PERKOLGJINAJ
Drama by Kole Jakova – 1965
1-ST ACT
CHARACTERS
OLD MAN – Gjin Kola of Perkolgjinajve
MARA — his wife
GJONI – son
DILA — Gjon’s wife
COLI – Gjon’s son, miner
GJERGJI E PRENDA — Gjon’s two twin children, in primary school
LEKA – the second son of the old man, foreman in the mine
BARDHA — his wife
DODA – Leka’s son, miner
PJETRI – Leka’s son, miner
LUKA – Leka’s son, farmer
ZOGA – Leka’s daughter
GJINI – Leka’s son, baby
MARGJELA — daughter the last of the old man, twenty years old
MARTINI – the little son of the old man, twenty two years old
MARIA – Martini’s daughter-in-law
PRENGE LOKU – the old man’s friend
ZEFI – a technician in the mine
The events take place in the villages around the “Karl Marx” hydropower plant in 1960.
ACT FIRST
Wild mountain nature. To the left is a part of the ancient tower of Perkolgjinai. The tower is located on a gentle hill with green fringes. Massive Rocky Mountains rise all around. The walls of the tower have taken on a black color from the old age. The small turrets and old architecture give it the appearance of a small mountain castle. Adjacent to the tower, on a raised square, stands an old screw. After the screw, the prozhmi continues. In the square, ahead, you can see the narrow road that leads to the tower of Perkolgjinai. Close to the tree is the “carraniku” (kitchen closed), where the women have left food for refreshment. ‘Sometimes they have work with that “carranik”, they prepare lunch. It is Saturday and the Perkolgjins are waiting for their sons, who work all week in the mine. On the fence of the road, clothes are visible in the sun. It is the last days of September, full of light and natural beauty. When the curtain is opened, old Marë is seen looking from the front. In one hand she holds the rosary. Every now and then she mumbles goodbye. This habit has made her talk to herself. She has released the goats without anyone and now calls to them from the square:
MARA – Tiksh, tiksh, God bless you! Go and graze yourself, because I have nothing to do with you. Tell Zoga and she will answer that I have work. Women are busy. Gjergji and Prenda remained at school. I personally have no legs to take you back. I had when I had.
DILA – (Goes out to get something in the pantry.) What are you talking about, my mother?
MARA – Here, I am teaching the goats to graze without a shepherd.
DILA – But Zoga, where have you been?
MARA – I don’t know what you’re messing with in there. I have work, he says.
DILA — He doesn’t like to go to pasture to her.
MARA — The goat almost broke the door of the pen. They are not to blame, the deserts! Duen with pasture. It was noon and the others in the earring.
ZOGA — (It is heard singing inside the tower;) What do I have to do with a matian chick, like a lily flower, my eyebrow!
DILA – Well, you’re lucky! You have time for singing, but not for herding goats.
ZOGA- (Continuing:) Happy, happy for you, my mountain swallow…
MARA – Oh Zog! Zog! – Order, grandmother!
MARA – What is that song, my daughter?
ZOGA – The song, my grandmother, matjan`s song.
MARA – Leave the song, grandma, and go and take care of the goats, it will be better for you.
MARGJELA – (Comes out of the door of the tower, working a sock with spears. She looks silent and sits bowed down.) Stay, mother, because I’m going to graze the goats!
MARA – No, five, mother. Shout out to him. He has ordered me a thousand times not to take him out with cattle to the mountains. The forest is treacherous for girls your age.
MARGJELA — Here, I will be near the house. Whenever you want, you can call me.
MARA – The old man started to get angry quickly. He finds his troubles and pours them out on me. However, please nana, don’t go away.
(Mardjela leaves. Mara sits and looks at him. Then, as is her habit, she starts talking to herself.) Even this always silences her and looks down on her like the sky with clouds. I never once got the chance to talk to him. We were completely confused and we are forgetting the people of the house; even our children. (Zoga comes out in a new dress. On her feet are opings and thick woolen socks.)
ZOGA – (All joy) Hey, great-grandmother, how do I look?
MARA – (Makes a cross in surprise.) Sorry, god! What is this thing, my daughter? ZOGA – Dress, granny dress, dress with side skirt. My father brought me from the mine.
DILA — (To the carraniku) How nice to go with cowhides and socks one finger thick!
ZOGA – I also have the shoes and cotton socks.
MARA – Go quickly and take it off, then grandma, because if the old man sees them, he will burn them in the fire.
ZOGA – Why, do you remember that in the mine I will dress like I dress here in the mountain?
DILA – Uh, you’re making us feel bad!
MARA – What devil is taking you to the mine, my daughter?
ZOGA – No devil, yes father. Two years went by in vain without school, you brought cattle to the mountain. Today I would be in seventh grade. This year I will definitely go to school.
DILA – Listen, mother, that’s where these people are.
ZOGA — Even uncle Martini has written to father Leka from the army so that I can go to school. Even Margjela wants me to go to school. DILA — We have mangoes for school. Do you know what you do? Take off those clothes and go look after the goats. That’s your job.
BARDHA – (He heard it from the corner of the tower.) Why do you say the strange word, O Dila?
DILA – Do you hear what he says? You have to go to the mine site.
BARDHA — Even if it goes, what’s the harm? Her father and two brothers are able to keep a sister in school.
DILA – Let the housework be left to us as always. Even the goats didn’t go to look after them until the kids were back from school.
BARDHA — Mjatt has kept the goats until now.
DILA — Yes, the fault scene. You found it comfortable. My husband was torn apart at work all day, sometimes in the mountains or in the fields.
BARDHA – Even my Luke is getting dressed with it.
DILA – Zaten, only Luke among you thinks about this house.
BARDHA — Why do you let go of words without weighing them, O Dila? And my husband and sons are not pouring money here?
MARA — Are you starting again?
DILA — How do we know how much money your husband brings. The old man keeps them.
BARDHA — Are you not ashamed to speak like that?
DILA – The bird then brings new spoils from the mine. What if I don’t have children? What if my Collie doesn’t work in the mine? Or he doesn’t get paid. _
MARA — Rest, you past nana.
BARDHA — Do you hear him speak, my mother?
DILA – Talk about sticking out your tongue. Remember that I do not know what you are playing at our expense.
MARA — My Dile, collect your thoughts, I tell you. The cuckoo heard these words from the old man, the river took us.
DILA — No, if he doesn’t remember that we don’t know each other.
(Enter the old man Gjin Kola, the master of the Perkolgjinai house. He has a stick on his arm, which he drops in the middle of the yard. He is approaching seventy years old – but he still stands straight and strong. He is proud and scolds us His face is always grim, he seems to have heard the women’s words when he was going up to the house. As you can see, he leaves the corner, while Dila goes into the tower.)
OLD MAN – What happened?
MARA – Are you tired, old man?
OLD MAN — What happened if I ask you?
MARA — Women’s work, what do you care?
OLD MAN — You old man, don’t let go of the wasps, because I have enough of my own.
(He raises his voice so that the brides in the tower can hear him.)
The mouths of the brides have started to become lewd. This work takes time. But this tower is ruled by men, not women. Our house has never been destroyed by women. So they won’t even break it while I’m alive.
(Mara starts to leave.) Hey, where are you going? Where is Margjela?
MARA — There, down there.
OLD MAN – What is he begging for down there?
MARA — (Sighing closely.) You’re giving the goats an eye.
OLD MAN — How many times have I told you, damn it, don’t take it down there? (Mara lowers her head in guilt.) Where is Zoga?
MARA — Inside the tower.
OLD MAN — (Calls:) Birds, Birds, my!
ZOGA – (He goes out tightening his waist belt, his belt with bunches. He is wearing the clothes of the country.) Order, grandfather!
OLD MAN – Go to the goats and bring Margjela here.
(Zoga gets angry.) And don’t hang my mugs, I tell you! (Zoga comes out. Mara leaves. Meria, Martin’s daughter-in-law, comes with a pillow and a pillow. She puts them on the mat under the tree.)
MARIA — Are you tired, father?
OLD MAN – Dad is tired of thoughts more than roads. I forgot to say that that kopuku, your husband, sent a letter. I will read it once, then I will give it to you. Go take that wood I brought with you and put it with the other wood.
MERIA — (Taking the wood) You never forgot the habit, father!
OLD MAN – The man who thinks about the whole, does not make his way in vain. (Sits on the stool.) Now, don’t delay my coffee.
MERIA – Instantly, father! (Meria leaves, while Mara approaches the old man.)
THE OLD MAN — Hey, what do you want from me, why are you acting around?
MARA – More, what’s wrong with you today, why did you come here with a handful of flies?
OLD MAN — Leka is dropping flies on me every day.
MARA – Protect us, oh god! But why?
OLD MAN — You will fix my tower. (Meria brings the coffee, gives it to the old man and waits for it with a tray in hand.)
MARA — Let them fix it, old man. It doesn’t bother us any work.
OLD MAN – I have no problem there, no! He brought Zef Gjon to fix it. He has brought the bloodsucker of our house.
MARA – Where did you hear this?
OLD MAN – In the club. Didn’t find anyone else?
MARA — Then this bride of ours, Meria, and Zefi’s brother’s wife are sisters. So, we have the same problem with them.
OLD MAN — Well, well, I didn’t want him at home.
MARA — Let this too pass, for God’s sake. So things came now. They work together in the mine. They are friends. Martin, even, loves him like a brother. Don’t spoil the blood for nothing. (The old man has finished the coffee. Meria takes the cup and leaves.)
THE OLD MAN — Come on, talk. What did you want to tell me?
MARA — Preng Loku will come today.
OLD MAN — Yes, welcome.
MARA — I believe that this time he will share the marriage fee with Margjela.
OLD MAN — It has lasted long enough so far.
MARA — It would be good to get the opinion of Leka and the boys. They come today from the mine.
OLD MAN – In this house I rule. So far I haven’t set foot on the rotten board. There is danger with Leka. that you don’t understand. After all, I am getting my daughter married. Let them do what they want with their own. Margjela is not bad in Prengë Lok’s house.
MARA – I don’t curse the house, but I was told about the bridegroom that he is too young; three years younger than Margjela.
OLD MAN – Grow up, grow up, you don’t have to stay small forever. (Gjergji and Prenda, Gjon’s two twins, come up from the street, returning from school. They are in the fourth grade of primary school.) C
HILDREN — Good day, Santa!
OLD MAN — Good day! How nice of you to come! Don’t come here! (Mara leaves.) Did you read this letter? They let me down at the club. Martin sends it.
PRENDA — Give it to me, I will read it.
GEORGE – No, no, I read it better, Santa.
OLD MAN – Hey! Don’t worry. Read it, George, but slowly and carefully.
GEORGE — (Reads.) «My lovers! I’m fine, I wish the same for you. I miss him. But above all, I miss my seagull, for my Greed…»
THE OLD MAN — Tfu! The devil take you! Damn it! This does not look like Perkolgjinaj at all.
GEORGE — (Continues.) “Now I have two more weeks left to be released. I count the days on my fingers. Baba Gjin knows what it means to stay away from the new bride…”
OLD MAN — Look, look! This one will wait until it eats his back.
GERGJI – (Continues.) «Recently, they gave us tractor drivers a course…*
THE OLD MAN – (Surprised) Dialli knows what he’s talking about!
GEORGE! — (Continues.) «I learned the tractor for beauty. The Thumana farm was looking for tractor drivers and I decided to go work there as soon as I was free.”
OLD MAN – Snap your neck when you want. I had already given up hope on you. Everyone wants to run away, fly like birds as soon as their wings come out.
GEORGE — (Continued). “The tractor cannot enter there.”
OLD MAN – Enough!
GEORGE — Wait, Santa, let me finish the letter.
OLD MAN — I don’t want it anymore. That’s enough for me. (takes the paper.) Come now. Go ahead.
GEORGE – Where should we go?
OLD MAN – Take the loaves of bread. Take the goats from the small prozhm and take them to the big prozhm, because they have nothing to eat here.
GEORGE — Yes, we have homework, Santa!
OLD MAN – Your homework is the goats.
G’ERGJI – Yes, we have no place to write there.
DILA – (Having gone back to the carranik.) George, shut up.
OLD MAN — Go, I tell you. You’re even opening your mouth! Woe to the house where women and children talk. Come on, peel yourself! (Dila goes, takes the children and leaves with fa. The old man also leaves and goes inside. Meanwhile, Meria goes out to get the pillow and the pillow. Zefi comes with an electric wire in his hand and an insulating jacket.)
MERIA — Come, O Zef! Are you tired? (Talks to him.)
ZEFI — How are things here?
MÚRIA – They don’t look that good.
ZEFI – Why, what happened here?
MÚRIA — The old man did not like your arrival. He still hasn’t forgotten the old cry.
ZEFI – Asht Perkolgjinaj he; bitter blood. Did you mention it?
MĂRIA – Yes, even now that you mentioned it. Then today Prengë Loku comes to tell us about Margjela’s marriage with her son. I don’t know what is making him marry them so soon.
ZEFI – He is afraid. Now the elders are afraid of girls.
MÚRIA – Will you stay some day?
ZEFI — I will stay for a while. There is a lot of work here.
MÚRIA — Then we will have time to talk longer. Are you coming in?
ZEFI – (Intermittently.) I’m thinking about how I should present myself at that point.
MĂRIA — Marjela is coming.
ZEFI — Then, you go inside. I’m starting work here. I’ll come later.
MÚRIA — Be careful. (Meria enters. Zefi sets up the ladder and puts an insulator in the circuit. Margjela enters.)
ZEFI — (Lightly) Margjela!
MARGJELA — (She gets excited when she sees him. She looks here and there with fear.) Come to the end! I’ve been waiting for you!
ZEFI — I missed him a lot too.
MARGJELA — Why were you so late?
ZEFI – I could not find a phone number. I wanted to go to Shkodra and buy it. Without some reason, I could not come.
MARGJELA — Is dad inside?
ZEFI — That’s how it seems to me.
MARGJELA — Wait until I see you there once and I’ll go out again. (Enters the tower. After a while, Zoga appears.)
ZOGA — Oh, why did you come, Zef?
ZEFI — Yes, I came to put on your lights.
ZOGA— How beautiful it will look where I left it with lights. Baba Lekë told me that when we put the lights on, he will also bring the radio. (He approaches her and speaks lightly to her.) Did you see Marjela? (Zefi nods.) She only thinks about you day and night.
ZEFI — Rest, Satan. Do you know that these jobs are dangerous?
ZOGA – I don’t speak. I don’t even tell my mother. Are you going to rob him?
ZEFI — Look, look! And who told you that you will rob him? ZOGA — Mardjela, and who else? Grab quickly, because friends will come with me on the wedding day. ZEFI – I know, I know, but remember that you took us all by the neck! BIRD — Don’t be afraid. (Leaves.) (After a while Cjini comes to the door. Mara stands behind him.) THE OLD MAN — Did you come, O Zef? ZEFI — Come, Gjin Kola. GENDER – Did Leka send you? ZEFI — Leka himself. GNINI — He put his mind to fixing the tower, didn’t he? ZEFI – I don’t know what you say? GNINI — He will open the turrets and make windows. ZEFI – I think it does not spoil any work. Air the rooms. GNINI — Then, they will give me the services and make it clear. ZEFI — Yes, it’s time for a hand of sherbet. GENDER – What about this old lady of mine, how would she look if she were dressed as a bride? ZEFI — The old woman does not become a bride, O Gjin, but the tower changes the appearance. GENDER — It changes, it changes, like my old lady. Why, you bring those lights, because they enter our work. In other words, we don’t break our necks at night. Are you coming in? ZEFI — I’m going down by wire, Gjin. I have time to come inside. GENDER — As you wish. (Zefi goes downstairs.) MARA — I don’t think he’s a bad guy. OLD MAN — Come, old woman, come in. After he started, even the young boys liked him. (The old woman goes inside, while the old man goes out behind the house, into the garden, which is on the right side of the stage. Margjela, from the balcony, signals to Zefi. Then she sits down stealthily. Meria is with her.) MARGJELA — Where is it the old man? MÚRIA – In the garden, as usual. Go, you go, because I guard the door and the garden. (Meanwhile, Zef is seen climbing the tree.) MARGJELA – Zef! (Approaches him.) ZEPH — My swallow! (takes her hand and puts a fish in her – she laughs. She quickly put the fish in her breast.) What do you have; why are you sulking? MARGJELA – We are not doing well, Zef. They want to marry me. ZEFI — Don’t be upset, Margjele. We will find a way for her too. MARGJELA – Don’t go with Leka? ZEFI — No, Margjele. MARGJELA — Good job. You never once remembered talking to me about this issue. ZEFI — I was also afraid that I was doing something wrong and then I would lose you forever. How do I know Leka’s opinion? After all, he also has Perkolgjinaj blood. Then he might be of one mind with us, but where does the old man leave him, where does John leave him? And why disrupt work, when we have the opportunity to fix ourselves. Old habits are strong here. Your father, MerTa told me, had mentioned the issue of blood again. MARGJELA – Yes, Zef, we have to act ourselves. I’m bored of the tower. I feel like I’m carrying her walls on my back. How many times do I remember the three months I spent at the hydropower plant! I remember meeting you, the small forest near the dormitories… ZEFI — I don’t remember them, Margjela? MARGJELA — What beautiful days those were! How quickly they pass! Do you think that time will come again! ZEFI — Definitely! MARGJELA – I don’t know why I’m afraid! ZEFI — That time has almost come. I will stay at least two weeks here with you. MARGJELA — Yes, here is the work with great risk, Zef. ZEFI – However, here we also have Mary who protects us. We will find cases. Here, like now. MARGJELA – Oh, Zef. Here everyone opens their eyes so much! Take me, Zef! Don’t leave me here. I feel like I’m in prison. I need air, people. I need you, Zef. I have to go out, work with friends, like at the hydroelectric plant. This is where man rots. If I had wings, who knows how many times I would have flown from this tower and come to you. ZEFI – My soul! We will leave, Margjele. We will go to Bistrica i Delvina. A new hydroelectric power plant is being built there. I requested a transfer from the mine and I believe I will get it soon. Yes, we saw the work pisk, we leave at night and put it in Burrel. From there we go to Bistrica. No one can find us there. Are you afraid? MARGJELA — I am not afraid to go to the end of the world with you. You are my destiny and I am yours as long as I live. ZEFI — My courage! (Mara comes out from the door of the tower. Mêria, seeing her, coughs. Zefi goes down and passes her. Marjela bans as if she is collecting the spoils on the fence. Mêria also collects the spoils.) MÉRIA – Where are you going, my mother? MARA — What happened to this girl who got lost! MÚRIA – Here, I call him. Why should you get tired? (Calls.) O Margjela! MARGJELA – I came, Meri! MÚRIA – Come on, my, what happened? Come because Mara is begging you. (Margjela comes with some spoils left in her arms MARA – Where did you get lost, my daughter! I know we have lunch on the fire and the dishes are not washed. The women are busy with other work. The boys come to get tired. They have a hangar. MARGJELA “First, they want to change, mom. That’s why I took the clothes, so they can have them ready. (She also has some loot on her arm.) I’ll take care of it, mom. Marë.” MARA – My daughter, I don’t care. Let me kiss you once. MARA – How nice of you (The three of them enter. Dila comes out with Gjergji and Prenda. Besides the bags, Gjergji is very angry.) I’ll let the goats go DILA – Are you going to come home in the evening? Yes, the tasks are not done. The OLD MAN has come from the garden , o Come out, to pluck a birch from the tree. (He starts to pluck the birch, but the children immediately leave. Enter Prengë Loku.) PRENGA – Good morning, Gjin Kola of Perkolgjinajvel THE OLD MAN — God bless you, Prengë Loku of Brungajve! (They hug.) O women, bring us some pillows and make us two cups of coffee. (Meria brings a pillow and slippers. She says goodbye to her friend and passes. The elders sit down.) And how are you, O Prengë Loku? How did you get them captive? PRENGA – Good by God. What about you, how have you been? OLD MAN – We have not been in bad health, O Prenga, but here we are in trouble. PRENGA – What’s wrong with you, Gjin? OLD MAN – Housekeeping. Young people don’t seem to understand us old people. It seems that even we elders do not understand them and thus some confusions arise in vain. PRENGA — What do you listen to the young, O Gjin. Elders have always ruled in the Perkolgjinaj tower. OLD MAN – That’s right, but now other times came. (Mara enters and greets her friend.) PRENGA – How are you, Mara? How do I get that son-in-law? MARA – Why do you ask about the bride? PRENGA – For others I asked about the area of the house. And why not ask about the bride, who is my longing? MARA – He will come to the house and you will see him. (A mountain song is heard in the distance. Meria has brought the coffee.) PRENGA – For good, master of the house! OLD MAN — Good luck MARA – (He puts his hand on his forehead as a shelter.) The boys are coming. OLD MAN — Leka to asht; Gjon’s son and Leka’s two sons. PRENGA – From the mine do they come like this? OLD MAN — Yes, from the mine. They do the night shift and come home for lunch on Saturdays. MARA – Nana’s sons come to be tired and worn out. Four hours of road through the rocks (Leaves.) PRENGA — So, Gjin Kola, to tell you the truth, I had been coming for some time, but I didn’t have the last installment ready. I sold something, somewhere I borrowed and put them together. Here are twenty-five thousand lek. (Throws it away.) Now the girl is mine. OLD MAN — Yes, I told you, Prenga, that I don’t want to see you again. PRENGA — The ox is bound by ribs, and the man by words, O Gjin. Habit is habit. And especially for the elderly, we don’t want to spoil it. THE OLD MAN – You know what, Prenga, take it, because you don’t want it. PRENGA — Is that a word? Come, may it be for the sake of both parties. THE OLD MAN — Good luck to us, but he took the money. I just got you twenty-five thousand at the start. PRENGA — I don’t know, but these words don’t sound good to my ears, Gjin. OLD MAN – My daughter is yours even without this money. No mess at home. PRENGA – I don’t understand, what confusion. OLD MAN — Leka does not accept money for his sister. PRENGA – I know that Gjin Kola rules in this house and not Lekë Gjini. OLD MAN – As it seems to me, Leka is not bad at this point, Prenga. PRENGA — Keep the habit, Gjin Kola, and don’t listen to the youth. Your home never fails to deliver. OLD MAN — I’m not doing it either. PRENGA — To be honest, I was afraid of this job. It has come to my ears that there was talk in a conference in the mine that the miners should not sell the girls first in their homes. That’s why I came in a hurry. GINI — The girl is mine, O Prenga, and no one dares to interfere in my affairs. PRENGA – Know, then, that if you don’t get the money, I have a lot of tricks left. The girl is all mine when you get this money. I do not believe that you intend to break up with friends. OLD MAN — No, as far as hanging out with friends, I’d rather take them. (take.) Don’t put Leka in your mouth. PRENGA — I have no business with Leka. What about the bride, are you ready? OLD MAN — We wait for your word. PRENGA — Well, three weeks before Shënkolli, I take Krušći with him. OLD MAN — Welcome PKtNGA — (Takes a deep breath.) This work is also over! (Sees Leka.) Tamam in time (Leka enters first, followed by the boys.) LEKA – Welcome, men rKtNGA – Welcome GJIIMl – Are you tired, boys? Be all sweaty. . . LEKA – Let’s rest a bit at the club. Are you dead, Leka? LEK.A – We got a little tired, Prenga. Long way. Even these ancestors of ours where they went and built this tower in the middle of these fires. Your spirit goes out until you climb to the top. OLD MAN – Don’t play with the ancestors, my son. They built the tower with thought. Here the whole country can be seen. LEKA — No, father, they had reasons once. Yes, we don’t fight with the Turk today. PRENGA — How are you getting to that mine, Leka? LEKA – We work, O Prenga. Of course, the work is difficult, because we work hard, but we got used to it. We were connected to the mine and we must never be separated from it. What about you, O Prenga, what did you throw here? Or did you come to pay your father? PRENGA — What are these words, Leka? LEKA – Tell the truth, did you bring the installment to your father or not? PRENGA – I’m telling you the truth of the soul. I brought them to him, but he didn’t take them. Bile, I was sorry that Gjin Kola got so far as to listen to your tales. LEKA — Yes, where did you get them? OLD MAN – Leka, collect your thoughts and don’t talk about hill after hill. LEKA – I heard about it. Fifty thousand lek is not little. You can make a purebred cow with them. Even our Margjela is a good breed, Perkolgjinaj. OLD MAN – More, how do you talk like that? Where did you get that right to speak in the tand tribe? LEKA – Father, I’m sorry to tell you, it seems to me that you are making fun of the tribe. OLD MAN – Why are we mocking? LEKA — You don’t sell girls like cows in the bazaar, father. Time for that job. PRENGA – Don’t, Leka, don’t talk like that. Where there is a parent who sells his child, but there is a habit left from the first ones. LEKA – I’m sorry, father, that I spoke so harshly in front of my friend, but I couldn’t compose myself. (Prenga) What need do we have, O Prenga, to take care of our sister? Today, my sons and Gjon’s son and I eat at the mine and bring home up to twenty thousand lek a month. As for the dowry, we will take care of that. She deserves this dowry, because she is our sister, our niece. Then, the seven-year-old worked in this house. If she were a maid, we would pay her more than her dowry is worth. OLD MAN – You, my son, don’t do anything else, in the eyes of your friend, you have seen how order and humanity want it. LEKA – I’m sorry, father. OLD MAN — Wrinkle your mouth, then. LEKA — Even if I wrinkle it, father, they don’t wrinkle it. (Calls.) O Col, o Dodë, Pjetër (The boys come out of the tower.) Come on, O brigade of Perkolgjinai, once here. COLI — Order, Brigadier. LEKA — Don’t tell me, boys, how would you feel if you found out that the girls of the house are still being secretly sold in our tower? (Boys lower their heads.) Hey, Col, why don’t you talk? How would it look, for example, if the secretary stood up at the youth meeting and said: What are you telling us, Col Gjoni? What kind of miner are you, when girls are sold in your house like cattle in the bazaar? PJETRI — We don’t believe that Santa does a good job LEKA — And if he did, how would you do it? COLI — Better let Santa kill us. LEKA – Well, that’s what they call this job, father. The Perkolginians have never endured shame. You yourself have told us this. OLD MAN – More, haven’t you had a drink there from the club? PETER — No, Santa. We, the youth, have sworn not to put it in our mouths. We have to continue school, night school. If we drink, we cannot learn. LEKA – This youth is different from the old ones, father. OLD MAN – Yes, yes, it’s starting to change. We are old, out of use. LEKA – No, father, it’s not like that. How many good things you have taught us! For this we love and honor you. Your advices are always useful to us. But young people walk with timid steps, like our ancestors. They have to walk along some new roads, father, roads brought by time. You can’t go through these streets to sell chicks. OLD MAN – I know. son, how do you want to go? I’m fine with you. (Cries.) O old woman, my old woman! (Mêria comes out at the door of the tower, followed by Mara.) MÉRIA – Order, Babel OLD MAN – Is the bread ready? MERIA – When you want. OLD MAN – Get up, O Prenga, let’s eat a morsel of bread. PRENGA — Thank you, but I will go to Marka Gjin Pjetri. OLD MAN – Who? You are not playing a single step from this house. LEKA – Stay, O Prenga, because you have nowhere to go. Now it’s lunch time. OLD MAN – Let’s go inside, because it seems to me that we are in trouble today. (The old man and Prenga lead forward. Mara hugs Leka. Leka remains sullen. The boys approach her.) MARA – What did the old man say that made him say those words? Don’t talk to him about something weird? LEKA – I didn’t want to, mother, but you owe me. MARA – Why is that, son? LEKA – Why do some jobs that are not good. He is selling your daughter first. COLI – Do you really say that he took the money? LEKA – They deny it, but I don’t think they have a seat without playing a game. PETER – I think they don’t need to lie. DODA – That’s what you say, but they know how to sweep the water under the rug. COLI — Well, if it is true, this cannot be tolerated. MARA — Yes, we also gave the others like this, my son. LEKA — Don’t bring them to light! It’s good that when you engaged Margjela you didn’t ask me at all, but now why did you ask me first? (Margjela comes out with a towel and a basin to wash the boys’ face. The boys leave and go to wash.) MARA — Aman, nana, don’t make her angry. Don’t repeat the hype. Think how much it hurts. Lately, I’ve always been depressed. LEKA — Eh, my mother, we are also suffering from some of his work. MARA — As long as we are alive, let’s not destroy this tower. When we die, then do as you like. LEKA — We are not the ones who destroy the tower, mother. MARA — That’s right, five nana. Nana has you as the star of the house. Even we will not live forever. Let’s marry the nephews once and see the house full. THE OLD MAN – (He has gone to the corner of the tower.) Are you coming in, or do you mind eating in the club? MARA — (Lekas) Go inside, go. nana’s cake Wash later. Go, it’s with you. (Leka and Mara enter the tower.) COLI – (to Margjela, who fetches water for him to wash.) Are you happy that your father-in-law has come? MARGJELA — You rest, because you are falling with this limb. PETER — (Wiping) For a pair of good mustaches. Just like a bunch of corn. DODA – Don’t insult Margjela’s father-in-law, because he’s sorry. MARGJELA — Ehuha, you have time to joke. Throw water at each other yourself. (Leaves the cripple and leaves.) COLI — No, I won’t talk about your head. PJETRI — Margjele, Margjele! MARGJELA — (Turns.) Don’t let my head hurt you! COLI — How come it didn’t hurt us? Is this a word? MARGJELA — Margjela will wash you, don’t be afraid! PETER — Well, girls are crazy, says Santa. MARGJELA – He is right. In this house the girls are completely different. But there is no way that your brides will come and drink his langu. this tower. COL1 — Why don’t we bring them here as brides! MARGJELA – Don’t bring them if you want. Grandpa caught you in the wood. COLI – Huh! That time is gone. DCTDA — The canon of Leka does not drink water here. MARGJELA – Well, lucky for you, that you are not afraid of the old man. COLI – Do you know, Margjelë, that I will love my father-in-law very much? MARJELA – Rest, 1i. You grew to love your father-in-law. COLI – If it’s like the one who came today… MARGJELA – So! (/a throws all the water on Col’s head and runs away. The others laugh.) COLI — What the hell did you do to me! DILA – (Del looks at his son.) Oh, what about this? MARGJELA – He has a long tongue, that’s why! (Mardjela enters.) DODA – (Exits) He himself saw the fault. DILA – Stay, because nana will wipe you. COLI – Hang on, because I’m not small anymore. DODA – Get in the hole! (Doda and Pjetri enter.) DILA — (Trying to wipe her son) Did you bring Prenda what he asked for? COLI — Host of Gjergjit. I brought you a very nice pen. Here, look! (shows her.) DILA – Did she ask you for this? I remembered not to beg for any dress. COLI — The dress later. DILA – Why later? How well does the father bring Zoga a dress, shoes and socks? COLI – Ehuha, you always welcome! The bird will come to the mining school. Can’t hang out with four class fi I lore. DILA – What do they need more? That he will not stay without marrying. COLI — I don’t get along with you. Even Gjergji and Prenda, as soon as they finish primary school, will come to the mining school. We will buy them all there. DILA — You are playing games. What did we do to leave you to go to the mine! That’s how the handyman comes out. Do you want to take Gjergji with all of Prenda? Then let’s lock the tower. COLI — I love you again, mother? No need for conferences. DILA – Let them go, if they want, because their mind is on the mine. We don’t let go of the old tower. My sons will enjoy this tower. COLI_ – And what do I do in this tower? DILA — To live, mother, as your ancestors lived. COLI — No, my mother, no. Cole is fine where he is. DILA – The cuckoo, the cuckoo speaks Of course, they have magic on you! COLI — Now you fell for it. DILA – Why, my son, do you remember that there are no such people who practice magic COLI – Yes, yes. If young people go to the mine and become miners, the magic takes over them and they don’t want to leave the mine. (Cjoni enters with Luka. John has the host in his hand, while Luka has a shirt, a bag and a fork.) JOHN — Good day! Don’t you come, my son? COLI — Here we come, father! (He says goodbye to both of them.) JOHN — (Day) Did Prengë Loku come? DILA — Yes, above it. JOHN – How are you doing, daddy’s boy? COLI – Not bad. JONI — (Lukas) With those of Marka Palëva, you tell me that you leave them? LUKE – Eh! JOHN – Okay, they’re careful. (To Col) What about that mine? COLI – All the best. JOHN – (Luke) The devil take it, how we forget to take the burden to the mill. were you there LUKE – Eh! JOHN — Was he ready? LUKE — Tomorrow. JOHN — Well, good. We have flour until tomorrow. (To Col) Did you get tired on the way, son? COLI – We got a little tired. JONI – (Out) Did Prenga or Leka come to see me? DILA – I don’t remember the promise; I was busy with work. I am in trouble, because this son of ours has a mining mind. Takes the side of Leka. You have to see when you can spend a day with them. JJONI – No one dares to escape from this tower as long as father Gjin is alive. We were born mountaineers and we will die mountaineers. That’s what father Gjin says! COLI – More, leave what father Gjin says! JOHN – Rest, take a trowel. You are not even ashamed to talk like that in front of your father. DILA – Even Martini wrote that he will join me at Jhumana’s farm when he is released from the army. JOHN – No one asks Martin. He let him work on his head. DILA – Yes, at the end of the day, let them go, man, they have this mind. JOHN – Nobody will play from home. I don’t want you to listen to these words either. It is precisely these things that are making the old man die prematurely. DILA — Yes, they themselves are opening these words. JOHN – You’re busy and don’t bother the bees any more. DILA – Well, Bardha can’t stand it when she says that… JONI – Rest, my, I’m telling you, that you entered with this host until your back hurts. Here you are! The house of Perkolgjin has one god, Gjin Kola. No other rooster crows here. No one lets Leka leave the house either. What’s wrong with him? Every Saturday can easily come to his people. Here, we are also putting up the lights, we will also open the windows and we will buy the radio. The city of Leka! The city will be here in the tower. What do you say, Luke? LUKA — That’s right. JOHN — Aren’t you going to the mine too? LUKA — (Rejects with a finger.) No, ishalla! JOHN – That’s right, you’re welcome! You will become a good man. fColit) If we part, we break arms. Have you heard, Col? If we are together, we are strong and there is nothing the enemy can do to us. COLI — Anmik has been put in prison by the government. JOHN – Listen the hell! Here, with these words you break the heart of the old man now in his old age. COLI — Axha Lekë said some strange words to me today. JOHN — No, take it! But why? COLI – Why did the grandfather accept again from Prengë Lok for the sale of Margjela. JOHN — Look, look, I got the hell out of it! COLI — I mean, the real dog. JOHN – Rest, take it, I’m telling you, I fell with the host. (Measuring him.) DILA — Cuckoo, why are you falling on the boy? (He defends her.) Did you go crazy? COLI – Well, I tell you, father, that you are completely wrong. With these things you do, you try to get us out of the tower first… JOHN – (Angrily.) You talk like that in front of me? (Attacks him.) DILA – (Defends him.) Oh god! Get in, son! (Coli enters.) Get yourself together, man! Is the boy beaten at this age? JOHN – Where is the old man? DILA — Inside, with Prenga. I told you once. JOHN — Did you spend a lot of time with Leka? DILA – I didn’t hear them. JOHN – Ah, Leka, Leka, you are bringing a lot of trouble to this house! Is the old man bored? DILA — How should I know! JOHN – And what do you know then? Now you women have also started not to depend on the old man. (to Luke, who has gone off stage and is busy) Luke, leave those chores behind. (Luka comes.) Let’s go inside. (At this time Zoga comes out.) Where are you going, my you? BIRD – Santa took me to call Zefi in the mahogany. JOHN – Zefin? (Exit) Has Zefi come yet? DILA – Yes, it came today! JOHN – The devil is confusing our affairs. BIRD – Shall I call Zefi, lala Gjon? JOHN – Call him, my, yes. This is what the old man ordered, (Everyone goes inside. After a while, Mara comes out to get something from the tsarranik. Margjela stands behind him.) _ MARGJELA – Why did that friend come? MARA — That’s your father-in-law, my daughter. MARGJELA – I know, I know. Never for me. MARA — Black! What are these words, patty nana! MARGJELA – Hasn’t he come to divide the marriage fee? MARA – Yes, three weeks before Shënkolli. MARGJELA – Dear God, that day is not waiting for me at home. MARA – Come on, god! (Makes the cross.) Collect your mind, daughter, don’t talk nonsense. What happened to you like this today? You never spoke to me like that. MARGJELA – Who should I talk to? You are all the same. I got engaged when I was ten years old. You took me out of school. Even today, when I go to youth meetings, they hang the mugs. You bumped into me somewhere, like my sisters. MARA – Aman, please, nana, don’t take it any longer. Are you saying that we don’t have other problems, so that we can do this too? MARJELA — I understand. I must be silent. Everyone must be silent. In this house, only father’s fairy tale should be heard. MARA — God gave it to us, nana, we are women. MARGJELA — Why are we women, don’t we have any fault? MARA — Guilt follows us since we are born girls. MARGJELA — Oh, my mother, how often women are insulted. MARA — I do not insult them, but this is what God ordered. So go to church, daughter, go to confession and communion. MARGJELA – Do you know what you do, mother? Don’t tell my father or any living person what I talked to you about. You won’t win a wife, but you will give your daughter black. MARA – No, fifth nana, I’m not crazy to talk. But I gave my mother peace of mind and a comfortable sleep. The groom is really young, but… MARGJELA — May he be healthy for himself. MARA — This is how you kill your mother. And me, poor me, at least for you I had the mind to collect. MARGJELA — Leave that chatter now, because Zefi is coming. ZEFI — (Entering) Good day, Mother Mary, how are you? MARA — I’m sorry, my son! MARGJELA — He regrets that he will marry his daughter three weeks before Shënkolli. ZEFI – Right? MARGJELA — Yes, the water was cut today. Did you connect the wire? ZEFI — I tied it. MARGJELA – Give me that jacket. (Zefi gives it to her. Both of them leave together to enter the tower. The old woman is surprised by this behavior of Margjela. Now she has understood something. As soon as Zoga enters, she grabs her arm.) MARA – My you! BIRD — Order, nana Mare. MARA — You have also been my boss until now. BIRD – What grandmother? MARA — You don’t see them? BIRD — I look at them, but what’s wrong? MARA — Go, break your neck too. (The bird leaves in surprise.) Now the river took our house. And with which? With the blood of Perkolginaj. Don’t, oh god! Do not topple this deserted tower! Listen to the prayer of an old woman who is leading her with all her heart!
ACT TWO
The drawing room inside the tower. Great room with fireplace. Its walls are painted and windows are opened. There is a mess, because it is being worked on. Women sometimes bring in the house plants, which they took outside when they painted. In the furniture of the house, in addition to chests, frames, there are also shelves, tables, mirrors, chairs and other things of the city. It is evening. Zefi deals with internal electrical installation. Electric wires can be seen on the walls and on the ground. White brings the candle and passes it. The bird and Mar-turkey help Zephy. Marjela holds the ladder.
ZOGA — Come on, we’re dressing the old tower as a bride! That’s what grandpa says.
ZEFI — As soon as we turn on the lights, the cottage will look exactly like a mountain apartment.
ZOGA — Why can an apartment be called a tower? Look what a chimney pig there is!
ZEFI — Yes, he also shaved and whitened himself with lime. Look, it looks like a man. Tamam fireplace of the former Perkolginaj. (Enter Mara with Dila.)
DILA — How beautiful the room turned out, just like a church!
MARA – Not like a church, don’t go into sin, but like a hospital. Even the smell is different: hospital smell.
ZOGA – You, great-grandmother, don’t you like that we are decorating the room.
MARA – Decorate it for yourself, my daughter. As for me, it was not bad even as it was before.
ZOGA – With black walls, with a black train, with windows like mouse holes.
MARA – We didn’t have a bad time in it, no! Let’s see how you do.
ZOGA – To look at the apartments of the mine you.
DILA — We don’t need apartments! ZOGA — I didn’t say anything bad, Dila. DILA — I know, I know; your mother is growing your ears. BARDHA — (He entered with a loot in his hand and listened to him.) And what’s wrong with him, O Dila? DILA – He is showing us the apartments. I will become a citizen goat. MARA — Come out, stack the dots. Did the kandar jump you again? BARDHA — How many times have I told you, my wife, don’t fall on my daughter’s neck. Don’t prolong the quarrel, because we also have men at home. DILA — My, why are the men at home, otherwise I know how you like it. Go, my, why do you stay when you don’t like the highlands? MARA – Rest, my dead soul, rest! Mangut for shamata we are tonight. Come on! (He takes her by the arm and they go outside.) WHITE — (Puts down the booty in his hand.) I’ve told you too many times that you have no business with him. BIRD — I had not spoken to him, my mother! (Bardha exits. After a while Meria enters.) ZEFI And you, Meria, where did you get lost like this? MARGJELA – Her husband has come. Now he does not come to help us. MĕRIA — Prengë Loku came again. (Margjela and Zefi are surprised.) MARGJELA — What brought you this? MÚRIA – Of course, he can smell something, because he has thin noses. ZEFI – Definitely. MĂRIA – He had met Dila yesterday in Prosek and had told him: you are keeping that Zefi inside too much. MARGJELA — Did Dila say that? MÚRIA – I heard him when he reported to his mother. ZEFI — They said that too! Nana, of course, told the old man. MARGJELA – I don’t mind. Nana tries to cover work. MĂRIA — If you didn’t tell him, he will come tonight himself and tell her. ZEFI — Our circle is always narrowing. MÚRIA – They said the truth, I don’t like his arrival at all. You, Margjelë, leave here and don’t give any sign of suspicion. I help Zefi together with Zoga. (Enter Gjergji and Prenda all happy.) Gjergji — Lala Lekë brought the radio, Lala Lekë brought the radio. PRENDA – Zef, will you turn on the lights tonight so we can listen to the radio? ZEFI — The lights have a job, Zefi. They need ba lines from the outside. PRENDA – How bad! LEKA — (Enters with radio.) Good evening! ZEFI — Good evening, Brigadier! (Sayings to Zefi, Meri and Zoga.) LEKA — (Looking at the room) Beautiful, beautiful! Even the old tower will move forward. So it looks something different again. What about the lights? ZEFI — The lights need some work. The fuses must be connected outside. LEKA — Very good, very good! Good luck! Come on now, rest a little, because you’re tired, you broke down. (Leka and Zefi leave. Meria and Zoga tidy up the room a bit and they also leave. Mara enters with a bridge in her hand.) MARA — (Talking to herself) Yes, cuckoo, I raised three daughters and married them honorably, as custom demands. . He didn’t even hear the ghost of his mouth. The fourth and last one is putting the pickaxe on the good house. You will break my habit, you will embarrass us in front of the world. No, no, these shoulders cannot bear this great sorrow. I am old. Do not, O Lord, punish us so harshly on the verge of death. Don’t set the house on fire, don’t put the rifle in it. Let’s close our eyes with honor. Let’s not see what’s going on in the back! (He looks at Margjela in the other room.) Here, he talks to her again. How the trains don’t break and trap us inside. Yes, these were also covered with boards. They opened the windows, painted the walls. Gone is the old beauty. Yes, yes, you have your mind on him, my daughter! Poruna I will protect this tower as I have always protected it. WHITE – (Enters with a booty in his hand to put it in his place.) Huh, my mother, are you still talking to yourself? MARA – How nice of you to come, Nana. I wanted to tell you how good a boy I think this Zefi is! WHITE — Very wise, mother, very kind. It touched my heart too. I told you once again how good it would have been for Margjela. MARA – Well, her fate was determined in time, my daughter. I know myself that it would be good that way, but I’ve been thinking of making him the godfather of the house. WHITE — It wouldn’t be bad! MARA — No one will speak, as we have been keeping him at home for two weeks now. WHITE — What does the old man say? MARA – The old man’s job is easy. I fill his mind. Let him cut the hair of little Gjin. What do you say? WHITE – Okay, my mother, I won’t spoil it. As the godfather of the house, you don’t want it any better. MARA — Yes, five, nana. (Bardha exits. Little Ojergji enters.) GEORGE – Prend, Prend, come let’s do our homework here, by the light of the kennel. (The children lie down on the mat and do their homework on the floor.) MARA — (Looking from the other room) Talk, talk to him again, good luck. But tonight I will make him godfather and you will have him as a brother. Take it then yes. Beri with a kick and the godmother habit. The sister cannot take the brother for luck. (Mara leaves. Zefi enters with Zoga. Zefi brings the wire from the other rooms to connect it to the guest room.) GEORGE — Zefi, fix the lights for us. Do you see where we are writing? ZEFI — The lights, I told you, later, but I will fix them for you while I do work here. PRENDA – Will you give us that little bank? ZEFI – I’ll give it to you, yes! (Enter Meria with Margjela.) Meria – Llesh Përgega is looking for you on the road at the end of the field. He stopped the car there. ZEFI — Why didn’t you tell him to come in? MÚRIA – I am in a hurry, he said. I will go as far as Kurbnesh and return to Bulqiza. ZEFI — For Bulqiza? (Falls in thought.) MERIA — Why are you thinking, Zef! ZEFI — Margjela… MARGJELA — What happened, Zef? ZEFI — What if… Okay, I’m going to meet him. MARGJELA – What about this one? (Enter Leka, followed by Coli.) LEKA — Huh, did you tidy the room? MARGJELA – Here’s a little more. LEKA Hey, my sister, the day is coming for you too to run away from the tower of Perkolgjinai. (Mardjela lowers her head and leaves. She was ashamed! Well, who got married and wasn’t happy! MERIA — (Going out with Zoga) That’s right, lala Leka. But it would have been good to have asked that sister once! (Exit LEKA – (Surprised) My daughter-in-law! LEKA – What was that word? I’m angry. I didn’t speak for myself. Why did you ask me? I wanted to ask you, brother I love the sisters, especially the little one. LEKA — That’s terrible! We forgot the house, we forgot the man we loved Women didn’t tell me that, why shouldn’t I speak up myself? I was ashamed! (Beats his head.) To the brigadier of the vanguard brigade! (To Col) The mine has not crushed the Percol-gins properly yet, Col! COLI — It’s time again, bro. Talk to Marajela. LEKA — I will definitely speak, but you have to find the path. COLI – Here, I’m calling him. (He goes out and comes back.) LEKA – My Margjelë, oh sit here for a while, my brother. MARGJELA – What do you want from me, lala Lekë? LEKA — I was telling you the truth, you don’t like the husband they gave you? MARGJELA — Did you have this? (Gets up to pass.) LEKA – Margjele! MARGJELA – As long as dad loves him, John loves him, so do you, why shouldn’t I love him too? IEKA — My Marqjela! MARGJELA – I wonder why you ask me this question, lol. I EKA — Do you love him or not? Tell me this. MARGJELA – I will take what you give me. You have no other phial from me. (Cries and leaves.) COLI — I don’t want it. LEKA — No, you don’t want it! COLI — Only that he is ashamed to speak. LEKA — I will definitely take it out. Tomorrow, I will deal only with this work. (They exit. After a while, the old man enters with Zef.) ZEFI — Hey, Gjin Kola, how does the room look to you? OLD MAN — Just like a hotel. You say, it was a hotel even before. Those who live in it fled one after the other. But this remained. Today we were blessed. He seems to be getting ready to follow me. ZEFI — Don’t say that, Gjin Kola. OLD MAN – Do not spoil any work! Maybe even fix it. ZEFI — What is that word, Gjin? We hardly have you. OLD MAN — Well, son, good weather appears in the morning. What about the lights? ZEFI — I will also fix them tonight. OLD MAN — Then tomorrow I’m leaving. Good ban. Do you want to stay with us? All fifteen days of leave went here. Are you leaving early? ZEFI — It’s easy, Gjin! (The old man goes to sit down. The children have blocked the way. Zefi continues his work.) THE OLD MAN – Come on, get out of here. GEORGE — Where shall we go, father? OLD MAN — Go there from the women and clear the place for us. Listen here, tell the bride to take that wood I brought to the yard and put it among the other trees. GERGJI — (Getting out all the mugs.) They don’t let us write anywhere! (Zefi is done with the lights. Children.) ZEFI — Here, now I will work for you. (He takes them by the hand and goes out with them. Only the old man stays in the room. The old woman comes with the bridge in his hand.) THE OLD MAN — Hey, my old woman, are you doing magic? MARA – I am also praying for TV, old man, because you have left God’s way. It’s been two years since I ever saw you in church. OLD MAN – God has nothing to do with us. The corner is gone. He is afraid that they will call him between conferences and treat him like my Martin. MARA — Have mercy, oh Lord, on the old sinner! OLD MAN – Come on, tell me, what is going to confuse me tonight, that is coming around me? MARA – And tfF how did my mind go, man? OLD MAN — Hey, won’t you marry me one more time? MARA — If we make Zefi the godfather of the house. OLD MAN – What about this? MARA — I know how well they go with Martin! OLD MAN — Did Zefi ask for this himself? MARA — No, it occurred to me. OLD MAN – Don’t even put such a conversation in my mouth. MARA – Old man, I have never begged you, but tonight you must not disturb me. OLD MAN – Look, look! Are you crazy, old lady? MARA – Even Bardha e Leka has a desire. Let him take the hair of little Gjin! I am afraid that the friend who came tonight has heard any word about Zefi, who we have been keeping at home for two weeks now. OLD MAN – (Thinks.) Look, old man, haven’t you had any other problems? MARA – Oh, let the earth cover me, I had other troubles, except the good of this house. Prena had also told Dila about Zefi in Prosek. He also mentioned it to John. OLD MAN – Friend does not need our business. He mentioned a lot to me too, but I cut him short. Zefi Mandei will leave tomorrow. Leka, Leka, he’s setting fire to the tower. Now this house is standing on crutches. A devil entered him and shook him until he threw him to the ground. MARA — God forbid. OLD MAN – God has let us go in time. He has forgotten the living and deals only with the dead. Do you see how the room was made? MARA – Still better like this. OLD MAN – I see you too. But the tower is decorated from the outside and shaken to its foundations from the inside. The brides have started to fight. Martin wants to run away. Leka as well. Only John listens to me in this house. MARA – With wisdom and gentleness we can keep them together until we close our eyes. OLD MAN – The old life was broken. It went well. The beauty she had is gone. Where do the first habits go? Only the name remained. The people of the house are ordered by someone else. Leka doesn’t let us beg for the holidays. The mahogany bridges were removed. Mining, mining is on everyone’s mind. MARA – We didn’t feel sorry for the mine, man. OLD MAN — Just like in the beginning. We remembered that we swallowed it in the mine, and today it is swallowing the people of this tower. MARA — God help! OLD MAN — (With irony) God help! Are you asking Leka? He says there is no god. Not only Leka, but also little Gjergji told me: the young lady told me that there is no god. I almost slapped the mugs. MARA – God doesn’t take it for granted. He speaks like they teach him in school. Well, how about Zef? OLD MAN — I told you, you don’t want. MARA — Old man, don’t put your foot down. Give your word that it’s for our good. OLD MAN — My, do you understand? MARA — John is also with me. OLD MAN — Let it be. Here goes my word. MARA – Well, tonight, after forty-eight years of marriage with you, my word will also go. OLD MAN — Old woman, where is your trouble? MARA – I never have any problems, but I am always happy. I have endured your fists too. After all, do I have the right to do a job in this house? THE OLD MAN — But why do you blame him? MARA — Why is my mind filled with that? OLD MAN — Don’t look, you messed something up in the middle, I’ll dump it all on you. No other, I have you under my rule. (Prenga, who is entering) Come on, Prenga, what have you done? PRENGA – Here, you heard with John there. OLD MAN – Now, old woman, tell the women not to delay the brandy. (Gergji and Prenda come and lie down next to you in silence to do their tasks.) PRENGA – (Sitting by the fireplace) Good luck! OLD MAN – God bless you. How are you, Prengë Loku, how are you with those corns? PRENGA – They weren’t bad, Gjin, but it’s keeping you a little dry. Then we have a good part above the water. What about yours, how do they look? OLD MAN – They are not so good. A bad guy is finally getting in. This new lake, it seems to me, is bringing this fruit to the corn. GERGJI – (Has heard the conversation) The lady says that the rust does not come from the lake, but from the fact that the corn is sown often. OLD MAN – Take a rest, you trooper! You also spoke to me. PRENGA – Do not enter into the conversation of men, because it is a shame. You are still small. OLD MAN — The widow taught the hen. This is how the times came to us today. I know what you do, do you leave here? GERGJI – Yes, we don’t know where to write, grandfather. OLD MAN – There, I told you once more. GERGJI — The women didn’t leave us there, because they have work. They tell us go here. You say go there. And where do we do our homework? OLD MAN – Never touch them. Come on, peel yourself! I know school is teaching you to bring God’s words home. (Gjergji starts crying with Prenda. Leka, Gjoni, Martini, Pjetri and Zefi enter. Later also Coli with Doda.) LEKA – What’s wrong, son? GERGJI — Where should we write, lala Lekë? Grandpa didn’t let us there, the women didn’t let us there. We have all those tasks. JOHN – Why don’t you do your homework during the day, damn it, but you like to roam. GEORGE – And when should we live them, father? From the time we left school until now, we were in the mountains with cattle. The tasks are not done there. We can’t go to school without getting ready and embarrassing ourselves in front of the whole class. JOHN – Ah, you son of the devil, this is how you speak in front of the big ones! (Mat hit his shoulder.) LEKA – (stops his hand.) Hang on, hang on, it’s not the child’s fault, ZEFI – (He went and brought the bank, which he repaired for them.) There you have it. You can write well here. PRENDA – How beautiful! (The children sit on the bench.) GEORGE – How about light? We don’t drive. ZEFI – For now, here’s this (Takes out a small candle from his pocket and lights it.) Are you okay? GEORGE — Thank you, Zefl PRENDA — Thank you, Zef! OLD MAN — Don’t worry, don’t worry that they will ride on your back. MARTINI – We please them, father, because we are not against school like you. LEKA – Martin, what are those words? Are you not even ashamed? Don’t you think it’s over your head? OLD MAN — Leave it, leave it, O Leka, because the river has taken him in time. PRENDA — Let’s sit down and talk once and for all. JOHN – (to Zeph, who is coming out) Where are you going, Zeph? ZEFI – Here, I’ll fix the fuses outside. (Zefi exits.) PRIENDA — (To everyone) Are you tired, son? LEKA – We are not tired of work, O Prenga, as much as we are tired of the road. Four hours of mountain road through the rocks. We come tonight and leave tomorrow. We meet with the people of the house once a week. Dimnit, once every month or every two months. My women are desiring us, we are desiring them. PRENDA — Well, money is not earned otherwise. LEKA – Tell the old man to let go of this tower and let’s all go there. JOHN – God forbid! Let’s release the trowel of the first! LEKA – Tell him to go to a part of the house there. THE OLD MAN – Why don’t you say, son, I tell the old man that we should part ways. JOHN – As long as the elders are alive, no one dares to leave this house. (While the conversation continues, the women, according to custom, bring water to the men to wash their hands. The big table is set. Only those who drink brandy, i.e. the old man, Prenga, Gjoni and Leka, approach it.) MARTINI – I know how it is. , O Hostage? They are in vain, because father does not go to the mine. JOHN – And what does father do in the mine? MARTIN – Right. Father will come with me to Thumana’s farm. OLD MAN – You’re right, my son, we’re now even mocking you. LEKA – You, father, should look at what kind of life we are leading. We come home as friends and live like strangers in our house. JOHN – Did we stop these conversations once? Come on, Peter, grab that couplet. It was called that old song by Prenga Kola Gjin. This is how his tower was made today, as a bride. Why don’t we sing then? LEKA – Departure, Peter! PJETRI – (Sings with a couplet) This Koke Malçi in that Shkopet Skanderbeg apologizes for Selita to take him, he went before Prengë Koël Gjini Prengë Koël Gjini with the mountaineers is crossing the snow-covered mountains, back are going camp, camp. Prengë Kolë Gjini unsheathed his sword with the sultan, they wanted to be measured, the men of the mountain were to be measured, let the blood go to the horse’s belly. Stop, sultan, because you’re in vain, you can’t step on our countries, Skanderbeu has become a god, Prengë Kole Gjina, he’s full, EVERYONE – Hey, happy mouth! PRENGA – Let your heart sing, Peter. (A dazzling light illuminates the room and the whole house. At first everyone is amazed; then joy begins. The children shout.) CHILDREN – It came, the light came! PRENDA – How beautiful the house looks! JOHN – Rest, take a break. OLD MAN – What a strong light! PRENGA — To blind his eyes. But with health and joy, LEKA — We drink to these lights that entered our tower tonight. (Zefi enters.) OLD MAN – Good luck, Zef John, for making us day and night. ZEFI – Who makes the night the day, O Gjin Kola. I just fixed the fuses. (Sits on the mahogany.) GEORGE – What about the radio, won’t we listen to it tonight? LEKA — Do the tasks once, then lala. We have time for radio! JOHN – This is how our house was built. Well, we will keep this story for a while. We will also keep the customs, because we have beautiful customs, inherited from the ancient ancestors. We have some cattle, we make a little bread, we have brandy. Agriculture on one side, mining on the other, our house will go for beauty. OLD MAN – (Raises his cheek.) For the better! PRENGA – Good thing I found you! THE OLD MAN — Oh, take John, you deserter! Pour your pelvis, pour!’ Our tower really got the lights tonight, but still this asfit tower. Our women love the city. They need dresses, not long shirts, tufted skirts and cowhides. They need shoes with heels, to walk on their toes like goats. They need cinemas, apartments, whatever the hell they say to them. They have to eat at the table and not at the mahogany table, as the first ones always have. JOHN — Those things are not for us, father. We are highlanders. LEKA — You guys are talking, what are we? COLI – Miners, oh shit. MARTINI – And I am a licensed tractor driver, fifth category, employee of the farm “Skënderbej”, Thumanë. LEKA — Well, youth speaks differently, father. OLD MAN – I hear it, my son, I hear it. JOHN – Leka! LEKA — I left it. I left it! But I wanted to say that the longer ST goes on, the more our paths diverge. MARTINI – I said it, no one else is to blame but the lake of the hydropower plant. JOHN — Why the lake? MARTINI – If only the lake could reach the top of these rocks and cover this tower. we would run away here by ourselves. How about you, dad? OLD MAN – Do not be afraid, because the lake has started to cover this tower, but we will not drive it. (Mara enters with the women. Bardha has little Gjini by her side.) MARA – Open up once. LEKA — What do you have in mind, father! MARA – (puts the child in Zefit’s lap.) For that Saint John, I took the hair of this child and the resident of the house. Let’s have you brother. Let our women and girls be your sisters. Let us strengthen brotherhood among our houses. The godfather of the Perkolginaj family. PRENGA – goodbye, Gjin Kola. Now they made me happy. There are days when you choose a godfather. Again, Perkolgjinaj showed their manliness. ZEFI – (Surprised) What about this? MARTINI – Habit, Zef. Even the barbers have been our godfathers hundreds of times. JOHN — Martin, you overdid it. OLD MAN – (Angrily) Am I not going to speak any harsh words to you, my son, here in the mahogany? (He looks at him sternly. Martin lowers his head.) MARTIN – I’m sorry, baby OLD MAN – (to Zephyr) Hey, how are you doing? Are you going to take her hair or not? ZEFI — I’m not in favor of these customs, but maybe it’s to strengthen the friendship between our houses, may it be good for us. (cuts her hair. Throws a five hundred lek into the pan. Bardha gives the fish socks and handkerchief.) MARA – Give me a good hand, my son! ALL – Good luck. ZEFI — Thank you all! PRENGA – Now bring us the bread, because we had enough fun with brandy. OLD MAN – Bread, women! (Meria and Dila have been standing for a while. They remove the appetizers. The old man, Prenga, Gjoni, Leka, Zefi, Martini, Coli, Pjetri and Doda line up around the big table. The corn bread arrives, which Gjoni shares The spoons are divided by one of the young people, and the plates are placed in the middle of the table. A young man takes the plate from the plate and the women are always standing at the end of the ode. Sometimes they remove the sahana and put others.) PRENGA — Where did you find Luke? JOHN – There is shelter and he keeps the corn, because the wild pigs are bothering us. GEORGE — Good luck and good night! PRENDA — Good luck and good night! LEKA – Did you do your homework? BOTH – We did it. LEKA – Come, have a good night, you old lady! THE OLD MAN – (Inserts the spoon first.) Welcome, my friends! ZEFI – Glad we found you PRENGA — Glad we found you and God bless you! MARTINI — (Lightly) God doesn’t eat beans. THE OLD MAN — (He heard it and tells Prenga.) Do you hear it? PRENGA — We are hearing a lot of ghana today, O Gjin. LEKA — I did not understand this godmother of hair. OLD MAN — We don’t understand why now, son! LEKA – I didn’t mean that, father. OLD MAN — Well then? LEKA — Zefin, why should we confuse him in this matter. OLD MAN — You don’t like it? LEKA – Not so much. We have Zefi as a friend even without having him as a godfather. JOHN — Godfathership strengthens friendship. Now we have Zefi as a brother, mom and dad. LEKA – It used to be like that, but now it doesn’t make sense. MARTINI — The ceiling covered them. JOHN — What covered the ceiling? MARTINI – Antiquities, witches, lugetnit. Take off the ceiling and you’ll see them everywhere in the train. PRENGA — What does this have to do with it, Martin? MARTINI – Exactly why there is no one to tie them, they all got untied and ran away. Nana tries to wake them up like chickens again with a bridge in her hand, but the witches don’t come anymore. They are very afraid of electricity, like the devil, blessed waters. JOHN — More, what do you want to do, or what’s wrong with you? Let the devil take these words, and let’s have a comfortable bite. We used to have none and we used to go for beauty. Today we have a lot of fun. THE OLD MAN — The men are in shambles, the women are in shambles. God’s way was left. The devil entered our house, he found a square and he’s always playing until he separates us point by point! GIONI — No, my God! PRENGA — Don’t say that word, Gjin Kola. THE OLD MAN — I’m fine with you, Prenga. A village that looks, does not need a canal. Send your children to school and run away from home. Send him to work in the state and they will not return him. This is why thirteen generations ago he fought against the Turks. He has preserved honor and customs. He has never endured violence, because he has always been together, like hand in hand. Today, everyone serves their own mind. IEKA — Everything in time, father. OLD MAN — Perkolginians never have a single mind. Nia has spoken and the story is over. But today even the last SDurdhiak, Martini, drops the word like a rock on the back. You also heard him when he said that I allegedly don’t like school. LEKA — He’s a big mouthful, father. OLD MAN — They must know how to read. There is no Albanian who does not like school, just as there is no blind person. he does not like the light of svve. I was with my aunt when we raised the flag of Scindia in Milot, three days later it was raised in Vlona. We shot him with rifles for fans. Three times for my life, it’s yesterday I knocked the tower. Turkey once, Austria once and, finally, Italian militias, why did I keep the partisans inside and give them the Leka with me. In the time of Turkey, we brought the sneaky teacher to Shkodra to teach us shaio. When the Turks killed the teacher in an ambush, near Skurai, they also killed my aunt and her son there. When the villages rose against the Turk’s ambush, my father was ambushed. Turkish soldiers were killed, but Turkey came and burned our tower. So we’re hot for this school you’re teaching! LEKA — And for all this we honor you, father. OLD MAN — Honor us, you fell apart point by point, you destroyed the tower that held you together like a flock of birds. LEKA — Yesterday, father, this tower belonged to the Perkolgins. And this tower took them all, kept them and united them. Today, for the young Perkolginians, this tower is too small. OLD MAN — So you want to separate? LEKA — We are not looking to separate. We seek to go where the state needs. So we go to the work sector, but we are still together like fingers. OLD MAN — I don’t understand that, son. I did not learn that school. PRENGA — For good, you turned it around. OLD MAN – Take it, O Prenga? PRENGA – Hangra enough. God bless you. OLD MAN – Well then, good! The table is lifted and they wash their hands.) MARGJELA – Did you see the godmother that Mother Mara made for us? MERIA – I saw it. MARGJELA — He tied us with custom. He fought with the means he had. MÚRIA – Now how are you going to deal with it? MARGJELA – How can I act differently, Meri? What you decide will be done. I know that Prengë Loku will spread the news everywhere: the godmother took the godchild as a wife. MĂRIA – They will talk once, then they will rest. It will be a bit difficult for the elderly, but the young people don’t even mind a bad habit. I touched the other’s hair and my mother and father kissed him. What nonsense! MARGJELA — How I need to talk to Zefi right now. MĂRIA – I will fix it, but wait for these to fall once. (They lay Prenga in the corner, at the head of the place. The children leave. Enter Ojoni with Prenga.) JOHN – How did you feel about the godfather, Prenga? PRENGA – Beautiful and thoughtful work. JOHN — I think that’s the end of what we talked about. PRENGA — Now I have a calm heart. Youth is not trusted today, John. Hard times came. Young people today do not have long to embarrass you. JOHN – But we didn’t raise a sister to embarrass the house either. PRENGA – I have days when I choose you, John, but why should you be careful, it’s not bad. (The old man enters.) THE OLD MAN – What do you say, Prenga, do we fall or stay? PRENGA – No, now we can fall. OLD MAN – Come on, good night. (The old man enters the small alcove, which is separated from the large room by a cloth curtain. There he has the bed. The handcuffs fall, Cjoni covers him and leaves. Someone turns off the light. After a while, Zefi, Marg/e enter /a, Meria and Zoga. They have a lantern with them.) ZEFI — There is no other way. They closed all the streets for us. MARGJELA – Leka is in the air, that I don’t love Prenqë Lok’s son. He stopped me and forced me to speak. ZEFI — What about you? MARJELA — Not a word. If I spoke, things could be badly messed up. Father and John killed me and didn’t let me come with you. Zef, let’s go as soon as I see you. ZEFI — I’m sorry that this is happening, but they are the ones who are squeezing us. The old man also told me to leave this house tomorrow. Even the godfathers cheated on us. We have all these from Prenga. MĂRIA – What if we inform Martin or else? ZEPH — No one alive. When we leave, let either Martin or the brigadier know. I asked them to forgive me for not telling them. They were told that I chose this path, because it seemed to me the only way to save Margjela from all evil. I know I’m doing them a disservice, but that’s how fate brought it. Let’s go, Mar- turkey. MERIA – How? Is that how you’re going? Wait for me to bring you some loot. MARGJELA — You don’t have to worry, Meri. I have Zefi, I have everything. I’m sorry that I’m leaving without giving my mom a hug. I kissed him once. MÚRIA — Kiss me for him! MARGJELA — (Kisses Zoga, who has tears in her eyes, then kisses Mary.) Goodbye, bride, for leaving me, my sister. Remember Margjela, but don’t remember her bad time. I know I’m getting you into trouble, but I can’t escape fate. You, I don’t believe you will stay together. Soon you have to part. Let me be the first stork to fly from this tower. Goodbye! (Leaves with Zefi. Meria takes Zoga close, who has tears in her eyes.) Meria — They go like autumn birds! (To the bird) Don’t cry. Banu strong like them! (The lights go dark before the curtain closes. An hour has passed. The old woman enters with a braid in her hand.) MARA — Oh God, don’t torture us like this! No. io, neither one nor the other are going anywhere. Neither in the oroz^em, nor in the tower. I was sleepy, may death bless me. Yes, I have nightmares at night! He came to fix our tower! Now he has done it well! Well done to us! (He goes to the alcove where the old man sleeps and gets inside. After a while he comes out with him.) THE OLD MAN — Hey, my deer. what happened MARA – (Beckoning him with his hand to be quiet.) Don’t call, because the others will wake up and it will be a mistake. THE OLD MAN – Speak, then! MARA — Mardjela and Zefi are not going anywhere. PIAKU – Old woman, what is this news? MARA – They are nowhere. OLD MAN – Aren’t they in the future? MARA – I walked the whole distance. They are nowhere. THE OLD MAN — (Holds Mara by the hips.) Old woman, take the girl away from you, take the honor, take the face. MARA – Black me! OLD MAN – Why did they make Zefi godfather? MARA – Well, what a godmother we got. OLD MAN – You know something, my witch of the devil. Why didn’t you go? MARA — I didn’t have any big problems. OLD MAN – And how did you want to see them, let the mortuary wash you away. (Lets go.) Now I don’t have time to deal with you. I know that you first love the bullet to the forehead. Do you know what a shame this is? MARA – I know, if it wasn’t me. OLD MAN – Go and wake up John, but not the others. Look, the others I killed are waking up. (The old woman comes out.) PRENGA – (Wakes up from the noise.) Are you Gjin? OLD MAN – It’s good that you woke up. PRENGA — What happened? OLD MAN – What should not happen to the enemy. PRENGA – Good luck! OLD MAN — It seems to me that Marjela and Zefi ran away tonight! PRENGA – No, take it! THE OLD MAN — This is also our polli now in our old age. PRENGA – Oh my god, it’s worse! Oh my god, worse! Why are you confused, Gjin? Why don’t you wake up the people of the house? OLD MAN – I woke up John. I don’t trust others. PRENGA – This is where my doubt came out. I smelled this work. The snake was not kept at bay. So, such a thing has never happened to the Perkolgins. OLD MAN – No, as far as I remember. PRENGA — How are you? OLD MAN – Yes, John will come once. PRENGA — Time does not wait, Gjin Kola. Whoever has dared to touch the honor of this house, has always eaten the bullet, as far as I know. (Enter John, followed by Mara.) John – Father, why did you find us like this? OLD MAN — Don’t call, because Leka hears. JOHN – How are we going to do now, father? OLD MAN – Well, what do you think, son? PRENGA – Well, it seems to me that it is not time to part with the old people. While you sit and think, he is probably violating the honor of the Perkolginians somewhere in a ditch. JOHN — I think as you say, father. PRENGA – And you, Gjin Kola, why do you think? OLD MAN – I’m thinking of the honor that should be taken to the place of the house, that the river will take. PRENGA – Well, for me the house is taken by the river when honor is taken from it. MARA — Help, great god! OLD MAN — What does Leka mean! How will the problem of the tower go? How hard was this punch in his old age! PRENGA — Don’t waver, Gjin Kola of Perkolgjinaj. Think that your ancestors would never have endured such shame! OLD MAN — No, they would never bear it! PRENGA — Well, action must be taken, today or never. OLD MAN — Yes, Prengë, today or never. (To John) So far we have followed him, son. Where is Leka’s Mauser? JOHN — Hanged in his room. OLD MAN — I went in and took the closet. Be careful not to wake others. (John leaves. Luke enters.) LUKA – Gone! OLD MAN – Who? LUKA — Marjela with Zefi. OLD MAN – Why, did you see them? LUKE – Eh! OLD MAN – How did you see them? Where did they go? LUKA — Run away. Llesh Pergega took them by car. THE OLD MAN — Speak, moron, let the cholera wash over you, speak, you lost moron, where did you go? LUKA — For Bulqiza. No, for Burrell. OLD MAN — For Burrel? What the hell do they want for Burrel? Who said that? LUKA – Lleshi told me. THE OLD MAN – Tell me, you fool, don’t be like me. LUKA – What can I tell you? They got into the car and drove away. OLD MAN – Where was the car waiting for them? LUKA – Near Dava, near our field. I talked to the driver. He told me to expect two people for Burrel. Then I ran to save the field from the pigs. When I returned, I saw Margjela and Zefi, who got into the car and drove away. OLD MAN – Did you ask the driver why he was going to Burrel? LUKE – Eh! OLD MAN – What did he tell you? LUKA – We are going to Hidër Fregni’s wedding, because he has called us. OLD MAN – Go to hell! (Gjoni comes with Leka’s Mauser in his hand.) Did you get it? JOHN — I barely got it. OLD MAN — They are driving to Burrel. JOHN — Who told you? ELDER – Luke. JOHN – (Luke) Did you see them, Luke? LUKE – Eh! THE ELDER – They will go through Rrëshen, through the bridge of Mata and then they will take the road of Burrel. PRENGA – If you missed the lake with a boat, you can easily catch them in the Field of Shtogu, in Bushkash. OLD MAN – Do you know the car, Luke? LUKA — Well, I know him. OLD MAN — Leave that fool! JOHN — No, father, let’s take it, because the boat is taken for beauty. PRENGA – Go and bless the priests. Eni that I will accompany you too. (Exit. Meria and Zoga have heard them from both sides.) BIRD – (Fearfully) Cuckoo, they will kill them! MÚRIA – No, no, don’t be afraid. You run and wake up Martin, because I’m watching in the corner, where they’re holding him. (The bird leaves, going to the corner, meets Mara.) MARA – You haven’t fallen asleep yet? MĂRIA — Where did father Gjin go with Lalá Gjon? MARA – Why, did you see them? MÚRIA – How did I not see them? They went and killed Margjela with Zefi. MARA – Cuckoo, don’t call. MÚRIA – Do not call, but let them be killed. Isn’t that how God advises you? MARA — Don’t sin, daughter! MÜRiA – You are blaming God, you mother! MARA – Oh god, what words are these? MĂRIA – Did you bless the rifle of the man who will kill the tand child? Aren’t you also taking care of your daughter’s cat? MARA – Don’t say that word, because you killed me. I this? I kill my daughter. They took home the honor. They insult even the great god.
MĂRIA – Is it insulting why they loved each other? Why did they trust each other in time? Why are they ready to die for each other?
MARA – Don’t call, bride.
MÚRIA – Yes, yes, to be killed. This is what you advise, mother, with a rosary in hand.
MARA – Aman, daughter-in-law, I can’t stand these words anymore. (Falls on a bench.) What a bolt of lightning cracked over my head!
MEURIA – I’m sorry, mother, that I spoke so rudely to you, but you still don’t understand that I’m making a grave for your child.
MARA – What do you say, my daughter?
MÚRIA – Yes, mother, they are innocent.
MARA — Don’t they insult God by violating your house and breaking your custom?
MÚRIA – They wanted to take each other. They want you to be happy in life, but you want to kill them.
MARA – Oh god, you are also judging me. I see that my prayers have no more power. I am guilty. ! save it, save it, daughter. You kill me, yes, but you save them. (Martin enters with rapture, followed by Zoga.)
MARTIN – What happened?
MARA – Martin, save Margjela, your nana. She ran away with Zefi. Your father and all John went to kill you. They have Leka’s Mauser with them.
MARTINI — What does this say, my?
ZOGA – That’s right, Martin!
MERIA – Margjela and Zefi are in danger.
MARTINI — And why are you keeping me like this then? Wake everyone up quickly. They want to add. (Crates come out. Martini calls out:) Lek, Doda, Col, Pjeter! Wake up everyone, (The song of Zoga and Mary is heard inside.) Wake up everyone! Quick! (Men and women come dressing. Mara has left.)
LEKA – What happened, Martin?
MARTINI – Nothing bad so far, but bad will happen after now, we left it. Marjela and Zefi have run away. (Everyone is surprised.)
MERIA – They are leaving by car for Surrel. They have gone to put up a date. (Everyone is surprised.) They had confided in each other in time.
LEKA — So you knew, Meri?
MERIA — Yes, I knew.
LEKA — Why didn’t you speak in time, my daughter-in-law?
MERIA — Why did they tell me not to speak?
LEKA — Did you help them escape?
MERIA – Yes. Judge him as you will. Yes, I loved Margjela very much and I did everything for their happiness.
LEKA — Did they love each other?
MÚRIA – They lived only for each other?
LEKA — Did Zefi say anything to you before he left?
MERIA – He asks you to forgive him. He told me that I found no other way to save Margjela and our love.
LEKA — He was right! They get the job done without our help. Now it is our duty to protect them and their love. Where did father keep John?
MĂRIA – To the boat of Dava. They took the tand Mauser. They will cross the lake and get to the car at the entrance to Fusha e Shtogu.
LEKA — We will take the company motorboat. (Calls.) Perkolginaj brigade!
YOUNG – Order, Brigadier!
LEKA — We will not lay mines tonight; we will not attack against the rock as in the mine, but we will attack against some customs that do not even honor this ancient tower. Follow me! (The men come out.)
End of the second act
Link for the 3rd and last act:https://www.kinetografia-shqiptare-sporti.com/skenare-teatri-perkolgjinajt-akti-i-3-te/
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Albanian Cinematography in acitivity since 2013
Reference: Literary work 2 by Kole Jakova
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