L'Assommoir: A Play in Five Acts. Emile Zola
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as he was known, would kick me in the ass—you had to see it! So then, right? You think of taking a bit of good times outside—I knew Lantier since my childhood. He was the son of a neighbor. I was sixteen. He was twenty. And then, and then—
COUPEAU
He didn’t behave properly with you?
GERVAISE
Don’t mention it to me. He was sweet to me at Plassans, but after we left the country I can no long get to the end of it. I have to tell you that his mother died last year, leaving him nearly seven hundred francs. He wanted to leave for Paris. Then as papa Macquart was still sending me blows without warning, I consented to go with him. He was to set me up as a washerwoman and work in his trade of hatter. We ought to have been very happy. But, you see, Lantier is ambitious, a spender, a man who only thinks of his own amusement. In the last analysis he’s not worth much.
COUPEAU
Poor Madame Gervaise.
GERVAISE
After arriving in Paris we stayed at a hotel in Montmartre and then there were carriages, the theatre, a watch for him, a dress for me, for he doesn’t have a bad heart when he has money. So much so that at the end of two months we were soaked. It was then that we came to live here—this Boulevard de la Chapelle, at the Hotel Boncoeur—and that my unhappiness began.
COUPEAU
Go on. Perhaps you are exaggerating.
GERVAISE
Oh! No! I see clearly what he’s doing. Lantier no longer loves me.
COUPEAU
No longer loves you? You—a little woman, so sweet, so devoted!
GERVAISE
I am sure he’s in love with someone else. That big Virginia, perhaps!
COUPEAU
Now there are some ideas! Where could he find a woman who’s worth you? Look, calm down! I am going to look for him and I’ll bring him back to you even if I have to search the four corners of Paris.
GERVAISE
What about your work?
COUPEAU
Indeed, one can sacrifice a few hours for friends. Don’t be desolate, I beg you. You are causing me too much pain. Ah, if you knew (taking her hand, looking at her very moved) Till later, Madame Gervaise. (he leaves very excitedly)
GERVAISE (alone)
What a brave lad. If Lantier resembled him! Let’s try to be calm. Let’s wait for him while doing my housework. (she tries to straighten things up) But where did he spend the night? And that Virginia who was following him—for it was she I saw entering the Grand Balcony! My head’s spinning! Impossible to work (weeping) My God, what have I done to have so much trouble like this? (going to the window) I still think I hear him. (Gervaise is at the window. Lantier enters without her noticing him. He throws his hat on the chest in a gesture of ill humor. Gervaise sees him and rushes towards him)
GERVAISE
You! It’s you!
LANTIER (brutally pushing her away)
Well, yes, it’s me! What’s wrong with you?
GERVAISE
What’s wrong with me?
LANTIER
You’re not going to start your stupidities, are you?
GERVAISE
Is this reasonable? In what uneasiness you’ve put me! I didn’t shut my eyes. I thought something bad had happened to you. Where did you go? Where did you spend the night? My God, don’t start over. I will go crazy. Look, tell me, where did you go?
LANTIER (shrugging his shoulders)
Yes, by Jove, I had business. I was at the home of this friend who’s going to set up a hat factory. I was late—so I preferred to sleep there. You know I don’t like anyone to annoy me. Leave me alone.
GERVAISE (weeping)
My God! My God!
LANTIER (furious)
Ah! Now there’s the music I was expecting! Listen, if this continues, I’m out of here. And for good and all this time. You don’t intend to shut up? That’s fine, I’ll return from where I came.
GERVAISE
No, no. It’s over, I won’t weep any more. (changing tone) Yesterday evening, I saw Madame Fauconnier, the washerwoman of the Rue de la Neuve. She will take me tomorrow. And you? Are you soon going to work?
LANTIER (stretched out on the bed)
To work—work—I ask for nothing better but you’d say it doesn’t cling to me, work. I don’t find any.
GERVAISE (getting carried away)
Yes, I know love of work doesn’t choke you. You are croaking with ambition. You want to dress like a gentleman and promenade with women in silk skirts.
LANTIER (furious)
Gervaise!
GERVAISE
You haven’t found me quite swank enough since I put all my dresses in pawn at Mont de Piété! Heavens, Lantier, I don’t want to mention it to you, I would have kept on waiting. But I know where you spent the night. I saw you go into the Grand Balcony with Virginia. Ah, you pick ’em good! She’s right to take on the airs of a princess, that one!
(Lantier rises and, controlling the desire to beat her, seizes her and shakes her violently. She falls into a chair.)
LANTIER
Gervaise, you don’t know what you just did. You will see!
GERVAISE
Ah! You hurt me! (she weeps silently; then, after a moment of silence, she rises, makes a package of linen without saying anything)
LANTIER
What are you doing? Where are you going? (Gervaise does not reply) I’m asking you where you are going?
GERVAISE
You can see plainly. I’m going to wash, that’s all.
LANTIER
That’s good. Say, Gervaise, do you have any money?
GERVAISE
Where do you think I would have stolen money? You know very well that they loaned me three francs day before yesterday against my black skirt. We’ve lunched twice on it. No, no doubt, I don’t have any money. I’ve got four sou left for the wash. As for me, I don’t make money like certain women.
LANTIER (after having looked everywhere, unhooks a trousers and a shawl)
Here, take that to pawn.
GERVAISE
That’s all we’ve got left.
LANTIER
Don’t worry. (seeing that Gervaise remains motionless) And pretend you don’t know where the pawn shop is.
GERVAISE
Oh! Yes! I’ve been down that road often enough during the last month. It’s only two steps, in the house on the side. I’ll be back right away. You haven’t kissed me.
LANTIER
Stupidities. (kisses her) Don’t linger.
GERVAISE (aside)
Perhaps I’m mistaken after all. (she leaves)
LANTIER (alone)
Come on, come on—mustn’t hesitate any more, got to end this existence! We got together because we agreed. When you no longer agree, got to part and that’s all there is to it. (turns toward suitcase and starts