MASHA。Itisjealousy。However，thatisnoneofmybusiness。[A
pause。JACOBwalksthroughtheroomcarryingatrunk;NINAcomesinandstandsbythewindow]Thatschoolteacherofmineisnonetooclever，butheisverygood，poorman，andhelovesmedearly，andIamsorryforhim。However，letmesaygood—byeandwishyouapleasantjourney。Remembermekindlyinyourthoughts。
[Sheshakeshandswithhim]Thanksforyourgoodwill。Sendmeyourbooks，andbesuretowritesomethinginthem;nothingformal，butsimplythis:\"ToMasha，who，forgetfulofherorigin，forsomeunknownreasonislivinginthisworld。\"Good—bye。[Shegoesout。]
NINA。[HoldingoutherclosedhandtoTRIGORIN]Isitoddoreven？
TRIGORIN。Even。
NINA。[Withasigh]No，itisodd。Ihadonlyonepeainmyhand。
IwantedtoseewhetherIwastobecomeanactressornot。Ifonlysomeonewouldadvisemewhattodo！
TRIGORIN。Onecannotgiveadviceinacaselikethis。[Apause。]
NINA。Weshallsoonpart，perhapsnevertomeetagain。Ishouldlikeyoutoacceptthislittlemedallionasaremembranceofme。
Ihavehadyourinitialsengravedonit，andonthissideisthenameofoneofyourbooks:\"DaysandNights。\"
TRIGORIN。Howsweetofyou！[Hekissesthemedallion]Itisalovelypresent。
NINA。Thinkofmesometimes。
TRIGORIN。Ishallneverforgetyou。IshallalwaysrememberyouasIsawyouthatbrightday——doyourecallit？——aweekago，whenyouworeyourlightdress，andwetalkedtogether，andthewhiteseagulllayonthebenchbesideus。
NINA。[Lostinthought]Yes，thesea—gull。[Apause]Ibegyoutoletmeseeyoualonefortwominutesbeforeyougo。
Shegoesouttotheleft。AtthesamemomentARKADINAcomesinfromtheright，followedbySORINinalongcoat，withhisordersonhisbreast，andbyJACOB，whoisbusypacking。
ARKADINA。Stayhereathome，youpooroldman。Howcouldyoupayvisitswiththatrheumatismofyours？[ToTRIGORIN]Wholefttheroomjustnow，wasitNina？
TRIGORIN。Yes。
ARKADINA。Ibegyourpardon;Iamafraidweinterruptedyou。[Shesitsdown]Ithinkeverythingispacked。Iamabsolutelyexhausted。
TRIGORIN。[Readingtheinscriptiononthemedallion]\"DaysandNights，page121，lines11and12。\"
JACOB。[Clearingthetable]ShallIpackyourfishing—rods，too，sir？
TRIGORIN。Yes，Ishallneedthem，butyoucangivemybooksaway。
JACOB。Verywell，sir。
TRIGORIN。[Tohimself]Page121，lines11and12。[ToARKADINA]
Havewemybookshereinthehouse？
ARKADINA。Yes，theyareinmybrother’slibrary，inthecornercupboard。
TRIGORIN。Page121——[Hegoesout。]
SORIN。Youaregoingaway，andIshallbelonelywithoutyou。
ARKADINA。Whatwouldyoudointown？
SORIN。Oh，nothinginparticular，butsomehow——[Helaughs]Theyaresoontolaythecorner—stoneofthenewcourt—househere。HowIshouldliketoleapoutofthisminnow—pond，ifbutforanhourortwo！Iamtiredoflyingherelikeanoldcigarettestump。I
haveorderedthecarriageforoneo’clock。Wecangoawaytogether。
ARKADINA。[Afterapause]No，youmuststayhere。Don’tbelonely，anddon’tcatchcold。Keepaneyeonmyboy。Takegoodcareofhim;guidehimalongtheproperpaths。[Apause]Iamgoingaway，andsoshallneverfindoutwhyConstantineshothimself，butIthinkthechiefreasonwasjealousy，andthesoonerItakeTrigorinaway，thebetter。
SORIN。Therewere——howshallIexplainittoyou？——otherreasonsbesidesjealousyforhisact。Hereisacleveryoungchaplivinginthedepthsofthecountry，withoutmoneyorposition，withnofutureaheadofhim，andwithnothingtodo。Heisashamedandafraidofbeingsoidle。Iamdevotedtohimandheisfondofme，butneverthelesshefeelsthatheisuselesshere，thatheislittlemorethanadependentinthishouse。Itistheprideinhim。
ARKADINA。Heisamiserytome！[Thoughtfully]Hemightpossiblyenterthearmy。
SORIN。[Givesawhistle，andthenspeakswithhesitation]Itseemstomethatthebestthingforhimwouldbeifyouweretolethimhavealittlemoney。Foronething，heoughttobeallowedtodresslikeahumanbeing。Seehowhelooks！Wearingthesamelittleoldcoatthathehashadforthreeyears，andhedoesn’tevenpossessanovercoat！[Laughing]Anditwouldn’thurttheyoungstertosowafewwildoats;lethimgoabroad，say，foratime。Itwouldn’tcostmuch。
ARKADINA。Yes，but——However，IthinkImightmanageabouthisclothes，butIcouldn’tlethimgoabroad。Andno，Idon’tthinkIcanlethimhavehisclotheseven，now。[Decidedly]Ihavenomoneyatpresent。
SORINlaughs。
ARKADINA。Ihaven’tindeed。
SORIN。[Whistles]Verywell。Forgiveme，darling;don’tbeangry。
Youareanoble，generouswoman！
ARKADINA。[Weeping]Ireallyhaven’tthemoney。
SORIN。IfIhadanymoneyofcourseIshouldlethimhavesomemyself，butIhaven’tevenapenny。Thefarmmanagertakesmypensionfrommeandputsitallintothefarmorintocattleorbees，andinthatwayitisalwayslostforever。Thebeesdie，thecowsdie，theyneverletmehaveahorse。
ARKADINA。OfcourseIhavesomemoney，butIamanactressandmyexpensesfordressaloneareenoughtobankruptme。
SORIN。Youareadear，andIamveryfondofyou，indeedIam。
Butsomethingisthematterwithmeagain。[Hestaggers]Ifeelgiddy。[Heleansagainstthetable]Ifeelfaint，andall。
ARKADINA。[Frightened]Peter！[Shetriestosupporthim]Peter！
dearest！[Shecalls]Help！Help！
TREPLIEFFandMEDVIEDENKOcomein;TREPLIEFFhasabandagearoundhishead。
ARKADINA。Heisfainting！
SORIN。Iamallright。[Hesmilesanddrinkssomewater]Itisallovernow。
TREPLIEFF。[Tohismother]Don’tbefrightened，mother，theseattacksarenotdangerous;myuncleoftenhasthemnow。[Tohisuncle]Youmustgoandliedown，Uncle。
SORIN。Yes，IthinkIshall，forafewminutes。IamgoingtoMoscowallthesame，butIshallliedownabitbeforeIstart。
[Hegoesoutleaningonhiscane。]
MEDVIEDENKO。[Givinghimhisarm]Doyouknowthisriddle？Onfourlegsinthemorning;ontwolegsatnoon;andonthreelegsintheevening？
SORIN。[Laughing]Yes，exactly，andonone’sbackatnight。Thankyou，Icanwalkalone。
MEDVIEDENKO。Dearme，whatformality！[HeandSORINgoout。]
ARKADINA。Hegavemeadreadfulfright。
TREPLIEFF。Itisnotgoodforhimtoliveinthecountry。Mother，ifyouwouldonlyuntieyourpurse—stringsforonce，andlendhimathousandroubles！Hecouldthenspendawholeyearintown。
ARKADINA。Ihavenomoney。Iamanactressandnotabanker。[A
pause。]
TREPLIEFF。Pleasechangemybandageforme，mother，youdoitsogently。
ARKADINAgoestothecupboardandtakesoutaboxofbandagesandabottleofiodoform。
ARKADINA。Thedoctorislate。
TREPLIEFF。Yes，hepromisedtobehereatnine，andnowitisnoonalready。
ARKADINA。Sitdown。[Shetakesthebandageoffhishead]Youlookasifyouhadaturbanon。Astrangerthatwasinthekitchenyesterdayaskedtowhatnationalityyoubelonged。Yourwoundisalmosthealed。[Shekisseshishead]Youwon’tbeuptoanymoreofthesesillytricksagain，willyou，whenIamgone？
TREPLIEFF。No，mother。Ididthatinamomentofinsanedespair，whenIhadlostallcontrolovermyself。Itwillneverhappenagain。[Hekissesherhand]Yourtouchisgolden。IrememberwhenyouwerestillactingattheStateTheatre，longago，whenIwasstillalittlechap，therewasafightonedayinourcourt，andapoorwasherwomanwasalmostbeatentodeath。Shewaspickedupunconscious，andyounursedhertillshewaswell，andbathedherchildreninthewashtubs。Haveyouforgottenit？
ARKADINA。Yes，entirely。[Sheputsonanewbandage。]
TREPLIEFF。Twoballetdancerslivedinthesamehouse，andtheyusedtocomeanddrinkcoffeewithyou。
ARKADINA。Irememberthat。
TREPLIEFF。Theywereverypious。[Apause]Iloveyouagain，theselastfewdays，astenderlyandtrustinglyasIdidasachild。Ihavenooneleftmenowbutyou。Why，whydoyouletyourselfbecontrolledbythatman？
ARKADINA。Youdon’tunderstandhim，Constantine。Hehasawonderfullynoblepersonality。
TREPLIEFF。Nevertheless，whenhehasbeentoldthatIwishtochallengehimtoaduelhisnobilitydoesnotpreventhimfromplayingthecoward。Heisabouttobeatanignominiousretreat。
ARKADINA。Whatnonsense！Ihaveaskedhimmyselftogo。
TREPLIEFF。Anoblepersonalityindeed！Herewearealmostquarrellingoverhim，andheisprobablyinthegardenlaughingatusatthisverymoment，orelseenlighteningNina’smindandtryingtopersuadeherintothinkinghimamanofgenius。
ARKADINA。Youenjoysayingunpleasantthingstome。Ihavethegreatestrespectforthatman，andImustaskyounottospeakillofhiminmypresence。
TREPLIEFF。Ihavenorespectforhimatall。Youwantmetothinkhimagenius，asyoudo，butIrefusetolie:hisbooksmakemesick。
ARKADINA。Youenvyhim。Thereisnothingleftforpeoplewithnotalentandmightypretensionstodobuttocriticisethosewhoarereallygifted。Ihopeyouenjoytheconsolationitbrings。
TREPLIEFF。[Withirony]Thosewhoarereallygifted，indeed！
[Angrily]Iamclevererthananyofyou，ifitcomestothat！[Hetearsthebandageoffhishead]Youaretheslavesofconvention，youhaveseizedtheupperhandandnowlaydownaslaweverythingthatyoudo;allelseyoustrangleandtrampleon。Irefusetoacceptyourpointofview，yoursandhis，Irefuse！
ARKADINA。Thatisthetalkofadecadent。
TREPLIEFF。Gobacktoyourbelovedstageandactthemiserableditch—waterplaysyousomuchadmire！
ARKADINA。Ineveractedinaplaylikethatinmylife。Youcouldn’twriteeventhetrashiestmusic—hallfarce，youidlegood—for—nothing！
TREPLIEFF。Miser！
ARKADINA。Rag—bag！
TREPLIEFFsitsdownandbeginstocrysoftly。
ARKADINA。[Walkingupanddowningreatexcitement]Don’tcry！
Youmustn’tcry！[Sheburstsintotears]Youreallymustn’t。[Shekisseshisforehead，hischeeks，hishead]Mydarlingchild，forgiveme。Forgiveyourwickedmother。
TREPLIEFF。[Embracingher]Oh，ifyoucouldonlyknowwhatitistohavelosteverythingunderheaven！Shedoesnotloveme。IseeIshallneverbeabletowrite。Everyhopehasdesertedme。
ARKADINA。Don’tdespair。Thiswillallpass。Heisgoingawayto—day，andshewillloveyouoncemore。[Shewipesawayhistears]Stopcrying。Wehavemadepeaceagain。
TREPLIEFF。[Kissingherhand]Yes，mother。
ARKADINA。[Tenderly]Makeyourpeacewithhim，too。Don’tfightwithhim。Yousurelywon’tfight？
TREPLIEFF。Iwon’t，butyoumustnotinsistonmyseeinghimagain，mother，Icouldn’tstandit。[TRIGORINcomesin]Thereheis;Iamgoing。[Hequicklyputsthemedicinesawayinthecupboard]Thedoctorwillattendtomyhead。
TRIGORIN。[Lookingthroughthepagesofabook]Page121，lines11and12;hereitis。[Hereads]\"Ifatanytimeyoushouldhaveneedofmylife，comeandtakeit。\"
TREPLIEFFpicksupthebandageoffthefloorandgoesout。
ARKADINA。[Lookingatherwatch]Thecarriagewillsoonbehere。
TRIGORIN。[Tohimself]Ifatanytimeyoushouldhaveneedofmylife，comeandtakeit。
ARKADINA。Ihopeyourthingsareallpacked。
TRIGORIN。[Impatiently]Yes，yes。[Indeepthought]WhydoIhearanoteofsadnessthatwringsmyheartinthiscryofapuresoul？Ifatanytimeyoushouldhaveneedofmylife，comeandtakeit。[ToARKADINA]Letusstayhereonemoreday！
ARKADINAshakesherhead。
TRIGORIN。Doletusstay！
ARKADINA。Iknow，dearest，whatkeepsyouhere，butyoumustcontrolyourself。Besober;youremotionshaveintoxicatedyoualittle。
TRIGORIN。Youmustbesober，too。Besensible;lookuponwhathashappenedasatruefriendwould。[Takingherhand]Youarecapableofself—sacrifice。Beafriendtomeandreleaseme！
ARKADINA。[Indeepexcitement]Areyousomuchinlove？
TRIGORIN。Iamirresistiblyimpelledtowardher。ItmaybethatthisisjustwhatIneed。
ARKADINA。What，theloveofacountrygirl？Oh，howlittleyouknowyourself！
TRIGORIN。Peoplesometimeswalkintheirsleep，andsoIfeelasifIwereasleep，anddreamingofherasIstandheretalkingtoyou。Myimaginationisshakenbythesweetestandmostgloriousvisions。Releaseme！
ARKADINA。[Shuddering]No，no！Iamonlyanordinarywoman;youmustnotsaysuchthingstome。Donottormentme，Boris;youfrightenme。
TRIGORIN。Youcouldbeanextraordinarywomanifyouonlywould。
Lovealonecanbringhappinessonearth，lovetheenchanting，thepoeticalloveofyouth，thatsweepsawaythesorrowsoftheworld。IhadnotimeforitwhenIwasyoungandstrugglingwithwantandlayingsiegetotheliteraryfortress，butnowatlastthislovehascometome。Iseeitbeckoning;whyshouldIfly？
ARKADINA。[Withanger]Youaremad！
TRIGORIN。Releaseme。
ARKADINA。Youhaveallconspiredtogethertotorturemeto—day。
[Sheweeps。]
TRIGORIN。[Clutchinghisheaddesperately]Shedoesn’tunderstandme！Shewon’tunderstandme！
ARKADINA。AmIthensooldanduglyalreadythatyoucantalktomelikethiswithoutanyshameaboutanotherwoman？[Sheembracesandkisseshim]Oh，youhavelostyoursenses！Mysplendid，mygloriousfriend，myloveforyouisthelastchapterofmylife。
[Shefallsonherknees]Youaremypride，myjoy，mylight。[Sheembraceshisknees]Icouldneverendureitshouldyoudesertme，ifonlyforanhour;Ishouldgomad。Oh，mywonder，mymarvel，myking！
TRIGORIN。Someonemightcomein。[Hehelpshertorise。]
ARKADINA。Letthemcome！Iamnotashamedofmylove。[Shekisseshishands]Myjewel！Mydespair！Youwanttodoafoolishthing，butIdon’twantyoutodoit。Ishan’tletyoudoit！[Shelaughs]Youaremine，youaremine！Thisforeheadismine，theseeyesaremine，thissilkyhairismine。Allyourbeingismine。
Youaresoclever，sowise，thefirstofalllivingwriters;youaretheonlyhopeofyourcountry。Youaresofresh，sosimple，sodeeplyhumourous。Youcanbringouteveryfeatureofamanorofalandscapeinasingleline，andyourcharactersliveandbreathe。Doyouthinkthatthesewordsarebuttheincenseofflattery？DoyouthinkIamnotspeakingthetruth？Come，lookintomyeyes;lookdeep;doyoufindliesthere？No，youseethatIaloneknowhowtotreasureyou。Ialonetellyouthetruth。Oh，myverydear，youwillgowithme？Youwill？Youwillnotforsakeme？
TRIGORIN。Ihavenowillofmyown;Ineverhad。Iamtooindolent，toosubmissive，toophlegmatic，tohaveany。Isitpossiblethatwomenlikethat？Takeme。Takemeawaywithyou，butdonotletmestirastepfromyourside。
ARKADINA。[Toherself]Nowheismine！[Carelessly，asifnothingunusualhadhappened]Ofcourseyoumuststayhereifyoureallywantto。Ishallgo，andyoucanfollowinaweek’stime。Yes，really，whyshouldyouhurryaway？
TRIGORIN。Letusgotogether。
ARKADINA。Asyoulike。Letusgotogetherthen。[Apause。
TRIGORINwritessomethinginhisnote—book]Whatareyouwriting？
TRIGORIN。AhappyexpressionIheardthismorning:\"Agroveofmaidenpines。\"Itmaybeuseful。[Heyawns]Sowearereallyoffagain，condemnedoncemoretorailwaycarriages，tostationsandrestaurants，toHamburgersteaksandendlessarguments！
SHAMRAEFFcomesin。
SHAMRAEFF。Iamsorrytohavetoinformyouthatyourcarriageisatthedoor。Itistimetostart，honouredmadam，thetrainleavesattwo—five。Wouldyoubekindenough，madam，toremembertoinquireformewhereSuzdaltzefftheactorisnow？Ishestillalive，Iwonder？Ishewell？HeandIhavehadmanyajollytimetogether。Hewasinimitablein\"TheStolenMail。\"AtragediancalledIzmailoffwasinthesamecompany，Iremember，whowasalsoquiteremarkable。Don’thurry，madam，youstillhavefiveminutes。Theywerebothofthemconspiratorsonce，inthesamemelodrama，andonenightwheninthecourseoftheplaytheyweresuddenlydiscovered，insteadofsaying\"Wehavebeentrapped！\"
Izmailoffcriedout:\"Wehavebeenrapped！\"[Helaughs]Rapped！
WhilehehasbeentalkingJACOBhasbeenbusywiththetrunks，andthemaidhasbroughtARKADINAherhat，coat，parasol，andgloves。Thecooklookshesitatinglythroughthedoorontheright，andfinallycomesintotheroom。PAULINAcomesin。
MEDVIEDENKOcomesin。
PAULINA。[PresentingARKADINAwithalittlebasket]Herearesomeplumsforthejourney。Theyareverysweetones。Youmaywanttonibblesomethinggoodontheway。
ARKADINA。Youareverykind，Paulina。
PAULINA。Good—bye，mydearie。Ifthingshavenotbeenquiteasyoucouldhavewished，pleaseforgiveus。[Sheweeps。]
ARKADINA。Ithasbeendelightful，delightful。Youmustn’tcry。
SORINcomesinthroughthedoorontheleft，dressedinalongcoatwithacape，andcarryinghishatandcane。Hecrossestheroom。
SORIN。Come，sister，itistimetostart，unlessyouwanttomissthetrain。Iamgoingtogetintothecarriage。[Hegoesout。]
MEDVIEDENKO。Ishallwalkquicklytothestationandseeyouoffthere。[Hegoesout。]
ARKADINA。Good—bye，all！Weshallmeetagainnextsummerifwelive。[Themaidservant，JACOB，andthecookkissherhand]Don’tforgetme。[Shegivesthecookarouble]Thereisaroubleforallthreeofyou。
THECOOK。Thankyou，mistress;apleasantjourneytoyou。
JACOB。Godblessyou，mistress。
SHAMRAEFF。Sendusalinetocheerusup。[TOTRIGORIN]Good—bye，sir。
ARKADINA。WhereisConstantine？TellhimIamstarting。Imustsaygood—byetohim。[ToJACOB]Igavethecookaroubleforallthreeofyou。
Allgooutthroughthedoorontheright。Thestageremainsempty。Soundsoffarewellareheard。Themaidcomesrunningbacktofetchthebasketofplumswhichhasbeenforgotten。TRIGORIN
comesback。
TRIGORIN。Ihadforgottenmycane。IthinkIleftitontheterrace。[HegoestowardthedoorontherightandmeetsNINA，whocomesinatthatmoment]Isthatyou？Weareoff。
NINA。Iknewweshouldmeetagain。[Withemotion]Ihavecometoanirrevocabledecision，thedieiscast:Iamgoingonthestage。Iamdesertingmyfatherandabandoningeverything。Iambeginninglifeanew。Iamgoing，asyouare，toMoscow。Weshallmeetthere。