The Cherry Orchard

epub:type="z3998:persona">Epihodov is heard playing still the same mournful song on the guitar. The moon rises. Somewhere near the poplars Varya is looking for Anya and calling “Anya! where are you?” Trofimov Yes, the moon is rising a pause. Here is happiness⁠—here it comes! It is coming nearer and nearer; already I can hear its footsteps. And if we never see it⁠—if we may never know it⁠—what does it matter? Others will see it after us. Varya’s Voice Anya! Where are you? Trofimov That Varya again! Angrily. It’s revolting! Anya Well, let’s go down to the river. It’s lovely there. Trofimov Yes, let’s go. They go. Varya’s Voice Anya! Anya! Curtain.

Act III

A drawing-room divided by an arch from a larger drawing-room. A chandelier burning. The Jewish orchestra, the same that was mentioned in Act II, is heard playing in the anteroom. It is evening. In the larger drawing-room they are dancing the grand chain. The voice of Seyonov-Pishtchik: “Promenade à une paire!” Then enter the drawing-room in couples, first Pishtchik and Charlotta Ivanovna, then Trofimov and Lyubov Andreyevna, thirdly Anya with the Post-Office Clerk, fourthly Varya with the Station Master, and other guests. Varya is quietly weeping and wiping away her tears as she dances. In the last couple is Dunyasha. They move across the drawing-room. Pishtchik shouts: “Grand rond, balancez!” and “Les Cavaliers à genou et remerciez vos dames.”

	Firs in a swallowtail coat brings in seltzer water on a tray. Pishtchik and Trofimov enter the drawing-room.
Pishtchik	I am a full-blooded man; I have already had two strokes. Dancing’s hard work for me, but as they say, if you’re in the pack, you must bark with the rest. I’m as strong, I may say, as a horse. My parent, who would have his joke⁠—may the Kingdom of Heaven be his!⁠—used to say about our origin that the ancient stock of the Semyonov-Pishtchiks was derived from the very horse that Caligula made a member of the senate sits down. But I’ve no money, that’s where the mischief is. A hungry dog believes in nothing but meat⁠ ⁠… snores, but at once wakes up. That’s like me⁠ ⁠… I can think of nothing but money.
Trofimov	There really is something horsy about your appearance.
Pishtchik	Well⁠ ⁠… a horse is a fine beast⁠ ⁠… a horse can be sold.
	There is the sound of billiards being played in an adjoining room. Varya appears in the arch leading to the larger drawing-room.
Trofimov	Teasing. Madame Lopahin! Madame Lopahin!
Varya	Angrily. Mangy-looking gentleman!
Trofimov	Yes, I am a mangy-looking gentleman, and I’m proud of it!
Varya	Pondering bitterly. Here we have hired musicians and nothing to pay them! Goes out.
Trofimov	To Pishtchik. If the energy you have wasted during your lifetime in trying to find the money to pay your interest, had gone to something else, you might in the end have turned the world upside down.
Pishtchik	Nietzsche, the philosopher, a very great and celebrated man⁠ ⁠… of enormous intellect⁠ ⁠… says in his works, that one can make forged banknotes.
Trofimov	Why, have you read Nietzsche?
Pishtchik	What next⁠ ⁠… Dashenka told me.⁠ ⁠… And now I am in such a position, I might just as well forge banknotes. The day after tomorrow I must pay 310 roubles⁠—130 I have procured feels in his pockets, in alarm. The money’s gone! I have lost my money! Through his tears. Where’s the money? Gleefully. Why here it is behind the lining.⁠ ⁠… It has made me hot all over.
	Enter Lyubov Andreyevna and Charlotta Ivanovna.
Lyubov	Hums the Lezginka. Why is Leonid so long? What can he be doing in town? To Dunyasha. Offer the musicians some tea.
Trofimov	The sale hasn’t taken place, most likely.
Lyubov	It’s the wrong time to have the orchestra, and the wrong time to give a dance. Well, never mind sits down and hums softly.
Charlotta	Gives Pishtchik a pack of cards. Here’s a pack of cards. Think of any card you like.
Pishtchik	I’ve thought of one.
Charlotta	Shuffle the pack now. That’s right. Give it here, my dear Mr. Pishtchik. Ein, zwei, drei⁠—now look, it’s in your breast pocket.
Pishtchik	Taking a card out of his breast pocket. The eight of spades! Perfectly right! Wonderingly. Fancy that now!
Charlotta	Holding pack of cards in her hands, to Trofimov. Tell me quickly which is the top card.
Trofimov	Well, the queen of spades.
Charlotta	It is! To Pishtchik. Well, which card is uppermost?
Pishtchik	The ace of hearts.
Charlotta	It is! Claps her hands, pack of cards disappears. Ah! what lovely weather it is today!
	A mysterious feminine voice which seems coming out of the floor answers her. “Oh, yes, it’s magnificent weather, madam.”
Charlotta	You are my perfect ideal.
Voice	And I greatly admire you too, madam.
Station Master	Applauding. The lady ventriloquist⁠—bravo!
Pishtchik	Wonderingly. Fancy that now! Most enchanting Charlotta Ivanovna. I’m simply in love with you.
Charlotta	In love? Shrugging shoulders. What do you know of love, guter Mensch, aber schlechter Musikant.
Trofimov	Pats Pishtchik on the shoulder. You dear old horse.⁠ ⁠…
Charlotta	Attention, please! Another trick! Takes a travelling rug from a chair. Here’s a very good rug; I want to sell it shaking it out. Doesn’t anyone want to buy it?
Pishtchik	Wonderingly. Fancy that!
Charlotta	Ein, zwei, drei! Quickly picks up rug she has dropped; behind the rug stands Anya; she makes a curtsey, runs to her mother, embraces her and runs back into the larger drawing-room amidst general enthusiasm.
Lyubov	Applauds. Bravo! Bravo!
Charlotta	Now again! Ein, zwei, drei! Lifts up the rug; behind the rug stands Varya, bowing.
Pishtchik	Wonderingly. Fancy that now!
Charlotta	That’s the end throws the rug at Pishtchik, makes a curtsey, runs into the larger drawing-room.
Pishtchik	Hurries after