Sonya. My father bought this estate as a dowry for my sister. Till now I have been simple; I did not interpret the law like a Turk, but thought that my sister’s estate passed to Sonya.
Serebryakov
Yes, the estate belongs to Sonya. Who disputes it? Without Sonya’s consent I shall not venture to sell it. Besides, I am proposing to do it for Sonya’s benefit.
Voynitsky
It’s inconceivable, inconceivable! Either I have gone out of my mind, or … or …
Marya
Jean, don’t contradict Alexandr. Believe me, he knows better than we do what is for the best.
Voynitsky
No; give me some water drinks water. Say what you like—say what you like!
Serebryakov
I don’t understand why you are so upset. I don’t say that my plan is ideal. If everyone thinks it unsuitable, I will not insist on it.
A pause.
Telyegin
In confusion. I cherish for learning, your Excellency, not simply a feeling of reverence, but a sort of family feeling. My brother Grigory Ilyitch’s wife’s brother—perhaps you know him?—Konstantin Trofimitch Lakedemonov, was an M.A. …
Voynitsky
Stop, Waffles; we are talking of business. … Wait a little—later. … To Serebryakov. Here, ask him. The estate was bought from his uncle.
Serebryakov
Oh! why should I ask him? What for?
Voynitsky
The estate was bought at the time for ninety-five thousand roubles. My father paid only seventy thousand, and twenty-five thousand remained on mortgage. Now, listen. … The estate would never have been bought if I had not renounced my share of the inheritance in favour of my sister, whom I loved dearly. What’s more, I worked for ten years like a slave and paid off all the mortgage. …
Serebryakov
I regret that I broached the subject.
Voynitsky
The estate is free from debt and in a good condition only owing to my personal efforts. And now that I am old I am to be kicked out of it!
Serebryakov
I don’t understand what you are aiming at.
Voynitsky
I have been managing this estate for twenty-five years. I have worked and sent you money like the most conscientious steward, and you have never thanked me once in all these years. All that time—both when I was young and now—you have given me five hundred roubles a year as salary—a beggarly wage!—and it never occurred to you to add a rouble to it.
Serebryakov
Ivan Petrovitch, how could I tell? I am not a practical man, and don’t understand these things. You could have added as much to it as you chose.
Voynitsky
Why didn’t I steal? How is it you don’t all despise me because I didn’t steal? It would have been right and I shouldn’t have been a pauper now!
Marya
Sternly. Jean!
Telyegin
In agitation. Vanya, my dear soul, don’t, don’t … I am all of a tremble. … Why spoil our good relations? Kisses him. You mustn’t.
Voynitsky
For twenty-five years I have been here within these four walls with mother, buried like a mole. … All our thoughts and feelings belonged to you alone. By day we talked of you and your labours. We were proud of you; with reverence we uttered your name. We wasted our nights reading books and magazines for which now I have the deepest contempt!
Telyegin
Don’t, Vanya, don’t … I can’t stand it. …
Serebryakov
Wrathfully. I don’t know what it is you want.
Voynitsky
To us you were a being of a higher order, and we knew your articles by heart. … But now my eyes are opened! I see it all! You write of art, but you know nothing about art! All those works of yours I used to love are not worth a brass farthing! You have deceived us!
Serebryakov
Do stop him! I am going!
Yelena
Ivan Petrovitch, I insist on your being silent! Do you hear?
Voynitsky
I won’t be silent. Preventing Serebryakov from passing. Stay! I have not finished. You have destroyed my life! I have not lived! I have not lived! Thanks to you, I have ruined and wasted the best years of my life. You are my bitterest enemy.
Telyegin
I can’t bear it … I can’t bear it … I must go goes out, in violent agitation.
Serebryakov
What do you want from me? And what right have you to speak to me like this? You nonentity! If the estate is yours, take it. I don’t want it!
Yelena
I am going away from this hell this very minute screams. I can’t put up with it any longer!
Voynitsky
My life is ruined! I had talent, I had courage, I had intelligence! If I had had a normal life I might have been a Schopenhauer, a Dostoevsky. … Oh, I am talking like an idiot! I am going mad. … Mother, I am in despair! Mother!
Marya
Sternly. Do as Alexandr tells you.
Sonya
Kneeling down before the nurse and huddling up to her. Nurse, darling! Nurse, darling!
Voynitsky
Mother! What am I to do? Don’t speak; there’s no need! I know what I must do! To Serebryakov. You shall remember me! Goes out through middle door.
Marya Vassilyevna follows him.
Serebryakov
This is beyond everything! Take that madman away! I cannot live under the same roof with him. He is always there points to the middle door—almost beside me. … Let him move into the village, or into the lodge, or I will move; but remain in the same house with him I cannot. …
Yelena
To her husband. We will leave this place today! We must pack up this minute!
Serebryakov
An utterly insignificant creature!
Sonya
On her knees, turns her head towards her father; hysterical through her tears. You must be merciful, father! Uncle Vanya and I are so unhappy! Mastering her despair. You must be merciful! Remember how, when you were younger, Uncle Vanya and grandmamma sat up all night translating books for you, copying your manuscripts … all night … all night … Uncle Vanya and I worked without resting—we were afraid to spend a farthing on ourselves and sent it all to you. … We did not eat the bread of idleness. I
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