The Essential Russian Plays & Short Stories. Максим Горький
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Hold him, hold him, he'll escape!
MAN IN OVERCOAT (getting to his feet again and assuming the leadership) Surround him, boys, surround him! Block the way to the river! Don't let him run away! Well, now, get a move on you!
CROWD
Go yourself—I've tried once! Push that way! Get hold of him! Grab him! Aha!
KONDRATY (shouting at the top of his voice)
Beat him! Beat the Antichrist! Beat him!
SAVVA (the danger brings him back to his senses. He looks around, takes in the path to the river with a quick glance, and gray as dust with rage, he makes for it with a single abrupt movement) Get out of the way, you monsters!
CROWD
He is getting away! He is getting away! Hold him! Boys, he is getting away! He is getting away!
[As Savva advances, the crowd falls back in a semicircle, tumbling against one another. Kondraty begins to make the sign of the cross at Savva and continues to do so throughout the remaining scene.
SAVVA (advancing)
Get out of the way! Get out of the way! So you're scared now, you dogs? You've pulled in your tails? Get out of the way! Go on!
CROWD
He is getting away.
[King Herod issues from the crowd, and plants himself in front of Savva so as to obstruct his way. There is a terrible look on his face. Savva comes up close to him and stops.
SAVVA
Well?
[A brief pause. The conversation is carried on in a sort of undertone, almost calmly.
KING HEROD
Is that you?
SAVVA
Is that you? Let me go.
KING HEROD
A man?
SAVVA
Yes, let me go.
KING HEROD
Did you want the Saviour? Christ?
SAVVA
They fooled you.
KING HEROD
People may fool, Christ never. What's your name?
SAVVA
Savva. Get out of my way, I tell you.
KING HEROD
Surrender Thy servant Savva. Hold!
[He strikes a heavy, swinging blow with his left fist whence Savva did not expect an attack. Savva sinks on one knee. The crowd rushes at him and tramples him down.
CROWD
Beat him! Aha! So! He is turning back! Beat him!
FRIAR
What does this mean? Oh! Oh! Oh! (He clutches his head with both hands, cries, and runs away)
SAVVA (fighting desperately, he appears for a moment looking fierce and terrible) Let go—Ho-o-o! (He sinks back again)
CROWD
That's the way. One, two—Ah! Strike! Got him? Not yet! Got him? What are you waiting for? Strike! Done!
A VOICE
He's still moving.
CROWD
Strike!
MAN IN OVERCOAT
Peter, got a knife? Finish him with your knife. Cut his throat.
PETER
No, I'd rather do it with my heel. One! Two!
KONDRATY (cursing him)
Lord Jesus Christ! Lord Jesus Christ!
[Loud cries are heard from the background: "They are carrying Him! They are carrying Him!" The mob begins to disperse and thins out quickly.
CROWD
They are carrying Him! Yes, it's enough. It's done. No, let me at him—once more. There! I gave him one good one in his face. They are carrying Him! They are carrying Him!
KING HEROD
Enough, enough. A grand feast for you, you accursed beasts!
CROWD
I tell you, they are carrying Him! Lie there, you! Oh my, am I going to be late? Enough now. Are you sorry for him, eh? Is it your head? One more! Come on!
[They run away so that Savva's mangled body becomes visible.
MAN IN OVERCOAT
It ought to be taken away from here. It isn't right to leave it here on the road. It's dirty. Boys! Say, boys!
[He goes off following the rest, but is met by the procession pouring in upon the stage. There is a great din and humming of talk. Speransky and Tony approach the body cautiously, bend over it on their knees, one on each side, and stare at it eagerly.
SPERANSKY
Dead! His eyes are gone.
TONY
Shut up! (He bursts into a groaning laugh, pressing his hands hard to his mouth)
SPERANSKY
But his face is calm. Look, Mr. Anthony. It's because now he knows the truth.
TONY
Shut up! (Bursts out laughing) What a funny face he has!
[He laughs behind his hand. Then his laugh bursts through his fingers, so to speak, grows in intensity, becomes irresistible, and passes into a whine. The crowd begins to fill the stage, concealing the body, Speransky, and Tony. The bells are rung in the monastery as at Easter, and at the same time the singing of thousands of voices is heard.
CROWD
"Christ is risen from the dead. He has conquered death with death and given life to those lain in their graves. Christ—"
LIPA (flinging herself into the crowd)
"Christ is risen!"
[The crowd continues to pour in, filling the entire stage. Gaping mouths and round, wide-open eyes are seen everywhere. Shrill shrieks are uttered by the crazed epileptics. A momentary outcry is heard: "Somebody crushed!" Tony's laughter dies away somewhere. The triumphant hymn rises, spreads, passes into a titanic roar that drowns every other sound. The bells continue to ring.
CROWD (shouting at their utmost power)
"Christ is risen from the dead. He has conquered death with death and given life to those lain in their graves. Christ is risen—"
CURTAIN
THE LIFE OF MAN