REVENGE
[ŚLUBY PANIÉNSKIE]
This translation of Virgins’ Vows was presented by the BBC World Service in August 1992. The cast was as follows:
PANI DOBRUSKA | Frances Jeater |
ANIELA | Julia Ford |
CLARA | Zelah Clarke |
RADOST | Edward de Souza |
GUSTAVE | Robert Glenister |
ALBIN | Adam Godley |
JAN | Timothy Bateson |
| |
DIRECTOR | Gordon House |
ACT ONE
SCENE ONE
Large room in PANIDOBRUSKA‘s house. Two doors at rear and a third door, right of stage, leading to PANI DOBRUSKA‘s own apartments. Fourth door, left of stage, leads to GUSTAVE‘s room. A window.
JAN: (Alone, walking with cape thrown over his shoulders. Looks back through window; yawns as he speaks.)
Be back by three, he says. Don’t go to bed!
I like that! Three! Broad daylight! I’m half-dead:
And my young master whiles the night away,
Gaming or tippling – or – I’d best not say!
RADOST: Gustave sleeping?
JAN: Sound as in the grave …
RADOST: The rascal likes his rest!
JAN: (Barring the way to GUSTAVE‘s room.) Sir, let him be!
RADOST: But why?
JAN: He’s fast asleep …
RADOST: He won’t mind me.
JAN: (Stepping in front of him.)
He gets so angry …
RADOST: Nonsense, let him rave!
JAN: He just dropped off – not half an hour ago!
RADOST: What kept him up?
JAN: He couldn’t sleep –
RADOST: How so?
JAN: Came over faint –
RADOST: Faint?
JAN: Yes … a sudden swoon …
RADOST: What’s wrong with him?
JAN: Some sort of giddy spell –
RADOST: Hmmm –
JAN: Fear of water…
RADOST: Hmmmm –
JAN: A thirst for wine!
RADOST: Come, come! Why, yesterday he seemed quite well!
JAN: (With a shrug.)
But faintness strikes, just when you’re feeling fine!
RADOST: (Aside.)
These fears and cravings? Hmmm? A giddy spell?
JAN: He’ll sleep his fill, get up this afternoon.
RADOST: I meant to go home first – come back – then call;
The way things are, though, that won’t do at all!
JAN: Oh yes, do go, sir! By the time you’re back –
RADOST: He’s sleeping soundly?
JAN: (Barring his way.) Quietly, sir – I pray you!
The slightest noise –
RADOST: I’ll open it a crack.
JAN: The hinges squeak –
RADOST: I must be satisfied –
JAN: (Stepping aside.)
In that case, sir, I’d better not delay you …
No point your looking, though, he’s not inside.
RADOST: Not there?
JAN: No, sir.
RADOST: Where? When?
JAN: Alas, alack!
RADOST: How… ? What?
JAN: He left –
RADOST: Where for?
JAN: Lublin, he said –
RADOST: Lu-lu –
JAN: (Bows as he completes the word.)
– blin.
RADOST: When?
JAN: Yesterday –
RADOST: But why?
JAN: Don’t know –
RADOST: You see? He’s going off his head!
Sneaks out at night and leaves you standing by.
What is all this? You and your fainting-fits!
This talk of hydrophobia and thirst for wine?
JAN: I’m keeping watch, sir, by the window. Its
My job to open up at the first sign –
RADOST: What of?
JAN: That master’s waiting, pray!
As he goes out – so he comes in again.
RADOST: (Wringing hands.)
What? Clambers through the window in broad day?
That proves it! No mistake! The lad’s insane!
(Sarcastic.)
The day he weds, I take it, he’ll be there?
JAN: To be back here by three was what he planned.
RADOST: It’s all too much, far more than I can bear!
I’ve simply got to take that boy in hand…
Tapping is heard at the window.
JAN: That ‘s him, sir, now – so you just have your say.
Opens the window to let in GUSTAVE, in riding-costume. RADOST stands well back as GUSTAVE creeps in.
GUSTAVE: Appalling weather! Devil of a day!
JAN: You’re right, sir. There’ll be hell to pay, I think!
GUSTAVE: All still abed?
JAN: That, sir, would be some sleep!
GUSTAVE: I’m slightly late –
JAN: Sl...