Redemption and two other plays Part 17

LAWYER. Excuse me, you're Prince Sergius Abreskov, aren't you? (To the Prince.) There's an empty chair just at the left.

[The guard lets PRINCE SERGIUS pa.s.s.

IVaN PETROVICH. Prince! Bah! I am an aristocrat of the soul, and that's a higher t.i.tle.

LAWYER. Excuse me.

[And exits down R. C. into courtroom.

[PETUSHKoV, FeDYA'S companion in the dive, enters approaching IVaN PETROVICH.

PETUSHKoV (R.). Oh, there you are. Well, how're things going?

IVaN PETROVICH (L.). The speeches for the defense have begun, but this ignorant rascal won't let us in. Curse his d.a.m.ned petty soul.

GUARD (C.) Silence! Where do you think you are?

[Further applause is heard; door of the court opens, and there is a rush of lawyers and the general public into the corridor.

A LADY. Oh, it's simply wonderful! When he spoke I felt as if my heart were breaking.

AN OFFICER. It's all far better than a novel. But I don't see how she could ever have loved him. Such a sinister, horrible figure.

[The other door opens over L.; the accused comes out.

THE LADY (this group is down R.). Hush! There he is. See how wild he looks.

FeDYA (seeing IVaN PETROVICH). Did you bring it?

[Goes to PETROVICH.

PETROVICH. There.

[He hands FeDYA something; FeDYA hides it in his pocket.

FeDYA (seeing PETUSHKoV). How foolish! How vulgar and how boring all this is, isn't it?

[Men and women enter door L. and stand down L. watching.

[Enter PETRuSHIN, from R. C., FeDYA'S counsel, a stout man with red cheeks; very animated.

PETRuSHIN (rubbing his hands). Well, well, my friend. It's going along splendidly. Only remember, don't go and spoil things for me in your last speech.

FeDYA (takes him by the arm). Tell me, what'll the worst be?

PETRuSHIN. I've already told you. Exile to Siberia.

FeDYA. Who'll be exiled to Siberia?

PETRuSHIN. You and your wife, naturally.

FeDYA. And at the best?

PETRuSHIN. Religious pardon and the annulment of the second marriage.

FeDYA. You mean--that we should be bound again--to one another----

PETRuSHIN. Yes. Only try to collect yourself. Keep up your courage.

After all, there's no occasion for alarm.

FeDYA. There couldn't be any other sentence, you're sure?

PETRuSHIN. None other. None other.

[Exits R. I. FeDYA stands motionless.

GUARD (crosses and exits L. I. Calling). Pa.s.s on. Pa.s.s on. No loitering in the corridor.

[VICTOR and LISA enter from door L. Start to go off L. when pistol shot stops them.

FeDYA (He turns his back to the audience, and from beneath his ragged coat shoots himself in the heart. There is a m.u.f.fled explosion, smoke.

He crumples up in a heap on the floor. All the people in the pa.s.sage rush to him.) (In a very low voice.) This time--it's well done...

Lisa....

[People are crowding in from all the doors, judges, etc. LISA rushes to FeDYA, KAReNIN, IVaN PETROVICH and PRINCE SERGIUS follow.

LISA. Fedya!... Fedya!... What have you done? Oh why!... why!...

FeDYA. Forgive me---- No other way---- Not for you--but for myself----

LISA. You will live. You must live.

FeDYA. No--no---- Good-bye---- (He seems to smile, then he mutters just under his breath.) Masha.

[In the distance the gypsies are heard singing "No More at Evening." They sing until the curtain.

You're too late----

[Suddenly he raises his head from LISA'S knees, and barely utters as if he saw something in front of him.

Ah.... Happiness!...

[His head falls from LISA'S knees to the ground. She still clings to it, in grief and horror. He dies.

[The lights dim and out.

CURTAIN