The Lower Depths

[Satine roars with laughter.]

THE BARON [worn out with rage, sits down on bench] Satine! Tell that slut – what – ? You, too, are laughing? You – don’t believe me either? [Cries out in despair, pounding the table with his fists] It’s true – damn the whole lot of you!

NASTYA [triumphantly] So – you’re crying? Understand now what a human being feels like when nobody believes him?

KLESHTCH [returning to the table] I thought there’d be a fight.

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?

THE BARON [pacing up and down] You know – as far back as I can remember, there’s been a sort of fog in my brain. I was never able to understand anything. Somehow I feel embarrassed – it seems to me that all my life I’ve done nothing but change clothes – and why? I don’t understand! I studied – I wore the uniform of the Institute for the Sons of the Nobility.. but what have I learned? I don’t remember! I married – I wore a frock-coat – then a dressing-gown.. but I chose a disagreeable wife.. and why? I don’t understand. I squandered everything that I possessed – I wore some sort of a grey jacket and brick-colored trousers – but how did I happen to ruin myself? I haven’t the slightest idea… I had a position in the Department of State… I wore a uniform and a cap with insignia of rank… I embezzled government funds.. so they dressed me in a convict’s garb – and later on I got into these clothes here – and it all happened as in a dream – it’s funny.

SATINE. Not very! It’s rather – silly!

THE BARON. Yes – silly! I think so, too. Still – wasn’t I born for some sort of purpose?

SATINE [laughing] Probably – a man is born to conceive a better man. [Shaking his head] – It’s all right!

THE BARON. That she-devil Nastka! Where did she run to? I’ll go and see – after all, she.. [Exit; pause]

THE ACTOR. Tartar! [Pause] Prince! [The Tartar looks round] Say a prayer for me.

THE TARTAR. What?

THE ACTOR [softly] Pray – for me!

THE TARTAR [after a silence] Pray for your own self!

THE ACTOR [quickly crawls off the stove and goes to the table, pours out a drink with shaking hands, drinks, then almost runs to passage] All over!

SATINE. Hey, proud Sicambrian! Where are you going?

[Satine whistles. Miedviedieff enters, dressed in a woman’s flannel shirt-waist; followed by Bubnoff. Both are slightly drunk. Bubnoff carries a bunch of pretzels in one hand, a couple of smoked fish in the other, a bottle of vodka under one arm, another bottle in his coat pocket.]

MIEDVIEDIEFF. A camel is something like a donkey – only it has no ears..

BUBNOFF. Shut up! You’re a variety of donkey yourself!

MIEDVIEDIEFF. A camel has no ears at all, at all – it hears through its nostrils.

BUBNOFF [to Satine] Friend! I’ve looked for you in all the saloons and all the cabarets! Take this bottle – my hands are full.

SATINE. Put the pretzels on the table – then you’ll have one hand free —

BUBNOFF. Right! Hey – you donkey – look! Isn’t he a clever fellow?

MIEDVIEDIEFF. All crooks are clever – I know! They couldn’t do a thing without brains. An honest man is all right even if he’s an idiot.. but a crook must have brains. But, speaking about camels, you’re wrong.. you can ride them – they have no horns.. and no teeth either.

BUBNOFF. Where’s everybody? Why is there no one here? Come on out.. I treat! Who’s in the corner?

SATINE. How soon will you drink up everything you have? Scarecrow!

BUBNOFF. Very soon! I’ve very little this time. Zob – where’s Zob?

KLESHTCH [crossing to table] He isn’t here.

BUBNOFF. Waughrr! Bull-dog! Brr-zz-zz! – Turkey-cock! Don’t bark and don’t growl! Drink – make merry – and don’t be sullen! – I treat everybody – Brother, I love to treat – if I were rich, I’d run a free saloon! So help me God, I would! With an orchestra and a lot of singers! Come, every one! Drink and eat – listen to the music – and rest in peace! Beggars – come, all you beggars – and enter my saloon free of charge! Satine – you can have half my capital – just like that!

SATINE. You better give me all you have straight away!

BUBNOFF. All my capital? Right now? Well – here’s a ruble – here’s twenty kopecks – five kopecks – sun flower seeds – and that’s all!

SATINE. That’s splendid! It’ll be safer with me – I’ll gamble with it.

MIEDVIEDIEFF. I’m a witness – the money was given you for safe-keeping. How much is it?

BUBNOFF. You? You’re a camel – we don’t need witnesses.

ALYOSHKA [comes in barefoot] Brothers, I got my feet wet!

BUBNOFF. Go on and get your throat wet – and nothing’ll happen – you’re a fine fellow – you sing and you play – that’s all right! But it’s too bad you drink – drink, little brother, is harmful, very harmful.

ALYOSHKA. I judge by you! Only when you’re drunk do you resemble a human being.. Kleshtch! Is my concertina fixed? [Sings and dances]

“If my mug were not so attractive,My sweetheart wouldn’t love me at all.”

Boys, I’m frozen – it’s cold.

MIEDVIEDIEFF. Hm – and may I ask who’s this sweetheart?

BUBNOFF. Shut up! From now on, brother, you are neither a policeman nor an uncle!

ALYOSHKA. Just auntie’s husband!

BUBNOFF. One of your nieces is in jail – the other one’s dying.

MIEDVIEDIEFF [proudly] You lie! She’s not dying – she disappeared – without trace.

[Satine roars.]

BUBNOFF. All the same, brothers – a man without nieces isn’t an uncle!

ALYOSHKA. Your Excellency! Listen to the drummer of the retired billygoats’ brigade! [Sings]

“My sweetheart has money,I haven’t a cent.But I’m a cheerful,Merry lad!”

Oh – isn’t it cold!

[Enter Zob. From now until the final curtain men and women drift in, undress, and stretch out on the bunks, grumbling.]

ZOB. Bubnoff! Why did you run off?

BUBNOFF. Come here – sit down – brother, let’s sing my favorite ditty, eh?

THE TARTAR. Night was made for sleep! Sing your songs in the daytime!

SATINE. Well – never mind, Prince – come here!

THE TARTAR. What do you mean – never mind? There’s going to be a noise – there always is when people sing!

BUBNOFF [crossing to the Tartar] Count – ah – I mean Prince – how’s your hand? Did they cut it off?

THE TARTAR. What for? We’ll wait and see – perhaps it won’t be necessary.. a hand isn’t made of iron – it won’t take long to cut it off.

ZOB. It’s your own affair, Hassanka! You’ll be good for nothing without your hand. We’re judged by our hands and backs – without the pride of your hand, you’re no longer a human being. Tobacco-carting – that’s your business! Come on – have a drink of vodka – and stop worrying!

KVASHNYA [comes in] Ah, my beloved fellow-lodgers! It’s horrible outside – snow and slush.. is my policeman here?

MIEDVIEDIEFF. Right here!

KVASHNYA. Wearing my blouse again? And drunk, eh? What’s the idea?

MIEDVIEDIEFF. In celebration of Bubnoff’s birthday.. besides, it’s cold.

KVASHNYA. Better look out – stop fooling about and go to sleep!

MIEDVIEDIEFF [goes to kitchen] Sleep? I can – I want to – it’s time – [Exit]

SATINE. What’s the matter? Why are you so strict with him?

KVASHNYA. You can’t be otherwise, friend. You have to be strict with his sort. I took him as a partner. I thought he’d be of some benefit to me – because he’s a military man – and you’re a rough lot.. and I am a woman – and now he’s turned drunkard – that won’t do at all!

SATINE. You picked a good one for partner!

KVASHNYA. Couldn’t get a better one. You wouldn’t want to live with me.. you think you’re too fine! And even if you did it wouldn’t last more than a week.. you gamble me and all I own away at cards!

SATINE [roars with laughter] That’s true, landlady – I’d gamble.

KVASHNYA. Yes, yes. Alyoshka!

ALYOSHKA. Here he is – I, myself!

KVASHNYA. What do you mean by gossiping about me?

ALYOSHKA. I? I speak out everything – whatever my conscience tells me. There, I say, is a wonderful woman! Splendid meat, fat, bones – over four hundred pounds! But brains – ? Not an ounce!

KVASHNYA. You’re a liar! I’ve lot of brains! What do you mean by saying I beat my policeman?

ALYOSHKA. I thought you did – when you pulled him by the hair!

KVASHNYA [laughs] You fool! You aren’t blind, are you? Why wash dirty linen in public? And – it hurts his feelings – that’s why he took to drink.

ALYOSHKA. It’s true, evidently, that even a chicken likes vodka.

[Satine and Kleshtch roar with laughter.]

KVASHNYA. Go on – show your teeth! What sort of a man are you anyway, Alyoshka?

ALYOSHKA. Oh – I am first-rate! Master of all trades! I follow my nose!

BUBNOFF [near the Tartar’s bunk] Come on! At all events – we won’t let you sleep! We’ll sing all night. Zob!

ZOB. Sing – ? All right.

ALYOSHKA. And I’ll play.

SATINE. We’ll listen!

THE TARTAR [smiling] Well – Bubnoff – you devil – bring the vodka – we’ll drink – we’ll have a hell of a good time! The end will come soon enough – and then we’ll be dead!

BUBNOFF. Fill his glass, Satine! Zob – sit down! Ah – brothers – what does a man need after all? There, for instance, I’ve had a drink – and I’m happy! Zob! Start my favorite song! I’ll sing – and then I’ll cry..

ZOB [begins to sing]

“The sun rises and sets.”

BUBNOFF [joining in]

“But my prison is all dark..”

[Door opens quickly.]

THE BARON [on the threshold; yells] Hey – you – come – come here! Out in the waste – in the yard.. over there.. The actor – he’s hanged himself..

[Silence. All stare at the Baron. Behind him appears Nastya, and slowly, her eyes wide with horror, she walks to the table.]

SATINE [in a matter-of-fact voice] Damned fool – he ruined the song.. !

CURTAIN