LIPA

You are joking!

SAVVA

Every one of you will have it that I am joking. You keep constantly telling me so. You seem to have utterly lost the sense for what is serious.

LIPA

No, it's not a dream. They are going.

SAVVA

Yes, they are going. _(Both listen)_

LIPA

You still seem to believe. What do you believe?

SAVVA

I believe in my destiny. _(The hour begins to strike in the belfry of the monastery)_ Twelve.

LIPA _(counting)_

Seven--eight--and to think that this is the hour when it should have happened--the very idea of it--_(A m.u.f.fled report as of a powerful explosion is heard)_ What was that?

SAVVA

Yes, what was it?

_[Both rush to the window, waking Tony, who moves his head sleepily.

The tread of the footsteps in the street stops momentarily. Then all begin to run. Frightened cries are heard, weeping, loud, abrupt e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns of "What's the matter?" "Oh, Lord!" "Fire, fire!" "No, something has fallen down!" "Let's run!" The word "monastery" is frequently heard._

TONY

They are running! Where are they running to? Why is n.o.body here?

PELAGUEYA _(entering the room, half dressed)_

Oh, Lord! Oh, heavens! Is it possible the monastery is on fire! Good gracious! Heavens! And you here, you drunken sot! You monster!

TONY

Oho! They are running? Faces, mugs, eh?

_[The bell begins to toll the alarm. Then the strokes follow each other in more rapid succession; hasty, disquieting, uneven, they blend with the noise of the street and seem to creep through the window._

PELAGUEYA _(crying)_

Good G.o.d, I don't know where to turn.

_[She runs out. The cries in the street grow louder. Someone yells in one prolonged note "Oh-oh-oh!" until the sound is drowned in the general noise, excitement, and ringing._

LIPA _(moving away from the window, very pale, stupefied)_ What does it mean? It cannot be. It is impossible. Tony, Tony, get up. Tony, brother, what does it mean? Tony!

TONY _(rea.s.suringly)_

It's nothing. They are all faces.

SAVVA _(leaving the window, calm and stern, but also pale)_ Well, sister?

LIPA _(flinging herself about the room)_

I want to run with the rest. I'll run. Where is my scarf? Where is my scarf? My G.o.d, My G.o.d! Where is my scarf?

SAVVA

Your scarf? There it is. But I won't give it to you. Sit down; you have nothing to do there.

LIPA

Let me have it.

SAVVA

No, sit down, sit down. It's too late now anyway.

LIPA

Too late?

SAVVA

Yes, too late. Don't you hear the noise the crowd is making and the way they are running and pushing?

LIPA

I'll run, I'll run.

SAVVA

Keep still--sit down. _(Forces her to sit down)_ Tony, did you hear?

They've exploded G.o.d.

TONY _(looking at Savva's face in terror)_

Savva, don't make me laugh. Turn your face away.