Plays, series 2 | Page 7

what a devil is, but you go calling people devils. ... Take this crooked

old woman, for instance. [Points to EFIMOVNA] She sees an enemy in
me, but is her time, for some woman's nonsense or other, she's given
her soul to the devil five times.
EFIMOVNA. Hoo, hoo, hoo. ... Gracious heavens! [Covers her face]
Little Savva!
TIHON. What are you frightening them for? A great pleasure! [The
door slams in the wind] Lord Jesus. ... The wind, the wind!
MERIK. [Stretching himself] Eh, to show my strength! [The door
slams again] If I could only measure myself against the wind! Shall I
tear the door down, or suppose I tear up the inn by the roots! [Gets up
and lies down again] How dull!
NAZAROVNA. You'd better pray, you heathen! Why are you so
restless?
EFIMOVNA. Don't speak to him, leave him alone! He's looking at us
again. [To MERIK] Don't look at us, evil man! Your eyes are like the
eyes of a devil before cockcrow!
SAVVA. Let him look, pilgrims! You pray, and his eyes won't do you
any harm.
BORTSOV. No, I can't. It's too much for my strength! [Goes up to the
counter] Listen, Tihon, I ask you for the last time. ... Just half a glass!
TIHON. [Shakes his head] The money!
BORTSOV. My God, haven't I told you! I've drunk it all! Where am I
to get it? And you won't go broke even if you do let me have a drop of
vodka on tick. A glass of it only costs you two copecks, and it will save
me from suffering! I am suffering! Understand! I'm in misery, I'm
suffering!
TIHON. Go and tell that to someone else, not to me. ... Go and ask the
Orthodox, perhaps they'll give you some for Christ's sake, if they feel
like it, but I'll only give bread for Christ's sake.
BORTSOV. You can rob those wretches yourself, I shan't. ... I won't do
it! I won't! Understand? [Hits the bar-counter with his fist] I won't. [A
pause.] Hm ... just wait. ... [Turns to the pilgrim women] It's an idea, all
the same, Orthodox ones! Spare five copecks! My inside asks for it. I'm
ill!
FEDYA. Oh, you swindler, with your "spare five copecks." Won't you
have some water?
BORTSOV. How I am degrading myself! I don't want it! I don't want

anything! I was joking!
MERIK. You won't get it out of him, sir. ... He's a famous skinflint. ...
Wait, I've got a five-copeck piece somewhere. ... We'll have a glass
between us--half each [Searches in his pockets] The devil ... it's lost
somewhere. ... Thought I heard it tinkling just now in my pocket. ... No;
no, it isn't there, brother, it's your luck! [A pause.]
BORTSOV. But if I can't drink, I'll commit a crime or I'll kill myself. ...
What shall I do, my God! [Looks through the door] Shall I go out, then?
Out into this darkness, wherever my feet take me. ...
MERIK. Why don't you give him a sermon, you pilgrims? And you,
Tihon, why don't you drive him out? He hasn't paid you for his night's
accommodation. Chuck him out! Eh, the people are cruel nowadays.
There's no gentleness or kindness in them. ... A savage people! A man
is drowning and they shout to him: "Hurry up and drown, we've got no
time to look at you; we've got to go to work." As to throwing him a
rope--there's no worry about that. ... A rope would cost money.
SAVVA. Don't talk, kind man!
MERIK. Quiet, old wolf! You're a savage race! Herods! Sellers of your
souls! [To TIHON] Come here, take off my boots! Look sharp now!
TIHON. Eh, he's let himself go I [Laughs] Awful, isn't it.
MERIK. Go on, do as you're told! Quick now! [Pause] Do you hear me,
or don't you? Am I talking to you or the wall? [Stands up]
TIHON. Well ... give over.
MERIK. I want you, you fleecer, to take the boots off me, a poor tramp.
TIHON. Well, well ... don't get excited. Here have a glass. ... Have a
drink, now!
MERIK. People, what do I want? Do I want him to stand me vodka, or
to take off my boots? Didn't I say it properly? [To TIHON] Didn't you
hear me rightly? I'll wait a moment, perhaps you'll hear me then.
[There is excitement among the pilgrims and tramps, who half-raise
themselves in order to look at TIHON and MERIK. They wait in
silence.]
TIHON. The devil brought you here! [Comes out from behind the bar]
What a gentleman! Come on now. [Takes off MERIK'S boots] You
child of Cain ...
MERIK. That's right. Put them side by side. ... Like that ...