Three Plays: The Sea-Gull, Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard (Modern Library Series)

Act 1 Part of the park on Sorin's estate. Wide avenue leading away from the spectators into the depths of the park towards the lake is blocked up by a platform roughly put together for private theatricals, so that the lake is not visible. To right and left of the platform, bushes. A few chairs, a little table. The sun has just set. Yakov and other labourers are at work on the platform behind the curtain; there is the sound of coughing and hammering. Masha and Medvedenko enter on the left, returning from a walk. Medvedenko. Why do you always wear black? Masha. I am in mourning for my life. I am unhappy. Medvedenko. Why? (Pondering) I don't understand . . . You are in good health; though your father is not very well off, he has got enough. My life is much harder than yours. I only get twenty-three roubles a month, and from that they deduct something for the pension fund, and yet I don't wear mourning. (They sit down.) Masha. It isn't money that matters. A poor man may be happy. Medvedenko. Theoretically, yes; but in practice it's like this: there are my two sisters and my mother and my little brother and I, and my salary is only twenty-three roubles. We must eat and drink, mustn't we? One must have tea and sugar. One must have tobacco. It's a tight fit. Masha (looking round at the platform). The play will soon begin. Medvedenko. Yes. Miss Zaretchny will act: it is Konstantin Gavrilitch's play. They are in love with each other and to-day their souls will be united in the effort to realise the same artistic effect. But your soul and mine have not a common point of contact. I love you. I am so wretched I can't stay at home. Every day I walk four miles here and four miles back and I meet with nothing but indifference from you. I can quite understand it. I am without means and have a big family to keep. . . . Who would care to marry a man who hasn't a penny to bless himself with? Masha. Oh, nonsense! (Takes a pinch of snuff) Your love touches me, but I can't reciprocate itthat's all. (Holding out the snuff-box to him) Help yourself. Medvedenko. I don't feel like it (a pause). Masha. How stifling it is! There must be a storm coming. . . . You're always discussing theories or talking about money. You think there is no greater misfortune than poverty, but to my mind it is a thousand times better to go in rags and be a beggar than . . . But you wouldn't understand that, though. . . . (Sorin and Treplev enter on the right.) Sorin (leaning on his walking-stick). I am never quite myself in the country, my boy, and, naturally enough, I shall never get used to it. Last night I went to bed at ten and woke up this morning at nine feeling as though my brain were glued to my skull, through sleeping so long (laughs). And after dinner I accidentally dropped off again, and now I am utterly shattered and feel as though I were in a nightmare, in fact. . . . Treplev. Yes, you really ought to live in town. (Catches sight of Masha and Medvedenko) When the show begins, my friends, you will be summoned, but you mustn't be here now. You must please go away. Sorin (to Masha). Marya Ilyinishna, will you be so good as to ask your papa to tell them to take the dog off the chain?it howls. My sister could not sleep again last night. Masha. Speak to my father yourself; I am not going to. Please don't ask me. (To Medvedenko) Come along! Medvedenko (to Treplev). So you will send and let us know before it begins. (Both go out.) Sorin. So I suppose the dog will be howling all night again. What a business it is! I have never done as I liked in the country. In old days I used to get leave for twenty-eight days and come here for a rest and so on, buChekhov, Anton is the author of 'Three Plays: The Sea-Gull, Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard (Modern Library Series)', published 2001 under ISBN 9780679642350 and ISBN 0679642358.