LADY MACBETH OF THE MTSENSK DISTRICT / KATERINA ISMAILOVA
Opera in four acts
Libretto
Alexander Preiss and Dmitry Shostakovich
after the short story by Nikolay Leskov
Premiere
First version (Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District):
22 January 1934, Leningrad (Maly Opera House)
Second version (Katerina Ismailova):
26 December 1962, Moscow (Stanislavsky-Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theatre)
Cast
KATERINA ISMAILOVA (Soprano)
BORIS ISMAILOV (Bass)
ZINOVY ISMAILOV (Tenor)
SERGEI (Tenor)
MILL-HAND (Baritone)
COACHMAN (Tenor)
AKSINYA (Soprano)
SHABBY PEASANT (Tenor)
PORTER (Bass)
STEWARD (Bass)
Three FOREMEN (Tenors)
PRIEST (Bass)
CHIEF OF POLICE (Baritone)
POLICEMAN (Bass)
TEACHER (Tenor)
DRUNKEN GUEST (Tenor)
OLD CONVICT (Bass)
SENTRY (Bass)
SONYETKA (Contralto)
WOMAN CONVICT (Soprano)
SERGEANT (Bass)
CHORUS
workers, policemen, guests, convicts
Place
Mtsensk, Russia
Time
1865
ACT ONE
SCENE ONE
Katerina is lying on her bed yawning.
KATERINA
Oh, I don't feel like sleep any more, but I'll try.
tries to sleep
No, I can't sleep.
Of course, I slept all night, then got up
and drank tea with my husband,
then went back to bed.
After all, there's nothing else to do.
O Lord, how boring it is!
It was better when I was single,
although we were poor,
at least there was some freedom.
But now, this depression's enough to make you hang yourself.
I am a merchant's wife,
married to the eminent merchant
Zinoviy Borisovich Ismailov.
The ant drags along its straw,
the cow gives her milk,
the farm-labourers pour out the flour,
but I alone
have nothing to do,
I alone am depressed,
to me alone life is unkind,
me, the merchant's wife.
Enter Boris.
BORIS
Will there be mushrooms today?
KATERINA
Yes, there will.
BORIS
There will?
You know, I'm very fond of mushrooms,
especially with buck wheat gruel.
KATERINA
Whether the sun's shining,
or a storm is raging,
it's all the same to me now.
Oh!
BORIS
What are you singing for, have you nothing else to do?
KATERINA
What can I do?
BORIS
Why ever did we take the likes of you
into our house?
I kept saying to my son,
don't marry Katerina,
but he wouldn't listen.
Fine sort of wife:
over four years married
and still not produced a child!
KATERINA
It's not my fault, it's not my fault.
BORIS
What!
KATERINA
It's not my fault, it's not my fault.
BORIS
Whose is it then?
KATERINA
Zinoviy is incapable
of getting a child into my womb.
BORIS
So that's it!
It all depends on the woman
what sort of wife a man gets.
Now if a fine woman
had loved him
and embraced him,
a child would soon have arrived.
But you're as cold as a fish,
you don't encourage his embraces,
you don't encourage his embraces.
We've no heir to leave our fortune to,
nor our renowned reputation as a merchant.
You'd like to hook some youngster
and make off with him and jeer at your husband.
No, don't try that on, the fence is high,
the dogs are loose, the workers trusty
and I'm always on the alert.
Get the poison ready for the rats,
they've eaten all the flour again.
Exit.
KATERINA
You're a rat yourself!
You should have the poison!
Prepares the rat poison. Enter Zinoviy, Boris, a messenger and other servants, including Sergey.
ZINOVIY
to the mill-hand
Speak up!
MILL-HAND
The dam at the mill has burst
and there's an enormous breach.
What shall we do now, eh!
ZINOVIY
As if we hadn't enough work already.
I'll have to go myself.
BORIS
Go, then!
Without the master nothing'll get done.
People can't be relied on!
SERVANTS
Ha, ha, ha!
BORIS
What are you sniggering about?
Your master has to go away
and you don't show any sign
of grief or regret!
LABOURERS
We do!
Why are you leaving us, master,
why? why?
To whom would you abandon us?
To whom? To whom?
Without the master life will be dreary,
dreary, dull and joyless,
home without you is not like home;
work without you is not like work.
Not like work, not like work.
Pleasures without you are no real pleasures.
Return as quickly as you can!
Be quick!
Zinoviy leads Sergey up to Boris.
ZINOVIY
Look, father:
here's the new labourer I hired today.
BORIS
All right. Where did you work before?
SERGEY
At the Kalganov's.
BORIS
Why did they throw you out?
Enter a labourer.
COACHMAN
The horses are ready.
Boris breaks off his conversation with Sergey.
BORIS
Well, it can't be helped.
Say goodbye to your wife.
ZINOVIY
takes leave of his wife
Goodbye, Katerina.
to his father
Tell her to remain my obedient wife.
BORIS
Swear an oath! An oath!
Get an oath from her
that she'll remain faithful to you.
ZINOVIY
Whatever for?
I'm not going for long, after all.
BORIS
You never know,
do it just in case;
young wives are all the same...
"S'il vous plaît, rendez vous,
sauce provençale..."
ZINOVIY
Yes.
BORIS
Get me?
ZINOVIY
Yes.
BORIS
Watch out someone doesn't
seduce her.
ZINOVIY
Yes.
BORIS
Katerina,
swear on the sacred icon,
that you'll be faithful to your husband.
KATERINA
I swear!
BORIS
Well, that's all.
Goodbye, Zinoviy.
Say goodbye to your wife.
ZINOVIY
Goodbye, Katerina darling!
Goodbye!
BORIS
Not like that!
On your knees! On your knees! Come on!
He's off on a long journey ‑ spare an extra tear...
On your way, then!
Exeunt all except Aksinya, Katerina, Sergey and Boris.
AKSINYA
to Sergey
Why are you standing there?
Why did you stay behind?
Exit Sergey.
to Katerina
That new labourer,
he's a dreadful woman-chaser,
name any female who's taken his fancy,
he'll get her into trouble,
he's got it all: he's tall
and handsome, with a good figure.
He used to work at the Kalganov's;
started carrying on with the mistress
and got fired for it.
BORIS
to Katerina
Why aren't you crying?
Your husband's gone, after all.
What a wife: says goodbye to her husband
and can't even shed a single tear!
Interlude
SCENE TWO
In the yard Zinoviy's servants are fooling around. They have put Aksinya in an open-ended butt and won't let her out.
AKSINYA
Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!
Oh, you shameless creature, hey, don't pinch,
oh, you're hurting! Oh, you're hurting!
Keep your hands off,
you shameless brute, hands off!
You filthy brute, filthy brute,
get your hands off!
Get away, you brute!
Oh! You swine! Oh! Oh!
Swine, swine, swine, swine!
Oh, you swine, oh, you swine!
Oh! Oh! You're hurting, you're hurting.
SHABBY PEASANT
Just like a nightingale!
Come on, let's feel her, let's feel her,
squeeze harder! Again!
What boobs, oh what boobs,
oh lovely, lovely, lovely boobs!
Oh, how smooth they are!
Harder! Harder! Harder! Harder!
Ha, ha, ha...
PORTER
A sow is singing like a nightingale.
Have a good feel all over!
What a nose she's got, what a nose,
big enough for seven!
That's the sort of leg
you could make into chops!
Ha, ha, ha!...
LABOURERS
What a pretty voice, what a pretty voice.
What a pretty voice!
What a pretty voice...
Ha, ha, ha...
What a pretty voice,
what a pretty voice.
What a pretty voice,
ha, ha, ha...
What a pretty voice!
Ha, ha, ha...
STEWARD
Aha! She's plump, oh, she's plump,
let's have another go!
And another...
Ho, ho, ho!
What luscious arms!
What nice plump legs,
what luscious arms,
what nice plump legs!
Ha, ha, ha...
SERGEY
Let me get hold of her arm,
ho, ho, here's a nice smooth place,
plump and smooth and warm!
She's a fine piece of woman,
as smooth as silk,
oh lord, oh lord, how fine!
But her face is all pimply.
Ha, ha, ha!...
PORTER
Let's have a suck.
SHABBY PEASANT
Well? Well? Well?
Ha, ha, ha! …
LABOURERS
Ha, ha, ha …
What a pretty voice.
Ha, ha, ha!...
AKSINYA
Oh, you swine,
my breast's covered in bruises!
The shameless brute,
he's pinched my breast all over,
what a rascal,
he's torn my skirt to pieces.
PORTER and STEWARD
Rip his trousers, Aksyusha!
LABOURERS
Ha, ha, ha!...
SERGEY
Come on now, let go!
AKSINYA
Help! He pinched me!
Oh! Oh!
SERGEY
Look out! Stop! Hold on to her!
LABOURERS
Ha, ha, ha!
What a pretty voice!
Hold still, Aksinya,
get hold of her, Seryozhka!
AKSINYA
Get him off me!
SERGEY
Well now! Stand still!
AKSINYA
Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!
LABOURERS
What a pretty voice!
SERGEY
Stop, woman!
AKSINYA
Oh, he'll catch me!
LABOURERS
Ha, ha, ha!...
Squeeze her, squeeze her,
squeeze her, squeeze her.
SERGEY
Stop, woman, stop!
AKSINYA
Oh!
LABOURERS
Ha, ha, ha!…
He'll make us die of laughing,
die of laughing.
SERGEY
Stop!
AKSINYA
Swine!
LABOURERS
We'll split our sides with laughing,
split our sides!
SERGEY
A! Oh! Oh! Oh!…
AKSINYA
Let go, let go, let go, let go!
LABOURERS
Ha, ha, ha!…
Enter Katerina.
SHABBY PEASANT
Here's the mistress!
AKSINYA
Oh!
KATERINA
to Aksinya
What's the matter with you?
AKSINYA
They've torn my skirt to pieces.
KATERINA
Let the woman go;
so you enjoy mocking a woman?
SERGEY
Who else can we make fun of?
KATERINA
So a woman's only there
for you to make fun of, is she?
SERGEY
What other reason is there?
AKSINYA
to Sergey
Oh you swine!
SERGEY
Now, now, now! …
KATERINA
You men certainly
think a lot of yourselves;
do you think you're the only ones
who are strong and brave,
the only ones with any wisdom?
Haven't you heard about the times
when women kept the whole family
from starving?
And how in wartime
women gave the enemy a beating?
There have been times when women
sacrificed their lives
for their husbands or sweethearts,
but this means nothing to you.
Well, I'll give you a good thrashing
to show you
what a woman's good for.
SERGEY
Well then, madam, allow me to take your hand,
if that is so.
Katerina gives Sergey her hand. Sergey squeezes it.
KATERINA
You're hurting, let go,
it's my ring...
SERGEY
Your wedding ring's digging into you.
KATERINA
Let go, let go, let go!
SERGEY
Just hang on a bit longer.
KATERINA
You're hurting, let go!
Katerina pushes Sergey away and he falls.
SHABBY PEASANT
excitedly
Hey look, she's given him a good push!
Sergey gets up, rubbing his bruises.
SERGEY
I've a suggestion to make to you.
KATERINA
Well?
SERGEY
Let's try a bit of wrestling.
KATERINA
All right, let's try.
SERGEY
Out of the way, everybody!
Sergey and Katerina wrestle.
KATERINA
Why have you stopped?
SERGEY
I forgot …
With you in my arms I'm thinking …
What about it,
I've plenty of strength in me!
Sergey throws Katerina to the ground.
KATERINA
Let go, let go, let go!
Oh, Seryozha, let go!
Enter Boris.
BORIS
What's all this?
Katerina gets up.
KATERINA
I was just passing by
and caught my foot in a sack.
And fell;
he tried to help me up
and fell down too.
SHABBY PEASANT
That's exactly what happened.
BORIS
to the labourers
What are you standing around for?
Who's going to do your work for you?
What do you think you're paid for?
Spongers, loafers, drunkards!
to Sergey
Get out, don't hang around.
to Katerina
Fry me some mushrooms.
Just you wait, when your husband gets back,
I'll tell him everything.
Interlude
SCENE THREE
Katerina's bedroom
KATERINA
Time for bed. The day is over,
time for bed, time for bed.
I've no one to talk to,
oh, how boring it is, how boring,
just walls and doors with locks on them.
Enter Boris.
BORIS
Katerina!
KATERINA
Yes?
BORIS
Time for bed.
KATERINA
It's still quite early.
BORIS
Nonsense!
What have you got to do?
Your husband's not here,
no need to waste the candle.
KATERINA
All right, I'll go to bed.
Exit Boris. Katerina undresses.
The foal runs after the filly,
the tom‑cat seeks the female,
the dove hastens to his mate,
but no one hurries to me.
The wind caresses the birch‑tree
and the sun warms it with his heat,
for everyone there's a smile from somewhere,
but no one will come to me,
no one will put his hand round my waist,
no one will press his lips to mine.
No one will stroke my white breast,
no one will tire me out with his passionate embraces.
The days go by in a joyless procession,
my life will flash past without a smile.
No one, no one will ever come to me,
no one will come to me.
Katerina undresses completely and lies down on the bed. A knock is heard at the door.
Who's there? Who's that knocking?
SERGEY
outside the door
Please don't be afraid.
It's me.
KATERINA
Who?
SERGEY
Sergey.
KATERINA
Sergey? What is it?
What do you want here at night?
SERGEY
Just a small matter, open the door!
KATERINA
What small matter?
SERGEY
Open the door, then I'll tell you.
Katerina opens the door. Enter Sergey.
KATERINA
Well, what is it?
SERGEY
I've come to ask if I can borrow a book …
KATERINA
What book?
SERGEY
… to have a read.
KATERINA
Sergey, I haven't any books.
I can't read anyway
and my husband doesn't read books.
SERGEY
I'm dying of boredom.
KATERINA
Well, why don't you get married?
SERGEY
Who to?
A daughter of the house would never have me
and I've no use for common girls;
they're so ill‑educated
and I'm a man of fine feelings;
that's why I'm bored.
KATERINA
I'm bored too.
SERGEY
No wonder!
KATERINA
If only I had a child!
SERGEY
Yes, but even a child,
if you'll allow me to put it like this,
comes as a result of something,
not just of its own accord.
Now let's suppose you did have a bit
on the side,
like all the other women do…
in your position you'd find it
pretty well impossible to meet him.
Say he was someone here
in this very house?
Do you think I don't understand?
I've been in service for years
and seen enough of women's lot.
KATERINA
Yes …
All right, Sergey, go away now.
SERGEY
I'll be on my way.
KATERINA
Goodbye.
Sergey does not leave.
SERGEY
That was a good wrestle we had.
you're certainly strong...
KATERINA
Well, why bring that up?
SERGEY
Allow me to say,
it was the happiest moment in my life,
would you like to try again?
KATERINA
Don't you dare!
SERGEY
Or let's get hold of each other.
He embraces Katerina.
KATERINA
Let go, Sergey, let go!
What are you thinking of?
Let go!
The old man might come back
and see us;
let go, Sergey!
SERGEY
Anyway, I'm stronger than you.
KATERINA
Sergey, you mustn't.
What are you doing? I'm afraid.
SERGEY
My dearest!
KATERINA
What are you doing?
Darling, let go, darling,
I don't wa…
SERGEY
Oh, Katya, my dearest love!
KATERINA
Go away, for God's sake,
I'm a married woman.
SERGEY
You mustn't speak of that.
KATERINA
I have no husband
but you alone.
BORIS
offstage
Katerina...
KATERINA
The old man …
BORIS
… are you in bed?
KATERINA
I'm just going.
BORIS
Well, all right.
KATERINA
Go, quick.
SERGEY
I shan't go anywhere away from here.
KATERINA
The old man will lock the doors.
SERGEY
To a lover windows can be a doorway.
Come, my Katyal
KATERINA
Darling!
ACT TWO
SCENE FOUR
Boris is walking through the courtyard carrying a lantern.
BORIS
That's what old age means:
you can't sleep.
You're all the time thinking burglars
are on the prowl;
I wander around to see if there's a burglar anywhere.
When I was young I couldn't sleep either,
but for a different reason!
I used to hang around under the windows of other men's wives,
singing songs, talking whatever nonsense came into my head,
sometimes even climbed through the windows;
I've had a good life,
I'll say so!
Zinoviy doesn't take after me:
can't even respect his own wife,
if I were his age,
how I'd ‑
Ay!
I'd get her and …
He, he, he! …
He notices a light shining in Katerina's room.
There's a light in the window.
Seems she can't sleep;
of course, she's a young woman;
hot‑blooded too
and there's no one to console her.
Ah!
Now if I were younger,
just ten years or so,
what I'd do!
She'd have it hot from me;
hot, yes, by God, so hot,
it'd even be good enough for her!
A healthy woman like that
and no man around, no man,
no man, no man ,
no man, no man around;
no man, no man at all.
No man, no man,
no man, no man;
it's dull for a woman without a man,
I'll go and see her, yes I will!
At the window Katerina and Sergey are saying farewell.
SERGEY
Goodbye, Katya, goodbye!
Sergey climbs out of the window and down the drainpipe.
BORIS
What's all this?
I can hear somebody's voice;
better have a look.
KATERINA
Wait a bit longer.
SERGEY
It's getting light.
KATERINA
The nights always used to drag on, endlessly,
but now these last seven nights
that we've spent together
have flown by as though on wings.
BORIS
Here's treachery, treachery!
Katerina's betraying her husband
and has found a lover.
Who is he?
You're too late, Boris Timofeyevich!
Ah, hell, what a scandal,
God in heaven!
SERGEY
It's true, when you're with a lover,
time passes more quickly.
Goodbye, Katya!
BORIS
What a scoundrel!
KATERINA
Goodbye, Seryozha!
SERGEY
Katya!
BORIS
It's Sergey, that new labourer,
the swine.
He's the thief...
All right, just you wait.
KATERINA
Seryozha, goodbye, goodbye!
SERGEY
Katya, goodbye, goodbye!
Sergey comes out. Boris seizes him by the collar.
BORIS
Stop! Where have you been?
SERGEY
Wherever it was, I'm not there now.
BORIS
So that's it, of all our treasures he had to choose the best:
he's spent the night with my son's wife.
Hey, everybody! Hey!
SERGEY
Don't shout like that!
BORIS
I'll shout if I want,
I'm the boss around here!
Come here, everybody! I've caught a thief!
The labourers run in half-dressed.
SERGEY
Well, what do you want of me now?
BORIS
I want to give you five hundred lashes.
SERVANTS and LABOURERS
Lord have mercy!
BORIS
to the porter
Give me the whip!
Come on, look lively!
Take his shirt off!
The porter runs off for the whip.
SHABBY PEASANT
Well, mate, you asked for it...
And you're certainly going to get it...
Shabby peasant strips off Sergey's shirt.
PORTER
Are you going to flog him yourself, master,
or get someone else to do it?
BORIS
I'll do it myself!
Katerina! Katerina!
Katerina! Katerina!
Katerina! Katerina!
Katerina appears at the window.
KATERINA
What's all this? I'm asleep!
BORIS
to Katerina
Asleep? Asleep?
No so long ago
you came to the window
and counted the stars as you waited for dawn.
Look, Katerina, I've caught a thief,
now I'm going to thrash him.
Come on! Let's start!
Boris flogs Sergey.
Look, Katerina,
what an entertaining sight:
I've drawn blood,
I've drawn blood,
right, let's give him some more,
just to entertain ourselves, to entertain ourselves.
KATERINA
Let him go, I tell you,
let him go!
BORIS
You, ve got plenty of blood, my friend,
no wonder you're so lecherous.
KATERINA
Open the door!
Open the door!
It's locked!
Open up, open up!
BORIS
We'll get rid of some of that blood for you,
you'll soon feel less energetic, you scoundrel, you villain!
Why don't you cry out, blast you,
trying to show off in front of a woman?
I'll get a scream out of you!
Take that, and that, and that!
Again, again, again, again!
KATERINA
All you people there!
Help me, someone!
Oh! let him go;
whoever opens the door for me
will be rewarded with my love.
I'll jump out of the window!
Come on! Quickly!
SHABBY PEASANT
to Katerina
Just coming, just coming...
LABOURERS
Ha, ha, ha!...
BORIS
Shut up, stay put!
KATERINA
You'll not stop me, you'll not stop me!
She climbs down the drainpipe and hurls herself at Boris. The servants seize her and hold her.
You brute! You brute! I won't let you!
Let go ... you monster,
let go, let go,
let go, let me go!
Let me go!
Let go, let go, let go,
let go, let go, let go,
let go, let go!
BORIS
Hang on to her!
Why are you standing there like a statue, not saying anything?
Don't show off in front of a woman!
So you won't speak? You won't speak?
Just yell, then I'll stop!
Now! Now! Now!
Now! Now!
stops flogging
I'm tired out.
PORTER
Would you like me to carry on, master?
BORIS
No, that'll do,
we can't do too much at once,
or he'll peg out.
Take him off to the store‑room,
we'll flog him again tomorrow.
Sergey is carried away and Katerina is released.
BORIS
to Katerina
Well, what now?
That's really made me hungry.
Is there anything left from supper?
Hey there! Are you deaf?
KATERINA
There are some mushrooms left.
BORIS
Just the thing!
Bring me some mushrooms.
Exit Katerina.
PORTER
Sergey's been locked in the store‑room, here's the key.
BORIS
Go quickly to the mill
and find Zinoviy Borisovich.
Tell him to come home as quickly as he can,
tell him there's trouble at home.
Exit porter. Katerina returns.
KATERINA
aside
I've put in some poison.
The old man'll snuff it
from rat poison!
Boris eats the mushrooms.
BORIS
They're delicious mushrooms,
you're really an expert, Katerina,
at preparing mushrooms.
Go along and get dressed,
you're wandering around the yard
almost naked.
Go on...
No, stop!
My inside's on fire...
Bring some ... water.
KATERINA
I won't.
BORIS
What? What did you say?
How dare you...
KATERINA
I do dare!
BORIS
You dare...
KATERINA
I dare!
BORIS
You slut!
He raises his hand threateningly at Katerina, then falls to the ground.
KATERINA
Well!
BORIS
What's the matter with me?
KATERINA
Well, you had mushrooms late at night...
Lots of people die after eating them.
BORIS
Call the priest, Katerina dear,
call the priest, maybe it's true
that death is approaching.
How it burns ... burns …
burns like fire.
My life has been long
and my sins many.
Bring the priest here, the priest!
God, O God! It's so painful...
So painful...
KATERINA
Where are the store‑room keys?
She searches Boris, takes the keys and goes out.
BORIS
I can't breathe...
In the distance is heard the singing of the foremen coming to work. Their voices get nearer and nearer.
LABOURERS
See, the dawn is breaking,
see, the dawn is breaking. Hey!
The sky is getting lighter,
the sky is getting lighter. Hey!
Mustn't waste time like this,
hey, to work, and quickly, fellows. Hey!
The barns await us, that's for sure.
The barns await us, that's for sure. Hey!
And the flour that feeds us waits,
and the flour that feeds us waits. Hey!
Our master's fierce and cruel
just like a crocodile. Hey!
Enter labourers.
BORIS
One of you run
and fetch the priest...
I'm in a bad way.
FIRST FOREMAN
In a moment...
SECOND FOREMAN
Maybe you'd like us
to carry you into the house?
BORIS
No, it's better here.
The sun will soon be rising,
put me down here.
The keys...
SECOND FOREMAN
What?
BORIS
Get the keys.
She's a trollop...
SECOND FOREMAN
He must be raving!
THIRD FOREMAN
Yes, he's certainly raving.
SECOND FOREMAN
Must mean he's really bad.
THIRD FOREMAN
He looks bad.
SECOND FOREMAN
Maybe he's going to die.
THIRD FOREMAN
Yes, he is...
SECOND FOREMAN
That's what I'm saying, he's going to die.
Enter first foreman and the priest.
PRIEST
Who's dying around here?
FIRST FOREMAN
This chap.
PRIEST
Ah! "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit …"
BORIS
to the priest
Father, hear my confession.
My sins are many.
But you must know this:
mine is not a natural death,
rats die like this,
and the rat poison,
is a white powder...
Enter Katerina.
pointing to Katerina
It was herl It was her!
falls back senseless
PRIEST
He's dead.
FOREMEN
Amen.
KATERINA
Oh, Boris Timofeyevich,
why have you left us?
To whom have you abandoned
Zinoviy and me?
What will Zinoviy and I
do now without you?
PRIEST
to Katerina
Why should it happen to him?
He was still a strong old boy.
KATERINA
He'd eaten mushrooms at night, you know,
a lot of people die after eating them.
PRIEST
That's so.
"Oh, these mushrooms and cold soups are too much",
as Nikolay Vasilyich Gogol said,
that great writer of our Russian land.
Yes indeed, people get strange ideas when they're dying.
Boris Timofeyevich said
that he was dying like a rat;
only that can't be right;
a rat dies,
but a human being passes away.
Strange …
But that doesn't stop us saying a requiem for him.
"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace..."
Interlude
SCENE FIVE
Katerina's bedroom. Katerina and Sergey are lying in bed. Sergey is asleep.
KATERINA
Sergey, Seryozha!
He's still asleep.
SERGEY
waking up
What?
KATERINA
Wake up!
SERGEY
What do you want?
KATERINA
Wake up!
SERGEY
Well?
KATERINA
Kiss me!
Sergey kisses her.
Not like that, not like that;
kiss me so it hurts my lips
and the blood rushes to my head
and the icons fall from their shelves.
Sergey kisses her.
Oh! Seryozha!
SERGEY
Katya, our love is nearing its end.
KATERINA
Why?
SERGEY
Zinoviy Borisych will be coming back,
your lawful husband,
how do you think I'm going to feel,
seeing you go to bed
with your lawful husband?
KATERINA
That won't happen.
SERGEY
Katerina Lvovna, Katenka,
I'm not like other men,
who don't care about anything,
so long as they've got a woman's soft body
to caress.
I'm a sensitive person, you know,
I can feel what love is.
Oh why did I fall in love with you
and burn with passion just for you?
Can it really be an honour for you,
an eminent merchant's wife,
to be my mistress?
Oh Katya, what I'd give to become
your husband in God's eyes!
As it is,
we can meet only at night
and in daylight we're afraid
to show our faces to the world.
KATERINA
Don't upset yourself, Sergey,
I'll make you a merchant
and we'll live together properly.
SERGEY
How will you manage that?
KATERINA
That's not your worry.
It's your business to kiss me hard,
like this.
Sergey kisses her, then falls asleep.
KATERINA
He's asleep again.
Oh Sergey, can you really sleep,
when your lover's lips are so close?
Oh, Sergey, I'll not fear anyone,
I'll make you my husband,
I'll not be afraid of anyone.
Boris Timofeyich tried to interfere
and he's gone: dead, buried and forgotten,
only I remember him at nights.
His fearful face often appears before me.
The ghost of Boris appears.
There he is in the corner!
GHOST OF BORIS
Katerina Lvovna, you murderess!
I've come to find out
how you and Sergey are keeping
my son's bed warm.
KATERINA
You can't frighten me; look at me
sleeping with Sergey.
GHOST OF BORIS
My eyes cannot see,
look, in my eyes
is but emptiness and fire.
Katerina, Katerina,
a curse on you forever!
KATERINA
Oh, Sergey, wake up!
Sergey wakes up.
SERGEY
Well? What do you want?
KATERINA
Sergey, Seryozha, look and see,
the fearful ghost of Boris Timofeyich standing there.
Sergey cannot see the ghost.
SERGEY
Nonsense, there's no one there,
calm down, Katya.
KATERINA
I'm scared, Seryozha, kiss me, kiss me,
kiss me; darling, dearest one,
press me closer to your heart!
The ghost disappears, Katerina and Sergey fall asleep. Later Katerina wakes up and rouses Sergey.
in a whisper
Listen, Sergey, Sergey!
SERGEY
Well?
KATERINA
Can you hear it?
SERGEY
What?
KATERINA
Someone's walking softly, softly.
SERGEY
It's your imagination again.
KATERINA
No, no.
The dogs didn't bark,
so it's someone they know;
can you hear? Someone's coming.
SERGEY
Yes, I can.
KATERINA
Hide somewhere,
it's Zinoviy Borisych, my husband.
Sergey whistles.
SERGEY
Now we're really in the soup!
KATERINA
Hide quick, hide!
Sergey hides.
He's listening at the door, the swine,
just you wait!
ZINOVIY
outside the door
Katerina!
KATERINA
Who's there?
ZINOVIY
Open the door!
KATERINA
I can't make it out...
Who's there?
ZINOVIY
It's me...
KATERINA
Who?
ZINOVIY
Me, can't you hear?
KATERINA
I can't make it out.
ZINOVIY
Look, it's me, Zinoviy Borisovich.
Katerina opens the door. Enter Zinoviy
And how are you getting on?
KATERINA
I haven't been going to any theatres,
nor to any balls either.
ZINOVIY
noticing Sergey's trousers
So you've been at home all the time?
KATERINA
Yes, l have.
ZINOVIY
I see! Well, that's fine then,
but how did my dad die?
KATERINA
Well, he just died; we gave him a good funeral.
ZINOVIY
And why is the bed made up for two?
KATERINA
I was expecting you any time.
ZINOVIY
Thanks for that anyway.
noticing Sergey's belt
And what might that thing be?
KATERINA
Where?
ZINOVIY
Here!
From what I can make out,
it's a man's belt.
KATERINA
I found it in the garden
and fastened my skirt with it.
ZINOVIY
We've been hearing some things
about your skirts,
about your skirts.
KATERINA
What have you heard then?
ZINOVIY
We've heard a lot about your affairs …
KATERINA
What have you heard?
ZINOVIY
We've heard everything.
KATERINA
What have you heard?
ZINOVIY
We've heard it all, we've heard it all,
we've heard it all, just everything!
KATERINA
I don't like people talking to me
in that insolent way.
Kindly explain
what "affairs" you're talking about.
You know absolutely nothing about it,
I'm the one who knows it all.
I won't allow you or anyone els
to talk to me about my "affairs".
It's not for you to judge me.
Hands off, you disgusting, pathetic creature;
I can't even call you a husband,
you're as lifeless as a lump of wood,
a feeble weakling and as cold as a fish.
You disgust me.
Ugh, you pathetic tradesman!
ZINOVIY
Look here, Katerina,
that's very fine language coming from you,
just like you'd read in books!
What's it all about?
Where have you got such insolent manners from?
There must be some truth in the rumour
that you've been unfaithful to me.
Just you wait, Katerina,
I'll get to the bottom of it, never fear,
just you wait, Katerina,
I'll get to the bottom of it and then I'll give you
sheer hell,
absolute, sheer hell.
I'll beat the living daylights out of you.
I am your husband before God and the Tsar.
I am responsible for the family's honour.
I demand the truth!
KATERINA
What good'll that do you?
ZINOVIY
I demand the truth!
KATERINA
I don't even want to talk to you,
after all you're nothing more than a pathetic tradesman,
you'd never understand anything!
Zinoviy beats Katerina with the belt.
ZINOVIY
Take that, and that, and another!
KATERINA
Oh! oh!
Sergey, Sergey,
he's beating me!
Come out and protect me!
ZINOVIY
Who's this Sergey?
Who is it? Where is he?
Who's this Sergey?
Enter Sergey. Katerina rushes to him and kisses him.
KATERINA
Sergey, my dearest love!
ZINOVIY
Murder! Come here, everybody!
He runs to the window.
KATERINA
You won't get away!
Katerina catches up with Zinoviy, pushes him on the floor and begins to strangle him. Sergey runs up and holds Zinoviy on the floor. Zinoviy struggles.
ZINOVIY
I ... knew it ... all...
KATERINA
Hold him tighter, Sergey!
ZINOVIY
You swine! Help!
Oh, they're strangling me!
weakly
Get a priest...
SERGEY
I'll give you priest all right!
Sergey hits Zinoviy over the head with a heavy candlestick.
KATERINA
He's choking...
Zinoviy dies.
SERGEY
Well, that's the end of that...
KATERINA
Take him to the cellar.
I'll light the way.
Sergey lifts Zinoviy's body on to his shoulders and carries it into the cellar. Katerina lights the way with a candle. When they come to the cellar, Sergey rolls away some stones and puts Zinoviy's body in the hole.
SERGEY
Let's have some light, Katya.
KATERINA
Hurry up, oh do hurry up!
Sergey replaces the stones.
SERGEY
Just finishing.
That's all ... it's done...
KATERINA
Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me.
They kiss.
SERGEY
Katya...
KATERINA
Now you are my husband.
Katerina and Sergey stand locked in an embrace.
ACT THREE
SCENE SIX
Katerina is standing near the cellar and gazing towards it. Enter Sergey. Both are dressed in fine clothes.
SERGEY
Why are you standing there?
What are you staring at?
KATERINA
But, Seryozha, Zinoviy Borisych is lying there,
that's where we buried him.
SERGEY
Not so loud!
KATERINA
When I think of it
I feel afraid, Seryozha!
SERGEY
Don't be afraid of the dead,
it's the living you should fear.
KATERINA
I know that.
SERGEY
Then if you know it,
what's the point of standing there?
People will notice.
KATERINA
All right.
Seryozha, today's our wedding day,
it's time to go to the church.
Everything will be all right.
SERGEY
It's time to go to the church.
KATERINA
Let's go quickly,
today is our day
and tomorrow and always.
Exit Katerina and Sergey. Enter the shabby peasant, drunk.
SHABBY PEASANT
Once a lady friend of mine
crazy was on drinking wine, hic!
Then I had a kindly mate,
wine and vodka he drank straight, hic!
And as for my godfather dear,
his only interest was in beer, hic!
Hic! Hic! Hic!
That whole family of mine
couldn't last a day without good wine, hic!
Why should they then outstrip me?
I drink vodka enough for three, hic! hic!
I can drink the whole day through,
nights and days and evenings too,
summer, spring and winter deep,
drink until I fall asleep, hic!
I shall drink for evermore,
I'm a jolly sort, for sure, hic!
Hic! Hic! Hic!
Singing's fine when there's something to drink,
but when there's nothing to drink,
then there's nothing to sing about.
And why is there nothing to drink?
Because I'm broke.
I've got an unlucky star,
other people have got lucky stars.
That Sergey - he had absolutely nothing
and now he can swim in vodka.
Why did she choose Sergey for her husband
and not me?
What's he got that I haven't?
Arms, legs, head, belly - all in the right place.
I've just got an unlucky star.
I like to have a good swig!
Here's the cellar,
the mistress often stands near it
and keeps on staring, just staring ...
Must be some good wine in there ...
She stares and stares and stares ...
Well, I'll just have a look.
Ah, there must really be some good wines in there!
He breaks the lock and enters the cellar, then quickly runs out again, holding his nose.
Ugh, what a pong!
Ugh, ugh, ugh! What a pong!
What a frightful, frightful pong!
What could cause such a pong?
Has all the food gone bad?
goes into the cellar again
I'll have a look …
God, what a pong!
Oh!
Noticing Zinoviy's body in the cellar, the shabby peasant runs out in horror.
A corpse!
The corpse of Zinoviy Borisovich,
the corpse, the corpse of Zinoviy Borisovich.
Oh! Oh!
Get the police!
runs away in horror
Interlude
SCENE SEVEN
At the police station. The sergeant and the policeman - 20 to 24 men - are sitting around idly and despondently.
SERGEANT
The police were formed, so we are told,
when the Pharaohs ruled in days of old,
how then in our enlightened civilisation
can men exist without a police station?
SERGEANT and POLICEMEN
But for all our application
We receive but tribulation,
They pay us most unfairly
and good bribes are offered rarely.
SERGEANT
Where could we make the extra bob,
If we didn't fiddle on the job?
POLlCEMEN
Where could we make the extra bob,
if we didn't fiddle on the job?
SERGEANT
Sun and moon in turn give light,
the stars they twinkle but at night.
POLICEMEN
Hey!
SERGEANT
But a policeman's always on the job,
come rain or tempest, drought or fog.
SERGEANT and POLICEMEN
But for all our application
we receive but tribulation,
they pay us most unfairly
and good bribes are offered rarely.
SERGEANT
Where could we make the extra bob,
if we didn't fiddle on the job?
POLICEMEN
Where could we make the extra bob,
if we didn't fiddle on the job?
SERGEANT
That's why a sergeant vigil keeps all night
and why his aspect is a dreadful sight,
to cause in nihilists fear and agitation,
preserving peace and quiet for the nation.
But for all our application
we receive but tribulation,
they pay us most unfairly
and good bribes are offered rarely!
POLICEMEN
Hey! And for all, hey, our, hey, application, hey,
hey, we receive, hey, but, hey, tribulation, hey!
Hey! They pay us, hey, hey, most unfairly, hey,
and good, hey, bribes, hey, hey, are offered, hey, rarely!
SERGEANT
Where could we make the extra bob,
if we didn't fiddle on the job?
POLICEMEN
Where could we make the extra bob,
if we didn't fiddle on the job?
SERGEANT
There's a real feast now at the Ismailov's,
that hussy's getting married
and she hasn't invited me.
I'll get even with her,
for getting married without the authorities.
I'll get even with her,
for getting married without the authorities.
POLICEMEN
That's right, we'll all get even with her!
SERGEANT
If only we had a pretext,
although a pretext can always be found.
POLICEMEN
That's right, one can always be found.
A policeman enters leading a teacher. The teacher looks scared. The policeman and the sergeant jump to their feet and start looking interested.
POLICEMAN
I've caught a socialist.
POLICEMEN
A! I! O! U! Y!
Ho, ho, ho!
SERGEANT
Ho, ho, ho!
POLICEMAN
He says, your honour, he doesn't believe in God.
TEACHER
God does ... exist...
SERGEANT
to the teacher
Shut up!
POLICEMEN
Ho, ho, he!
POLICEMAN
And he talks about frogs...
SERGEANT
What frogs?
TEACHER
I started wondering
why only man should possess a soul
and why frogs shouldn't have one too.
So I took a frog and examined it.
SERGEANT
Well?
TEACHER
It has a soul,
only a very small one and it's not immortal …
SERGEANT
Lock him up!
TEACHER
Sorry, God does exist, God does exist!
POLICEMEN
Ho, ho, ho!
The policemen take the teacher away and then return.
SERGEANT
That's that.
Silence again and an air of boredom.
The police were formed, so we are told...
But there's a real feast now at the Ismailov's.
POLICEMEN
Ah!
SERGEANT
That's where we'd get something good,
only we've no excuse for going! Ah!
Enter shabby peasant.
SHABBY PEASANT
Your honour!
SERGEANT
What do you want?
SHABBY PEASANT
Something's happened...
SERGEANT
What's happened?
SHABBY PEASANT
At the Ismailov's...
SERGEANT
At the Ismailov's? Ho, ho!
POLICEMEN
Ho, ho, ho!
SHABBY PEASANT
There's a corpse in the cellar...
POLICEMEN
Ho, ho, ho!
The policemen and the sergeant get up and cheerfully set off.
SERGEANT
What a godsend!
POLICEMEN
Ho, ho, ho!
SERGEANT
Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry,
then we'll have no cause to worry,
won't get blamed for inattention
in a serious situation!
POLICEMEN
Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry,
then we'll have no cause to worry,
won't get blamed for inattention
in a serious situation!
SERGEANT
Quicker, quicker, quicker, quicker,
we might get free food and liquor,
stuff ourselves until we're sick,
so we'll hurry, hurry quick!
POLICEMEN
Quicker, quicker, quicker, quicker,
we might get free food and liquor,
stuff ourselves until we're sick,
so we'll hurry, hurry quick!
Interlude
SCENE EIGHT
In the garden the tables are set our to form three sides of a rectangle; the guests, already drunk, are celebrating the wedding of Katerina and Sergey. The bridal pair are in the centre. The feast is coming to an end. Nearby is the cellar where Zinoviy's body lies. Katerina is very restless and on edge. The guests are toasting the bridal pair.
GUESTS
Long live the happy pair,
Katerina and Sergey, long life to you!
Long live the happy pair,
may they live long in love and harmony!
Long live the happy pair,
Katerina and Sergey, long life to you!
We wish you health and happiness
and a life of harmony.
Long life!
PRIEST
Give her a kiss! Give her a kiss!
GUESTS
Give her a kiss! Give her a kiss!
Katerina and Sergey kiss.
GUESTS
Ha, ha, ha!...
PRIEST
That's fine! Kiss her again!
GUESTS
Give her a kiss! Give her a kiss!
They kiss again.
KATERINA
Dear friends,
help yourselves, please!
GUESTS
Thank you, thank you.
PRIEST
Who is fairer than the sun in the sky,
who is fairer than the sun in the sky?
Eh!
GUESTS
Is there none fairer than the sun in the sky,
is there none fairer than the sun in the sky?
Yes there is!
PRIEST
Indeed there is!
Indeed there is one fairer than the sun in the sky,
there is! There is!
Indeed there is one fairer fairer than the sun in the sky!
Who is it?
GUESTS
We know of none fairer than the sun in the sky
we know of none fairer than the sun in the sky!
PRIEST
Katerina Lvovna is fairer than the sun in the sky,
mm ... ah ... really lovely!
Mm ... her hand...
Give her a kiss!
GUESTS
Give her a kiss, give her a kiss!
PRIEST
He, he, he!...
Have they gone all shy?
GUESTS
He, he, he!
The guests are drunk and almost asleep.
Long live Katerina Lvovna,
she's fairer than the sun in the sky, long may she live!
PRIEST
Give her a kiss!
Katerina notices that the lock on the cellar door is broken.
KATERINA
Oh!
PRIEST
Give her a kiss!
SERGEY
What's the matter?
GUESTS
He, he, he!
KATERINA
The lock's broken.
SERGEY
Well?
KATERINA
That's where Zinoviy is,
look, it's terrifying. Oh!
When they all go home
we'll make a run for it!
SERGEY
It can't be.
It's true, it's broken;
hush,hush.
PRIEST
Who is fairer than the sun in the sky.
Who is fairer …
Where are the happy pair,
having it off together?
Bit early isn't it, it's not yet night, he, he, he!
GUESTS
Long life!
KATERINA
to the guests
Help yourselves, please.
GUESTS
Katerina Lvovna is fairer than the sun in the sky!
They fall asleep.
PRIEST
Who is fairer than the sun in the sky, eh?
DRUNKEN GUEST
Give her a kiss!
The guests are asleep. Katerina and Sergey are very agitated.
KATERINA
Sergey, we must escape,
someone's broken the lock,
they must have seen the body there.
SERGEY
What about the household?
And the business?
KATERINA
We'll have to drop everything.
Let's take all the money,
it'll be enough for us to live on;
we might just have time.
Go and get the money quickly,
there's not a moment to lose!
Sergey runs into the house.
Oh, where's he got to, where's he got to?
SERGEY
Coming, coming!
Sergey returns. Katerina hears footsteps and sees the policemen approaching, led by the sergeant. Katerina is distraught and rushes about the stage trying to escape.
KATERINA
What's this?
It's too late...
Oh, Sergey, we're done for...
SERGEY
What do you mean, done for? Let's run for it!
KATERINA
Wherever to?
A knock is heard at the gate.
SERGEY
Who's there?
POLICEMEN
The police!
The gate opens. Enter the police.
SERGEANT
How do you do?
KATERINA
outwardly calm
How do you do?
SERGEANT
You didn't invite us,
aren't we good enough for you?
But here we are anyway!
A little matter has arisen!
So, what a lot of guests!
Looks as if a lot of wine's been drunk!
Hasn't it? There's a little matter of a certain kind,
to put it bluntly, there's a little matter!
Katerina embraces Sergey
KATERINA
Don't keep beating about the bush,
put the handcuffs on, then!
Oh, Sergey, forgive me,
forgive me, Seryozha!
Seryozha!
She holds out her hands to the policemen. They handcuff her.
SERGEANT
Get the handcuffs on! Look sharp!
Sergey tries to escape.
SERGEY
Let me go, you swine.
POLICEMEN
Get him, get him, get him, get him!
They immediately get hold of him. He resists and they beat him. Katerina in handcuffs rushe to defend Sergey. They are both securely handcuffed.
SERGEY
Let me go! Let me go! Let me go!
SERGEANT
No you don't! You won t get away!
You won't get away!
Take that, and that, and that, and that!
POLICEMEN
No you don't! Ha, ha, ha! …
That's what he needs, just what he needs!
That's what he needs, just what he needs!
KATERINA
Don't you dare!
Don't you dare!
SERGEANT
Keep a tight hold of him!
Off to prison with him!
He is led away.
KATERINA
Oh, Sergey, forgive me,
forgive me.
ACT FOUR
SCENE NINE
It is evening. The convicts are setting down for the night. The women are separated from the men. Amongst the women are Katerina and a pretty young convict called Sonyetka. Amongst the men is Sergey. All the convicts are in fetters. Sentries are posted everywhere.
OLD CONVICT
Verst after verst, one by one,
creeps by in an endless procession,
the heat of the day now is done,
the sun on the steppes is now setting.
Ah, road, where the chains have been dragging,
where bones of the dead are still lying,
where blood and sweat have been flowing,
to the echoes of groans of the dying!
Ah!
CONVICTS
Ah, road, where the chains have been dragging,
where bones of the dead are still lying,
where blood and sweat have been flowing,
to the echoes of groans of the dying!
OLD CONVICT
We shall rest when the day’s work is done,
but the first rays of sunrise will find us
counting the versts one by one,
our fetters still clanging behind us.
Ah, steppes, you are so endless,
days and nights so countless,
the thoughts we think so cheerless
and the guards we have so heartless!
CONVICTS
Ah, steppes, you are so endless,
days and nights so countless,
the thoughts we think so cheerless
and the guards we have so heartless!
Katerina goes up to the sentry who is separating the women from the men.
KATERINA
Stepanych! Let me go through,
here's twenty kopecks to buy some vodka,
Stepanych!
SENTRY
Oh, women! Women!
What a lecherous lot!
Oh well, all right then, go along!
KATERINA
Thank you!
She makes her way over to Sergey.
Seryozha! My dearest!
She snuggles up to Sergey. Sergey maintains a sullen silence.
At last!
I've gone the whole day without seeing you.
Seryozha!
Even the pain in my legs has gone
and the tiredness and the anguish...
Everything's forgotten,
once I'm with you,
Seryozha, Seryozha!
SERGEY
Have you also forgotten the wrong you've done?
KATERINA
What wrong, Seryozha?
SERGEY
Whose fault is it I'm a convict,
have you forgotten?
KATERINA
Seryozha!
SERGEY
Get away!
KATERINA
Seryozha,
oh, forgive me, Seryozha.
SERGEY
Get out, you've ruined my life!
Get out!
KATERINA
Oh, forgive me,
forgive me, Seryozha!
O God, what torment,
Seryozha!
SERGEY
Fine sort of merchant's wife!
You're just a hussy.
Katerina returns to her place.
KATERINA
It's hard when you're used to honour and respect
to stand before a judge!
It's hard after endearments and caresses
to feel the whip on your back.
It's hard after the luxury of feather beds
to have to sleep on the frozen ground.
It's hard after luxury and peace
to trudge for thousands of versts,
it's hard, it's hard!
But I've no strength to bear Sergey's betrayal,
to see in his every glance his hatred of me,
to sense in every word his disdain.
That's what I cannot bear.
Sergey makes his way towards Sonyetka and wakens her.
SERGEY
Greetings!
SONYETKA
How do you manage to get around everywhere?
SERGEY
I gave the sentry 25 kopecks.
SONYETKA
And where do you get so much money from?
SERGEY
From my rich merchant's wife.
SONYETKA
Your rich merchant's wife?
Then she's a fool, that rich merchant's wife of yours!
SERGEY
Yes, she's a fool, for sure.
SONYETKA
What a fool!
SERGEY
Yes, what a fool!
SONYETKA and SERGEY
Ha, ha, ha ...
SERGEY
Sonyetka my darling,
I want to ask you
to grant me my heart's desire!
SONYETKA
And what is that desire?
SERGEY
You must know what it is!
SONYETKA
What a cheeky fellow you are,
run off to that rich merchant's wife of yours!
SERGEY
I'm sick of her, I'm sick of her,
I'm absolutely sick of her!
SONYETKA
Why did you carry on with her then?
SERGEY
For what I could get out of it!
SONYETKA
Do you think I'll give you what you want
just to please you?
Well, you've got it wrong!
She gets up and makes as if to leave.
SERGEY
Wait, Sonyetka!
SONYETKA
Well, I can't make out what you want!
Sergey embraces Sonyetka. Sonyetka resists.
SERGEY
I love you, I love you!
I love you, love you,
I love you!
SONYETKA
Prove it then!
SERGEY
What do you want me to do?
Sonyetka shows Sergey her torn stockings. Sergey seizes her legs, but Sonyetka puts a stop to his advances with a slap on the cheek.
SONYETKA
Can you see?
My stockings are torn
and I'm cold.
Get me some others!
SERGEY
Wherever from?
SONYETKA
From your rich merchant's wife.
SERGEY
Of course!
All right, I'll get some!
He makes his way towards Katerina.
Katya!
KATERINA
Seryozha, so you've come?
SERGEY
Katya, don't be angry,
forgive me.
KATERINA
Seryozha,
Seryozha, you're all I have, you know,
my love,
and you ... you've hurt me cruelly,
Seryozha!
SERGEY
Katya, forgive me,
I'm in a bad way...
This is the last time
we'll see each other.
KATERINA
Why? Seryozha?
SERGEY
I'm going to town
to the hospital,
the fetters have rubbed my leg so sore,
the pain's intolerable.
KATERINA
But you can't!
What shall I do without you?
They're sure to torment me even more!
SERGEY
They will!
But I can't go on any longer,
it hurts so!
KATERINA
Seryozha, I can't exist even a minute
without you,
what am I to do?
I can't, I can't, Seryozha,
don't leave me!
SERGEY
If only I could get hold
of some woollen stockings from somewhere,
that would certainly help!
KATERINA
Stockings?
Why didn't you say so before, Seryozha?
Here are some stockings, take them!
takes off her stockings
SERGEY
Oh, Katya,
thank you, my dearest!
KATERINA
gives Sergey her stockings
Here, take them.
SERGEY
Well, I'll be back in a moment!
He takes the stockings and quickly goes towards Sonyetka.
KATERINA
Where are you going?
SERGEY
I'll be back in a moment.
KATERINA
Seryozha, Seryozha!
Why has he gone off?
SERGEY
to Sonyetka
Here are some stockings!
Come on,
now you are mine!
He takes Sonyetka in his arms and carries her off the stage.
SONYETKA
enraptured
Oh, you are a brute!
Katerina, noticing what is going on, rushes after Sergey, but she is restrained by the women convicts, who start mocking her.
KATERINA
Sergey, Sergey, what does this mean?
Are the stockings for Sonyetka?
Sergey! Sergey!
WOMEN CONVICTS
Ha, ha, ha! ...
WOMAN CONVICT
The merchant's wife with passionate fire
still is burning.
But cold is now her lover's desire,
to know her he has no yearning!
WOMEN CONVICTS
But cold is now her lover's desire,
to know her he has no yearning.
Ha, ha, ha! ...
WOMAN CONVICT
Nothing more to her is left:
of her joys in freedom was she bereft!
And in bondage of her bridegroom too!
WOMEN CONVICTS
Ha, ha, ha! ...
Of her joys in freedom was she bereft!
And in bondage of her bridegroom too!
WOMAN CONVICT
Katerina Lvovna,
what a mess you've made of things!
WOMEN CONVICTS
Ha, ha, ha!...
WOMAN CONVICT
It'll be dull for Katerina without Sergey!
WOMEN CONVICTS
The merchant's wife will be lost without Sergey,
will be lost without Sergey.
WOMAN CONVICT
Give the stockings to us, give them to us!
WOMEN CONVICTS
Ha, ha, ha! ...
Give the stockings to us!
KATERINA
Ah! Let me go!
She keeps trying to break through the women convicts.
WOMAN CONVICT
Not one night can she sleep alone ...
It is unpleasant on her own,
it is unpleasant without Sergey!
WOMEN CONVICTS
Ha, ha, ha! ...
KATERINA
Ah! Ah!
ALL WOMEN CONVICTS
It'll be dull for Katerina without Sergey,
it'll be dull for Katerina without Sergey,
it'll be dull for Katerina without Sergey,
without Sergey.
At the noise the sentry comes running. He restores order.
SENTRY
Attention! Attention!
What are you yelling for?
WOMAN CONVICT
points out to the sentry where Sonyetka and Sergey have gone
There ... there ... Sergey, Sonyetka.
SENTRY
Shut up! I'll do you!
looks and shakes his head
Well!
Katerina escapes from the ring of women convicts and runs on to the stage.
WOMEN CONVICTS
Ha, ha, ha! ...
SENTRY
Well I never!
WOMEN CONVICTS
Ha, ha, ha! ...
Katerina stands motionless in an attitude of utter despair, then in horror runs to the front of the stage. She stands still in utter despair.
KATERINA
In the wood, right in a grove, there is a lake,
almost round and very deep
and the water in it is black,
black like my conscience.
And when the wind blows in the wood,
on the lake waves rise up,
huge waves and then it's frightening,
in autumn there are always waves on the lake
and the water's black and the waves huge.
Huge, black waves.
Sonyetka and Sergey come out from backstage.
SERGEY
Do you know, Sonyetka,
who we resemble?
Adam and Eve.
SONYETKA
But it's not all that like Paradise here!
SERGEY
Nonsense, we've just been in Paradise together...
Sonyetka goes up to Katerina, who is sitting motionless, her eyes fixed on one spot.
SONYETKA
Thank you, Katerina Lvovna,
thank you, Katerina Lvovna,
thank you for the stockings!
Look how fine they look
on my legs.
Seryozha put them on for me
and kissed my legs to make them warm!
Oh, Seryozha, my Seryozha,
Katerina's a fool,
she couldn't keep Sergey.
Ha, what a fool! Ha, what a fool!
And you won't see your stockings again.
They're mine now, look!
I'm warm now!
An officer wakens the convicts. The beating of the drum is heard.
OFFICER
On your feet! Back to your places! Look lively!
The convicts get up.
CONVICTS
Oh, we've got to get up
and get moving again!
The convicts line up. Katerina remains sitting motionless. An old convict goes up to her.
OLD CONVICT
Hey, old girl, do you hear? We're off!
Otherwise they'll give us hell, do you hear?
Katerina slowly goes up to Sonyetka, who is standing on the bridge by a broken parapet. She pushes Sonyetka into the river and throws herself in after her.
SONYETKA
Ah!
CONVICTS
Good heavens! Whatever's happened?
OFFICER
Don't move there! Watch it! I'll do you!
SONYETKA
from a distance
Ah! Ah!
OFFICER
They’ve both drowned,
we can't save them, the current's too strong!
Attention! Back to your places!
The convicts line up and march off.
OLD CONVICT
We trudge along day after day,
clanging our fetters behind us.
Wearily counting the versts,
raising the dust all around us!
CONVICTS
Ah, steppes, you are so endless,
days and nights so countless,
the thoughts we think so cheerless
and the guards we have so heartless.
Ah …
Exeunt the convicts. Their singing can be heard in the distance. The stage is now empty.
