Savva and the Life of Man - LightNovelsOnl.com
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They fooled you.
KING HEROD
People may fool, Christ never. What's your name?
SAVVA
Savva. Get out of my way, I tell you.
KING HEROD
Surrender Thy servant Savva. Hold!
_[He strikes a heavy, swinging blow with his left fist whence Savva did not expect an attack. Savva sinks on one knee. The crowd rushes at him and tramples him down._
CROWD
Beat him! Aha! So! He is turning back! Beat him!
FRIAR
What does this mean? Oh! Oh! Oh! _(He clutches his head with both hands, cries, and runs away)_
SAVVA _(fighting desperately, he appears for a moment looking fierce and terrible)_ Let go--Ho-o-o! _(He sinks back again)_
CROWD
That's the way. One, two--Ah! Strike! Got him? Not yet! Got him? What are you waiting for? Strike! Done!
A VOICE
He's still moving.
CROWD
Strike!
MAN IN OVERCOAT
Peter, got a knife? Finish him with your knife. Cut his throat.
PETER
No, I'd rather do it with my heel. One! Two!
KONDRATY _(cursing him)_
Lord Jesus Christ! Lord Jesus Christ!
_[Loud cries are heard from the background: "They are carrying Him!
They are carrying Him!" The mob begins to disperse and thins out quickly._
CROWD
They are carrying Him! Yes, it's enough. It's done. No, let me at him--once more. There! I gave him one good one in his face. They are carrying Him! They are carrying Him!
KING HEROD
Enough, enough. A grand feast for you, you accursed beasts!
CROWD
I tell you, they are carrying Him! Lie there, you! Oh my, am I going to be late? Enough now. Are you sorry for him, eh? Is it _your_ head?
One more! Come on!
_[They run away so that Savva's mangled body becomes visible._
MAN IN OVERCOAT
It ought to be taken away from here. It isn't right to leave it here on the road. It's dirty. Boys! Say, boys!
_[He goes off following the rest, but is met by the procession pouring in upon the stage. There is a great din and humming of talk. Speransky and Tony approach the body cautiously, bend over it on their knees, one on each side, and stare at it eagerly._
SPERANSKY
Dead! His eyes are gone.
TONY
Shut up! _(He bursts into a groaning laugh, pressing his hands hard to his mouth)_
SPERANSKY
But his face is calm. Look, Mr. Anthony. It's because now he knows the truth.
TONY
Shut up! _(Bursts out laughing)_ What a funny face he has!
_[He laughs behind his hand. Then his laugh bursts through his fingers, so to speak, grows in intensity, becomes irresistible, and pa.s.ses into a whine. The crowd begins to fill the stage, concealing the body, Speransky, and Tony. The bells are rung in the monastery as at Easter, and at the same time the singing of thousands of voices is heard._
CROWD
"Christ is risen from the dead. He has conquered death with death and given life to those lain in their graves. Christ--"
LIPA _(flinging herself into the crowd)_
"Christ is risen!"
