Anna Karenina by Helen Edmundson

Author:Helen Edmundson [Edmundson, Helen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781848421974
Publisher: Nick Hern Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

ACT TWO

Music.

LEVIN is sitting at the back of the stage, head in hands.

The muffled figure enters, dragging the sack. He goes to hit the sack, but each time, as he brings his arm down, the sack moves.

He opens the sack. ANNA emerges – as if being born.

She clings to the neck of the muffled figure and tries to hear the words he is muttering – ‘il faut le battre, le fer, le broyer, le petrir’.

Suddenly the figure goes.

VRONSKY enters. He approaches ANNA and holds out his hand to her. Just as she is about to take it, he moves away again.

KARENIN enters. He approaches ANNA. Just as he reaches her, he moves away again.

VRONSKY approaches ANNA and their hands touch. Then he is gone.

KARENIN comes towards her and is gone.

This pattern continues for some time, with VRONSKY and KARENIN never meeting, and with the contact between ANNA and VRONSKY becoming stronger.

Suddenly, the two men find themselves face to face.

Pause. They stare at each other.

KARENIN turns his back and begins to pace the edges of the stage.

VRONSKY goes to ANNA.

ANNA. You met him?

VRONSKY. Yes. At the door.

ANNA. It serves you right for being late.

VRONSKY. Your note said he would be at the Council; I would never have come otherwise.

ANNA. Where have you been, Alexei?

VRONSKY. I’m sorry my darling. It’s been a busy week.

ANNA. Really? Busy? Betsy came to see me this morning. I heard all about your Athenian evening. How disgusting.

VRONSKY. It was disgusting but I had to go. The Colonel asked me to entertain a foreign dignitary.

ANNA. Oh – you mean that little French girl you used to see. I believe she was there.

VRONSKY. Anna, you don’t understand…

ANNA. No, I don’t. What do I know – a woman who can’t even share your life? I only know what you tell me and how do I know whether you tell me the truth?

VRONSKY. Anna, don’t you trust me?

ANNA. Yes, yes. You just don’t understand what it’s like for me. How can I go out like this and with the way people are talking? I don’t think I’m jealous, I’m not jealous – I trust you when you’re here but when you’re away leading your own life… oh, I believe you, I do believe you. Alexei, I’ve stopped now. The demon has gone.

VRONSKY. I don’t enjoy that kind of life any more. I thought you understood that.

ANNA. I do, I do, I’m sorry.

She kisses him.

Tell me what happened when you met Alexei Alexan­drovich. Did he bow to you like this?

She imitates his bow.

VRONSKY. Yes, he did actually. How can he bear this? He feels it, that’s obvious.

ANNA. No he doesn’t. If he had any feelings, he’d have cut me to pieces by now. He wouldn’t walk around calling me ‘ma chère, Anna, my dear’. He’s not a man he’s a puppet.

She suddenly gasps as the baby moves.

VRONSKY. What is it?

She puts his hand on her stomach.

When is it to be?

ANNA (sadly). Soon. Soon. Alexei… if you only knew what I would give

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