Trespassers beware
Learning Objective: to examine events and literary devices in a play in order to analyze a central theme of the work
SCENE 1
A busy market
SD1: Lights come up on a bustling village market.
SD2: In the distance rise snow-capped mountains.
SD3: Ivan Gratz and his family enter. They wear fine coats and carry themselves proudly.
Agnes (to Otto): Let’s get some gooseberry pie.
Otto: I want raspberry jam.
Ivan: And what are you shopping for today, Olga?
Olga: I should like to get some fabric. I want to sew a new dress for Agnes and a new shirt for Otto.
Ivan: They are growing so fast.
Olga: They get their height from you.
Ivan: Oh, yes? And what other qualities do they get from their impressive father?
SD1: Ivan and Olga look at Agnes and Otto.
Agnes: No! I want pie!
Otto: No! I want jam!
Olga (smiling ): Stubbornness.
SD2: Just then, Ivan sees George Zenova in his butcher’s stall. George and his family stand behind a table piled high with meats.
Ivan: Well, well. Look who is here. Our vile neighbor.
Olga: Just ignore him.
Ivan: How can I? The mere sight of him offends me.
SD3: George and Ivan lock eyes.
SD1: A devilish smile spreads across George’s face.
George (shouting ): Boar sausage for sale! Come and get it! Wild boar sausage for sale!
SD2: Ivan shakes with rage and marches over.
Ivan: You’ve got some nerve, Zenova. I know exactly where that boar came from. You hunted it in my forest!
George: You are mistaken, sir. I hunted it in my forest!
SD3: A sudden wind blows through the market.
SFX: Whooooosh!
SD1: Everyone turns to stare at the two families.
Ivan: George Zenova, you are just like your father and his father before him. Thieves—all of you.
George: How dare you insult our family!
SD2: The Gratz children smirk at Katya and Andrei.
Agnes: What muddy shoes!
Otto: They spend all their time playing with pigs.
Katya: Our shoes are dirty because we work.
Andrei: We’re not lazy brats like you.
SD3: Ivan clenches his fists.
SD1: George eyes the butcher’s knife on the table.
SD2: And then—
Olga: Ivan, you shall have your revenge. But not here.
SD3: Wilma puts her hand on George’s arm.
Wilma: Come, George. There will be time to make Ivan pay for his insults. But right now we have customers.
SD1: The villagers return to shopping as the lights fade.
SCENE 2
The Gratz and Zenova homes
SD2: The stage is divided in two.
SD3: On the left, the Gratz family sits in their living room.
SD1: On the right, the Zenova family sits in theirs.
SD2: The two families do not see or hear each other.
SD3: Both Ivan and George are pacing.
Ivan: That scoundrel is hunting on our land again. And he has the nerve to sell his plunder at the market—right in front of me!
Olga: Stay calm, Ivan.
Ivan: Calm? I am so mad, I’ve got murder on my mind.
George: That snake insulted me in front of everyone!
Wilma: George, take a deep breath.
George: A deep breath cannot cleanse the bad blood in my heart.
SD1: Ivan and George both pull on heavy wool coats.
Agnes and Katya: Where are you going, Papa?
Ivan and George: To end this once and for all!
SD2: Ivan and George stomp offstage.
Otto and Andrei: Mama, why do we hate our neighbors so much?
Olga: It all started a long time ago . . .
Wilma: . . . when your grandfather went to court.
Randy Pollak
This story takes place in the mountains of Eastern Europe. The region is known for its dense forests and brutal winters.
SCENE 3
The village court, 65 years earlier
SD3: The lights come up on a crowded courtroom. A judge in black robes sits at a raised desk.
Grandfather Gratz: Thief ! Zenova stole the land from us.
Grandfather Zenova: Liar! I took back what was ours.
SD1: The judge bangs his gavel.
Judge: Order! (calmer) Now, Mr. Gratz, what is so special about this tiny piece of land?
Grandfather Gratz: It is a strip of forest on the border between our two properties.
Judge: Is it particularly fine hunting ground?
Grandfather Gratz: I would not say it is particularly fine—but animals do make their homes there.
Judge: Perhaps I should rule that the forest belongs to them. But then I suppose you’d be back in here filing a lawsuit against a squirrel.
Villagers (snickering ): Heh heh heh!
Grandfather Zenova: This is no laughing matter.
Grandfather Gratz: With that, at least, I can agree. The woods are mine—going back 10 generations.
SD2: A sudden wind blows through the courtroom window, sending papers flying.
SFX: Whooooosh!
Grandfather Gratz ( holding up a receipt): This proves that my father paid foresters to cut trees on that land.
SD3: The judge examines the receipt.
Judge: Have you any similar proof, Mr. Zenova?
Grandfather Zenova: No, but that paper proves nothing! My family has always hunted that land.
Villagers (shouting ): Gratz! Zenova! Gratz! Zenova!
Judge ( banging gavel): SILENCE!
SD1: The judge shakes his head and sighs.
Judge: I decree that the land shall be owned by Gratz.
Grandfather Gratz: Justice!
Grandfather Zenova: Rubbish! You cannot stop me—and every Zenova after me—from hunting on that land. It’s our right!
Grandfather Gratz: If you dare hunt on my land, you will be a trespasser—and my enemy forever!
SCENE 4
Back to present, the forest
SD2: The lights come up on a thickly wooded forest at night. A winter storm is brewing. Thunder rumbles in the distance.
SD3: On one side of the stage, Ivan stands with his foresters. On the other side, George stands with his.
Ivan (to his men): If you see Zenova, pounce.
Forester 1: And where are you off to, sir?
Ivan: I am going to find him—and finish him.
George (to his men): Stay here. I have a feeling Gratz will try to catch us hunting here tonight.
Forester 2: Where are you going?
George: To find Gratz. To find him. And finish him.
SD1: Ivan and George begin winding down opposite sides of a slope, each man talking to himself.
Ivan: Killing in cold blood is wrong. Maybe Zenova will strike first. Then, of course, I will defend myself.
George: Murder is barbaric. But it would be so satisfying if Ivan would just—
SD2: Ivan and George step around the trunk of a huge tree and suddenly find themselves face-to-face.
SD3: A violent gust of wind causes the trees to shudder.
SD1: The two men glare at each other, speechless.
SD2: Before either can act, Nature intervenes. The wind shrieks. Lightning flashes. And then—
SD3: A giant tree thunders to the ground.
SFX: BOOOOOOOOM!
SCENE 5
A few moments later
SD1: Ivan and George lie on the ground, trapped under the fallen tree. Snow begins to fall.
Ivan (struggling ): My arm . . . it’s stuck.
George: Ivan Gratz snared in his stolen forest. There’s real justice for you. Ha ha!
Ivan: When my foresters find me, you’ll beg for mercy.
George: I also have foresters out tonight. It won’t take much for them to roll this tree and crush you entirely. It will look like an accident.
Ivan: My foresters will be here first. Perhaps we will leave you as a feast for the creatures of the night.
SD2: The men lie in silence, shivering.
SD3: With his free arm, Ivan manages to pull a canteen from his pocket.
SD1: He takes a long sip, then looks at George, who has a large gash on his head and seems very miserable.
SD2: Ivan’s face softens.
Ivan: Can you reach this canteen if I toss it to you? There is hot tea in it.
SD3: George blinks away the ice on his eyelids.
Ivan: We may as well be comfortable, even if one of us is to die tonight.
George: I don’t drink with the enemy.
SD1: Ivan flinches as the wind whips against his face.
SD2: The wind seems to speak.
Grandfather Gratz: Thief . . .
Grandfather Zenova: Liar . . .
SD3: George turns his head to find Ivan studying him.
Ivan: I’ve changed my mind. We must make peace.
George: Is this a trick?
Ivan: No. We have quarreled like devils all our lives over this stupid strip of forest. Trapped here at death’s door, I’ve come to think we might have been foolish.
SD1: George contemplates this.
George: I suppose there are better things to do in life than fight over a boundary.
Ivan: If we end this feud, we could be friends.
George: Just imagine . . .
Randy Pollak
At the time this story was written, wolves were not widely understood. Many people believed wolves attacked humans. Today, we know such attacks are extremely rare.
What do the wolves represent in the play?
SCENE 6
A dream sequence
SD2: The scene changes to the crowded village market.
SD3: George and Ivan enter, arm in arm, laughing.
SD1: Olga is at the baker’s stall.
Olga: I want the biggest cake you have. Our good friends the Zenovas are coming for supper.
SD2: Wilma approaches with an armful of wildflowers.
Wilma: For you, dear Olga.
SD3: Agnes, Otto, Katya, and Andrei run through the market giggling. Katya catches Otto.
Katya: Tag! You’re it!
SCENE 7
Back in the forest
SD1: The scene changes back to the dark forest.
SD2: George and Ivan are laughing at the scene they’ve just imagined.
George: I have spent all of my life hating you.
Ivan: It is not too late to change.
SD3: Both men smile with satisfaction.
Ivan: When my foresters arrive, I will have them free you before they free me. (to himself ) That will show everyone how forgiving I am.
George: If my foresters arrive first, I’ll do the same, friend. (to himself ) I hope they do arrive first, so I can show how honorable I am.
Ivan: Shall we shout for help?
George: Yes. Together, we can accomplish anything!
George and Ivan: Helllllllllp! Helllllllllp!
George: I hear nothing but the wind.
Ivan: Let’s try again.
George and Ivan: Halloooo!!! We’re over here!!!
Ivan: There are figures coming through the woods!
George: How many?
Ivan: Nine or 10.
George: They must be yours. I had only seven men with me.
Ivan: They’re approaching very quickly!
George: Are they your foresters?
SD1: Ivan doesn’t answer.
SD2: Then he starts to laugh.
George: Why are you laughing? Who is out there?
Ivan: Not my foresters. And not yours.
George: Then who are they?
Ivan: You mean what are they.
SD3: Long, low, bloodthirsty growls fill the air.
SFX: Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. GRRRRRRRRRRRR!
SD1: Just before the lights fade, the long shadows of wolves fall across the stage.
This play was originally published in the November 2019 issue
1. PREPARING TO READ
2. READING AND DISCUSSING (30 minutes)
3. SKILL BUILDING: THEME
George and Ivan end up in a terrible situation. In a well-written paragraph, explain who you think is to blame and why. Use text evidence to support your ideas.
Read the original short story by Saki. In a well-organized essay, compare the original story to the play adaptation you just read. Use text evidence to support your analysis.
Write an epilogue in which Olga Gratz and Wilma Zenova discuss the past and future of the relationship between their families.
Write an essay reflecting on the events in The Interlopers from the perspective of one or more of the animals in the forest. Think about the animals’ reaction to humans claiming ownership of the land.
Literature Connection: Classic short stories that employ irony
Posted
by John David Anderson
Goodbye Stranger
by Rebecca Stead
The Crossover
by Kwame Alexander
