Leo Tolstoy Archive
Written: 1900
Source: 1918 translation by Arthur Hopkins for the production at Plymouth Theatre, New York.
Transcription/Markup: Andy Carloff
Online Source: RevoltLib.com; 2021
SOPHIA KARÉNINA’S boudoir. SOPHIA KARÉNINA, VICTOR’S mother, is reading a book. She is a great lady, over fifty, but tries to look younger. She likes to interlard her conversation with French words. A servant enters.
Servant (enters R., announcing). Prince Sergius Abréskov.
Sophia Karénina (on sofa over L.). Show him in, please.
[She turns and picks up hand mirror from table back of couch, arranging her hair.
Prince Sergius (enters R. I. Entering). J’espère que je ne force pas la consigne.
[Crossing to sofa L. He kisses her hand. He is a charming old diplomat of seventy.
Sophia Karénina. Ah, you know well que vous êtes toujours le bien venu.... Tell me, you have received my letter?
Prince Sergius. I did. Me voilà. (Sits L. on sofa L.) Sophia Karénina (working up to distress). Oh, my dear friend, I begin to lose hope. She’s bewitched him, positively bewitched him. Il est ensorcelé. I never knew he could be so obstinate, so heartless, and so indifferent to me. He’s changed completely since that woman left her husband.
Prince Sergius. How do matters actually stand?
Sophia Karénina. Well, he’s made up his mind to marry her at any cost.
Prince Sergius. And her husband?
Sophia Karénina. He agrees to a divorce.
Prince Sergius. Really?
Sophia Karénina. And Victor is willing to put up with all the sordidness, the vulgarity of the divorce court, the lawyers, evidences of guilt ... tout ça est dégoûtant. I can’t understand his sensitive nature not being repelled by it.
Prince Sergius (smiling). He’s in love, and when a man’s really in love—
Sophia Karénina (interrupting). In our time love could remain pure, coloring one’s whole life with a romantic friendship. Such love I understand and value.
Prince Sergius (sighing). However, the present generation refuses to live on dreams. (He coughs delicately.) La possession de l’âme ne leur suffit plus. So what is the alternative? But tell me more of Victor.
Sophia Karénina. There’s not very much to say. He seems bewitched, hardly my son. Did you know I’d called upon her? Victor pressed me so it was impossible to refuse. But Dieu merci, I found her out. So I merely left my card, and now she has asked me if I could receive her to-day, and I am expecting her (she glances at her watch) any moment now. I am doing all this to please Victor, but conceive my feelings. I know you always can. Really, really, I need your help.
Prince Sergius (bowing). Thank you for the honor you do me.
Sophia Karénina. You realize this visit decides Victor’s fate. I must refuse my consent, or——But that’s impossible.
Prince Sergius. Have you met her?
Sophia Karénina. I’ve never seen her, but I’m afraid of her. No good woman leaves her husband, especially when there’s nothing obviously intolerable about him. Why, I’ve seen Protosov often with Victor, and found him even quite charming.
Prince Sergius (murmurs). So I’ve heard. So I’ve heard.
Sophia Karénina (continuing). She should bear her cross without complaint. And Victor must cease trying to persuade himself that his happiness lies in defying his principles. What I don’t understand is how Victor, with his religious views, can think of marrying a divorced woman. I’ve heard him say over and over again—once quite lately—that divorce is totally inconsistent with true Christianity. If she’s been able to fascinate him to that point, I am afraid of her.—But how stupid of me to talk all the time! Have you spoken to him at all? What does he say? And don’t you thoroughly agree with me?
Prince Sergius. Yes, I’ve spoken to Victor. I think he really loves her, has grown accustomed to the idea of loving her, pour ainsi dire. (Shaking his head.) I don’t believe he could ever now care for another woman.
Sophia Karénina (sighing). And Varia Casanzeva would have made him such a charming wife. She’s so devoted already.
Prince Sergius (smiling). I am afraid I hardly see her in the present ... tableau. (Earnestly.) Why not submit to Victor’s wish and help him?
Sophia Karénina. To marry a divorcée? And afterwards have him running into his wife’s husband? How can you calmly suggest that a mother accept such a situation for her son?
Prince Sergius. But, chère amie, why not approve of the inevitable? And you might console yourself by regarding the dangers he’ll avoid by marrying this gentle, lovely woman. After all, suppose he conceived a passion for some one——
[Convey the word “disreputable”.
Sophia Karénina. How can a good woman leave her husband?
Prince Sergius. Ah, that’s not like you. You’re unkind and you’re harsh. Her husband is the sort of man—well, he’s his own worst enemy. A weakling, a ne’er-do-well—he’s spent all his money and hers too. She has a child. Do you think you can condemn her for leaving him? As a matter of fact she didn’t leave him, he left her.
Sophia Karénina (faintly). Oh what a mud-pen I’m slipping into!
Prince Sergius (amused). Could your religion aid you?
Sophia Karénina (smelling her salts). In this instance, religion would require of me the impossible. C’est plus fort que moi.
Prince Sergius. Fédya himself—you know what a charming clever creature he is when he’s in his senses—he advised her to leave him.
[Enter VICTOR who kisses his mother’s hand and greets PRINCE SERGIUS.
Karénin. Ah, Prince Sergius! (Shakes hands with Prince—formally.) Maman, I’ve come to tell you that Elizaveta Protosova will be here directly. There’s only one thing I ask you: do you still refuse your consent to my marriage—-
Sophia Karénina (interrupting). And I most assuredly do.
Karénin (continuing. Frowning). In that case all I ask is for you not to speak to her about it.
Sophia Karénina. I don’t suppose we shall even mention the subject. I certainly shan’t.
Karénin (standing at head of sofa L.). If you don’t, she won’t. (Pleadingly.) Mother dear, I just want you to know her.
Sophia Karénina. One thing I can’t understand. How is it you want to marry Lisa Protosova, a woman with a living husband, and at the same time believe divorce is a crime against Christianity?
Karénin. Oh, Maman, that’s cruel of you. Life is far too complex to be managed by a few formulas. Why are you so bitter about it all?
Sophia Karénina (honestly). I love you. I want you to be happy.
Karénin (imploringly to Prince Sergius) Sergius Abréskov!
Prince Sergius (to Sophia Karénina). Naturally you want him happy. But it’s difficult for our hearts, wearied from the weight of years, to feel the pulse of youth and sympathize, especially is it difficult for you, my friend, who have schooled yourself to view Victor’s happiness in a single way....
Sophia Karénina. Oh, you’re all against me. Do as you like. Vous êtes majeur. (Sniffing into her pocket handkerchief.) But you’ll kill me.
Karénin (deeply distressed). Ah, Mother, please. It’s worse than cruel to say things like that.
Prince Sergius (smiling to Victor). Come, come, Victor, you know your mother speaks more severely than she could ever act.
Sophia Karénina. I shall tell her exactly what I think and feel, and I hope I can do it without offending her.
Prince Sergius. I am sure of it.
[Enter FOOTMAN.
Here she is.
Karénin. I’ll go. (Ges to back of sofa.)
Footman (announcing). Elizaveta Andreyevna Protosova.
Karénin (warningly). Now, Mother.
[He goes out L. PRINCE SERGIUS rises.
Sophia Karénina (majestically). Show her in. (To Prince Sergius.) Please remain.
Prince Sergius. I thought you might prefer a tête-à-tête?
Sophia Karénina. No, no. I rather dread it. And if I want to be left alone in the room with her, I’ll drop my handkerchief. Ça dépendra.
Prince Sergius. I’m sure you’re going to like her immensely.
Sophia Karénina. Oh you’re all against me.
[Enter LISA R. and crosses to R. C.
(Rising) How do you do? I was so sorry not to find you at home and it is most kind of you to come to see me.
Lisa (R.C.). I never expected the honor of your visit, and I am so grateful that you permit me to come and see you.
Sophia Karénina (C.). You know Prince Sergius Abréskov?
Prince Sergius (L.—Heartily). Yes, I have had the pleasure. (Crossing to her, he shakes hands.) My niece Nellie has spoken often of you to me.
[Ges to L.C.
Lisa. Yes, we were great friends. (She glances shyly around her.) And still are. (To SOPHIA.) I never hoped that you would wish to see me.
Sophia Karénina. I knew your husband quite well. He was a great friend of Victor’s and used frequently to visit us in Tambov, (politely) where you were married, I believe.
Lisa (looking down). Yes.
Sophia Karénina. But when you returned to Moscow we were deprived of the pleasure of his visit.
Lisa. Yes, then he stopped going anywhere.
Sophia Karénina. Ah, that explains our missing him.
[Awkward pause.
Prince Sergius (to LISA). The last time I’d the pleasure of seeing you was in those tableaux at the Dennishovs. You were charming in your part.
Lisa. How good of you to think so! Yes, I remember perfectly.
[Another awkward silence.
(To SOPHIA KARÉNINA.) Sophia Karénina, please forgive me if what I am going to say offends you, but I don’t know how to cover up what’s in my heart. I came here to-day because Victor Karénin said—because he said that—because he—I mean because you wanted to see me. (With a catch in her voice.) It’s rather difficult—but you’re so sweet.
Prince Sergius (very sympathetic). There, there, my dear child, I assure you there’s nothing in the world to— (He breaks off when he sees SOPHIA KARÉNINA pointing impatiently to the floor. She has dropped her handkerchief.) Permit me. (He picks it up, presenting it to her with a smile and a bow; then looks casually at his watch.) Ah, five o’clock already. (To SOPHIA KARÉNINA.) Madame, in your salon pleasure destroys the memory of time. You will excuse me.
[He kisses her hand.
Sophia Karénina (smiling). Au revoir, mon ami.
Prince Sergius (bowing and shaking hands with LISA). Elizaveta Protosova, au revoir.
[He goes out R.
Sophia Karénina. Now listen, my child. Please believe how truly sorry for you I am and that you are most sympathetique to me. But I love my son alone in this world, and I know his soul as I do my own. He’s very proud—oh I don’t mean of his position and money—but of his high ideals, his purity. It may sound strange to you, but you must believe me when I tell you that at heart he is as pure as a young girl.
Lisa. I know.
Sophia Karénina. He’s never loved a woman before. You’re the first. I don’t say I’m not a little jealous. I am. But that’s something we mothers have to face. Oh, but your son’s still a baby, you don’t know. I was ready to give him up, though—but I wanted his wife to be as pure as himself.
Lisa (flushing hotly). And I, am I not——
Sophia Karénina (interrupting her kindly). Forgive me, my dear. I know it’s not your fault and that you’ve been most unhappy. And also I know my son. He will bear anything, and he’ll bear it without saying a word, but his hurt pride will suffer and bring you infinite remorse. You must know how strongly he has always felt that the bond of marriage is indissoluble.
Lisa. Yes. I’ve thought of all that.
Sophia Karénina. Lisa, my dear, you’re a wise woman and you’re a good woman too. If you love him, you must want his happiness more than you want your own. You can’t want to cripple him so that he’ll be sorry all his life—yes, sorry even though he never says a word.
Lisa. I’ve thought about it so much. I’ve thought about it and I’ve talked to him about it. But what can I do when he says he can’t live without me? I said to him only the other day, “Victor, let’s just be friends. Don’t spoil your life. Don’t ruin yourself by trying to help me.” And do you know what he did? He laughed.
Sophia Karénina. Of course he would, at the time.
Lisa. If you could persuade him not to marry me, you know I’ll agree, don’t you? I just want him to be happy. I don’t care about myself. Only please help me. Please don’t hate me. Let’s do all we can for him, because, after all, we both love him.
Sophia Karénina. Yes, I know. And I think I love you too. I really do. (She kisses her. LISA begins to cry.) Oh, it’s all so dreadful. If only he had fallen in love with you before you were married!
Lisa (sobbing). He—he says he did—but he had to be loyal to his friend.
Sophia Karénina. Alas, it’s all very heart-breaking. But let us love each other, and God will help us to find what we are seeking.
Karénin (entering L. I). Mother darling. I’ve heard what you just said. I knew you’d love her. And now everything must come right.
Sophia Karénina (hastily). But nothing’s decided. All I can say is, had things been different, I should have been very glad. (Tenderly.) So very glad.
[She kisses LISA.
Karénin (smiling). Please don’t change. That’s all I ask.
[Lights down and out.
CURTAIN