IvanovThat’s silly, and not very original. Off you go!
LebedevYes, that was really silly. Very, very silly, I can see that. I’m off – I’m going . . .
Lebedev leaves.
Ivanov(aside) Well, what a miserable, pathetic, contemptible creature I am! Only somebody as sozzled and played out as Pasha could have any respect left for me. Oh God, how I despise myself! I hate the sound of my voice, my footsteps, hate my hands, these clothes, my very thoughts . . . It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? – It’s infuriating. Hardly a year ago I was a fit man, cheerful, always on the go . . . I was good with my hands, I could talk to bring tears to the eyes, even of some loutish peasant. I could weep myself when I saw suffering – and get angry when I saw wickedness. I knew inspiration, knew the charm and poetry of quiet nights when I’d work at my desk till dawn, or let my mind go wandering. I had faith, I looked at the future as trustfully as I’d look into my mother’s eyes . . . and now, oh God, I’m so tired, I believe in nothing, idling away the nights. My brain, my hands, my feet won’t do what I tell them. The estate is going to ruin, the woods fall to the axe. (Weeps.) My land looks back at me like an abandoned child. I’m not hoping for anything, I’m not sorry for anything, and I dread every new day. And then there’s Anna. I’ve watched her fading away, worn away by her feelings of guilt, and still – God knows – never a glance or a word of reproach! And now I’ve fallen out of love. How? Why? What for? I just don’t understand it. And here she is, dying in pain, and here am I, running away from her pale face, her sunken chest, her pleading eyes, like a complete coward. It’s beyond shame.
Pause.
And now Sasha – a mere child . . . feeling sorry for me and thinking she’s in love with me – and suddenly I’m intoxicated, I forget everything, like someone carried away by a piece of Beethoven or something, shouting about happiness and a new life, and next moment I have about as much belief in this happy new life as I have in fairies. What is wrong with me?! What is this edge I’m pushing myself over? Why am I so helpless? What’s happening to my nerves? If my sick wife says a word out of place, or a servant annoys me, or a book goes missing, I explode, I’m horrible to everyone, I don’t recognise myself any more.
Pause.
I simply don’t know what’s going on with me. I might just as well put a bullet in my head!
Lvov enters.
LvovWe have to have a few words, Nikolay Alekseevich!
IvanovIf we’re going to have to have a few words every time we meet, it’ll be more than flesh and blood can stand.
LvovWill you listen to me?
IvanovI listen to you every day, and so far I haven’t understood a thing. What exactly do you want from me?
LvovI always express myself precisely and clearly. Only someone whose heart is closed could fail to understand me.
IvanovI understand that my wife hasn’t got long to live. I understand that I am irredeemably guilty. I understand that you are an honest, upright fellow. What else do you want to tell me?
LvovI find human cruelty shocking, you know. The woman is dying, and you openly and for reasons obvious to everybody abandon her every day to go over to those Lebedevs.
IvanovAs a matter of fact, I haven’t been there for two weeks.
Lvov(not listening to him) With people like you, one has to speak plainly and get straight to the point, and if you don’t like it, don’t listen. I’m used to calling things by their proper name. You need her to die so that you can move on to fresh conquests. So be it, but can’t you show a little patience? Do you think you’ll lose the Lebedev girl if you let death take its natural course – instead of harrying your wife to the grave with your bare-faced cynicism? You’ll have no trouble turning some young woman’s head for a dowry, so what’s the hurry? Why do you need your wife to die now and not in a month or a year?
IvanovThis is unbearable. You’re a pretty poor doctor if you think a man can control himself indefinitely – I’m making a huge effort not to give your insults the answer they deserve.
LvovOh, you can drop that pose, Pushkin! I’m not taken in by it.
IvanovIf you’re so clever, consider for a moment. You think it’s a simple matter to understand me, do you? I married Anna for her money; I didn’t get any of it, so now I’m hastening her death so I can try someone else. Simple! What a simple machine is man. But there’s too many cogs and springs and wheels within wheels for such easy judgements. I don’t understand what’s going on inside you; you don’t understand me, and neither of us understands himself.
LvovDo you really think you’re so complicated, and I’m so simple, that I don’t know wickedness when I see it?
IvanovIt’s a waste of breath. So for the last time, and without going off at a tangent, tell me exactly what you want me to do. What are you driving at? And, incidentally, am I addressing the public prosecutor or my wife’s doctor?
LvovI am a doctor, and as a doctor I ask you to amend your behaviour. It’s killing your wife.
IvanovBut what do you wish me to do? If you know something about me that I don’t, just spell it out.
LvovAt least don’t be so indiscreet about . . . you know who I mean.
Ivanov(enlightened) God Almighty, do you know what you’re saying? Get out. I’m a sinner a thousand times over, but I’ll answer to God. No one has given you the right to hound me day after day.
LvovAnd who gave you the right to destroy my belief in human nature? Until I met you, I could accept that people can lose their minds and do wicked things when they couldn’t help themselves, but I never knew there were wicked people who could consciously and wilfully commit evil. You’ve poisoned my faith in humanity.
IvanovYou should see a doctor.
Lvov sees Sasha entering; she is in a riding habit.
LvovReally? Well, now I hope we understand each other perfectly!
He shrugs his shoulders and goes out.
Ivanov(alarmed) Sasha – what are you doing here?
SashaHello. Did you think I wouldn’t come? Why have you kept away all this time?
IvanovSasha, for God’s sake, this is crazy. If my wife knew you were here, it would be the finish of her.
SashaShe won’t see me. I came in the back way. I’ll only stay a minute. I was worried about you. Are you all right? Why haven’t you come to see us?
IvanovMy wife is upset with me as it is, she’s almost dead and you show up here! Oh, Sasha, that was thoughtless and selfish.
SashaWhat else could I do? I haven’t seen you for two weeks, and you haven’t answered my letters. I was at my wits’ end. You could have been ill or dead for all I knew. I’ve hardly slept. Well, I’ll go now – just tell me you’re all right.
IvanovWell, I’m not, I’m exhausted. People won’t leave me alone. I’m out flat. And now you show up. This is all wrong, it’s not right. Oh, Sasha, I’m to blame for everything!
SashaHow you love to say all these doomy things. Blame for what? What are you supposed to have done?
IvanovI don’t know, I don’t know . . .