Page 8 of The Possessed

turned from a long absence, and then perhaps I'll

  recognize you.

  STAVROGIN: Be quiet. Now, listen carefully. I want

  all. your attention. Tomorrow, if I'm still alive, I

  shall make our marriage public. We shall not live

  in my house. We shall go to Switzerland, to the

  mountains. We shall spend our whole life in that

  gloomy, deserted spot. That is how I see things.

  MARIA: Yes, yes, you want to die, you are already

  burying yourself. But when you come to want

  to live again, you will want to get rid of me. No

  matter how!

  STAVROGIN: No. I shall not leave that place; I'll

  not leave you. Why do you talk to me this way?

  MARIA: Because now I have recognized you and I

  know that you are not my Prince. He would not

  be ashamed of me. He would not hide me in the

  mountains. He would show me to everyone?

  yes, even to that young lady who couldn't take

  her eyes off me the other day. No, you look very

  much like my Prince, but it's all over. ... I

  have seen through you. You want to make an

  impression on that young lady. You covet her.

  STAVROGIN: Will you listen to me? Cease this mad-

  ness!

  MARIA: He never told me I was mad. He was a

  Prince, an eagle. He could fall at the feet of God

  if he wanted to, and not fall at the feet of God

  if he didn't want to. As for you, Shatov slapped

  you. You are a lackey too.

  93 Scene 8

  STAVROGIN (taking her by the arm): Look at me.

  Recognize me. I am your husband.

  MARIA: Let go of me, impostor. I don't fear your

  knife. He would have defended me against the

  whole world. You want my death because I am

  in your way.

  STAVROGIN: What have you said, you wretch!

  What have you said?

  (He flings her backward. She falls and he rushes

  toward the door. She stumbles after him. But

  LEBYATKIN suddenly appears and holds her down

  while she screams.)

  MARIA: Assassin! Anathema! Assassin!

  BLACKOUT

  SCENE 9

  The bridge, STAVROGIN is walking rapidly while

  muttering to himself. When he has gone beyond

  the middle of the bridge, FEDKA pops up behind

  him. STAVROGIN turns around suddenly, seizes him

  by the neck, and pins him face downward on the

  ground, without seeming to make an effort. Then

  he lets go of him. At once FEDKA is on his feet with

  a broad, short knife in his hand.

  STAVROGIN: Put away that knife! (FEDKA hides the

  knife, STAVROGIN turns his back and continues

  walking, FEDKA follows him. A long walk. The

  bridge has now been replaced by a long, deserted

  street.) I almost broke your neck, I was so angry.

  FEDKA: You are strong, Excellency. The soul is

  weak, but the body is vigorous. Your sins must

  be great.

  STAVROGIN {laughing): So you've gone in for

  preaching? Yet I have heard that you robbed a

  church last week.

  FEDKA: TO tell the truth, I had gone in to pray.

  And then it occurred to me that Divine Grace

  had led me there and that I should take advantage

  of it because God was willing to give me a little

  help.

  STAVROGIN: You slaughtered the watchman too.

  FEDKA: YOU might say we cleaned out the church

  95 Scene 9

  together. But in the morning, down by the river,

  we fell to disputing as to who should carry the big

  bag. And then I sinned.

  STAVROGIN: Superb. Go on slaughtering and rob-

  bing!

  FEDKA: That's what little Verkhovensky told me.

  I'm quite willing. There are plenty of opportuni-

  ties. Why, at Captain Lebyaktin's, where you

  went this evening . . .

  STAVROGIN (suddenly stopping): Well?

  FEDKA: NOW, don't hit me again! I mean that that

  drunkard leaves the door open every night, he is

  so drunk. Anyone could go in and kill everyone

  in the house, both brother and sister.

  STAVROGIN: Did you go in?

  FEDKA: Yes.

  STAVROGIN: Why didn't you kill everybody?

  FEDKA: I made a little calculation.

  STAVROGIN: What?

  FEDKA: I could steal a hundred and fifty rubles

  after having killed him?after having killed them,

  I mean. But if I am to believe little Verkhovensky,

  I could get fifteen hundred rubles from you for

  the same work. So . . . (STAVROGIN looks at him

  in silence.) I am turning to you as to a brother or

  father. [Nobody will ever know anything about

  it, not even young Verkhovensky.] But I need to

  know whether you want me to do it: just give me

  the word or a little down payment, (STAVROGIN

  begins to laugh as he looks at him.) Now,

  wouldn't you like to give me the three rubles I

  asked you for earlier?

  (STAVROGIN, still laughing, takes bills out of his

  Second Part 96

  pocket and drops them on the ground one by

  one. FEDKA picks them up, uttering "ah's" ivhich

  go on after the light has dimmed to a BLACKOUT.)

  THE NARRATOR: The man who kills, or plans to

  kill, or lets others be killed, often wants to die

  himself. He is a comrade of death. Perhaps that

  is what Stavrogin's laugh meant. But it is not cer-

  tain that Fedka understood it thus.

  BLACKOUT

  SCENE 10*

  The Forest of Brykovo. It is wet and ivindy. The

  trees are bare, the ground is soaking wet. On the

  stage are two barriers. In front of one of them,

  STAVROGIN, wearing a light coat and a white beaver

  hat, and in front of the other, GAGANOV?thirty-

  three years old, tail, fat, well fed, blond. In the mid-

  dle are the seconds, MAURICE NICOLAEVICH on

  Gaganov's side and KIRILOV. The opponents already

  hold their pistols.

  KIRILOV: And now for the last time I propose a

  reconciliation. I say this only to observe the rules;

  it is my duty as a second.

  MAURICE: I wholeheartedly approve Mr. Kirilov's

  words. The idea that there can be no reconcilia-

  tion on the field is merely a prejudice which we

  can leave to the French. Besides, there's no sense

  in this duel, since Mr. Stavrogin is ready to offer

  his apologies again.

  STAVROGIN: I confirm once more my proposal to

  offer every possible apology.

  GAGANOV: But this is unbearable! We're not going

  to go through the same comedy again. (To MAU-

  RICE NICOLAEVICH) If you are my second and not

  my enemy, explain to this man . . . (He points

  at him with his pistol.) . . . that his concessions

  only aggravate the insult. He always seems to

  * The whole scene of the duel was cut in production.

  Second Part 98

  consider th
at my offensive remarks can't touch

  him and that there is no shame in dodging me. He

  insults me constantly, I tell you, and you are only

  irritating me so that I'll miss him.

  KIRILOV: That's enough. I beg you to follow my

  orders. Back to your places. (The opponents go

  back to their places behind the barriers, almost

  in the wings.) One, two, three, go.

  (The opponents walk toward each other, GAGA-

  NOV shoots, stands still for a moment, and, seeing

  that he missed STAVROGIN, goes and takes his place

  at his barrier, STAVROGIN walks toward him and

  shoots above GAGANOV. Then he takes out a

  pocket handkerchief and wraps it around his little

  finger.)

  KIRILOV: Are you wounded?

  STAVROGIN: The bullet scraped me.

  KIRILOV: If your opponent does not declare him-

  self satisfied, your duel must continue.

  GAGANOV: I declare that that man shot intentionally

  in the air. It's one more insult.

  STAVROGIN: I give you my word of honor that I

  have no intention of insulting you. I shot in the

  air for reasons that concern no one but me.

  MAURICE: It seems to me, however, that if one of

  the opponents declares in advance that he will

  shoot in the air, the duel cannot go on.

  STAVROGIN: I never said that I would shoot in the

  air each time. You don't know how I shall shoot

  the second time.

  GAGANOV: I repeat that he did it on purpose. But I

  want to shoot a second time, according to my

  right.

  99 Scene 10

  KIRILOV (wryly): It is in fact your right.

  MAURICE: Since that is the way it is, the duel goes

  on.

  (They start in the same way. GAGANOV reaches

  the barrier and takes aim for a long time at

  STAVROGIN, who stands waiting with his arms at

  his sides, GAGANOV'S hand trembles.)

  KIRILOV: You are aiming too long. Shoot. Shoot

  quickly.

  (GAGANOV shoots, STAVROGIN'S hat flies off. KIRILOV

  picks it up and gives it to STAVROGIN. Together

  they examine the hat.)

  MAURICE: Your turn to shoot. Don't keep your

  opponent waiting.

  (STAVROGIN looks at GAGANOV and shoots his pistol

  upward, GAGANOV, mad with rage, runs offstage.

  MAURICE NICOLAEVICH follows him.)

  KIRILOV: Why didn't you kill him? You have in-

  sulted him even more seriously.

  STAVROGIN: What should I have done?

  KIRILOV: Either not provoke him to a duel or else

  kill him.

  STAVROGIN: I didn't want to kill him. But if I had

  not provoked him, he would have slapped me in

  public.

  KIRILOV : Well, then, you would have been slapped!

  STAVROGIN: I'm beginning to feel as if I didn't un-

  derstand. Why does everybody expect of me

  what no one expects of anyone else? Why must

  I endure what no one endures and accept burdens

  that no one could carry?

  KIRILOV: You go out of your way to seek those

  burdens, Stavrogin.

  Second Part

  100

  STAVROGIN: Ah! (A pause.) You noticed that?

  KIRILOV: Yes.

  STAVROGIN: Is It as obvious as that?

  KIRILOV: Yes,

  (Silence, STAVROGIN puts on his hat and arranges

  it carefully. He resumes his distant manner, then

  looks at KIRILOV.)

  STAVROGIN (slowly ): One tires of burdens, Kirilov.

  It is not my fault that that idiot missed me.

  BLACKOUTI

  SCENE 11

  At Varvara StavrognCs. STAVROGIN, in the center, is

  asleep bolt upright on the sofa, with a bandage on

  his finger. He scarcely seems to be breathing. His

  face is pale and severe, as if petrified, and he is

  frowning.

  DASHA conies in and rushes to him, stops, and

  stares at him. She makes the sign of the cross over

  him. He opens his eyes and remains motionless,

  staring fixedly at the same point in front of him.

  DASHA: Are you wounded?

  STAVROGIN {looking at her): No.

  DASHA: Did you draw blood?

  STAVROGIN: No, I killed no one and, above all, no

  one killed me, as you see. The duel took place

  quite stupidly. I shot in the air and Gaganov

  missed me. I have no luck. But I am tired and

  should like to be alone.

  DASHA: All right. I shall stop seeing you, since you

  constantly run away from me. I know that at the

  end I'll find you.

  STAVROGIN: At the end?

  DASHA: Yes. When all is over, call me and I'll

  come.

  {He looks at her and seems to ivake up com-

  pletely.)

  STAVROGIN {in a natural manner) ? I am so vile and

  Second Part

  102

  cowardly, Dasha, that I believe I shall actually

  call you at the very end. And you, despite all

  your prudence, will come running in fact. But,

  tell me, "will you come, whatever the end is?

  (DASHA is silent.) Even if in the meantime I have

  committed the worst of crimes?

  DASHA (looking at him): Are you going to bring

  about your wife's death?

  STAVROGIN: No. No. Neither hers nor anyone's. I

  don't want to. Perhaps I shall bring about the

  death of the other one, the girl. . . . Perhaps I

  shall not be able to keep myself from doing so.

  Oh, leave me, Dasha. Why destroy yourself by

  following me? (He gets up.)

  DASHA: I know that at the end I'll be alone with

  you, and I'm waiting for that moment. I pray for

  it.

  STAVROGIN: So you pray?

  DASHA: Yes. Ever since a certain day, I haven't

  ceased praying.

  STAVROGIN: And suppose I don't call you? Sup-

  pose I take flight. . . .

  DASHA: That can't be. You will tall me.

  STAVROGIN: There is great contempt in what you

  are saying.

  DASHA: There is not only contempt.

  STAVROGIN (laughing): So there is contempt. That

  doesn't matter. I don't want to cause your ruin.

  DASHA: You won't cause my ruin. If I don't come

  with you, I shall become a nun and take care of

  the sick.

  STAVROGIN: A nurse! That's it. That's it. You are

  103 Scene 11

  interested in me just as a nurse would be. After

  all, that's probably what I need the most.

  DASHA: Yes, you are ill.

  (STAVROGIN suddenly takes a chair and flings it

  without apparent effort across the room, DASHA

  screams, STAVROGIN turns his back on her and

  goes and sits down. Then he talks quite naturally,

  as if nothing had happened.)

  STAVROGIN: You see, Dasha, I constantly have vi-

  sions now. They're a kind of little demon. There

  is one, above all. . . .

  DASHA: You already told me about him. You are

  ill.

  STAVROGIN: Last night he sat down very close to

 
me and didn't leave me. He is stupid and insolent.

  And second-rate. Yes, second-rate. I am furious

  that my personal demon should be second-rate.

  DASHA: You talk about him as if he really existed.

  Oh, may God save you from that!

  STAVROGIN: No, no, I don't believe in the devil.

  Yet last night the demons came out of every

  swamp and swooped down upon me. Why, a

  little devil on the bridge offered to cut the throats

  of Lebyatkin and his sister, Maria Timofeyevna,

  to get rid of my marriage. He asked for a down

  payment of three rubles, but he calculated the

  cost of the operation at fifteen hundred rubles.

  He was a bookkeeper devil.

  DASHA: Are you sure he was a vision?

  STAVROGIN: No, he was not a vision. It was Fedka,

  the escaped convict.

  DASHA: What did you reply?

  Second Part 104

  STAVROGIN: Why, nothing at all. To get rid of

  him, I gave him the three rubles and even more.

  (DASHA exclaims.) Yes. He must think I am in

  agreement. But don't let your kind heart worry.

  For him to act, 1 shall have to give him the order.

  Perhaps, after all, I shall give it!

  DASHA (clasping her hands): Good Lord, good

  Lord, why do you torment me like this?

  STAVROGIN: Forgive me. It was only a joke. Be-

  sides, I've been like this since last night?I have a

  terrible impulse to laugh, to laugh without stop-

  ping, endlessly. . . . (He gives a forced, hollow

  laugh, DASHA stretches out her hand toward him.)

  I hear a carriage. It must be my mother.

  DASHA: May God preserve you from your demons.

  Call me. I shall come.

  STAVROGIN: Listen, Dasha. If I were to go and see

  Fedka and give him the order, would you come,

  would you come even after the crime?

  DASHA (in tears): Oh, Nicholas, Nicholas, I beg

  you, don't stay alone like this. . . . Go and see

  Tihon at the seminary; he will help you.

  STAVROGIN: YOU too!

  DASHA: Yes, Tihon. And afterward I shall

  come. ... I shall come. . . . (She flees, weep-

  ing.)

  STAVROGIN: Of course she'll come. With delight.

  (With disgust) Ah! ...

  [ALEXEY YEGOROVICH (coming in): * Maurice

  Nicolaevich wishes to see you.

  * The scene between Maurice Nicolaevich and Stavrogin was

  cut in production.

  105 Scene 11

  STAVROGIN:" He? What can' he . . . (He has a

  snmg smile.) I'll see him.

  (MAURICE NICOLAEVICH enters and ALEXEY YE-

  GOROVICH leaves, MAURICE NICOLAEVICH sees

  STAVROGIN'S smile and stops, as if he were about

  to ivheel around and leave. But STAVROGIN'S ex-

  pression changes, and, with a look of sincere sur-

  prise, he holds out his hand, which MAURICE

  NICOLAEVICH does not shake, STAVROGIN smiles

  again, but courteously this time.)

  STAVROGIN: Sit down.

  (MAURICE NICOLAEVICH sits on a chair and STAV-

  ROGIN at an angle on the sofa. For a minute

  STAVROGIN looks silently at his visitor, who seems

  to hesitate and then suddenly speaks.)

  MAURICE: If you can, marry Lisa Nicolayevna.

  (STAVROGIN stares at him without any change of

  expression, MAURICE NICOLAEVICH stares back.)

  STAVROGIN (after a pause): If I am not wrong,

  Lisa Nicolayevna is your fiancee.

  MAURICE: Yes, we are officially engaged.

  STAVROGIN: Have you had a quarrel?

  MAURICE: No. She loves and esteems me, in her

  own words. And her words are the most precious

  thing in the world to me.

  STAVROGIN: I can understand that.

  MAURICE: I know that if you were to call her,

  though she stood at the altar in her wedding veil,

  she would forsake me and everyone else to follow

  you.

  STAVROGIN: Are you sure of that?

  MAURICE: Yes, she says she hates you, and she is

  Second Part

  106

  sincere. But in reality she loves you insanely. And

  although she says she loves me, there are moments

  when she hates me cordially.

  STAVROGIN: Yet I am surprised that you can dis-

  pose of Lisa Nicolayevna. Did she authorize you

  to do so?

  MAUSICE: You have just made a vulgar remark, a

  remark full of vengeance and scorn. But I'm not

  afraid to humiliate myself even more. No, I have

  no right, nor any authority. Lisa doesn't know

  what I am doing. Without her knowing it, I have

  come to tell you that you alone can make her

  happy and that you must take my place at the

  altar. Moreover, after saying this, I could never

  marry her. I could never live with myself.

  STAVROGIN: If I married her, would you kill your-

  self after the ceremony?

  MAURICE: No. Much later. Perhaps never . . .

  STAVROGIN: YOU are saying that to set my mind at

  rest.

  MAURICE: To set your mind at rest! A little blood

  more or less?what does that matter to you!

  STAVROGIN (after a pause): I assure you that I am

  deeply touched by your proposition. However,

  what makes you think that my feelings for Lisa

  are such that I want to marry her?