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ACT I
Scene in the countryside
A room in the Squire's castle, a door on the left, on the right, and in the middle, a table, some chairs, an English guitar on the wall
A long time ago, in a beautiful castle, lived a Squire. However, he had only half of the castle. The other half belonged to a Notary, Regent.
In the morning, the Squire was sitting at the table. He was wearing a nightcap, reading some papers and talking with his servant Dyndalski. The Squire had no wife and he wanted to get married. But he was not sure who would be the best wife for him. Maybe, Clara, his niece. Maybe Podstolina a widow. Both Clara and Podstolina had a lot of money. Podstolina was an experienced and sensible woman. Clara was more beautiful, but very young, so he decided to marry Podstolina.
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While they were talking, Papkin appeared in the room. Papkin lived in the Squire's castle.
He was poor, but well- dressed in French fashion. He was wearing a fine tailcoat, breeches and stockings. He had a sword, a wig and a triangular hat. He always arrived late. He always had excuses and he told lies, not the truth.
On that day he said :
"Oh, sorry I'm late. I lost my horse. My carriage crashed too. I had to fight in a duel"
He talked about his romances and fencing. He said:
"Oh, that girl looked at me. She loves me. I'm the best man at fencing. I always win."
Everything he said was a lie. In fact, he lost the Squire's money playing cards. The Squire didn't believe him, but he thought:
"Maybe Papkin can help me marry Podstolina, He can speak very well and he is very cheeky."
The Squire was very angry with Regent , the Notary. The Notary was the owner of the other half of the castle and the Squire wanted all the castle for himself. He asked Papkin to talk with the Notary.
Later, Papkin was alone. He laughed at the Squire's idea of marrying Podstolina.
Papkin loved Clara . He talked to himself :
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"It is good for me that the Squire wants to marry Podstolina. Then I will marry my dear Clara.
We will be happy together. I want to see her and talk to her now."
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Then he took a guitar and started singing his song to call Clara :
"Darling daughter, do I dream?
What's the whispering I hear?
It's my kitten lapping cream
Go to sleep now, Mother dear
Mother mine, it's the kitty – cat – cat -
The noise in my room - it's only that
Darling daughter, tell me pray
What's the clattering by your bed?
Mother mine – the cat , I say
Hunting mice: no cause for dread!
Mother mine, it's the kitty – cat – cat -
The noise in my room – it's only that!"
An episode of the movie "The Revenge" directed by Andrzej Wajda (2002)
Postolina appeared instead. Papkin admired her beauty.
He said:
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"You are so beautiful. You must marry somebody. There is a man who wants to marry you. Can you guess who?"
Podstolina thought that the Squire was the man who wanted to marry her. But she didn't say that she guessed. Then, she left the room.
After that, the Squire came into the room . He was very angry. He saw some bricklayers outside.
They were repairing the wall which divided the castle into two parts. He told Papkin :
"You must tell the bricklayers to leave their work and go away."
At the same time, Clara appeared in the garden next to the wall.
Suddenly, Waclaw went through the hole in the wall. He wanted to see Clara because he loved her. Waclaw's father was the Notary. Waclaw knew that his father didn't want him to marry Clara. The Squire didn't want Clara to marry Waclaw. Waclaw was very sad. He asked Clara :
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"Please, let's escape together."
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Clara loved Waclaw, but she didn't want to escape.
Suddenly they heard some noise. Some people were coming to the wall.
It was Papkin with the Squire's servants. They had sticks in their hands. They were ready to fight.
The Notary and the Squire were watching the scene from the windows opposite each other. First, Papkin told the bricklayers :
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"Please, can you go away?"
Then he said:
"If you don't want to leave, you will have problems."
But the bricklayers didn't pay attention to him. Then he told his servants to attack the bricklayers.
The fight started. Papkin hid behind the wall because he didn't like fighting. At the same time, the Notary and the Squire quarrelled and shouted at each other from their windows. The Squire said that he would shoot the Notary.
He shouted :
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"My flintlock, quick! No more ado!
I'll singe the feathers of that cockatoo!”
The Notary shut the window and hid. After the fight when there was nobody at the place, Papkin came back and shouted:
"I will kill all of you. I will destroy your castle. Come and fight me, you cowards"
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Waclaw was listening to Papkin hidden behind the wall. Then he came out and said:
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"I am your prisoner. You can take me."
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Papkin thought:
"That's a great idea. I can take this man as my prisoner.
The Squire will be happy and he will let me marry Clara."
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