The Lower Depths

THE TARTAR. Oh – people are fools! It’s too bad.

THE BARON. I shall not permit any one to ridicule me! I have proofs – documents – damn you!

SATINE. Forget it! Forget about your grandfather’s carriages! You can’t drive anywhere in a carriage of the past!

THE BARON. How dare she – just the same – ?

NASTYA. Just imagine! How dare I – ?

SATINE. You see – she does dare! How is she any worse than you are? Although, surely, in her past there wasn’t even a father and mother, let alone carriages and a grandfather.

THE BARON [quieting down] Devil take you – you do know how to argue dispassionately – and I, it seems – I’ve no will-power.

SATINE. Acquire some – it’s useful.. [Pause] Nastya! Are you going to the hospital?

NASTYA. What for?

SATINE. To see Natashka.

NASTYA. Oh – just woke up, did you? She’s been out of the hospital for some time – and they can’t find a trace of her.

SATINE. Oh – that woman’s a goner!

KLESHTCH. It’s interesting to see whether Vaska will get the best of Vassilisa, or the other way around – ?

NASTYA. Vassilisa will win out! She’s shrewd! And Vaska will go to the gallows!

SATINE. For manslaughter? No – only to jail.

NASTYA. Too bad – the gallows would have been better.. that’s where all of you should be sent.. swept off into a hole – like filth.

SATINE [astonished] What’s the matter? Are you crazy?

THE BARON. Oh – give her a wallop – that’ll teach her to be less impertinent.

NASTYA. Just you try to touch me!

THE BARON. I shall!

SATINE. Stop! Don’t insult her! I can’t get the thought of the old man out of my head! [Roars with laughter] Don’t offend your fellow-beings! Suppose I were offended once in such a way that I’d remember it for the rest of my life? What then? Should I forgive? No, no!

THE BARON [to Nastya] You must understand that I’m not your sort.. you – ah – you piece of dirt!

NASTYA. You bastard! Why – you live off me like a worm off an apple!

[The men laugh amusedly.]

KLESHTCH. Fool! An apple – ?

THE BARON. You can’t be angry with her – she’s just an ass —

NASTYA. You laugh! Liars? Don’t strike you as funny, eh?

THE ACTOR [morosely] Give them a good beating!

NASTYA. If I only could! [Takes a cup from the table and throws it on the floor] That’s what I’d like to do to you all!

THE TARTAR. Why break dishes – eh – silly girl?

THE BARON [rising] That’ll do! I’ll teach her manners in half a second!

NASTYA [running toward door] Go to hell!

SATINE [calling after her] Hey! That’s enough! Whom are you trying to frighten? What’s all the row about, anyway?

NASTYA. Dogs! I hope you’ll croak! Dogs! [Runs out]

THE ACTOR [morosely] Amen!

THE TARTAR. Allah! Mad women, these Russians! They’re bold, wilful; Tartar women aren’t like that! They know the law and abide by it..

KLESHTCH. She ought to be given a sound hiding!

THE BARON. The slut!

KLESHTCH [testing the concertina] It’s ready! But its owner isn’t here yet – that young fellow is burning his life away.

SATINE. Care for a drink – now?

KLESHTCH. Thanks.. it’s time to go to bed.

SATINE. Getting used to us?

KLESHTCH [drinks, then goes to his bunk] It’s all right.. there are people everywhere – at first you don’t notice it.. but after a while you don’t mind..

[The Tartar spreads some rags over his bunk, then kneels on them and prays.]

THE BARON [to Satine, pointing at the Tartar] Look!

SATINE. Stop! He’s a good fellow! Leave him alone! [Roars with laughter] I feel kindly to-day – the devil alone knows the reason why.

THE BARON. You always feel kindly when you’re drunk – you’re even wiser at such times.

SATINE. When I’m drunk? Yes – then I like everything – right – He prays? That’s fine! A man may believe or not – that’s his own affair – a man is free – he pays for everything himself – belief or unbelief – love – wisdom.. a man pays for everything – and that’s just why he’s free! Man is – truth! And what is man? It’s neither you nor I nor they – oh, no – it’s you and they and I and the old man – and Napoleon – Mohammed – all in one! [Outlines vaguely in the air the contour of a human being] Do you understand? It’s tremendous! It contains the beginning and the end of everything – everything is in man – and everything exists for him! Man alone exists – everything else is the creation of his hands and his brain! Man! It is glorious! It sounds – oh – so big! Man must be respected – not degraded with pity – but respected, respected! Let us drink to man, Baron! [Rises] It is good to feel that you are a man! I’m a convict, a murderer, a crook – granted! – When I’m out on the street people stare at me as if I were a scoundrel – they draw away from me – they look after me and often they say: “You dog! You humbug! Work!” Work? And what for? to fill my belly? [Roars with laughter] I’ve always despised people who worry too much about their bellies. It isn’t right, Baron! It isn’t! Man is loftier than that! Man stands above hunger!

THE BARON. You – reason things out… Well and good – it brings you a certain amount of consolation… Personally I’m incapable of it.. I don’t know how. [Glances around him and then, softly, guardedly] Brother – I am afraid – at times. Do you understand? Afraid! – Because – what next?

SATINE. Rot! What’s a man to be afraid of?