attention to you, well, you and the man, you breathe; and not turned - what are you?
Belogubov... Well, what really, sir.
Yusov... Worm!
Belogubov... I think I’m Akim Akimych, I’m trying, sir.
Yusov... You? (Looks at him.) I have you on a good note.
Belogubov... I, Akim Akimych, even deny myself food in order to be cleanly dressed. A cleanly dressed official is always in full view of his superiors, sir. If you please see how the waist ... (Turns.)
Yusov... Wait. (looks at him and sniffs the tobacco.) Thalia is good ... Moreover, Belogubov, look, be more literate.
Belogubov... Here's the spelling, I, Akim Akimych, is bad ... So, believe me, it's a shame myself.
Yusov... Eka importance, spelling! Not all of a sudden, you get used to it. Write a rough draft first, and ask to correct it, and then write from this. Do you hear what I say?
Belogubov... I’ll ask someone to fix it, otherwise Zhadov is laughing, sir.
Yusov... Who?
Belogubov... Zhadov-s.
Yusov(strictly)... What is he himself? What kind of bird? Still laughing!
Belogubov... Why, sir, you have to show that you are a scientist.
Yusov... Ugh! That's what he is.
Belogubov... I can’t even define him Akim Akimych, what kind of person he is.