The Lower Depths

LUKA [worried] Natasha! That was she crying – oh, God.

[From Kostilyoff’s room is heard noise, shuffling, breaking of crockery, and Kostilyoff’s shrill cry: “Ah! Heretic! Bitch!”]

VASSILISA. Wait, wait – I’ll teach her – there, there!

NATASHA. They’re beating me – killing me.

SATINE [shouts through the window] Hey – you there – ..

LUKA [trembling] Where’s Vassily – ? Call Vaska – oh, God – listen, brothers.

THE ACTOR [running out] I’ll find him at once!

BUBNOFF. They beat her a lot these days.

SATINE. Come on, old man – we’ll be witnesses.

LUKA [following Satine] Oh – witnesses – what for? Vassily – he should be called at once!

NATASHA. Sister – sister dear! Va-a-a.

BUBNOFF. They’ve gagged her – I’ll go and see.

[The noise in Kostilyoff’s room dies down gradually as if they had gone into the hallway. The old man’s cry: “Stop!” is heard. A door is slammed noisily, and the latter sound cuts off all the other noises sharply. Quiet on the stage. Twilight.]

KLESHTCH [seated on the sledge, indifferently, rubbing his hands; mutters at first indistinguishably, then:] What then? One must live. [Louder] Must have shelter – well? There’s no shelter, no roof – nothing.. there’s only man – man alone – no hope.. no help.

[Exit slowly, his head bent. A few moments of ominous silence, then somewhere in the hallway a mass of sounds, which grows in volume and comes nearer. Individual voices are heard.]

VASSILISA. I’m her sister – let go.

KOSTILYOFF. What right have you.. ?

VASSILISA. Jail-bird!

SATINE. Call Vaska – quickly! Zob – hit him!

[A police whistle. The Tartar runs in, his right hand in a sling.]

THE TARTAR. There’s a new law for you – kill only in daytime!

[Enter Zob, followed by Miedviedieff.]

ZOB. I handed him a good one!

MIEDVIEDIEFF. You – how dare you fight?

THE TARTAR. What about yourself? What’s your duty?

MIEDVIEDIEFF [running after] Stop – give back my whistle!

KOSTILYOFF [runs in] Abram! Stop him! Hold him! He’s a murderer – he.

[Enter Kvashnya and Nastya supporting Natasha who is disheveled. Satine backs away, pushing away Vassilisa who is trying to attack her sister, while, near her, Alyoshka jumps up and down like a madman, whistles into her ear, shrieking, roaring. Also other ragged men and women.]

SATINE [to Vassilisa] Well – you damned bitch!

VASSILISA. Let go, you jail-bird! I’ll tear you to pieces – if I have to pay for it with my own life!

KVASHNYA [leading Natasha aside] You – Karpovna – that’s enough – stand back – aren’t you ashamed? Or are you crazy?

MIEDVIEDIEFF [seizes Satine] Aha – caught at last!

SATINE. Zob – beat them up! Vaska – Vaska.

[They all, in a chaotic mass, struggle near the brick wall. They lead Natasha to the right, and set her on a pile of wood. Pepel rushes in from the hallway and, silently, with powerful movements, pushes the crowd aside.]

PEPEL. Natalia, where are you.. you.

KOSTILYOFF [disappearing behind a corner] Abram! Seize Vaska! Comrades – help us get him! The thief! The robber!

PEPEL. You – you old bastard! [Aiming a terrific blow at Kostilyoff. Kostilyoff falls so that only the upper part of his body is seen. Pepel rushes to Natasha]

VASSILISA. Beat Vaska! Brothers! Beat the thief!

MIEDVIEDIEFF [yells to Satine] Keep out of this – it’s a family affair.. they’re relatives – and who are you.

PEPEL [to Natasha] What did she do to you? She used a knife?

KVASHNYA. God – what beasts! They’ve scalded the child’s feet with boiling water!

NASTYA. They overturned the samovar.

THE TARTAR. Maybe an accident – you must make sure – you can’t exactly tell.

NATASHA [half fainting] Vassily – take me away —

VASSILISA. Good people! Come! Look! He’s dead! Murdered!

[All crowd into the hallway near Kostilyoff. Bubnoff leaves the crowd and crosses to Pepel.]

BUBNOFF [in a low voice, to Pepel] Vaska – the old man is done for!

PEPEL [looks at him, as though he does not understand] Go – for help – she must be taken to the hospital.. I’ll settle with them.

BUBNOFF. I say – the old man – somebody’s killed him.

[The noise on the stage dies out like a fire under water. Distinct, whispered exclamations: “Not really?” “Well – let’s go away, brothers!” “The devil!” “Hold on now!” “Let’s get away before the police comes!” The crowd disappears. Bubnoff, the Tartar, Nastya, and Kvashnya, rush up to Kostilyoff’s body.]