Zhivoy trup

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THE LIVE CORPSE:

(Zhivoy trup)

Leo Tolstoy's play

Written and Directed by

Vladimir Vengerov

Music by

Isaak Shvartz

Starring:

Aleksey Batalov Fyodor Protasov (Fedya)

Alla Demidova Liza Protasova

Oleg Basilashvili Viktor Karenin

Svetlana Toma gipsy Masha

Innokentij Smoktunovsky

Ivan Petrovitch (a genius)

Part One

Oh, really, mother, you are amazing!

A woman has left her husband, her child's

father, and you expect her to be calm!

Well, not calm

But what's done is done!

If I, her mother, not only allowed

my daughter to leave her husband,

but am even glad she has done it,

that shows he deserves it.

One ought to rejoice, not to grieve,

at the chance of freeing oneself.

Be free from such a bad man.

Why say such things?

You know it's not true!

He's not bad.

On the contrary, he's wonderful.

He's a wonderful man,

in spite of his weaknesses.

Yes indeed, a "wonderful" man

As soon as he has money in his pocket.

His own or other people's

He has never taken other people's!

But his wife's. Where's the difference?

But he gave all his property to his wife!

Of course, when he knew that otherwise

he was sure to squander it all!

Squander or not, I only know that a wife

must not separate from her husband,

especially from such a one as Fedya.

Then, in your opinion, she ought to wait

till he has squandered everything.

And brought his gipsy mistresses

into the house.

He has no mistresses!

Fedya, are you asleep?

Don't talk

It's a steppe.

Perhaps in 10th century.

It's a freedom not free will.

Now let's have "Not at Eve".

That won't do, Fyodor Vasilyevich!

"Mashenka, A Rosy Bloom" now.

All right!

And then, "Not at Eve".

I have a great favour to ask of you,

and I have no one to turn to but you.

Anything in my power

You do know all about?

Yes, I do.

Yes, he wrote to me saying

that he considers everything at an end

and note asking to send him

his clothes and things.

I was hurt, and so

In a word, I consented to break.

I answered, accepting his renunciation.

And now you repent?

Yes. I feel that I was wrong,

and that I cannot do it.

Anything is better than to be

separated from him.

In short, I want you

to give him this letter.

Please, Victor, give him the letter,

And tell him

and bring him back!

You're surprised at my asking you?

No.

Yet, to tell you the truth

yes, I am surprised.

But you are not angry?

As if I could be angry with you!

I asked you because I know

you care for him.

Him, and you too!

You know that.

I know. I will tell you everything.

Today I went to Afremov's

to find out where he was.

I was told he had gone to the gipsies,

which is what I feared most of all.

I know he will get carried away

if he is not stopped in time.

And that's what has to be done

So you'll go?

Of course, and at once.

But where am I to look for him?

He is with the gipsies.

I went there myself.

I went as far as the porch.

Here is the address.

I will do all in my power!

And where is Victor Mikhaylovich?

He's gone.

Why?

I asked him to do something for me.

"Do something"? Another secret!

It's not a secret. I simply asked him

to give a letter into Fedya's own hands.

Fedya? What to Fyodor Vasilyevich?

Yes, to Fedya.

I thought all relations

between you were over!

I cannot part from him.

Are you going to begin all over again?

I wanted to, and tried but I can't!

Anything you like -

only I can't part from him!

Then do you want

to have him back again?

Yes!

To let that skunk into the house again?

Mother, I beg you not to speak so

of my husband!

He was your husband.

No, he is my husband still.

A spendthrift, a drunkard, a rake

and you can't part from him?

Why do you torment me!

You seem to want to do it.

It's hard enough for me without that.

I torment you! Well then, I'll go.

I can't stand by and see it.

I see! That's just what you want.

I'm in your way I can't live so.

I can't make you out at all!

It's all so new-fangled!

First you make up your mind to separate,

then you suddenly send for a man

who is in love with you

Nothing of the kind.

Karenin proposed to you, and you,

sending him to fetch your husband!

Why? To arouse jealousy?

Mother, what you are saying is terrible!

Leave me alone!

Very well!

Turn your mother out of the house,

and let in your rake of a husband.

Yes, I will not remain here!

Goodbye, then, I leave you to your fate.

You can do as you please!

Dounyasha. Dounyasha!

My trunk and things!

That's good too!

That's really good too!

You're a brick, Nastassya Ivanovna!

My dear Fyodor Vasilyevich!

Now then, "Not at Eve"!

No, wait! First, my burial song

Because, when I'm dead you know,

dead and laid in my coffin,

the gipsies will come

I shall leave instructions with my wife,

and they will begin to sing

"I Walked a Mile"

and then I'll jump out of my coffin!

You just write this down.

Well, rattle along!

How that, ey?

Well done! He's a real gypsy!

Well, now "Not at Eve"!

Fyodor Vasilyevich!

A gentleman is asking for you.

What gentleman?

I don't know

Well dressed, wears a sable overcoat.

A swell?

Well, ask him in.

Who has come to see you here?

The devil knows!

Who can want me?

Ah, Victor!

I never expected you!

I didn't expect.

Fedya

Come Take off your coat!

What wind has blown you here?

Come, sit down.

But I want

No, listen.

Now it is "Not at Eve".

We must have a

That's it!

That's it

That's it.

It's wonderful

And where does it all happen

all that this music expresses?

And how is it a man can reach such ecstasy,

and cannot keep it?

Yes, it's most original. In fact

Not original but the real thing!

It's really simple, except the rhythm

Oh, that's good.

I wanted to speak to you alone.

What about?

I have come from your home.

Your wife has entrusted me

with this letter, and besides

Well, now, you friends have a rest.

I say, Karenin, of course you know

what is in this letter?

I know and I want to say

Wait, wait a bit!

Please don't imagine that I am drunk

and my words irresponsible.

I mean, that I am irresponsible!

I am drunk, but in this matter

I see quite clearly.

Well, what were you commissioned to say?

I was commissioned to find you

and to tell you

that she is waiting for you.

She asks you to forget everything

and come back.

Still, why you?

Yelisaveta Andreyevna sent for me,

and asked me

So

But not so much in your wife's name,

as for myself

I ask you, come home!

You are a better man than I.

What nonsense! It is easy enough

to be better I am a scoundrel.

And you are a good yes, a good man.

And that is the very reason

why I won't alter my decision.

No! Not on that account either

but simply because I can't and won't

How could I return?

Let us go to my rooms now.

I'll tell her that you will return,

and tomorrow

And tomorrow, what?

I shall still be I,

and she'll be she.

It's best to have the tooth out

at one go.

Didn't I say that if I broke my word

she was to throw me over?

Well, I have broken it,

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