ANNA PETROVNA. That may very well be, but who cares about your night, your pain!
PLATONOV. So you don’t care?
ANNA PETROVNA. I assure you that we do not care!
PLATONOV. Really? Stop lying, Anna Petrovna! (Sighs.) But perhaps you’re right to see it that way . . . Perhaps . . . But then where am I to find real people? Whom can I go to? (Hides his face in his hands.) Where are there real people? They don’t understand . . . Don’t understand! Who does understand? Fools, sadists, heartless wretches . . .
VOINITSEV. No, I do understand you! I did understand! It’s out of character, my dear sir, my erstwhile friend, this tugging at our heartstrings! I understand you! You’re a crafty bastard! That’s what you are!
PLATONOV. I forgive you, you idiot, for that remark! Hold your tongue, don’t say any more! (to Anna Petrovna.) What are you hanging around here for, you thrill seeker? Curious? It’s none of your business! We don’t need witnesses!
ANNA PETROVNA. And it’s none of your business, either! You can . . . withdraw! The effrontery of the man! To bespatter, besmirch, and bestrew us with dirt, and then drop in and complain about his pain! What a diplomat! However . . . forgive me! If you don’t want to hear any more of this, then leave! Do us a favor!
VOINITSEV (jumps up). What more does he want of me, I don’t understand! What do you want, what do you expect from me? I don’t understand?
PLATONOV. I can see that you don’t understand . . . It’s a wise man who takes his sorrows not to other people, but to the bottle . . . Wise as can be! (Goes to the door.) I am sorry that I spoke to you, stooped to your level . . . It was stupid of me to consider you decent people . . . You’re all the same . . . savages, coarse, uncouth yokels . . . (Slams the door and exits.)
ANNA PETROVNA (wrings her hands). How nasty . . . Please catch up with him this minute and tell him . . . Tell him that . . .
VOINITSEV. What can I tell him?
ANNA PETROVNA. You’ll find something to tell him . . . Something. Hurry, Serzhel! I implore you! He came here with good intentions! You should have understood him, but you were cruel to him. Hurry, my dearest!
VOINITSEV. I cannot! Leave me alone!
ANNA PETROVNA. But, after all, he’s not the only one to blame! Serzhel, we’re all to blame! We all have passions, we’re all weak . . . Hurry! Say something conciliatory! Show him that you are a man! For heaven’s sake! . . . Well, how about it! Well! Hurry!
VOINITSEV. I’m losing my mind . . .
ANNA PETROVNA. Lose your mind, but don’t you dare insult people! Ah . . . but hurry up, for heaven’s sake! (Weeps.) Sergey!
VOINITSEV. Leave me alone, maman!
ANNA PETROVNA. I’ll go myself . . . Why shouldn’t I run myself? I’ll do it . . .
PLATONOV (enters). Ow! (Sits on the sofa.)
VOINITSEV gets up.
ANNA PETROVNA (aside). What’s wrong with him?
Pause.
PLATONOV. My arm hurts . . . I’m as hungry as a starving dog . . . I’m cold . . . Shivering with fever . . . I’m sick! Can’t you see that I’m sick! I’m losing my life! What do you want from me? What are you after? Isn’t that damned night enough for you?
VOINITSEV (walks over to Platonov). Mikhail Vasilich, let’s forgive one another . . . I . . . But you understand my position . . . Let’s part properly . . .
Pause.
I forgive you . . . Word of honor, I forgive you! And if you could forget it all, I would be as happy as ever! Let’s leave one another in peace!
PLATONOV. Yes.
Pause.
No, I’m falling apart . . . The engine has broken down. I’m awfully sleepy, my eyelids stick together, but I’m unable to sleep . . . I sue for peace, I beg your pardon, I’m guilty, I’ll be still . . . Do whatever you like, and think whatever you choose . . .
VOINITSEV walks away from Platonov and sits at the desk.
PLATONOV. I won’t leave this place, even if you set fire to the house! Anyone who finds my presence distasteful can leave the room . . . (Tries to lie down.) Give me something warm . . . Not to eat, to cover myself with . . . I won’t go home . . . It’s raining outside . . . I’ll lie here.
ANNA PETROVNA (walks over to Platonov). Do go home, Mikhail Vasilich! I’ll come and bring you whatever you need. (Touches him on the shoulder.) Go on! Go home!
PLATONOV. Anyone who finds my presence distasteful can leave the room . . . Let me have a drink of water! I want a drink.
ANNA PETROVNA hands him the carafe.
(Drinks from the carafe.) I’m sick . . . Very sick, my good woman!
ANNA PETROVNA. Go home! . . . (Places a hand on his forehead.) Your head is hot . . . Go home. I’ll send for Triletsky.
PLATONOV (quietly). It’s bad, Your Excellency! Bad . . . Bad . . .
ANNA PETROVNA. And what about me? Go away! I beg of you! You’ve got to go away no matter what! You hear me?
Enter SOFYA YEGOROVNA.
SCENE VIII
The same and SOFYA YEGOROVNA.
SOFYA YEGOROVNA (enters). Be so kind as to take back your money! What’s the point of this generosity? I already told you, I believe . . . (On seeing Platonov.) You . . . here? Why are you here?
Pause.
That’s peculiar . . . What are you doing here?
PLATONOV. Talking to me?
SOFYA YEGOROVNA. Yes, you!
ANNA PETROVNA. Let’s go, Sergey! (Exits and a minute later reenters on tiptoe and sits in a corner.)
PLATONOV. It’s all over, Sofya!
SOFYA YEGOROVNA. Is that right?
PLATONOV. Yes, that’s right . . . We’ll talk about it later.
SOFYA YEGOROVNA. Mikhail Vasilich! What do you mean by . . . all?
PLATONOV. I don’t need anything, love or hate, just leave me in peace! I beg of you . . . And I don’t even want to talk . . . What we’ve had is good enough for me . . . For pity’s sake . . .
SOFYA YEGOROVNA. What is he saying?
PLATONOV. I’m saying I’ve had enough. I don’t need a new life. And there’s nowhere to go with the old one . . . I don’t need anything!
SOFYA YEGOROVNA (shrugs her shoulders). I don’t understand . . .
PLATONOV. You don’t understand? Our liaison is over, that’s what!
SOFYA YEGOROVNA. You’re not going to go away, is that it?