THE ACTOR. I say—talent, that’s what you need to play heroes. And talent is nothing but faith in yourself, in your own powers—
SATINE. Give me five kopecks and I’ll have faith that you’re a hero, a crocodile, or a police inspector—Kleshtch, give me five kopecks.
KLESHTCH. Go to hell! All of you!
SATINE. What are you cursing for? I know you haven’t a kopeck in the world!
ANNA. Andrei Mitritch—I’m suffocating—I can’t breathe—
KLESHTCH. What shall I do?
BUBNOFF. Open the door into the hall.
KLESHTCH. All right. You’re sitting on the bunk, I on the floor. You change places with me, and I’ll let you open the door. I have a cold as it is.
BUBNOFF [unconcernedly] I don’t care if you open the door—it’s your wife who’s asking—