The Beggar Part 2
Storyboard Text
- The scarecrow of a beggar shrugged his shoulders, as if in perplexity, and went irresolutely after the cook. It was obvious from his gait that he had not consented to go and chop wood because he was hungry and wanted work, but simply from pride and shame and because he had been trapped by his own words.It was obvious, too, that his strength had been undermined by vodka and that he was unhealthy and did not feel the slightest inclination for toil.
- Sergei hurried into the dining-room. From its windows one could see the wood-shed and everything that went on in the yard.Standing at the window, Sergei saw the cook and the beggar come out into the yard by the back door and make their way across the dirty snow to the shed. Olga glared wrathfully at her companion,shoved him aside with her elbow, unlocked the shed, and angrilybanged the door.
- Next he saw the pseudo-teacher seat himself on a log and become lost in thought with his red cheeks resting on his fists.The woman flung down an axe at his feet, spat angrily, and,judging from the expression of her lips, began to scold him. The beggar irresolutely pulled a billet of wood towards him, set it up between his feet, and tapped it feebly with the axe. The billet wavered and fell down. The beggar again pulled it to him, blew on his freezing hands, and tapped it with his axe cautiously, as if afraid of hitting his overshoe or of cutting off his finger; the stick of wood again fell to the ground.
- Sergei’s anger had vanished and he now began to feel a little sorry and ashamed of himself for having set a spoiled, drunken,perhaps sick man to work at menial labour in the cold.An hour later Olga came in and announced that the wood hadall been chopped.
- Good! Give him half a rouble, If he wants to he can come back and cut wood on the first day of each month. We can always find work for him.
- On the first of the month the waif made his appearance andagain earned half a rouble, although he could barely stand on his legs. From that day on he often appeared in the yard and every time work was found for him. Now he would shovel snow, now put the wood-shed in order, now beat the dust out of rugs and mattresses. Every time he received from twenty to forty copecks,and once, even a pair of old trousers were sent out to him.
- When Sergei moved into another house he hired him to help in the packing and hauling of the furniture. This time the waif was sober, gloomy, and silent. He hardly touched the furniture,and walked behind the wagons hanging his head, not even making a pretence of appearing busy. He only shivered in the cold and became embarrassed when the carters jeered at him for his idleness, his feebleness, and his tattered, fancy overcoat. After the moving was over Sergei sent for him.
- Then take this letter to a friend of mine tomorrow and you will be given some copying to do. Work hard, don’t drink, and remember what I have said to you. Goodbye!
- Well, I am happy that my words have taken effect, Here’s for your pains. I see you are sober and have no objection to work. What is your name?’
- Well, Lushkoff, I can now offer you some other, cleaner employment. Can you write?
- Lushkoff.
- I can.
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