"THE DOUBLE" is a short story by Fyodor Dostoevsky. The story, as translated by Constance Garnett, has been adapted for the stage.
GOLYADKIN WAKES UP. previous
GOLYADKIN’S THOUGHTS: Ugh, I played the fool last night!
HE SITS UP AND FINDS THAT THE DOUBLE, AND HIS BED, ARE GONE.
GOLYADKIN: (almost shrieking) What does it mean? What can it be? What will come of this?
PETRUSHKA ENTERS WITH THE TEA-TRAY.
GOLYADKIN (cont.): (barely audible) Where, where?
PETRUSHKA IS SILENT FOR A MOMENT.
PETRUSHKA: My boss isn’t home.
GOLYADKIN: You idiot. I’m your boss, Petrushka!
PETRUSHKA GLARES AT GOLYADKIN.
PETRUSHKA: Well, the other one left an hour and a half ago. He wouldn’t wait.
GOLYADKIN’S THOUGHTS: All right, we’ll see. We’ll see in due time. We’ll get to the bottom of all this.
GOLYADKIN: (moaning) Oh, Lord, have mercy on us! And why did I invite him? Why did I do all that? Why? I'm thrusting my head into their thievish noose myself. I’m tying the noose with my own hands. Ach, you fool, you fool! You can’t resist babbling like some silly boy, some chancery clerk, some wretched creature of no class at all, some rag, some rotten dishcloth; you’re a gossip, an old woman!... Oh, all ye saints! And he wrote poems, the rogue, and expressed his love for me! How could... How can I show him the door in a polite way if he comes back, the rogue? Of course, there are all sorts of ways and means. I can tell him that’s how it has to be, my salary being so limited... Or scare him off in some way, saying that, taking this and that into consideration, I am forced to make clear... that he would have to pay an equal share of the rent, in advance. H’m! No, damn it all, no! That would be degrading to me. It’s not quite delicate! Couldn’t I do something like this: suggest to Petrushka that he should annoy him in some way, should be disrespectful, be rude, and get rid of him in that way? Set them at each other in some way.... No, damn it all, no! It’s dangerous, and again, if you look at it from that point of view—it’s not the right thing at all! Not the right thing at all! But there, even if he doesn’t come, it will be a bad outlook, a bad outlook! Ach, we’re in a bad way! Oh, I’m a cursed fool, a cursed fool! You can’t train yourself to behave as you should. You can’t conduct yourself reasonably. Well, what if he comes and refuses? And God grant he may come! I’d be very glad if he did come....
GOLYADKIN DRINKS HIS TEA AND LOOKS AT THE CLOCK. GOLYADKIN (cont.): It’s a quarter to nine; it’s time to go. And something will happen! What will there be there? I’d like to know what exactly lies hidden in this—that is, the object, the aim, and the various intrigues. It would be a good thing to find out what all these people are plotting, and what will be their first step....
GOLYADKIN THROWS DOWN HIS PIPE, GETS DRESSED, AND GOES TO THE OFFICE. AT THE ENTRANCE, HE TAKES OFF HIS COAT AND BOOTS.
GOLYADKIN (cont.): We... will get to the bottom of it. We’ll go into all these matters immediately.
HE BUMPS INTO THE DOUBLE IN THE DOORWAY. THE DOUBLE HAS A BUSINESSLIKE AIR ABOUT HIM. GOLYADKIN (cont.): Oh, it’s you, Yakov Petrovich!
GOLYADKIN TAKES THE DOUBLE’S HAND.
DOUBLE: Not now, not now, excuse me, tell me about it later.
THE DOUBLE DASHES ON.
GOLYADKIN: But, excuse me; I believe, Yakov Petrovich, you wanted...
THE DOUBLE HALTS RELUCTANTLY.
DOUBLE: What is it? Hurry up and explain.
GOLYADKIN: I have to say, Yakov Petrovich, that I’m surprised at your behavior... behavior which seemingly I couldn’t have expected at all.
DOUBLE: There’s a proper form for everything. Go to his Excellency’s secretary and then appeal in the proper way to the directors of the office. Have you got your petition?
GOLYADKIN: You... I really don’t know, Yakov Petrovich! You simply amaze me, Yakov Petrovich! You certainly don’t recognize me, or, with characteristic merrymaking, you are joking.
DOUBLE: Oh, it’s you. So, it’s you? Well, did you have a good night?
THE DOUBLE SMILES FORMALLY. GOLYADKIN IS SPEECHLESS.
DOUBLE (cont.): I’m very glad you had a good night.
THE DOUBLE LOOKS RIGHT, THEN LEFT, THEN DOWN, MAKING FOR THE DOOR.
DOUBLE (cont.): (muttering) I have a special commision.
THE DOUBLE LEAVES.
GOLYADKIN: (muttering) Well, this is weird! This is weird! This is a strange circumstance. However, however, I spoke long ago of such a circumstance: I had a presentiment long ago that he had a special commission. Why, I said yesterday that the man must certainly be employed on some special commission.
GOLYADKIN SITS NEXT TO ANTON ANTONOVICH.
ANTON: Have you finished copying out the document from yesterday, Yakov Petrovich? Have you got it here?
GOLYADKIN: (murmuring) Yes.
ANTON: That’s right! I mention it because Andrey Flippovich has asked for it twice. I’m sure his Excellency wants it....
GOLYADKIN: Yes, it’s finished...
ANTON: Well, that’s all right then.
GOLYADKIN: I believe, Anton Antonovich, I’ve always performed my duties properly. I’m always scrupulous over the work entrusted to me by my superiors, and I attend to it conscientiously.
ANTON: Yes. Why, what do you mean by that?
GOLYADKIN: I mean nothing, Anton, Antonovich. I only want to explain, Anton Antonovich, that I... that is, I meant to express that spite and malice sometimes spare no person whatsoever in their search for their daily and revolting food....
ANTON: Excuse me, I don’t quite understand you. Who are you alluding to?
GOLYADKIN: I only meant to say, Anton Antonovich, that I’m seeking the straight path, and I hate going to work in a roundabout way. That I am not one to intrigue, and that, if I may be allowed to say so, I may very justly be proud of it....
ANTON: Yes. That’s quite true, and as far as I know, I completely agree with what you say; but allow me to tell you, Yakov Petrovich, that personalities are not quite permissible in good society, that I, for instance, am ready to put up with anything behind my back—for everyone’s abused behind their back—but to my face, if you please, my good sir, I don’t allow anyone to be disrespectful. I’ve grown grey in the government service, sir, and I don’t allow anyone to disrespect me in my old age....
GOLYADKIN: No, Anton Antonovich... you see, Anton Antonovich... you haven’t quite caught my meaning. To be sure, Anton Antonovich, I for my part could only think it an honor...
ANTON: Well, then, pardon me as well. We’ve been brought up in the old school. And it’s too late for us to learn your new-fangled ways. I believe we’ve had understanding enough for the service of our country up to now. As you’re aware, sir, I have an order of merit for twenty-five years’ irreproachable service....
GOLYADKIN: I feel it, Anton Antonovich, on my side, too, I quite feel all that. But I didn’t mean that, I am speaking of a mask, Anton Antonovich....
ANTON: A mask?
GOLYADKIN: Again you... I’m worried you’re taking this, too, the wrong way—that is, the meaning of my words, as you say yourself, Anton Antonovich. I am simply enunciating a theory, that is, I am advancing the idea, Anton Antonovich, that people who wear a mask have become far from uncommon, and that nowadays it's hard to recognize the man beneath the mask...
ANTON: Well, you know, it’s not that hard. Sometimes it’s fairly easy. Sometimes you don’t need to go far to look for it.
GOLYADKIN: No, you know, Anton Antonovich, I say, I say of myself, that I, for instance, do not put on a mask except when there is need of it; that is, simply at carnival time or at some festive gathering, speaking in the literal sense; but that I don’t wear a mask in front of people in daily life, speaking in another less obvious sense. That’s what I mean to say, Anton Antonovich.
ANTON: Oh, well, but we should drop all this. I’m busy now.
ANTON GETS UP, COLLECTING SOME PAPERS.
ANTON (cont.): Your business, as I imagine, will be explained in due course without delay. You will see for yourself whom you should censure and whom you should blame, and when you do, I humbly beg you to spare me from further explanations and arguments which interfere with my work....
GOLYADKIN: No, Anton Antonovich, I had no intention of doing that.
ANTON LEAVES.
GOLYADKIN (cont.): (to himself) What does it mean? Which way does the wind blow now, and what is one to make of this new turn?
THE DOOR OPENS, AND ANDREY FLIPPOVICH APPEARS.
ANDREY: Yakov Petrovich!
GOLYADKIN LEAPS UP, READY TO GIVE ANDREY THE DOCUMENTS HE WANTED. SUDDENLY, THE DOUBLE SLIPS PAST ANDREY AND APPROACHES GOLYADKIN.
DOUBLE: The papers, Yakov Petrovich, the papers... his Excellency has been pleased to ask for them; have you got them ready? (whispering) Andrey Flippovich is waiting for you....
GOLYADKIN: (whispering) I know he’s waiting without your telling me.
DOUBLE: No, Yakov Petrovich, I didn’t mean that. I didn’t mean it at all, Yakov Petrovich, not that at all. I sympathize with you, Yakov Petrovich, and am humbly moved by genuine interest.
GOLYADKIN: Which I most humbly beg you to spare me. Allow me, allow me...
DOUBLE: You’ll put it in an envelope, of course, Yakov Petrovich, and you’ll put a mark on the third page; allow me, Yakov Petrovich....
GOLYADKIN: You allow me, please...
DOUBLE: But, I say, there’s a blot here, Yakov Petrovich; did you know there was a blot here?...
ANDREY: Yakov Petrovich!
GOLYADKIN: One moment, Andrey Flippovich, I’m only just... Do you understand English, sir?
DOUBLE: It would be best to take it out with a penknife, Yakov Petrovich. You’d better let me do it. You’d better not touch it yourself, Yakov Petrovich, rely on me—I’ll do it with a penknife...
ANDREY: Yakov Petrovich!
GOLYADKIN: But, allow me, where’s the blot? I don’t think there’s a blot at all.
DOUBLE: It’s a huge blot. Here it is! Here, allow me, I saw it here... you just let me, Yakov Petrovich, I’ll just touch it with the penknife, I’ll scratch it out with the penknife out of true-hearted sympathy. There, like this; see, it’s done.
SUDDENLY, THE DOUBLE TAKES THE DOCUMENT FROM GOLYADKIN. HE DOESN’T SCRATCH OUT THE BLOT BUT ROLLS UP THE DOCUMENT, PUTS IT UNDER HIS ARM, AND GOES TO ANDREY FLIPPOVICH. THE DOUBLE AND ANDREY EXIT. GOLYADKIN SITS IN STUNNED SILENCE, HOLDING THE PENKNIFE. AFTER A MOMENT, HE STANDS UP AND FOLLOWS THE DOUBLE AND ANDREY INTO THE DIRECTOR’S OFFICE.
HIS EXCELLENCY: (to the DOUBLE) Thank you, Mr. Golyadkin. I won’t forget this.
GOLYADKIN: No! Andrey Flippovich, it’s not right, not right at all.
ANDREY: (curtly) This sounds like a private matter. I don’t even have a minute to spare for my own affairs.
GOLYADKIN: (to himself) I had better, perhaps, try in another quarter... I had better appeal to Anton Antonovich.
GOLYADKIN LOOKS FOR BUT CAN’T FIND ANTON.
GOLYADKIN’S THOUGHTS: Ah, there was a reason he asked me to spare him explanation and discussion! This was what the old rogue had in mind! In that case I’ll simply be bold and approach his Excellency.
GOLYADKIN SITS IN HIS CHAIR.
GOLYADKIN’S THOUGHTS (cont.): It would have been a great deal better if it had all been just nothing. Indeed, such a mysterious business was utterly improbable. In the first place, it was nonsense, and secondly it couldn’t happen. Most likely it was imagination, or something else happened, and not what really did happen; or maybe I went myself... and somehow mistook myself for someone else... in short, it’s an utterly impossible thing.
THE DOUBLE ENTERS WITH PAPERS IN BOTH HANDS AND UNDER HIS ARM. HE MAKES HIS WAY FOR THE EXIT.
DOUBLE: (to ANDREY) The business will be settled. (to CLERK) How do you do? (to SECOND CLERK) Nice to see you. (to THIRD CLERK) Looking sharp, friend.
THE DOUBLE STOPS AT THE EXIT TO CHAT WITH A GAGGLE OF CLERKS. GOLYADKIN RUSHES TOWARD HIM. THE DOUBLE SEES HIM COMING AND LOOKS AROUND NERVOUSLY. GOLYADKIN GRABS HIM BY HIS SLEEVE. THE SURROUNDING CLERKS STEP BACK AND WATCH WITH CURIOSITY.
DOUBLE: Well!
GOLYADKIN STRUGGLES TO BREATHE.
DOUBLE (cont.): I don’t know how to explain to you how strange you’re acting, sir.
GOLYADKIN: Well. Go on.
THE DOUBLE TURNS AND WINKS AT THE CLERKS.
GOLYADKIN: The disrespect and shamelessness of your manners with me, sir, in the present case, unmasks your true character... better than any words of mine could do. Don’t rely on your trickery: it is worthless....
DOUBLE: Come, Yakov Petrovich, tell me now, how did you spend the night?
GOLYADKIN: You forget yourself, sir. I trust that you will take a different tone....
DOUBLE: My darling!
THE DOUBLE PINCHES GOLYADKIN’S CHEEK. GOLYADKIN GROWS FURIOUS. THE DOUBLE PATS HIM ON THE CHEEK AND TICKLES HIM A FEW TIMES BEFORE POKING HIM IN THE BELLY.
DOUBLE (cont.): You’re mischievous, brother Yakov, you are mischievous! We’ll be cunning, you and I, Yakov Petrovich, we’ll be cunning.
THE DOUBLE PUTS ON A BUSINESSLIKE AIR AND TURNS TO LEAVE.
DOUBLE (cont.): On a special commission.
THE DOUBLE EXITS. GOLYADKIN IS FROZEN FOR A MOMENT, THEN FOLLOWS AFTER THE DOUBLE.
GOLYADKIN: (to himself) They’re all in conspiracy together. They stand by each other and egg each other on to attack me.
GOLYADKIN STOPS AFTER A DOZEN STEPS AND TURNS BACK.
GOLYADKIN’S THOUGHTS: You won’t get away. You’ll get caught one day. The wolf will have to pay for the sheep’s tears.
GOLYADKIN SITS IN HIS CHAIR.
GOLYADKIN: You won’t escape.
GOLYADKIN BEGINS WRITING SOMETHING.
GOLYADKIN (cont.): Impersonation and shamelessness don’t pay nowadays, sir. Impersonation and shamelessness, sir, lead to no good, but lead to the noose. Grishka Otrepyov was the only one, sir, who gained by imposture, deceiving the blind people and even that not for long.
GOLYADKIN’S THOUGHTS: If he gives in, says he was joking, I’d forgive him. I’d forgive him even more if he would acknowledge it out loud. But I won’t let myself be treated like a rag. And I haven’t even allowed people very different from him to treat me like that. Still less will I let a depraved person attempt it. I am not a rag. I am not a rag, sir! You’re in fault yourself, sir!
THE CLOCK STRIKES FOUR AND EVERYONE LEAVES THE OFFICE. GOLYADKIN FOLLOWS THE DOUBLE THROUGH THE CROWD. THE DOUBLE PUTS ON HIS COAT AND LOOKS TOWARD GOLYADKIN. THE DOUBLE SAYS A WORD TO ONE CLERK, WHISPERS SOMETHING TO ANOTHER, RESPECTFULLY ACCOSTS A THIRD, SMILES AT A FOURTH, GIVES HIS HAND TO A FIFTH, AND DARTS DOWNSTAIRS. GOLYADKIN CHASES HIM DOWN THE STAIRS AND GRABS HIM BY THE COLLAR.
DOUBLE: (whispering) What do you mean by this?
GOLYADKIN: Sir, if you are a gentleman, I trust that you remember our friendly relations yesterday.
DOUBLE: Ah, yes! Well? Did you sleep well?
GOLYADKIN IS SPEECHLESS FOR A MOMENT.
GOLYADKIN: I slept well, sir... but let me tell you, sir, that you are playing a very complicated game...
DOUBLE: Says who? That’s what my enemies say.
THE DOUBLE FREES HIMSELF FROM GOLYADKIN’S GRIP, RUSHES OUTSIDE, GETS IN A CAB, AND VANISHES. GOLYADKIN LOOKS AROUND AND SEES NO OTHER CAB. HE TRIES TO RUN, BUT HIS LEGS GIVE OUT. HE LEANS AGAINST A LAMPPOST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PAVEMENT. then?