The Seagull

Izmailov had to say, “We are caught in a trap,” but he said, “We are caught in a tap!” Laughs. A tap! While he is speaking Yakov is busy looking after the luggage. The maid brings Madame Arkadin her hat, her coat, her umbrella and her gloves; they all help Madame Arkadin to put on her things. The man-cook looks in at the door on left and after some hesitation comes in. Enter Polina Andreyevna, then Sorin and Medvedenko. Polina With a basket. Here are some plums for the journey.⁠ ⁠… Very sweet ones. You may be glad to have something nice.⁠ ⁠… Madame Arkadin You are very kind, Polina Andreyevna. Polina Goodbye, my dear! If anything has not been to your liking, forgive it weeps. Madame Arkadin Embraces her. Everything has been nice, everything! But you mustn’t cry. Polina The time flies so fast! Madame Arkadin There’s no help for it. Sorin In a greatcoat with a cape to it, with his hat on and a stick in his hand, enters from door on left, crossing the stage. Sister, it’s time to start, or you may be too late after all. I am going to get into the carriage goes out. Medvedenko And I shall walk to the station⁠ ⁠… to see you off. I’ll be there in no time⁠ ⁠… goes out. Madame Arkadin Goodbye, dear friends.⁠ ⁠… If we are all alive and well, we shall meet again next summer. The maid, the cook and Yakov kiss her hand. Don’t forget me. Gives the cook a rouble. Here’s a rouble for the three of you. The Cook We humbly thank you, madam! Good journey to you! We are very grateful for your kindness! Yakov May God give you good luck! Shamraev You might rejoice our hearts with a letter! Goodbye, Boris Alexeyevitch! Madame Arkadin Where is Konstantin? Tell him that I am starting; I must say goodbye. Well, don’t remember evil against me. To Yakov. I gave the cook a rouble. It’s for the three of you. All go out on right. The stage is empty. Behind the scenes the noise that is usual when people are being seen off. The maid comes back to fetch the basket of plums from the table and goes out again. Trigorin Coming back. I have forgotten my stick. I believe it is out there, on the verandah goes and, at door on left, meets Nina who is coming in. Is that you? We are going.⁠ ⁠… Nina I felt that we should see each other once more. Excitedly. Boris Alexeyevitch, I have come to a decision, the die is cast, I am going on the stage. I shall be gone from here tomorrow; I am leaving my father, I am abandoning everything, I am beginning a new life. Like you, I am going⁠ ⁠… to Moscow. We shall meet there. Trigorin Looking round. Stay at the Slavyansky Bazaar⁠ ⁠… Let me know at once⁠ ⁠… Molchanovka, Groholsky House.⁠ ⁠… I am in a hurry⁠ ⁠… a pause. Nina One minute more.⁠ ⁠… Trigorin In an undertone. You are so lovely.⁠ ⁠… Oh, what happiness to think that we shall see each other soon! She sinks on his breast. I shall see again those wonderful eyes, that inexpressibly beautiful tender smile⁠ ⁠… those soft features, the expression of angelic purity.⁠ ⁠… My darling⁠ ⁠… a prolonged kiss. Curtain. Between the Third and Fourth Acts there is an interval of two years.

Act IV

One of the drawing-rooms in Sorin’s house, which has been turned into a study for Konstantin Treplev. On the right and left, doors leading to inner apartments. In the middle, glass door leading on to the verandah. Besides the usual drawing-room furniture there is, in corner on right, a writing-table, near door on left, a sofa, a bookcase and books in windows and on the chairs. Evening. There is a single lamp alight with a shade on it. It is half dark. There is the sound of the trees rustling, and the wind howling in the chimney. A watchman is tapping. Enter Medvedenko and Masha.

Masha	Calling. Konstantin Gavrilitch! Konstantin Gavrilitch! Looking round. No, there is no one here. The old man keeps asking every minute, where is Kostya, where is Kostya? He cannot live without him.⁠ ⁠…
Medvedenko	He is afraid of being alone. Listening. What awful weather! This is the second day of it.
Masha	Turns up the lamp. There are waves on the lake. Great big ones.
Medvedenko	How dark it is in the garden! We ought to have told them to break up that stage in the garden. It stands as bare and ugly as a skeleton, and the curtain flaps in the wind. When I passed it yesterday evening, it seemed as though someone were crying in it.
Masha	What next⁠ ⁠… a pause.
Medvedenko	Let us go home, Masha.
Masha	Shakes her head. I shall stay here for the night.
Medvedenko	In an imploring voice. Masha, do come! Our baby must be hungry.
Masha	Nonsense. Matryona will feed him a pause.
Medvedenko	I am sorry for him. He has been three nights now without his mother.
Masha	You are a bore. In old days you used at least to discuss general subjects, but now it is only home, baby, home, baby⁠—that’s all one can get out of you.
Medvedenko	Come along, Masha!
Masha	Go by yourself.
Medvedenko	Your father won’t let me have a horse.
Masha	Yes, he will. You ask, and he will.
Medvedenko	Very well, I’ll ask. Then you will come tomorrow?
Masha	Taking a pinch of snuff. Very well, tomorrow. How you pester me.
	Enter Treplev and Polina Andreyevna; Treplev brings in pillows and a quilt, and Polina Andreyevna sheets and pillowcases; they lay them on the sofa, then Treplev goes to his table and sits down.
Masha	What’s this for, mother?
Polina	Pyotr Nikolayevitch asked us to make a bed for him in Kostya’s room.
Masha	Let me do it makes the