Homework half

Vasilissa is stumbling in the forest, carrying an unlit torch. The black rider of night passes and she falls and drops the torch. We hear the hoof beats the way she does with her ear to the ground. The night follows behind the rider like a curtain being pulled. The darkness reveals Baba Yaga’s house as it lights up in response. It stretches and yawns. At the same time, Vasilissa picks herself up and sees that her hand is bleeding. She tears the hem from her skirt and wraps it around her hand. The house quivers, shakes, creaks. Vasilissa sees the house, sobs, runs toward it. When she reaches the door she composes herself completely.

 

Baba Yaga: Is there anything to say?

 

Vasilissa: I- my family please. I’ve taken too much time and- (remembers herself.) Baba (BY snorts) Baba Yaga- (BY shows dissinterest) Baba Cloantza*(see note @ bottom). (She has BY’s attention). Please. I need fire. My step sisters and mother are waiting. Our hearth is cold. The wind blew the open the shutters and- (BY raises her hand)

 

BY: The wind.

 

V: (Unsure) Yes.

 

BY: He and I have spoken.

 

V: (looks away) Please.

 

BY: He was invited.

 

V: The fire. We’ll starve.

 

BY gestures to a pot on the table, inviting V to stay.

 

V: The fire.

 

BY looks disgusted. With a gesture, flame bursts from the pot. V realizes she no longer has her torch. She looks dismayed. BY sneers grotesquely and V whirls toward the door.

 

BY: Wait. (the house creaks violently. BY touches the wall gently, calming it. She leans in very close to V.) Wind? (V nods) Fire?

 

V: Yes.

 

BY produces wood for a torch from some unlikely place. She unwinds the bloody bandage from V’s hand and around the wood to make the torch. As she does:

BY: The wind and the fire may quarrel but they will also make their bed in the thatch.

The fire leaps. She lights the torch. V reaches for it but BY holds it back.

Tell your step mother to mind who she invites in to her house.

 

BY gives her the torch and V flees the house. BY watches her go, waves her hand at the fire pot and all goes dark.

 

 

*Baba Cloantza is another name for BY meaning something like “old hag with broken teeth.” The other option I was thinking of here was “Baba Jadwiga.” Jadwiga is the name that I’ve read “Yaga” is derived from. This choice raises an interesting question for me. Would BY be made more likely to listen if someone appealed to her as more fearsome (BC) or if they appealed to some obscure and perhaps long forgotten humanity? or maybe it depends…?

and ps: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0b9FksBItg&feature=PlayList&p=BE2D7AEC9C71BEA0&index=49 (halfway through)

and...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlrhxgKIOrA