SCENE 9 - in transit

Prepared linocut (50 x 50 cm) with grid from the TLT paint shop.

Stage with painted drop, image size: 1050 x 100 cm.

 

Props: Slush money, 50 Kopeken banknotes with the image of Shostakovitsh.

 

The lovers, who have been sentenced to hard labour, are on the long and painful road to Siberia. The large group of convicts has pitched camp for the night, with the men separate from the women. Katerina bribes a sentry to allow Sergei &endash;her one consolation in misfortune&endash; to come to her. But Sergei reproaches her with their bleak future and, weary of her passion, tries to seduce another pretty young girl prisoner, Sonyetka, who demands Katerina's woollen stockings in exchange for her favours.

 

With characteristic cynicism and skill at deceiving, Sergei persuades Katerina to give him her stockings

 

Katerina realizes she has been betrayed.

 

As the column of prisoners sets off again, grabs Sonyetka, Katerina hurls her into the rushing river, and jumps in after her. They are swept away and the convict train moves on.