like a gentleman and promenade with women in silk skirts.
LANTIER (furious)
Gervaise!
GERVAISE
You haven’t found me quite swank enough since I put all my dresses in pawn at Mont de Piété! Heavens, Lantier, I don’t want to mention it to you, I would have kept on waiting. But I know where you spent the night. I saw you go into the Grand Balcony with Virginia. Ah, you pick ’em good! She’s right to take on the airs of a princess, that one!
(Lantier rises and, controlling the desire to beat her, seizes her and shakes her violently. She falls into a chair.)
LANTIER
Gervaise, you don’t know what you just did. You will see!
GERVAISE
Ah! You hurt me! (she weeps silently; then, after a moment of silence, she rises, makes a package of linen without saying anything)
LANTIER
What are you doing? Where are you going? (Gervaise does not reply) I’m asking you where you are going?
GERVAISE
You can see plainly. I’m going to wash, that’s all.
LANTIER
That’s good. Say, Gervaise, do you have any money?
GERVAISE
Where do you think I would have stolen money? You know very well that they loaned me three francs day before yesterday against my black skirt. We’ve lunched twice on it. No, no doubt, I don’t have any money. I’ve got four sou left for the wash. As for me, I don’t make money like certain women.
LANTIER (after having looked everywhere, unhooks a trousers and a shawl)
Here, take that to pawn.
GERVAISE
That’s all we’ve got left.
LANTIER
Don’t worry. (seeing that Gervaise remains motionless) And pretend you don’t know where the pawn shop is.
GERVAISE
Oh! Yes! I’ve been down that road often enough during the last month. It’s only two steps, in the house on the side. I’ll be back right away. You haven’t kissed me.
LANTIER
Stupidities. (kisses her) Don’t linger.
GERVAISE (aside)
Perhaps I’m mistaken after all. (she leaves)
LANTIER (alone)
Come on, come on—mustn’t hesitate any more, got to end this existence! We got together because we agreed. When you no longer agree, got to part and that’s all there is to it. (turns toward suitcase and starts to pack)
COUPEAU (entering excitedly)
Madame Gervaise—they told me you met (noticing Lantier) Ah, you are there! That’s nice! I’ve been chasing after you for an hour.
LANTIER (turning)
After me. Why’s that?
COUPEAU (seeing Lantier pack his trunk)
What’s that you’re doing?
LANTIER
Nothing. Straightening up my linen.
COUPEAU
Then, you’ve seen your wife?
LANTIER
No doubt, I’ve seen her.
COUPEAU
She was very sad, very worried.
LANTIER
Ah! She told you.
COUPEAU
You want to know what I say, Lantier? It’s not right for you to hurt Gervaise who loves you so much.
LANTIER
Look here, you! Are you going to bore me with your moralizing? Meddle with what concerns you.
(Gervaise enters without seeing Coupeau)
GERVAISE
Here’s all they gave me. Four francs. I tried to get five for it. There was no way.
LANTIER (abruptly)
That’s good. Put that on the chimney.
COUPEAU (aside)
They’re at it!
GERVAISE (noticing Coupeau)
Ah, Mr. Coupeau, I didn’t see you. (to Lantier) While I’m at the washhouse you will go find something for lunch.
LANTIER
Yes! Yes!
GERVAISE (heading towards the trunk)
I’m going to take your linen.
LANTIER
No. It’s not necessary.
GERVAISE
But, it really still needs—
LANTIER (snatching the linen from her and hurling it in the trunk)
Damnation! Obey me for once! If I tell you to leave it alone!
COUPEAU (trying to calm him)
Lantier!
LANTIER
It’s not about Lantier! She must obey!
GERVAISE (uneasy)
Why don’t you want me to take your linen as I usually do?
LANTIER (embarrassed)
Why? Why? You are going to say everywhere that you’re busy with me. Well, that bores me! Do your business, I will do mine. Go to the wash!
GERVAISE
That’s good. (aside) He’s got bad ideas for certain. (she leaves, making a sign of goodbye to Coupeau)
(Hardly has Gervaise closed the door than Lantier finishes packing the truck)
LANTIER
At last! That’s
