Читать книгу L'Assommoir: A Play in Five Acts - Emile Zola - Страница 6
ОглавлениеACT I, SCENE 1 (1851)
The Hotel Boncoeur. A furnished room in the hotel. To the left a window. In the back a bed, then a door. To the right a chimney, further back a commode. Washing furniture.
Gervaise is alone.
At rise, she looks through the window, then turns back.
GERVAISE
No! It’s still not him. Where can he be? All night I’ve waited for him without budging from this place. Oh! I’ve got a fever! Yesterday evening, he left telling me he was going to look for work. And it seemed to me, I saw him entering the dance at the Grand Balcony. Behind him, I thought I noticed Virginia, the hat maker, walking five or six steps, hands balled up, as if she’d just let his arm go, so as not to pass together in front of my door. Perhaps I didn’t see right. (she again looks through the window) Still nothing!
MADAME BOCHE (entering)
Hello, Madame Lantier.
GERVAISE (turning)
Ah! It’s you, Madame Boche!
MADAME BOCHE
You’re taking the air at a fine hour. It’s still a little brisk this morning. And Mr. Lantier, has he already left?
GERVAISE (embarrassed)
Yes. He had a meeting with a master—about some business.
MADAME BOCHE (aside)
That’s just as I thought. He hasn’t returned.
(aloud)
Ah! Hell! When you’re in business, you are not master of your time. That’s what I always say to Boche who wants to thrust himself into industry. I say to him, “Let’s remain concierges. We have a nice lodging and the tips bring us enough to offer us comforts.” The only disagreeable thing is that we can’t go out together in company: one of the two of us must always be on duty. And I’m the one who goes out. (seeing Gervaise still looking out the window) But what are you looking like that for in the street? Has something happened?
GERVAISE
No, Madame Boche.
MADAME BOCHE (aside)
For sure, she’s hiding her problem! (aloud) This is the morning that you are going to wash, right?
GERVAISE
Yes, indeed.
MADAME BOCHE
Me, too. I will keep a place by my side and we will jaw a little.
GERVAISE
Certainly, with pleasure, Madame Boche.
MADAME BOCHE (seeing Gervaise go back to the window)
Say there, my little friend, you’d do better not to stay there. You’ll catch cold.
COUPEAU (putting his head through the door)
Can I come in?
GERVAISE
Come in, of course, Mr. Coupeau.
COUPEAU
I’m not disturbing you, neighbor—coming down the stairway to go to work—I saw your key in your door. Then, I said to myself: I’m going to say good day to my neighbor as a friend. Huh! This morning is brisk.
MADAME BOCHE
Isn’t it? That’s what I was telling, Madame Lantier. Shut your window. (to Coupeau) And what’s new in the neighborhood?
COUPEAU
My word, you’re asking in the wrong place! In the morning I go to my bosses’ place, I come back at night—my day’s over at once. Then, after having eaten I go to bed and stay there until the next day.
GERVAISE
That’s true, Mr. Coupeau. You are a fine worker, indeed! You work!
COUPEAU
Hell! I’ve got arms. They’re to be put to use! Work doesn’t frighten me. I don’t get melancholy, and I haven’t time to be bored.
MADAME BOCHE
That’s just like me. But I am late. Till later, Madame Lantier. Your servant, Mr. Coupeau. (she leaves)
COUPEAU (seeing Gervaise is sad)
What’s wrong with you this morning, Madame Gervaise? The boss isn’t here?
GERVAISE (somber)
No.
COUPEAU
He went out before daybreak?
GERVAISE
Yes. (bursts into tears) Ah, I am indeed wretched!
COUPEAU
Look, look, what’s the matter?
GERVAISE
It’s that—Lantier didn’t come home last night. I spent the night at this window waiting for him and crying.
COUPEAU
My God, you mustn’t be desolated. You know, Lantier’s very busy with politics. Indeed, perhaps he remained with friends—to speak ill of the government—that distracts him! A wife must be indulgent with her husband.
GERVAISE (exploding)
My husband! Would he dare to behave in this way if I were his wife?
COUPEAU
What, you aren’t?
GERVAISE
Listen, Mr. Coupeau, I am going to tell you everything. Perhaps you will give me some good advice. No—I am not his wife. My God! This happens, this happens all the time. The two of us are from Plassans, a town in Midi. Ah, I wasn’t very happy! For a yes, for a no, my father, old man Macquart 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 to pack)
COUPEAU (entering excitedly)
Madame Gervaise—they told me you met (noticing Lantier) Ah, you are there! That’s nice! I’ve been chasing after you for an hour.
LANTIER (turning)
After me. Why’s that?
COUPEAU (seeing Lantier pack his trunk)
What’s that you’re doing?
LANTIER
Nothing. Straightening up my linen.
COUPEAU
Then, you’ve seen your wife?
LANTIER
No doubt, I’ve seen her.
COUPEAU
She was very sad, very worried.
LANTIER
Ah! She told you.
COUPEAU
You want to know what I say, Lantier? It’s not right for you to hurt Gervaise who loves you so much.
LANTIER
Look here, you! Are you going to bore me with your moralizing? Meddle with what concerns you.
(Gervaise enters without seeing Coupeau)
GERVAISE
Here’s all they gave me. Four francs. I tried to get five for it. There was no way.
LANTIER (abruptly)
That’s good. Put that on the chimney.
COUPEAU (aside)
They’re at it!
GERVAISE (noticing Coupeau)
Ah, Mr. Coupeau, I didn’t see you. (to Lantier) While I’m at the washhouse you will go find something for lunch.
LANTIER
Yes! Yes!
GERVAISE (heading towards the trunk)
I’m going to take your linen.
LANTIER
No. It’s not necessary.
GERVAISE
But, it really still needs—
LANTIER (snatching the linen from her and hurling it in the trunk)
Damnation! Obey me for once! If I tell you to leave it alone!
COUPEAU (trying to calm him)
Lantier!
LANTIER
It’s not about Lantier! She must obey!
GERVAISE (uneasy)
Why don’t you want me to take your linen as I usually do?
LANTIER (embarrassed)
Why? Why? You are going to say everywhere that you’re busy with me. Well, that bores me! Do your business, I will do mine. Go to the wash!
GERVAISE
That’s good. (aside) He’s got bad ideas for certain. (she leaves, making a sign of goodbye to Coupeau)
(Hardly has Gervaise closed the door than Lantier finishes packing the truck)
LANTIER
At last! That’s not bad!
COUPEAU (surprised)
What is it you’re doing?
LANTIER
What am I doing? I am changing my residence.
COUPEAU
Huh?
LANTIER
I’ve had enough of this hell. I am resuming my life as a bachelor.
COUPEAU
You’re abandoning Gervaise?
LANTIER
A bit, my nephew! Let’s see, I’m not forgetting anything. (he looks around) That, that’s mine. (stops before the money) Bah! Since she’s working with her washerwoman tomorrow. (puts the money in his pocket, then looks out the window) There are some cabs on the square. En route! (leaving the trunk on the landing) You can deliver her her key. Here! With a real goodbye on my part.
COUPEAU (following him)
Lantier! Lantier! You can’t possibly be doing this.
LANTIER (gaily)
Goodbye old boy. One of these days. (he leaves)
COUPEAU (alone)
Ah! Evil heart! To drag a woman who loves you from the end of France and leave her without a penny on the pavements of Paris! The police ought to pick up men like that! That poor Gervaise, I don’t have the heart to announce it to her myself, I would weep with her! I’m going to have her key sent to her. She will understand. (leaves and shuts the door)
CURTAIN
