Redemption and two other plays Part 7

PRINCE SERGIUS (L.--Heartily). Yes, I have had the pleasure. (Crossing to her, he shakes hands.) My niece Nellie has spoken often of you to me.

[Goes to L.C.

LISA. Yes, we were great friends. (She glances shyly around her.) And still are. (To SOPHIA.) I never hoped that you would wish to see me.

SOPHIA KAReNINA. I knew your husband quite well. He was a great friend of Victor's and used frequently to visit us in Tambov, (politely) where you were married, I believe.

LISA (looking down). Yes.

SOPHIA KAReNINA. But when you returned to Moscow we were deprived of the pleasure of his visit.

LISA. Yes, then he stopped going anywhere.

SOPHIA KAReNINA. Ah, that explains our missing him.

[Awkward pause.

PRINCE SERGIUS (to LISA). The last time I'd the pleasure of seeing you was in those tableaux at the Dennishovs. You were charming in your part.

LISA. How good of you to think so! Yes, I remember perfectly.

[Another awkward silence.

(To SOPHIA KAReNINA.) Sophia Karenina, please forgive me if what I am going to say offends you, but I don't know how to cover up what's in my heart. I came here to-day because Victor Karenin said--because he said that--because he--I mean because you wanted to see me. (With a catch in her voice.) It's rather difficult--but you're so sweet.

PRINCE SERGIUS (very sympathetic). There, there, my dear child, I a.s.sure you there's nothing in the world to---- (He breaks off when he sees SOPHIA KAReNINA pointing impatiently to the floor. She has dropped her handkerchief.) Permit me. (He picks it up, presenting it to her with a smile and a bow; then looks casually at his watch.) Ah, five o'clock already. (To SOPHIA KAReNINA.) Madame, in your salon pleasure destroys the memory of time. You will excuse me.

[He kisses her hand.

SOPHIA KAReNINA (smiling). Au revoir, mon ami.

PRINCE SERGIUS (bowing and shaking hands with LISA). Elizaveta Protosova, au revoir.

[He goes out R.

SOPHIA KAReNINA. Now listen, my child. Please believe how truly sorry for you I am and that you are most sympathetique to me. But I love my son alone in this world, and I know his soul as I do my own. He's very proud--oh I don't mean of his position and money--but of his high ideals, his purity. It may sound strange to you, but you must believe me when I tell you that at heart he is as pure as a young girl.

LISA. I know.

SOPHIA KAReNINA. He's never loved a woman before. You're the first. I don't say I'm not a little jealous. I am. But that's something we mothers have to face. Oh, but your son's still a baby, you don't know.

I was ready to give him up, though--but I wanted his wife to be as pure as himself.

LISA (flus.h.i.+ng hotly). And I, am I not----

SOPHIA KAReNINA (interrupting her kindly). Forgive me, my dear. I know it's not your fault and that you've been most unhappy. And also I know my son. He will bear anything, and he'll bear it without saying a word, but his hurt pride will suffer and bring you infinite remorse.

You must know how strongly he has always felt that the bond of marriage is indissoluble.

LISA. Yes. I've thought of all that.

SOPHIA KAReNINA. Lisa, my dear, you're a wise woman and you're a good woman too. If you love him, you must want his happiness more than you want your own. You can't want to cripple him so that he'll be sorry all his life--yes, sorry even though he never says a word.

LISA. I've thought about it so much. I've thought about it and I've talked to him about it. But what can I do when he says he can't live without me? I said to him only the other day, "Victor, let's just be friends. Don't spoil your life. Don't ruin yourself by trying to help me." And do you know what he did? He laughed.

SOPHIA KAReNINA. Of course he would, at the time.

LISA. If you could persuade him not to marry me, you know I'll agree, don't you? I just want him to be happy. I don't care about myself.

Only please help me. Please don't hate me. Let's do all we can for him, because, after all, we both love him.

SOPHIA KAReNINA. Yes, I know. And I think I love you too. I really do.

(She kisses her. LISA begins to cry.) Oh, it's all so dreadful. If only he had fallen in love with you before you were married!

LISA (sobbing). He--he says he did--but he had to be loyal to his friend.

SOPHIA KAReNINA. Alas, it's all very heart-breaking. But let us love each other, and G.o.d will help us to find what we are seeking.

KAReNIN (entering L. I). Mother darling. I've heard what you just said. I knew you'd love her. And now everything must come right.

SOPHIA KAReNINA (hastily). But nothing's decided. All I can say is, had things been different, I should have been very glad. (Tenderly.) So very glad.

[She kisses LISA.

KAReNIN (smiling). Please don't change. That's all I ask.

[Lights down and out.

CURTAIN

SCENE IV

A plainly furnished room, bed, table and stove. FeDYA alone writing.

At rise MASHA is heard outside calling "FeDYA! FeDYA!" MASHA enters R.

I, crosses to FeDYA on bed C. and embraces him.

FeDYA. Ah, thank Heaven you've come. I was wasting away in boredom.

MASHA. Then why didn't you come over to us? (Sees wine gla.s.s on chair near bed.) So, you've been drinking again? And after all your promises!

FeDYA (embarra.s.sed). I didn't come over because I had no money.

MASHA. Oh, why is it I love you so.

FeDYA. Masha!

MASHA (imitating him). Masha! Masha! What's that mean? If you loved me, by now you'd have your divorce. You say you don't love your wife.

(FeDYA winces.) But you stick to her like grim death.