ShabelskyI’d go to hell on a crocodile – anything rather than stay here. (Shouts.) I’m bored! I’m stupid with boredom! You leave me at home so your bored wife isn’t bored on her own, and I’m boring her to death.
AnnaLeave him alone – let him go if he wants to go and enjoy himself.
IvanovDon’t say that – you know I’m not going there to enjoy myself. I have to talk to them about the money I owe.
AnnaI don’t know why you’re bothering to make excuses. Off you go! No one’s stopping you.
IvanovCan we not squabble like this? There’s no need.
Shabelsky(in a tearful voice) Nicolas, my dear boy, I beg you, take me with you! I just want to give those frauds and fools a look-over, it might even be amusing. I haven’t been out since Easter!
Ivanov(irritated) Oh, come on then! I’m so tired of this.
ShabelskyCan I really? Oh, merci, merci beaucoup. Can I wear your panama?
IvanovAs long as you’re quick.
Shabelsky runs into the house.
I’m sick of the lot of you! Oh God, what an awful thing to say! It’s not how I used to talk to you. I’m sorry, Anna. I won’t be back late.
AnnaKolya . . . please, darling – don’t go out!
Ivanov(agitated) My sweet love, my poor unhappy darling, I implore you, don’t stop me going out in the evenings. I know it’s unfair, but let me anyway! – I can’t bear being here. The moment the sun goes down, I’m in misery. Don’t ask me why. I’ve no idea. Honest to God, I don’t know why. It’s misery at home, misery at the Lebedevs, misery when I get back – and so on all night long – I don’t know what to do.
AnnaThen you might as well stay at home, Kolya. We’ll talk . . . like we used to – have supper together, read . . . That old moaner and I have learned lots of new duets for you . . . (Puts her arms around him.) Do stay!
Pause.
I don’t understand you. You’ve been like this for a whole year now. Why did you change?
IvanovI don’t know . . . I don’t know . . .
AnnaWhy don’t you want me to come with you any more?
IvanovI’ll tell you why if you really want to know. It’s terrible but better said. When I get into one of my states, I begin to stop loving you. I’m in such misery I have to get away even from you. I have to get away from this house.
AnnaI know something about misery, Nikolay. Let me tell you, Kolya – what you have to do is be the way you used to be – sing, laugh, let off steam. Don’t go. We’ll have a laugh, have a drink, we’ll chase away your misery in a minute. Do you want me to sing for you? Or we could go and sit in your den in the dark as we used to and you can tell me all about your misery! There’s such suffering in your eyes! – I’ll look into your eyes and cry and we’ll both feel better. (Laughing and crying.) How does it go? ‘Flowers return with the spring, but happiness lingers behind.’ Is that it? Oh – all right, go then, just go!
IvanovSay a prayer for me, Anya!
He moves off, hesitates.
No, I can’t!
AnnaThen go . . .!
Ivanov leaves. Lvov approaches her.
LvovAnna Petrovna – you must make it a rule: when the clock strikes six you must come indoors and not go out till morning. The evening air is damp, it’s bad for your chest.
AnnaVery good, sir.
LvovI’m serious.
AnnaI don’t want to be serious. (Coughs.)
LvovYou see?
Shabelsky comes out of the house in hat and coat.
ShabelskyWhere’s Nikolay? Are the horses brought round?
He walks quickly over to Anna and kisses her hand.
Good night, light of my life! (Pulls a funny face.) Gevalt! Exscushe pliz.
Shabelsky hurries out.
LvovIdiot!
Pause. Distant sounds of an accordion can be heard.
AnnaHow unfair! Even the coachmen and cooks are having a party over there. I’m not invited to the ball . . . Yevgeny, what are you marching up and down for? Come and sit down.
LvovI can’t sit down.
Pause.
AnnaThey’re playing ‘The Little Finch’. (Sings.) ’Little finch, little finch, where did you go? Tippling vodka out in the snow.’
Pause.
Do you have a mother and father somewhere?
LvovMy father’s dead, but I have a mother.
AnnaDo you miss her?
LvovI have no time to miss people.
Anna(laughs) ’Flowers return with every spring, but happiness lingers behind.’ Who taught me that? . . . Can’t remember . . . It must have been Nikolay. (Listens.) There goes that owl again.
LvovLet it.
AnnaI feel I’ve been swindled by life. Most people no better than I am are happy and haven’t had to pay for it. But I’ve paid for absolutely everything . . . paid all I have . . . and I’m still getting final demands. Oy vay. Do you know any funny stories?
LvovMe? No.
AnnaNikolay knows lots. You know, another thing – I’m beginning to be amazed by how unfair people are. Why don’t they repay love with love? – instead of lies? How long do you think my mother and father are going to go on hating me? They live only a day from here. but I can feel their hatred even in my sleep. And what am I to think of poor Nikolay? He says it’s only in the evenings, when he’s at his lowest, that he stops loving me. I try to understand, I bear it patiently but suppose he stopped loving me altogether? Of course I know he won’t, but suppose suddenly he did? No – no I mustn’t . . . (Sings.) ‘Little finch, little finch, where did you go?’ (Shudders.) I have such terrible thoughts sometimes . . .
LvovExplain something to me – explain how a decent, honest, almost saintly woman like you let herself be taken in for so long, and dragged into this miserable mare’s nest. Why are you here? What have you got in common with that heartless – no, leaving aside your husband, what is a woman like you doing in this dead end among these no-hopers? – Oh, my dear God! – that endlessly droning, decrepit, crazy old count, and that crook Borkin with his ugly face – just explain it to me. Why are you here? How did you get here?
Anna(laughs) That’s just how Nikolay used to sound . . . exactly like that . . . and when he got worked up his eyes would blaze like coals! Go on talking, don’t stop!
Lvov(stands up and makes a dismissive gesture with his hand) What’s there to say? Please go indoors . . .