BUBNOFF. I jump two!
MIEDVIEDIEFF. Damn—play!
LUKA. And the Lord will look at you gently and tenderly and He’ll say: “I know this Anna!” Then He’ll say: “Take Anna into Paradise. Let her have peace. I know. Her life on earth was hard. She is very weary. Let Anna rest in peace!”
ANNA [choking] Grandfather—if it were only so—if there were only rest and peace . . .
LUKA. There won’t be anything else! Trust me! Die in joy and not in grief. Death is to us like a mother to small children . . .
ANNA. But—perhaps—perhaps I get well . . . ?
LUKA [laughing] Why—? Just to suffer more?
ANNA. But—just to live a little longer . . . just a little longer! Since there’ll be no suffering hereafter, I could bear it a little longer down here . . .
LUKA. There’ll be nothing in the hereafter . . . but only . . .
PEPEL [rising] Maybe yes—maybe no!