The Lower Depths

MIEDVIEDIEFF. Look where you’re moving!

BUBNOFF. Oh, yes – that’s right.

THE TARTAR [threatening Satine with his fist] You’re trying to palm a card? I’ve seen you – you scoundrel.

ZOB. Stop it, Hassan! They’ll skin us anyway.. come on, Bubnoff!

ANNA. I can’t remember a single day when I didn’t go hungry.. I’ve been afraid, waking, eating, and sleeping.. all my life I’ve trembled – afraid I wouldn’t get another bite.. all my life I’ve been in rags – all through my wretched life – and why.. ?

LUKA. Yes, yes, child – you’re tired – never you mind!

THE ACTOR [to Zob] Play the Jack – the Jack, devil take you!

THE BARON. And we play the King!

KLESHTCH. They always win.

SATINE. Such is our habit.

MIEDVIEDIEFF. I have the Queen!

BUBNOFF. And so have I!

ANNA. I’m dying.

KLESHTCH. Look, look! Prince, throw up the game – throw it up, I tell you!

THE ACTOR. Can’t he play without your assistance?

THE BARON. Look out, Andrushka, or I’ll beat the life out of you!

THE TARTAR. Deal once more – the pitcher went after water – and got broke – and so did I!

[Kleshtch shakes his head and crosses to Bubnoff.]

ANNA. I keep on thinking – is it possible that I’ll suffer in the other world as I did in this – is it possible? There, too?

LUKA. Nothing of the sort! Don’t you disturb yourself! You’ll rest there.. be patient. We all suffer, dear, each in our own way… [Rises and goes quickly into kitchen]

BUBNOFF [sings]

“Watch as long as you please.”

ZOB. “I shan’t run away.”

BOTH [together]

“I long to be free, free —
Alas! I cannot break my chains..”

THE TARTAR [yells] That card was up his sleeve!

THE BARON [embarrassed] Do you want me to shove it up your nose?

THE ACTOR [emphatically] Prince! You’re mistaken – nobody – ever.

THE TARTAR. I saw it! You cheat! I won’t play!

SATINE [gathering up the cards] Leave us alone, Hassan.. you knew right along that we’re cheats – why did you play with us?

THE BARON. He lost forty kopecks and he yelps as if he had lost a fortune! And a Prince at that!

THE TARTAR [excitedly] Then play honest!

SATINE. What for?

THE TARTAR. What do you mean “what for”?

SATINE. Exactly. What for?

THE TARTAR. Don’t you know?

SATINE. I don’t. Do you?

[The Tartar spits out, furiously; the others laugh at him.]

ZOB [good-naturedly] You’re a funny fellow, Hassan! Try to understand this! If they should begin to live honestly, they’d die of starvation inside of three days.

THE TARTAR. That’s none of my business. You must live honestly!

ZOB. They did you brown! Come and let’s have tea… [Sings]

“O my chains, my heavy chains.”

BUBNOFF [sings]

“You’re my steely, clanking wardens.”

ZOB. Come on, Hassanka! [Leaves the room, singing]

“I cannot tear you, cannot break you.”

[The Tartar shakes his fist threateningly at the Baron, and follows the other out of the room.]

SATINE [to Baron, laughing] Well, Your Imperial Highness, you’ve again sat down magnificently in a mud puddle! You’ve learned a lot – but you’re an ignoramus when it comes to palming a card.

THE BARON [spreading his hands] The Devil knows how it happened..

THE ACTOR. You’re not gifted – you’ve no faith in yourself – and without that you can never accomplish anything.