Максим Горький - The Lower Depths

KLESHTCH. What shall I do?

BUBNOFF. Open the door into the hall.

KLESHTCH. All right. You’re sitting on the bunk, I on the floor. You change places with me, and I’ll let you open the door. I have a cold as it is.

BUBNOFF [ unconcernedly ] I don’t care if you open the door – it’s your wife who’s asking —

KLESHTCH [ morosely ] I don’t care who’s asking —

SATINE. My head buzzes – ah – why do people have to hit each other over the heads?

BUBNOFF. They don’t only hit you over the head, but over the rest of the body as well. [ Rises ] I must go and buy some thread – our bosses are late to-day – seems as if they’ve croaked. [ Exit ]

[Anna coughs; Satine is lying down motionless, his hands folded behind his head.]

THE ACTOR [ looks about him morosely, then goes to Anna ] Feeling bad, eh?

ANNA. I’m choking —

THE ACTOR. If you wish, I’ll take you into the hallway. Get up, then, come! [ He helps her to rise, wraps some sort of a rag about her shoulders, and supports her toward the hall ] It isn’t easy. I’m sick myself – poisoned with alcohol.

[Kostilyoff appears in the doorway.]

KOSTILYOFF. Going for a stroll? What a nice couple – the gallant cavalier and the lady fair!

THE ACTOR. Step aside, you – don’t you see that we’re invalids?

KOSTILYOFF. Pass on, please! [ Hums a religious tune, glances about him suspiciously, and bends his head to the left as if listening to what is happening in Pepel’s room. Kleshtch is jangling his keys and scraping away with his file, and looks askance at the other ] Filing?

KLESHTCH. What?

KOSTILYOFF. I say, are you filing? [ Pause ] What did I want to ask? [ Quick and low ] Hasn’t my wife been here?

KLESHTCH. I didn’t see her.

KOSTILYOFF [ carefully moving toward Pepel’s room ] You take up a whole lot of room for your two rubles a month. The bed – and your bench – yes – you take up five rubles’ worth of space, so help me God! I’ll have to put another half ruble to your rent —

KLESHTCH. You’ll put a noose around my neck and choke me.. you’ll croak soon enough, and still all you think of is half rubles —

KOSTILYOFF. Why should I choke you? What would be the use? God be with you – live and prosper! But I’ll have to raise you half a ruble – I’ll buy oil for the ikon lamp, and my offering will atone for my sins, and for yours as well. You don’t think much of your sins – not much! Oh, Andrushka, you’re a wicked man! Your wife is dying because of your wickedness – no one loves you, no one respects you – your work is squeaky, jarring on every one.

KLESHTCH [ shouts ] What do you come here for – just to annoy me?

[Satine grunts loudly.]

KOSTILYOFF [ with a start ] God, what a noise!

[The Actor enters.]

THE ACTOR. I’ve put her down in the hall and wrapped her up.

KOSTILYOFF. You’re a kindly fellow. That’s good. Some day you’ll be rewarded for it.

THE ACTOR. When?

KOSTILYOFF. In the Beyond, little brother – there all our deeds will be reckoned up.

THE ACTOR. Suppose you reward me right now?

KOSTILYOFF. How can I do that?

THE ACTOR. Wipe out half my debt.

KOSTILYOFF. He-ho! You’re always jesting, darling – always poking fun.. can kindliness of heart be repaid with gold? Kindliness – it’s above all other qualities. But your debt to me – remains a debt. And so you’ll have to pay me back. You ought to be kind to me, an old man, without seeking for reward!

THE ACTOR. You’re a swindler, old man! [ Goes into kitchen ]

[Kleshtch rises and goes into the hall.]

KOSTILYOFF [ to Satine ] See that squeaker – ? He ran away – he doesn’t like me!

SATINE. Does anybody like you besides the Devil?

KOSTILYOFF [ laughing ] Oh – you’re so quarrelsome! But I like you all – I understand you all, my unfortunate down-trodden, useless brethren.. [ Suddenly, rapidly ] Is Vaska home?

SATINE. See for yourself —

KOSTILYOFF [ goes to the door and knocks ] Vaska!

[The Actor appears at the kitchen door, chewing something.]

PEPEL. Who is it?

KOSTILYOFF. It’s I – I, Vaska!

PEPEL. What do you want?

KOSTILYOFF [ stepping aside ] Open!

SATINE [ without looking at Kostilyoff ] He’ll open – and she’s there —

[The Actor makes a grimace.]

KOSTILYOFF [ in a low, anxious tone ] Eh? Who’s there? What?

SATINE. Speaking to me?

KOSTILYOFF. What did you say?

SATINE. Oh – nothing – I was just talking to myself —

KOSTILYOFF. Take care, brother. Don’t carry your joking too far! [ Knocks loudly at door ] Vassily!

PEPEL [ opening door ] Well? What are you disturbing me for?

KOSTILYOFF [ peering into room ] I – you see —

PEPEL. Did you bring the money?

KOSTILYOFF. I’ve something to tell you —

PEPEL. Did you bring the money?

KOSTILYOFF. What money? Wait —

PEPEL. Why – the seven rubles for the watch – well?

KOSTILYOFF. What watch, Vaska? Oh, you —

PEPEL. Look here. Yesterday, before witnesses, I sold you a watch for ten rubles, you gave me three – now let me have the other seven. What are you blinking for? You hang around here – you disturb people – and don’t seem to know yourself what you’re after.

KOSTILYOFF. Sh-sh! Don’t be angry, Vaska. The watch – it is —

SATINE. Stolen!

KOSTILYOFF [ sternly ] I do not accept stolen goods – how can you imagine —

PEPEL [ taking him by the shoulder ] What did you disturb me for? What do you want?

KOSTILYOFF. I don’t want – anything. I’ll go – if you’re in such a state —

PEPEL. Be off, and bring the money!

KOSTILYOFF. What ruffians! I – I – [ Exit ]

THE ACTOR. What a farce!

SATINE. That’s fine – I like it.

PEPEL. What did he come here for?

SATINE [ laughing ] Don’t you understand? He’s looking for his wife. Why don’t you beat him up once and for all, Vaska?

PEPEL. Why should I let such trash interfere with my life?

SATINE. Show some brains! And then you can marry Vassilisa – and become our boss —

PEPEL. Heavenly bliss! And you’d smash up my household and, because I’m a soft-hearted fool, you’ll drink up everything I possess. [ Sits on a bunk ] Old devil – woke me up – I was having such a pleasant dream. I dreamed I was fishing – and I caught an enormous trout – such a trout as you only see in dreams! I was playing him – and I was so afraid the line would snap. I had just got out the gaff – and I thought to myself – in a moment —

SATINE. It wasn’t a trout, it was Vassilisa —

THE ACTOR. He caught Vassilisa a long time ago.

PEPEL [ angrily ] You can all go to the devil – and Vassilisa with you —

[Kleshtch comes from the hall.]

KLESHTCH. Devilishly cold!

THE ACTOR. Why didn’t you bring Anna back? She’ll freeze, out there —

KLESHTCH. Natasha took her into the kitchen —

THE ACTOR. The old man will kick her out —

KLESHTCH [ sitting down to his work ] Well – Natasha will bring her in here —

SATINE. Vassily – give me five kopecks!

THE ACTOR [ to Satine ] Oh, you – always five kopecks – Vassya – give us twenty kopecks —

PEPEL. I’d better give it to them now before they ask for a ruble. Here you are!

SATINE. Gibraltar! There are no kindlier people in the world than thieves!

KLESHTCH [ morosely ] They earn their money easily – they don’t work —