FÉDYA (as he hesitates). Yes.
KARÉNIN (finishing rather lamely). But I ask you not so much for her as for myself–Fédya, come home.
FÉDYA (looking up at him, smiling rather whimsically). You’re a much finer person than I am, Victor. Of course that’s not saying much. I’m not very much good, am I? (Laughing gently.) But that’s exactly why I’m not going to do what you want me to. It’s not the only reason, though. The real reason is that I just simply can’t. How could I?
KARÉNIN (persuasively). Come along to my rooms, Fédya, and I’ll tell her you’ll be back to-morrow.
FÉDYA (wistfully). To-morrows can’t change what we are. She’ll still be she, and I will still be I to-morrow. (Goes to the table and drinks.) No, it’s better to have the tooth out in one pull. Didn’t I say that if I broke my word she was to leave me? Well, I’ve broken it, and that’s enough.
KARÉNIN. Yes. For you, but not for her.
FÉDYA (down L. Politely insolent). You know … it’s rather odd, that you, of all men, should take so much trouble to keep our marriage from going to pieces.
KARÉNIN (revolted). Good God, Fédya! You don’t think–
MASHA crosses L., goes to FÉDYA. FÉDYA interrupting him with a return of his former friendliness.
FÉDYA. Come now, my dear Victor, you shall hear them sing.
MASHA (whispering to FÉDYA). What’s his name? We must honor him with a song.
FÉDYA (laughing). O good God, yes! Honor him by all means. His name is Victor Michaelovitch. (Saluting Karénin.) Victor, my lord! son of Michael!
The gypsies sing a song of greeting and laudation. As they begin to sing, MASHA and FÉDYA sit on couch L.
(When song is finished.)
KARÉNIN (in an imploring tone). Fédya!
Exits quietly L. U.
FÉDYA (business with MASHA). Where’s the fur coat? Gone, eh? All right. May the devil go with it.
FÉDYA. Do you know who that was?
MASHA. I heard his name.
FÉDYA. Ah, he’s a splendid fellow. He came to take me home to my wife. You see she loves even a fool like me, (caressing her hair) and look what I’m doing.
MASHA. You should go back to her and be very sorry.
FÉDYA. Do you think I should? (He kisses her.) Well, I think I shouldn’t.
MASHA. Of course, you needn’t go back to her if you don’t love her. Love is all that counts.
FÉDYA (smiling). How do you know that?
MASHA (looking at him timidly). I don’t know, but I do.
FÉDYA. Now, let’s have “No More at Evening.” (As the gypsies sing, MASHA lies on her back across his lap, looking up into his face, which she draws down to her, and they kiss until the music begins to cease.) That’s wonderful! Divine! If I could only lie this way forever, with my arms around the heart of joy, and sleep … and die…. (He closes his eyes; his voice trails away.)
Lights dim and out, then the
CURTAIN
SCENE III
SOPHIA KARÉNINA’S boudoir. SOPHIA KARÉNINA, VICTOR’S mother, is reading a book. She is a great lady, over fifty, but tries to look younger. She likes to interlard her conversation with French words. A servant enters.
SERVANT (enters R., announcing). Prince Sergius Abréskov.
SOPHIA KARÉNINA (on sofa over L.). Show him in, please.
She turns and picks up hand mirror from table back of couch, arranging her hair.
PRINCE SERGIUS (enters R. I. Entering). J’espère que je ne force pas la consigne.
Crossing to sofa L. He kisses her hand. He is a charming old diplomat of seventy.
SOPHIA KARÉNINA. Ah, you know well que vous êtes toujours le bien venu…. Tell me, you have received my letter?
PRINCE SERGIUS. I did. Me voilà. (Sits L. on sofa L.) Sophia Karénina (working up to distress). Oh, my dear friend, I begin to lose hope. She’s bewitched him, positively bewitched him. Il est ensorcelé. I never knew he could be so obstinate, so heartless, and so indifferent to me. He’s changed completely since that woman left her husband.
PRINCE SERGIUS. How do matters actually stand?
SOPHIA KARÉNINA. Well, he’s made up his mind to marry her at any cost.
PRINCE SERGIUS. And her husband?
SOPHIA KARÉNINA. He agrees to a divorce.
PRINCE SERGIUS. Really?
SOPHIA KARÉNINA. And Victor is willing to put up with all the sordidness, the vulgarity of the divorce court, the lawyers, evidences of guilt … tout ça est dégoûtant. I can’t understand his sensitive nature not being repelled by it.
PRINCE SERGIUS (smiling). He’s in love, and when a man’s really in love–
SOPHIA KARÉNINA (interrupting). In our time love could remain pure, coloring one’s whole life with a romantic friendship. Such love I understand and value.
PRINCE SERGIUS (sighing). However, the present generation refuses to live on dreams. (He coughs delicately.) La possession de l’âme ne leur suffit plus. So what is the alternative? But tell me more of Victor.
SOPHIA KARÉNINA. There’s not very much to say. He seems bewitched, hardly my son. Did you know I’d called upon her? Victor pressed me so it was impossible to refuse. But Dieu merci, I found her out. So I merely left my card, and now she has asked me if I could receive her to-day, and I am expecting her (she glances at her watch) any moment now. I am doing all this to please Victor, but conceive my feelings. I know you always can. Really, really, I need your help.
PRINCE SERGIUS (bowing). Thank you for the honor you do me.
SOPHIA KARÉNINA. You realize this visit decides Victor’s fate. I must refuse my consent, or—- But that’s impossible.
PRINCE SERGIUS. Have you met her?
SOPHIA KARÉNINA. I’ve never seen her, but I’m afraid of her. No good woman leaves her husband, especially when there’s nothing obviously intolerable about him. Why, I’ve seen Protosov often with Victor, and found him even quite charming.
PRINCE SERGIUS (murmurs). So I’ve heard. So I’ve heard.
SOPHIA KARÉNINA (continuing). She should bear her cross without complaint. And Victor must cease trying to persuade himself that his happiness lies in defying his principles. What I don’t understand is how Victor, with his religious views, can think of marrying a divorced woman. I’ve heard him say over and over again–once quite lately– that divorce is totally inconsistent with true Christianity. If she’s been able to fascinate him to that point, I am afraid of her.–But how stupid of me to talk all the time! Have you spoken to him at all? What does he say? And don’t you thoroughly agree with me?
PRINCE SERGIUS. Yes, I’ve spoken to Victor. I think he really loves her, has grown accustomed to the idea of loving her, pour ainsi dire. (Shaking his head.) I don’t believe he could ever now care for another woman.
SOPHIA KARÉNINA (sighing). And Varia Casanzeva would have made him such a charming wife. She’s so devoted already.
PRINCE SERGIUS (smiling). I am afraid I hardly see her in the present … tableau. (Earnestly.) Why not submit to Victor’s wish and help him?
SOPHIA KARÉNINA. To marry a divorcée? And afterwards have him running into his wife’s husband? How can you calmly suggest that a mother accept such a situation for her son?
PRINCE SERGIUS. But, chère amie, why not approve of the inevitable? And you might console yourself by regarding the dangers he’ll avoid by marrying this gentle, lovely woman. After all, suppose he conceived a passion for some one—-
Convey the word “disreputable”.
SOPHIA KARÉNINA. How can a good woman leave her husband?
PRINCE SERGIUS. Ah, that’s not like you. You’re unkind and you’re harsh. Her husband is the sort of man–well, he’s his own worst enemy. A weakling, a ne’er-do-well–he’s spent all his money and hers too. She has a child. Do you think you can condemn her for leaving him? As a matter of fact she didn’t leave him, he left her.
SOPHIA KARÉNINA (faintly). Oh what a mud-pen I’m slipping into!
PRINCE SERGIUS (amused). Could your religion aid you?
SOPHIA KARÉNINA (smelling her salts). In this instance, religion would require of me the impossible. C’est plus fort que moi.
PRINCE SERGIUS. Fédya himself–you know what a charming clever creature he is when he’s in his senses–he advised her to leave him.
Enter VICTOR who kisses his mother’s hand and greets PRINCE SERGIUS.
KARÉNIN. Ah, Prince Sergius! (Shakes hands with Prince–formally.) Maman, I’ve come to tell you that Elizaveta Protosova will be here directly. There’s only one thing I ask you: do you still refuse your consent to my marriage—-
SOPHIA KARÉNINA (interrupting). And I most assuredly do.
KARÉNIN (continuing. Frowning). In that case all I ask is for you not to speak to her about it.
SOPHIA KARÉNINA. I don’t suppose we shall even mention the subject. I certainly shan’t.
KARÉNIN (standing at head of sofa L.). If you don’t, she won’t. (Pleadingly.) Mother dear, I just want you to know her.
SOPHIA KARÉNINA. One thing I can’t understand. How is it you want to marry Lisa Protosova, a woman with a living husband, and at the same time believe divorce is a crime against Christianity?
KARÉNIN. Oh, Maman, that’s cruel of you. Life is far too complex to be managed by a few formulas. Why are you so bitter about it all?
SOPHIA KARÉNINA (honestly). I love you. I want you to be happy.
KARÉNIN (imploringly to PRINCE SERGIUS) Sergius Abréskov!
PRINCE SERGIUS (to SOPHIA KARÉNINA). Naturally you want him happy. But it’s difficult for our hearts, wearied from the weight of years, to feel the pulse of youth and sympathize, especially is it difficult for you, my friend, who have schooled yourself to view Victor’s happiness in a single way….
SOPHIA KARÉNINA. Oh, you’re all against me. Do as you like. Vous êtes majeur. (Sniffing into her pocket handkerchief.) But you’ll kill me.
KARÉNIN (deeply distressed). Ah, Mother, please. It’s worse than cruel to say things like that.
PRINCE SERGIUS
