Redemption and two other plays Part 38

MATRYoNA. That's enough now. Nikita dear, why are you obstinate?

What's to be done now? One must take some trouble. Go, honey.

ANiSYA. See the fine gentleman! He doesn't like it! You've put upon me long enough! You've trampled me under foot! Now it's my turn! Go, I tell you, or else I'll do what I said.... There, take the spade; there, now go!

NIKiTA. Drat you! Can't you leave a fellow alone! (Takes the spade, but shrinks.) If I don't choose to, I'll not go!

ANiSYA. Not go? (Begins to shout.) Neighbors! Heh! heh!

MATRYoNA (closes her mouth). What are you about? You're mad! He'll go.... Go, sonny, go, my own.

ANiSYA. I'll cry murder!

NIKiTA. Now stop! Oh, what people! You'd better be quick.... As well be hung for a sheep as a lamb!

[Goes towards the cellar.

MATRYoNA. Yes, that's just it, honey. If you know how to amuse yourself, you must know how to hide the consequences.

ANiSYA (still excited). He's trampled on me ... he and his s.l.u.t! But it's enough! I'm not going to be the only one! Let him also be a murderer! Then he'll know how it feels!

MATRYoNA. There, there! How she flares up! Don't you be cross, la.s.s, but do things quietly little by little, as it's best. You go to the girl, and he'll do the work.

[Follows NIKiTA to the cellar with a lantern. He descends into the cellar.

ANiSYA. And I'll make him strangle his dirty brat! (Still excited.) I've worried myself to death all alone, with Peter's bones weighing on my mind! Let him feel it too! I'll not spare myself; I've said I'll not spare myself!

NIKiTA (from the cellar). Show a light!

MATRYoNA (holds up the lantern to him. To ANiSYA). He's digging. Go and bring it.

ANiSYA. You stay with him, or he'll go away, the wretch! And I'll go and bring it.

MATRYoNA. Mind, don't forget to baptize it, or I will if you like.

Have you a cross?

ANiSYA. I'll find one. know how to do it.

[Exit.

See at end of Act, VARIATION, which may be used instead of the following.

MATRYoNA. How the woman bristled up! But one must allow she's been put upon. Well, but with the Lord's help, when we've covered this business, there'll be an end of it. We'll shove the girl off without any trouble. My son will live in comfort. The house, thank G.o.d, is as full as an egg. They'll not forget me either. Where would they have been without Matryona? They'd not have known how to contrive things.

(Peering into the cellar.) Is it ready, sonny? Nikita (puts out his head). What are you about there? Bring it quick! What are you dawdling for? If it is to be done, let it be done.

MATRYoNA (goes towards door of the hut and meets ANiSYA. ANiSYA comes out with a baby wrapped in rags). Well, have you baptized it?

ANiSYA. Why, of course. It was all I could do to take it away--she wouldn't give it up!

[Comes forward and hands it to NIKiTA.

NIKiTA (does not take it). You bring it yourself!

ANiSYA. Take it, I tell you!

[Throws the baby to him.

NIKiTA (catches it). It's alive! Gracious me, it's moving! It's alive!

What am I to....

ANiSYA (s.n.a.t.c.hes the baby from him and throws it into the cellar). Be quick and smother it, and then it won't be alive! (Pushes NIKiTA down.) It's your doing, and you must finish it.

MATRYoNA (sits on the doorstep of the hut). He's tender-hearted. It's hard on him, poor dear. Well, what of that? Isn't it also his sin?

[ANiSYA stands by the cellar.

MATRYoNA (sits looking at her and discourses). Oh, oh, oh! How frightened he was: well, but what of that? If it is hard, it's the only thing to be done. Where was one to put it? And just think, how often it happens that people pray to G.o.d to have children! But no, G.o.d gives them none; or they are all still-born. Look at our priest's wife now.... And here, where it's not wanted, here it lives. (Looks towards the cellar.) I suppose he's finished. (To ANiSYA.) Well?

ANiSYA (looking into the cellar). He's put a board on it and is sitting on it. It must be finished!

MATRYoNA. Oh, oh! One would be glad not to sin, but what's one to do?

[Re-enter NIKiTA from cellar, trembling all over.

NIKiTA. It's still alive! I can't! It's alive!

ANiSYA. If it's alive, where are you off to?

[Tries to stop him.

NIKiTA (rushes at her). Go away! I'll kill you! (Catches hold of her arms; she escapes, he runs after her with the spade. MATRYoNA runs towards him and stops him. ANiSYA runs into the porch. MATRYoNA tries to wrench the spade from him. To his mother.) I'll kill you! I'll kill you! Go away! (MATRYoNA runs to ANiSYA in the porch. NIKiTA stops.) I'll kill you! I'll kill you all!

MATRYoNA. That's because he's so frightened! Never mind, it will pa.s.s!

NIKiTA. What have they made me do? What have they made me do? How it whimpered.... How it crunched under me! What have they done with me?... And it's really alive, still alive! (Listens in silence.) It's whimpering... There, it's whimpering.

[Runs to the cellar.

MATRYoNA (to ANiSYA). He's going; it seems he means to bury it.

Nikita, you'd better take the lantern!

NIKiTA (does not heed her, but listens by the cellar door). I can hear nothing! I suppose it was fancy! (Moves away, then stops.) How the little bones crunched under me. Krr ... kr.... What have they made me do? (Listens again.) Again whimpering! It's really whimpering! What can it be? Mother! Mother, I say!

[Goes up to her.