First action
County town. A small clerical room in the house of the merchant Tortsova.
Mitya walks around the room; Yegorushka sits on a stool and reads Korolevich’s Bova, then stops and tells Mitya that all the family members have left to ride. Only Gordey Karpich remained, he is terribly angry with his brother, Lyubim Karpich. On the eve of a festive dinner, Lyubov Karpych got drunk, he began to throw different knees and made fun of all the guests. Gordey Karpych considered this an offense, became angry and drove away his brother. In revenge, Lyubim Karpych confessed: he stood with the beggars at the cathedral. Gordey Karpych has dispersed more than ever and is now angry at everyone indiscriminately.
Noise is heard outside the windows - Pelageya Egorovna, Lyubov Gordeevna and the guests arrived. Egorushka grabs the book and runs away. Mitya is left alone, he laments for his life (“I’m a stranger to everyone here, neither relatives nor acquaintances!”), Sits down at the counter and tries to work. But the work does not go, all the thoughts of Mitya are busy with her beloved.
Pelageya Egorovna enters the room, stops at the door and affectionately invites Mitya to come to visit them in the evening. She notices that Gordey Karpych will not be at home, he will leave for his new friend, the manufacturer Afrikan Savich Korshunov. Pelageya Egorovna complains about Korshunov, a violent man who often drinks in the company of his English director. Tortsov used to be judicious, but as he went to Moscow last year, everything Russian was not nice to him. Now he wants to live abroad, he became proud: “I have no one to lead a company with here, all the bastards, men, and they live like men,” and made acquaintance with the “Moscow” rich Korshunov, who was simply soldering a new friend. Imperious Tortsov does not react to the wife’s reproaches; and her daughter, Lyubov Gordeevna, wants to marry exclusively in Moscow: in this city, she has no equal.
At the end of the monologue of Pelageya Egorovna, Yasha Guslin, Tortsov’s nephew, is included. He is also invited to visit in the evening, and Yasha happily agrees. When Pelageya Yegorovna leaves, Mitya shares his concerns with Yasha: Mitya, the only son of an old and poor mother, must support her for her small salary; from Gordey Karpich he sees only insult, abuse and reproach of poverty; Mitya could have gone over to the Razlyulyaevs, but at Tortsov’s heart he had a sweetheart - Lyubov Gordeevna. Yasha advises Mitya to get this love out of her head, because Gordey Karpich will never bless their unequal marriage: “Here Anna Ivanovna is my equal: she’s empty, I don’t have anything, and even that uncle doesn’t tell him to marry. And you have nothing to think. ”
Razlyuliaev enters the room with a harmonica, he is cheerful and carefree, plays and sings, declares that he will walk for the whole holiday, and then marry, and rich. He sits down next to Guslin, listens to the song he wrote. Mitya offers to sing, and everyone sings. In the middle of the song is Gordey Karpych Tortsov; all immediately shut up and stand up. Butts with angry reproaches pounced on Mitya: “It seems that you don’t live in such a house, not with peasants. What a half-drink! I scattered the papers! ... ". He notices Koltsov’s book of poems, which Mitya reads, and a new portion of reproaches follows: “What tenderness is in our poverty! Do you know what education is? ... You would have sewed a brand new coat! You go up to us ... Shame! ” In response, Mitya makes excuses, says that he sends all the money to an elderly mother. Gordey Karpych remarks: “Mother doesn’t know God what is needed, she’s not brought up in luxury, she closed the crib herself.Is this the only thing that education is to sing stupid songs? You don’t dare to appear upstairs in this coat! ” Then Razlyulyaeva gets: “And you too!” Father, tea, raking in money with a shovel, and driving you in a sort of zipunishka. Why, there’s nothing to recover from you! You yourself are stupid, and your father is not smartly smart ... a whole century walks with a greasy belly; fools who are unenlightened live, fools and die. " And after this angry tirade, Gordey Karpych leaves.
After Gordey Kapych leaves for Korshunov, Lyubov Gordeevna, Anna Ivanovna, Masha and Lisa enter Mitya’s room. They are bored of sitting upstairs, and they began to look for an interesting company. Anna Ivanovna behaves very freely; Mitya, Lyubov Gordeevna and her friends, on the contrary, are shy and awkward. Anna Ivanovna openly asks Guslin when he will marry her. Guslin replies that he will marry as soon as he receives permission from Gordey Karpich; then she calls Anna Ivanovna with a gesture and whispers in her ear, pointing to Lyubov Gordeevna and Mitya. At this time, Razlyulyaev amuses the girls: “It hurts to dance much. Girls, somebody love me ... for my simplicity. " The girls reply that they don’t say such words to the girls, and Lyubov Gordeevna adds, looking at Mitya: “Maybe someone loves someone, but he won’t say: you have to guess yourself.” Anna Ivanovna, having finished the meeting with Guslin and looking ambiguously at either Lyubov Gordeevna or Mitya, invites everyone to go upstairs. She opens the door and lets everyone in, and closes it before Lyubov Gordeevna. Lyubov Gordeevna knocks, asks to be let out; the girls at the door are having fun.
Mitya and Lyubov Gordeevna are left alone, and Mitya timidly says that he composed verses for her. Lyubov Gordeevna, trying to hide her joy, asks Mitya to read them. Mitya sits down near the table, Lyubov Gordeevna moves very close to him. Mitya reads: "... In vain the guy destroys his heart, That the guy loves a girl unevenly ..." Lyubov Gordeevna sits for some time thinking, then writes the answer ("I just don’t know how to use poetry, but it’s easy") and gives it to Mitya with the proviso that Mitya will read it later, when Lyubov Gordeevna leaves. She is about to leave and at the door she encounters an uncle, Beloved Karpych. He has fun, seeing the fear of his niece, then assures that he will not say anything to his brother. Lyubov Gordeevna runs away.
We love Karpych goes into the room and asks Mitya to shelter him for a while: after that dinner party, his brother does not let him on the threshold. Beloved Karpych tells Mitya the story of his life: when his father died, Beloved Karpych was twenty years old. The brothers shared the inheritance: Gordey took the institution, and gave it to his brother with money and bills. Lyubov Gordeich went to Moscow to get money by tickets and plunged into Moscow's beautiful life: he dressed smartly, dined at taverns, and went to theaters; he made many friends. And after a while, almost the entire inheritance was spent. What remained, Lyubim Gordeich entrusted to his friend, African Korshunov, who deceived him. Left Love Gordeich with nothing. He figured out how to live on and, since the way to his father’s house was booked, he stayed in Moscow, began to walk with a buffoon: what kind of merchant would come, Favorite jumps out, amuses, tells jokes, and then who gives something. That winter, Lyubim Gordeich caught a cold, brought him to the hospital; it was there that he found enlightenment of the mind on the Beloved. He decided, as he was to recover, to go to God to pray and go back to his brother. Only his brother accepted him awkwardly, began to be ashamed, blaming: “I see how I live: who can notice that we had a little man? This shame is enough for me, as well as to impose you on the neck. ” And after the notorious dinner, Lyubim Gordeich took offense, he decided to teach the puffy brother a lesson (“... He has this bone very thick. [He points to his forehead.] He, a fool, needs science”).
Love Gordeich settles down on Mitya's bed to take a nap a little; asks him for money.Mitya does not refuse anything to Lyubim Gordeich, and he thanks Mitya and threatens his brother: “My brother does not know how to appreciate you. Well, I’ll do a thing with him. ” Mitya is going to go upstairs, he goes to the door, recalls the letter. With trembling hands, he pulls it out and reads: “And I love you. Lyubov Tortsova. " Mitya grabs his head and runs away.
Action two
Evening. Living room in the house of Tortsov. There is a sofa against the back wall, a round table and six armchairs in front of the sofa. Several doors exit to the living room. There are mirrors on the walls, under them are small tables. The living room is dark; only from the door to the left is light. Lyubov Gordeevna and Anna Ivanovna enter this door. Lyubov Gordeevna tells how much she loves Mitya. Anna Ivanovna warns her against rash acts, then leaves.
Mitya enters. He asks Lyubov Gordeevna if her confession is a joke. Lyubov Gordeevna replies that everything written in the note is true, and requires reciprocal assurances of love. At first she pretends that she does not believe Mitya (“And I thought you loved Anna Ivanovna”), but then she admits that she only wanted to make a joke. But Mitya is not joking, he is too concerned about the fate of their love. Mitya and Lyubov Gordeevna decide the next day to throw themselves at the feet of Gordey Karpich and declare their love, and then whatever happens. They are hugging. When someone's steps are heard, Mitya quietly leaves.
A nanny Arina enters the living room with a candle and sends Lyubov Gordeevna to her mother. Yegorushka rushes into the room, and his Arina asks to call neighboring maidservants to sing sacred songs. Yegorushka rejoices at the upcoming fun and that they may be mummers, and runs away.
Pelageya Yegorovna enters the living room, she gives Arina instructions, then invites everyone else to go: Lyubov Gordeevna, Masha, Lisa, Anna Ivanovna, Razlyulyaev, Mitya, Guslin and her two elderly friends. The old women and Pelageya Egorovna sit on the sofa; Anna Ivanovna and Guslin sit on chairs and talk quietly, Mitya is standing next to them; Masha, Lyubov Gordeevna and Lisa walk around the room, hugging each other; Razlyulyaev goes after them. Girls cheerfully dive with Razlyulyaev, the old women talk, looking at them, and then offer Guslin to sing some song. While Guslin sings, Arina enters with drinks and refreshments, treats the young lady with sweets, and gives the old woman a madeira. Anna Ivanovna speaks quietly with Pelageya Egorovna, Razlyulyaev picks up Arina and starts to dance, Arina fights off. Anna Ivanovna intervenes for Arina and herself volunteers to dance with Razlyulyaev.
Neighboring girls come in, they are cordially welcomed, seated. Arina brings a dish covered with a towel - the girls will sing obscene songs, guess. Young ladies remove rings and put on a dish; the girls are singing. Razyullyaev on the words "There will be guests for you, Grooms to me ... Whoever succeeds - Tom comes true" takes out a ring and gives it to Lyubov Gordeevna.
Here come the mummers (an old man with a balalaika, a leader with a bear and a goat) and Egorushka. The obscure songs are left, the mummers are treated to wine, and they begin to amuse the guests: singing, dancing, playing skits; Egorushka dances with them. While the guests look at the mummers, Mitya quietly whispers something to Lyubov Gordeevna and kisses. Razlyulyaev notices this, approaches and declares that he will tell everything to Pelageya Egorovna that he himself wants to marry Lyubov Gordeevna, because his family has a lot of money, and there is nothing to hope for Mitya in this case. Guslin stands up for Mitya. A knock at the door interrupts their argument - the master has come.
The living room includes Gordey Karpych and Korshunov. Gordey Karpych rudely chases away the mummers (“What a bastard!”) And girls, frowns before Korshunov, apologizes for the “ignorance” of his wife, who arranged the evening “not in all forms”. But Korshunov, an old voluptuary, on the contrary, likes the company of young girls. He sits down in a chair, hehekets, favorably takes attention to his person. But Tortsov is struggling to produce an “effect”: he orders a champagne, light candles in the living room to illuminate the new “heaven”.Pelageya Yegorovna comes out to fulfill her husband’s order, Arina and the old guest guests leave for her.
Korshunov approaches the young ladies, to Lyubov Gordeevna, happily hehekets, hints at the "holy days" and offers to kiss. The young ladies are not happy, refuse. Gordey Karpich orders to obey, and Lyubov Gordeevna gives in. While Korshunov kisses the young lady, Gordey Karpych notices Mitya and drives him away (“A crow flew into the high mansions!”), After Mitya Guslin and Razlyulyaev leave.
Korshunov sits down to Lyubov Gordeevna, voluptuously hekhetsya and gives an expensive gift - diamond earrings. Lyubov Gordeevna coldly responds to Korshunov, the latter, without ceremony, grabs her and kisses her hand, starts a conversation about love and about her wealth. This old man is disgusting to Lyubov Gordeevna; she gets up to leave, but her father orders her to stay. She returns to her place, and Korshunov again grabs her hand, strokes her ("What a handle! Heh, heh, heh ... velvet!") And puts a diamond ring on her finger. Lyubov Gordeevna pulls out her hand, removes the ring and gives it to Korshunov.
The living room includes Pelageya Egorovna, Arina and Yegorushka with wine and glasses. Korshunov pretends to be an important guest: “Well, Gordey Karpych, go eat it, and you girls, dignify me. I love honor. ” Gordey Karpich brings Korshunov wine, orders his wife to bow, and the girls to sing the great. After drinking, Korshunov sits down near Lyubov Gordeevna, calls out one of the girls, pats her on the cheek, hechekets and sprinkles a trifle in her apron. Then orders Gordey Karpich to get down to business. The fact is that Gordey Karpych intends to move from this city, where "as there is one ignorance and ignorance", to Moscow. Moreover, there will be your own man - son-in-law African Savich. They had already conspired and shook hands.
Pelageya Egorovna is horrified, shouting “My daughter! Will not give it back!"; Korshunov firmly remarks to Tortsova: "He promised, so keep your word." Lyubov Gordeevna rushes to her father and begs him to change his mind: “I will not step one step out of your will. "What do you want me to make, just do not force me to marry the merciless against the heart!" Gordey Karpych is inexorable: “You fool, you yourself do not understand your happiness. You’ll live in Moscow in a noble manner, you will ride in carriages ... I order so. ” And Lyubov Gordeevna humbly replies: “Your will, father!”, Bows and goes to his mother. Satisfied Gordey Karpych orders the girls to sing the wedding and invites the dear guest to move to another room. Lyubov Gordeevna cries in the arms of her mother, her friends surround her.
Action Three
Morning. A small room, very crowded with very rich furniture, in Tortsov’s house. This is something like the hostess’s office, from where she runs the whole house and where she receives her guests. One door leads to the hall where guests dine, the other to the interior rooms. Arina sits in the room, with her several maids. Pelageya Egorovna enters and lets them go. Pelageya Egorovna is all in pre-wedding efforts, but her soul is hard.
Anna Ivanovna enters, followed by Mitya. Barely restraining his tears, he says that he has come to say goodbye to the good mistress: tonight he leaves for his mother and will never return. Mitya bows at the feet of Pelageya Egorovna, kisses her and Anna Ivanovna. Then he remarks that one should also say goodbye to Lyubov Gordeevna. Pelageya Yegorovna sends for her daughter, Anna Ivanovna shakes her head sadly and leaves.
Pelageya Egorovna complains to Mitya on the mountain: against her will she gives her daughter for a bad person. Mitya almost crying reproaches her for not opposing her husband’s willfulness. Pelageya Egorovna laments, asks Mitya to regret and not reproach her. Mitya, in a fit of feelings, decides to open herself and talks about the fact that yesterday he and Lyubov Gordeevna conspired to ask for blessings; and in the morning such news ... Pelageya Egorovna was amazed, she sincerely sympathizes with Mitya.
Lyubov Gordeevna enters, she says goodbye to Mitya, cries.Mitya, in despair, invites Pelageya Yegorovna to bless them, and then secretly take Lyubov Gordeevna to her old mother and get married there. Pelageya Egorovna in horror ("What are you, dissolute, invented something! But who would dare to take such a sin on his soul ..."). And Lyubov Gordeevna is against such a plan. She tells Mitya that she loves him, but she won’t leave the parent’s will, “so it has been instituted from time immemorial”. And let her suffer for her hateful husband, but to know that she lives by the law, and no one dares to laugh in the eyes. Mitya humbly decides Lyubov Gordeevna, says goodbye and leaves.
Korshunov enters the room from the dining room, he asks Pelageya Yegorovna to leave in order to secretly talk with the bride "about her affairs." Korshunov sits down to the crying Lyubov Gordeevna and tells her about all the "benefits" of marriage with an old man ("The old man is for love and a present ... and gold and velvet ...", and the young husband "you look, and drags himself behind someone sometime on the side ... and your wife should be dry ”), continuously kisses her hands and makes a heck. Lyubov Gordeevna asks if his late wife loved Korshunov. Korshunov very firmly replies that he did not like. In fact, Korshunov bought a wife: “They, you see, needed money, there was nothing to live: I gave, I did not refuse; but I need to be loved. Well, am I free to demand it or not? I paid money for that. It’s a sin to complain about me: whoever I love, it’s good to live in the world; but I don’t blame anyone! ”
Gordey Karpych enters the room. He speaks obsequiously to Korshunov, boasts of being “cultured”: “In another place at the table, there is a young man dressed in a robe or a wench, and I have a fitter in thread gloves ... Oh, if I were to live in Moscow or in Petersburg, I would seem to imitate all fashion. ” Yegorushka runs in and, laughing, says that Lyubim Karpych came and began to disperse the guests. Gordey Karpych is angry and leaves with Yegorushka.
Razlyulyaev, Masha and Lisa come in, and immediately after them we Love Karpych. He jerks at Korshunov; he seems to be joking, but at the same time he accuses Korshunov of ruining him: “You exalted me so much, elevated me to such a rank that I haven’t stolen anything, and I’m ashamed to look into people's eyes!” Love Karpych demands to pay off the old debt and a million three hundred thousand for a niece.
Gordey Karpych enters, he drives his brother out of the house. But the determined Lyubim Karpych does not leave, he accuses Korshunov of dishonesty and crimes (during a heated debate includes all the family, guests and servants): “I am not Korshunov: I did not rob the poor, I didn’t seize someone else’s eyelid, I didn’t torture my wife with jealousy .. I am being persecuted, and he is the first guest, they put him in the front corner. Well, nothing, they will give him another wife ... ”Gordey Karpich orders to take his brother away, but Love himself leaves. The bruised Korshunov declares: “You brought fashion like that: you offend offended guests! Heh heh heh I’ll say that I’ll go to Moscow, they don’t understand me here. In Moscow, such fools have already become involved, they are laughing at them ... No, you are naughty, I will not allow myself to offend myself for nothing. “No, now come to me and bow to me to take your daughter.” Offended by Gordey Karpych exclaims: “... I myself do not want to know you! I didn’t bow to anyone. I, for that matter, for whom I think I will give for that! With the money that I will give for her, everyone will be ... [Mitya enters here] ... here for Mitka and I will give it! Tomorrow. Yes, I’ll ask you such a wedding that you haven’t seen it: I’ll write musicians from Moscow, I’ll go alone in four carriages. ” Everyone is surprised, the furious Korshunov leaves.
Mitya takes Lyubov Gordeyevna by the hand, they approach Gordey Karpych and admit that they love each other for a long time, and if Gordey Karpych decided to marry them, then let him bless "in a parental way, with love," and not out of spite. Gordey Karpych begins to boil, again reproaches Mitya for being poor and no match for the Tortsov family. Pelageya Egorovna and Lyubov Gordeevna begin to persuade Gordey Karpich to change his anger to mercy.Lubov Karpich enters and also asks for the young, hints that if it weren’t for him, Korshunov would have ruined Gordey Karpich as well as himself: “Look at me, here's an example ... And I was rich and glorious, I rode in carriages. .. and then with the top end down ... Brother, give Lyubushka for Mitya - he will give me a corner ... Though for old age, yes, to live honestly ... Then I will thank God ... That he is poor ! Oh, if I was poor, I would be a man. Poverty is not a vice". In response, Gordey Karpich wipes his tear with emotion (“Well, brother, thank you for pointing it out, or it was completely crazy”), hugs and blesses Mitya and Lyubov Gordeevna. Immediately Yasha Guslin asks permission to marry Anna Ivanovna, Gordey Karpich blesses him too. Razlyulyaev congratulates Mitya (“He loved, but for you ... a sacrifice”), Pelageya Egorovna asks the girls to sing a cheerful wedding song. The girls sing, everyone leaves.
