THREE SISTERS

By
Anton Chekhov
adaptation by Doug Grissom

Copyright 2017 by Doug Grissom

 Cast of Characters
: All Ages are Act One
The Prozorovs:

Olga: late 20’s

Masha: mid 20’s
Irina: early 20’s

Andrei: mid 20’s

The Others:
Natasha: Andrei’s fiance, early 20’s

Kulygin: teacher, husband of Masha,

mid-20’s
Vershinin: Battery Commander, 40’s
Baron Tuzenbach: Lieutenant, late 20’s

Chebutikin: Army doctor, 60’s

Fedptik: 2nd Lieutenant, mid 20’s
Rode: 2nd Lieutenant, mid 20’s

Ferapont: servant, old

Anfisa: servant, old
Solyony: Army Captain, 30
 ACT ONE
The house of the Prozorovs. A
living room beyond which a dining
room is visible. We need to see
both the drawing room and the
dining room clearly, but they need
to read as separate spaces. People
can call from one to the other, but
the idea is that conversations are
confined to each room. Set
designer’s problem.
Mid-day; bright and sunny. Table in
dining room being set by ANFISA
(old), the servant, for lunch. In
the living room OLGA (late 20’s),
maybe in uniform of high school
teacher, correcting papers. MASHA
(mid 20’s), black dress, reading a
book. IRINA (19), white dress, is
sitting deep in thought.

OLGA
Father died a year ago today. Your name day, Irina.
IRINA
Don’t talk about it.

OLGA
(clock strikes)
And the clock stuck then too.
(beat)
And nobody came to the funeral. He was a general! They had a
band. Nobody was there.
IRINA
Just stop.
BARON TUZENBACH (late 20’s), DOCTOR
CHEBUTIKIN (60), and SOLYONY (30)
come into the dining room.
OLGA
So warm today, but the birch trees haven’t bloomed. It’s
just how it was when we left Moscow; it’s been 11 years, do
you know that?
CHEBUTYKIN
Want to bet? Let’s make a bet!
 2.

TUZENBACH
Nonsense.
Masha starts whistling.
OLGA
Don’t whistle!
(pause)
I have headaches; constantly. I teach all day, tutor till
dark. I think like an old woman. All I hope--

IRINA
--is to go back to Moscow. Sell the house, finish it all
here--
OLGA
Yes.

IRINA
When Andre becomes a professor he won’t want to live
here. Then it’s just Masha...
OLGA
She can come to Moscow all summer, every summer.
IRINA
I love this weather.
OLGA
You’re radiant today. And Masha is always beautiful. Andrey
would be handsome but he got fat. I’m old, I’m too thin. I
get angry at the girls at school. But today I feel good,
relaxed, no headaches.

TUZENBACH
Oh shut up; you annoy me.
(coming into the room)
I forgot to tell you - our new battalion commander,
Vershinin, is coming to visit you.

OLGA
Nice.
IRINA
Is he old?

TUZENBACH
Not especially. Forty, forty-five? He’s alright; he’s not
obnoxious. Talks a lot.
IRINA
Is it interesting when he talks a lot?
 3.

TUZENBACH
Occasionally. He has a wife, a mother in law, two daughters;
and this is his second marriage. His wife is stupid; uses
big words, has no idea what they mean. She attempts suicide
on a regular basis; to annoy her husband I think.

SOLYONY
--now with one hand, I can lift 50 pounds; with two hands I
life 150; therefore, two men are at least three times
stronger than one man, see?

CHEBUTYKIN
(reading newspaper)
--for hair falling out...two scruples napththalene, dissolve
it in surgical spirit, use it every day.
IRINA
Doctor.
CHEBUTYKIN
Yes, little sparrow?
IRINA
Why am I happy today?
CHEBUTYKIN
White bird...
IRINA
I woke up this morning and suddenly realized. We need to
work, that’s it. If we work, that’s our purpose, our
ambition. It must be fantastic to work all day, get up at
dawn and...break stones or make a...I don’t know, road or
something. How do they do that? Or be a shepherd!

CHEBUTYKIN
Oh, of course.
OLGA
Father trained us to get up at seven. Now Irina wakes at
seven and lies in bed till ten. And see how serious she
looks!
IRINA
You think I’m a child. I am serious! I’m nineteen!

TUZENBACH
I understand the craving for work because I’ve never
worked. One day a storm will come, a deluge, and it’ll wash
away laziness, indifference, and boredom. I’ll work;
everyone will work.
 4.

CHEBUTYKIN
I won’t work.
TUZENBACH
You don’t matter.
SOLYONY
In 25 years we’ll be dead, thank God. In a couple of years
you’ll have a stroke and be gone. Or I’ll just blow your
brains out.
CHEBUTYKIN
They call me doctor, but I’ve never done anything. Since I
left the University I’ve never picked up a pen, or a book; I
read nothing but newspapers.
(a knock is heard below)
Someone for me...I’ll be back.
He goes out hurriedly, combing his
beard.

IRINA
What’s he up to?
TUZENBACH
Probably bringing you a present.

IRINA
Oh no.
OLGA
Silly man.

MASHA
By the sea-strand, a green oak, on that oak a chain of
gold..on that oak a chain of gold...
(humming softly)

OLGA
You’re moody today. Where are you going?
MASHA
Home.

IRINA
Why?
TUZENBACH
Walking out on a name-day party?

MASHA
I’ll come back later. Good-bye sweet girl.
(kisses Irina)
 5.

IRINA
Cheer up--
OLGA
I understand, Masha.

SOLYONY
If a man philosophizes, it’s philosophy; if a woman
philosophizes, it’s babbling.
MASHA
What do you mean, you awful man?
SOLYONY
Nothing; you attacked me before I finished.
MASHA
(to Olga)
Stop crying.
Enter ANFISA and FERAPONT (old)
carrying a cake.

ANFISA
Come on, your boots are clean.
(to Irina)
From the District Council, from Mihail Ivanitch Protopopov,
behold...a cake.

IRINA
Thanks. Thank him for me.
FERAPONT
What?

IRINA
(loudly)
Thank him for me!
OLGA
Anfisa dear, give him something to eat.
(loudly, to Ferapont)
They will give you something to eat!
FERAPONT
Eh?

ANFISA
Come along, come along...
Anfisa exits with Ferapont.
 6.

MASHA
I don’t like Protopopov, that Mihail or whatever his name
is, "Mr. District Council." Why’d you invite him?
IRINA
I didn’t invite him.
MASHA
Good.
Enter Chebutkin with a samovar;
displeasure all around.
CHEBUTYKIN
And allow me to present--
OLGA
Oh God...
Goes out to the table in dining
room.
IRINA
No, no..
TUZENBACH
(laughing)
I warned you.

MASHA
(to Chebutykin)
What are you thinking?
CHEBUTYKIN
What’s wrong? You girls, are all I have in my life, all I
care for, anyway. I’m an old man, alone, useless, you’re my
only light.
IRINA
But these expensive presents...it’s too much.

CHEBUTYKIN
Expensive presents! Is that all you--
(to somebody)
take the samovar in there; "expensive presents."

ANFISA
Excuse me, a colonel is here, a new one. He’s taken off his
coat, he’s coming in; Irina, be polite at least; and it’s
already past lunchtime, I don’t know what to do--
(she exits)
 7.

TUZENBACH
Vershinin.
(enter VERSHININ, 40’s)
Lieutenant Colonel Vershinin.

VERSHININ
I have the honor to introduce myself. My name is Vershinin.
Delighted to see you all; and you’ve grown up! My Lord!
IRINA
Please sit down; we’re so glad you came.

VERSHININ
I am glad, very glad indeed! But there are three sisters,
aren’t there? I remember three little girls.
TUZENBACH
Colonel Vershinin comes from Moscow.
IRINA
You’re from Moscow?
VERSHININ
Of course; your father was in charge of a battery there; I
was an officer is that brigade.
(to Masha)
Now your face looks a little familiar.
MASHA
I don’t remember you.
IRINA
Olga! Come here!

Olga comes out of the dining room.

IRINA
Lieutenant Colonel Vershinin is from Moscow.
VERSHININ
And you’re Olga, the oldest; and you’re Masha, and you’re
the young one, Irina.
OLGA
You come from Moscow?

VERSHININ
I studied there, began my service there, served there for
years, and finally I’ve been given a battery - here; I’ve
moved here. That’s why I’m...well, here. I used to visit you
in Moscow.
 8.

OLGA
I thought I remembered everyone, but now...
VERSHININ
My name is Alexander Ignatyevitch Versinin.

IRINA
Alexander Ignatyevich. From Moscow.
OLGA
We’re moving there.

IRINA
We’ll be there by autumn. It’s our home, we were born there,
in Basmannaya Street.
MASHA
To see someone from Moscow right here! I remember! The
Love-Sick Major! Remember, Olga? You were a lieutenant, in
love, and they teased you by calling you major.
VERSHININ
That’s...me; the love sick major.

MASHA
You had a mustache; and now you’re old.
VERSHININ
When I was the love sick major I was young, in love. Now
it’s different.
OLGA
You don’t have a single gray hair. You’re older, but not
old.

VERSHININ
When did you leave Moscow?
IRINA
Eleven years ago.

OLGA
You’ll miss it. It’s always cold here, and mosquitoes...
VERSHININ
No! You’ve got a fine, healthy Russian climate; you have
forest, river, and birches! Delicate, modest birches; it’s
my favorite tree!
OLGA
Now I know who you are. I remember.
 9.

VERSHININ
I knew your mother too.
CHEBUTYKIN
She was a wonderful woman. I still miss her.

Violin is heard
OLGA
That’s Andrei playing; our brother.

IRINA
He’s the scholar of the family. He’ll be a professor soon.
OLGA
We’ve been teasing him; he’s a little in love.

IRINA
With a local lady; she’ll probably come today.
MASHA
(to Vershinin)
"Lady." The way she dresses. Her clothes aren’t exactly
ugly, they’re just pitiful. A yellow skirt with a hideous
orange fringe, and a red blouse. And her complexion, well.
Andrei’s not in love with her; He’s kidding us. In fact I
heard yesterday she’s going to marry Protopopov. Andrei!
Come here!--just for a minute!

ANDREI (mid 20’s) enters.

OLGA
Our brother, Andrei Sergeyevitch.
VERSHININ
Hello, I’m Vershinin.
ANDREI
You’re taking command of the battery?

OLGA
And he’s from Moscow.
ANDREI
Oh, you’ve done it; now my sisters will drive you mad.

IRINA
Look at this nice frame Andrei gave me today.
(she shows it)
He made it himself!
 10.

VERSHININ
(beat; not sure what to say)
Yes...that is...a thing.

IRINA
And he made that frame there, on the mantle.
VERSHININ
Well...that’s...incredible.

OLGA
He’s got a degree, plays the violin, makes all kinds of
things out of wood.
(Andrei starts to walk away)
Don’t leave Andrei!

Masha and Irina take his arms and

pulls him back.
MASHA
Come on!

ANDREI
Please leave me alone.
MASHA
He was called the Love Sick Major and didn’t mind--

VERSHININ
Not a bit.
MASHA
And you’re the love sick fiddler!

IRINA
The love sick professor!
OLGA
Little Andrei in love!

ANDREI
Stop! I couldn’t sleep all night; I’m not myself. Read till
four, tried to sleep, but started thinking; God. This summer
I’m going to translate a book from English.
VERSHININ
You read English?
ANDREI
Our father, rest his soul, crammed education down our
throats. It’s odd, after he died I started to gain weight,
and now I’m fat. Yes, thanks to father we know English,
French and German, and Irina also knows Italian. Hooray.
 11.

MASHA
To know three languages in this town; ridiculous. It’s like
having an extra nose. We know too much.

VERSHININ
Know too much! There’s no town that doesn’t need an
educated, cultured person. Let’s say in this entire town
there are only three people like yourself. You can’t change
the imbeciles around you, that’s true; and yes, as you grow
older, you’ll become one of them. But...you won’t disappear
without influencing others; and after you’re gone, those
people will influence still other, maybe six, then twelve,
then twenty-four, until finally people like you will be the
majority. And in a hundred or two hundred years, life will
be beautiful, sane and peaceful. All because you know three
languages.
MASHA
I’ll stay to lunch.
Andrei has gone out before this.

TUZENBACH
One day life might be beautiful, but we have to prepare for
it now by working, working, by constantly--
VERSHININ
Look at these flowers! A charming house. I’ve spent my whole
life in rooms with two chairs, one sofa, and fireplaces that
leak smoke.
TUZENBACH
Yes! We must work! In fact I was just saying--
VERSHININ
Just think! If this life could be a sort of rough draft for
another; and in the other we wouldn’t do the same things,
we’d always live in rooms with flowers and light. I have a
wife. And two daughters. My wife’s health is...delicate. If
I had another life would I marry? No.
Enter KULIGIN (mid 20’s). He goes
to Irina.

KULIGIN
Dear sister, allow me to congratulate you on the day sacred
to your good angel and wish you, sincerely and from the
bottom of my heart,good health, happiness, wisdom, good
fortune and...all that anybody could ever wish for a young
girl of your age, on your name-day. And then let me offer
you this book as a present. It is the history of our high
school over the last 50 years, written by myself. The book
is worthless; I only wrote it because I had nothing else to
do, but read it anyway. Good day, gentlemen!
 12.

(to Vershinin)
My name is Kuligin; I am a master of the local high school
with the rank of Assistant Councilor of Pedagogics. I’m also
the honored husband of that lady right over there, named
Masha.
(to Irina)
In the this book you will find a list of everyone who has
graduated from our high school in the last 50 years.

He kisses Masha.
IRINA
You gave me one of these at Easter.
KULIGIN
Impossible! Oh well. Give it to colonel. Please accept it,
Colonel. One day when you’re very bored, read it.
VERSHININ
Thank you. I’m very glad to have made your acquaintance--

OLGA
You’re not going?--
IRINA
Stay for lunch, you must.

OLGA
Yes please.
VERSHININ
(bowing)
I have invaded a name-day party. Forgive me, I didn’t know.
But thank you, I’ll stay.
He walks away with Olga into the
dining room.

KULIGIN
As today is Sunday, the day of rest, so let us rest and
rejoice, each in a manner compatible with his age and
disposition. The Romans were healthy because they knew how
to work and knew how to rest, mens sana in corpore sano. I
am very pleased with life today. My wonderful wife loves me,
who could wish more than that? Masha, we’ve got to be at the
headmaster’s at four; they’re taking all of us on a walk.
MASHA
I’m not going.

KULIGIN
(hurt)
Why not?
 13.

MASHA
Because I...all right, I’ll go, just..don’t bother me now,
please.
She walks a little away.

KULIGIN
And we’ll spend the evening there. His health is bad, but he
tries so hard to be sociable, even when he’s moaning and
complaining constantly.
(looks at the clock, then his watch)
Your clock is seven minutes fast. Yes, he’s an excellent
man, isn’t he, Masha?
Sound of a violin
OLGA
Come to lunch, please There’s pie!
CHEBUTYKIN
Pie?! Splendid!
MASHA
(to Chebutkin)
Don’t drink today. It’s bad for you.
CHEBUTYKIN
Haven’t been drunk in two years. It doesn’t matter anyway.

MASHA
I’m telling you don’t drink, I...oh who cares, I’m going to
die tonight of boredom anyway.
TUZENBACH
Don’t go.
CHEBUTYKI
Absolutely; don’t go.
MASHA
Oh yes, don’t go! This life...
She goes to dining room.
CHEBUTYKI
(following her)
Now, now...
SOLYONY
(going to dining room)
Chook, chook!
(a goose sound?)
 14.

TUZENBACH
Stop that!
SOLYONY
Chook, chook!

KULIGIN
To your health, Colonel! I’m a teacher and one of the family
here, Masha’s husband. She’s very kind you know, very very
kind...

VERSHININ
I’ll have some dark vodka.
(drinks)
To your health. I do like it here.
Only Irina and Tuzenbach are in the
drawing room.
IRINA
Masha’s sad. She married at 18; she thought he was
brilliant. Imagine that.

OLGA
Andrei, come on!
ANDREI
I’m coming.

Comes in and goes to table.

TUZENBACH
What are you thinking?
IRINA
Nothing. I don’t like Solyony. I’m a little afraid of him,
and he’s obnoxious.
TUZENBACH
He’s actually shy. When it’s just us he’s friendly,
intelligent,but in company he’s a savage. Don’t go, let them
eat without us. What are you thinking? Stay with me. You
know I love you--
IRINA
Don’t talk like that.

TUZENBACH
You’re beautiful to me, and so life is beautiful. What are
you thinking?
 15.

IRINA
Life is beautiful. Not for me and my sisters; it’s
suffocating. But I’ll work! The reason we’re always
depressed is that we don’t work; we come from people that
despised work...
Enter NATASHA (early 20’s)
NATASHA
(to herself)
They’re eating, I’m late.
(looks at herself in mirror)
My hair is all right...I think.
(seeing Irina)
Dear Irina Sergeyevna, congratulations!
(kisses her)
So many visitors, I’m sorry, I’m late, so sorry, hello
Baron.
Olga enters from dining room.

OLGA
Here’s Natasha; how are you, dear?
They kiss.
NATASHA
Yes, thank you, I mean, so many people here, I...I don’t
know.
OLGA
No, they’re all friends!
(in an undertone)
A green sash? Oh no no no..
NATASHA
Is it a bad omen?

OLGA
No, it doesn’t go with your dress; doesn’t look right.
NATASHA
(crushed)
R-really? But it isn’t really green, it’s kind of a dull
color. I mean, isn’t it?
Goes into dining-room with Olga.
They are all in the dining room
now.

KULIGIN
(to Irina)
I hope you’ll have a beau soon, it’s quite time you married.
 16.

CHEBUTYKI
I wish the same!
KULIGIN
Of course Natasha...has a fiance already...

MASHA
(raps with her fork on a plate)
Let’s all get drunk and make life purple!
KULIGIN
Now, now, three demerits for saying that.
VERSHININ
(drinking something)
This is nice, what’s it made of?

SOLYONY
Cockroaches.
IRINA
Hideous man.

OLGA
We’re having roast turkey and apple pie for supper. Thank
God I’m not working today. Please, all of you come again
this evening?
VERSHININ
Me too?
IRINA
Please.
NATASHA
So informal here...
CHEBUTYKIN
Nature created our hearts for love--

ANDREI
Stop it!

MASHA
By the sea strand a green oak, on the tree a chain of
gold...why do I keep saying that?
KULIGIN
Thirteen at table!
 17.

KULIGIN
That means someone’s in love; is it you, Doctor?
CHEBUTYKIN
I’m a degenerate! Why is Natasha blushing?

Loud laughter, Natasha runs into

the living room, followed by
Andrei.
ANDREI
Ignore them - wait!
NATASHA
I can’t--they’re laughing at me--
ANDREI
No, they’re joking, they’re kind, they care for us, come
over here.
NATASHA
I’m not used to people, they scare me--

ANDREI
--they can’t see us, I love you, I can’t help it, I’m so
happy, marry me, I’ve never loved like this before...marry
me!
They kiss. Raucous laughter from
everyone else; not directed at
Andrei and Natasha, just laughing.
 18.

CURTAIN
 19.

ACT II
Same setting as Act One. Two years
later. Eight o’clock at
night. Accordion music from the
street. No light. Natasha enters in
dressing gown, carrying a candle.
Stops at door leading to Andrei’s
room.
NATASHA
What are you doing, Andrei? Reading?
Andrei enters with book.
ANDREI
What is it?

NATASHA
It’s carnival, the servants are acting odd, we need to watch
them. Last night at midnight I came through here and a
candle was left burning. What time is is?

ANDREI
Quarter past eight.
NATASHA
Olga and Irina aren’t in yet. Still at work. Poor girls.
Olga at school, Irina at the telegraph office. I told her
today, "take care of yourself, Irina;" but she won’t listen.
I’m afraid our Bobik is sick, he’s so cold; yesterday he had
a fever and today he’s cold, I’m worried.
ANDREI
It’s fine, Natasha.
NATASHA
We need to watch his food. Those Carnival singers are coming
at 9:00; we shouldn’t let them.

ANDREI
Well they’ve been invited.
NATASHA
He woke up this morning, looked at me and smiled, he knew
me! "Good morning, Bobik!" I said - and he laughed!
Children understand, they always understand. I’ll tell them
not to let the singers come.
ANDREI
That’s for my sisters to decide - it’s their house.
 20.

NATASHA
They’ll do what I ask, they’re so kind. I ordered yogurt for
supper, that’s what the doctor said, yogurt and nothing
else, or you won’t lose that weight. Bobik is cold, his room
is too cold. Let’s put him in another room until the weather
warms up; Irina’s room for instance. I’ll ask her, she can
share Olga’s room, she’s not home all day anyway, she just
sleeps here. Why don’t you ever talk, Andrei?
ANDREI
Nothing to say.

NATASHA
Oh!--I meant to tell you; Ferapont has come from the Council
office, he wants to see you.
ANDREI
(yawning)
Fine.
Natasha exits. Andrei starts to
read his book; stops; stares
straight ahead. Ferapont enters.

ANDREI
Hello; what’s the problem?
FERAPONT
No problem; the chairman sent a book and some documents.

Hands him the material.

ANDREI
Why couldn’t you come earlier?

FERAPONT
What?
ANDREI
(louder)
You’ve come late, it’s past eight.
FERAPONT
I came earlier, they wouldn’t let me in. They said you were
busy. Well, if you’re busy, you’re busy, and I’m in no
hurry.
(thinks Andrei is asking him something)
What?
ANDREI
Nothing. Today, I took out this book - old university
lectures. I’m secretary of the local district council, and
my highest ambition is to become a member of the council!
(MORE)
 21.

ANDREI (cont’d)
Pathetic. I dream every night I’m a professor in Moscow. I’m
an ass.
FERAPONT
Well, perhaps. What? I can’t hear well...
ANDREI
Thank God or I wouldn’t talk like this to you. Have to talk
to somebody, and my wife...well. And I’m afraid of my
sisters. They make me ashamed. I don’t drink, but right now
I’d like to be getting drunk in Moscow.
FERAPONT
Moscow? That’s where a contractor told me that some shop
owners were eating pancakes; one ate 40 pancakes, and then
he died. It was 40 or 50, I can’t remember which.

ANDREI
There you can sit in a restaurant, you don’t know anyone and
they don’t know you...but you feel at home. Here you know
everybody and they know you...and you’re a stranger--

FERAPONT
What? And the same contractor told me - maybe he was lying -
that there was a rope that stretched right across Moscow.
ANDREI
A rope? What for?

FERAPONT
No idea. The contractor said it was true. But he could be
lying.

ANDREI
Have you ever been to Moscow?
FERAPONT
No. God never sent me there. Can I please leave?

ANDREI
Yes. Take care of yourself.
(Ferapont exits)
Come tomorrow morning and pick up these papers. You can go.
(looks up to see he’s already gone)
Oh.

A ring. He gets up and goes to his

room. Sound of a nanny singing,
rocking a baby to sleep. Masha and
Vershinin enter.
 22.

MASHA
--maybe it’s different other places, but in this town the
only decent and honorable people are in the army...
VERSHININ
I’m thirsty, I’d like some tea.
MASHA
They’ll bring it soon. When I married I was only 18, and I
was a bit afraid of my husband because he was a teacher. I
thought he was intelligent, scholarly, and important.

VERSHININ
I see...
MASHA
Oh he’s fine, I’m used to him, but the townspeople...they’re
so dull and stupid. And when I have to go to school
functions and mingle with teachers...
(she shudders)
VERSHININ
Military or civilian, no difference; in this town they’re
all boring.
MASHA
You’re cheerful.
VERSHININ
I had no dinner, nothing to eat all day; my daughter is
sick; it worries me...makes me feel guilty that she has such
a horrible mother. I can only say this to you.
MASHA
That noise in the oven--hear that? Before father died there
was the same noise.
VERSHININ
Superstitious?

MASHA
Yes.
VERSHININ
You’re so odd. You know I love you. When I dream I see your
eyes.

MASHA
(laughing softly)
Why do I laugh when you say things like that?...but it
scares me, don’t do it again. Never mind, keep going, say it
again---wait, someone’s coming.
 23.

Irina and Tuzenbach come in through

dining room.
TUZENBACH
...and I have a triple name - Baron
Tuzenbach-Krone-Altschauer...

IRINA
I’m so tired.
TUZENBACH
And I’ll come to your office every night, for ten years, for
twenty, until you drive me away with a fork.
(seing Masha and Vershinin)
Oh, hello!
IRINA
A woman came tonight to telegraph her brother in Saratov, to
tell him that her son died today. She forgot the address,
then starting crying. I was mean to her, told her I needed
the address right away. Are the Carnival people coming?
MASHA
Yes.
IRINA
I have to rest first.
TUZENBACH
After work, you seem so young, so sad...
IRINA
I’m tired! And I hate the work.
MASHA
You’re getting thin.
IRINA
I wanted to work with meaning, with poetry, not like this.
(a knock on the floor)
That’s the doctor. Knock back for me.
(TUZENBACH knocks on the floor)
He’ll come up. He and Andrei were at the club yesterday and
lost again. I heard Andrei lost two hundred rubles.
MASHA
Well. Can’t be helped now.
IRINA
Two weeks ago he lost money, in December he lost money. I
wish he’d go ahead and lose everything, then maybe we’d
leave this town.
(pause)
(MORE)
 24.

IRINA (cont’d)
We can still go to Moscow. We could move in June. We just
need to get through February. Then March; then April; then
May...

MASHA
Don’t tell Natasha he’s been losing.
IRINA
She probably doesn’t care.

Chebutykin comes into the dining

room, sits at the table and takes a
newspaper out of his pocket.
MASHA
(referring to Chebutykin)
Has he paid his rent?
IRINA
Not for eight months.
MASHA
(laughing)
How somber he looks
They all laugh.
IRINA
(to Vershinin)
Why are you so quiet?
VERSHININ
I don’t know. I want tea. I’d give my left leg for a glass
of tea. All right then. Let’s imagine the life after us, two
hundred years, three...
TUZENBACH
When we’re dead, men will fly in balloons, wear different
clothes, maybe grow a third arm, but nothing will change.
Life will remain sad, happy, mysterious. They’ll still say
life is too hard, but won’t want to die.
VERSHININ
Everything is changing now, but slowly, bit by bit. In five
hundred, a thousand years, doesn’t matter, a new, happy,
fulfilling life will come. That’s what we’re working and
suffering for, that’s our meaning, that’s our happiness. For
the future.
TUZENBACH
The future has never done anything for anybody. Remember
that.
 25.

(Masha laughs)
What?
MASHA
I don’t know. I’ve been laughing stupidly all day.

CHEBUTYKIN
(reading paper)
Balzak was married at Berditchev. I have to write that down.
(he writes)
Balzak was married at Berditchev.

IRINA
Balzak was married at Berditchev.
TUZENBACH
I did it, Masha. I resigned my commission.

MASHA
I heard. What for? I don’t like civilians.
TUZENBACH
I’m not good-looking enough for a soldier. I’m going to
work. At least for one day in my life I’m going to work,
come home tired and fall asleep as soon as I get to bed.
Working people sleep so soundly. What a brilliant life they
have!
Natasha enters and does something,
and then Solyony enters.
VERSHININ
What a wind tonight.
MASHA
I’m sick of winter; I forget what summer feels like.
CHEBUTYKIN
(reading newspaper)
Tsitsiklar. Smallpox is raging there.

ANFISA
Masha come to tea.
(to Vershinin)
And you - what’s your name?

MASHA
Bring it over here.
IRINA
Anfisa!
 26.

ANFISA
I’m coming!
NATASHA
(to Solyony)
Babies understand everything. Today I said, "Good Morning,
Bobik!" and he looked at me with a wise eye - he did. He’s
simply perfect.
SOLYONY
If he was my child I’d fry him in a skillet and eat him.

NATASHA
You’re horrible!
Solyony goes to the dining room and
sits.

MASHA
If I were in Moscow, I wouldn’t mind the weather.
VERSHININ
Yesterday I was reading the prison diary of French convict.
He writes that when he was in prison, what joy it was for
him to watch the birds through his prison window, birds he
never noticed before. Now that he’s free, he doesn’t notice
birds. When you move to Moscow it’ll be the same thing; you
won’t notice it at all.

TUZENBACH
Where are the candies?
IRINA
Solyony ate them.

TUZENBACH
All of them?
ANFISA
(to Vershinin)
Letter for you sir.
VERSHININ
(taking letter)
From my daughter.
(reads)
Naturally.
(to Masha)
Excuse me, I’ll slip away. No tea for me. Dammit.
MASHA
What is it?
 27.

VERSHININ
My wife has taken poison again.
(kisses Masha’s hand and exits)
ANFISA
Where’s he going?--I just served him tea!
MASHA
Leave me alone! What can I do? Don’t bother me!
ANFISA
What did I say?
ANDREI
(from offstage)
Anfisa!

ANFISA
(mocking)
Anfisa! He sits there and...
(she exits)
MASHA
(in the dining room, by the table)
Move, let me sit down!
IRINA
What’s wrong?

MASHA
Don’t talk to me; don’t touch me.
CHEBUTYKIN
Don’t touch her, don’t touch her...

MASHA
You’re old but act like a child; what’s wrong with you?
NATASHA
Oh, Masha dear - with your pretty face you could be charming
in society, but the way you talk. Everyone sees you’re
beautiful, but then you open your mouth. I’m only being
honest - Je vous prie, pardonnez moi, Marie, mais vous avez
des manieres un peu grossieres.
TUZENBACH
(trying not to laugh)
Oh God; give me some cognac!
NATASHA
Il parait, que mon Bobick deja ne dort pas, he’s woken up I
think. My son’s not feeling well, excuse me...
 28.

Natasha exits.
IRINA
Where did Colonel Vershinin go?
MASHA
Home. Something with his wife again.
TUZENBACH goes to Solyony with the
cognac.

TUZENBACH
You’re always sitting by yourself, darkly ruminating. Let’s
make peace, have some cognac.
SOLYONY
Make peace? I wasn’t arguing.

TUZENBACH
I always think you’re a little angry with me. You have to
admit, you’re very strange.
SOLYONY
I know. But isn’t everybody? I’m...you see...being around a
lot of people makes me...say things. But I’m more honest
than most. You’ll see.
TUZENBACH
Oh, I like you anyway. Now drink! We’re going to drink all
night.
SOLYONY
I always do.
(they drink)

Andrei enters with a book and sits.

CHEBUTYKIN
(to Irina)
And the food was fresh onion soup and for a roast, they had
chehartma.
SOLYONY
Cheremsha isn’t meat, it’s a plant like an onion.
CHEBUTYKIN
No, you puppy, it’s not onion, it’s roast mutton.
SOLYONY
No, it’s a sort of onion.
 29.

CHEBUTYKIN
No, it’s roast mutton.
SOLYONY
No, it’s a sort of onion.

CHEBUTYKIN
It’s mutton it’s mutton it’s mutton! You’ve never been in
the Caucaseus, and never ate chehartma!
SOLYONY
I never ate it because I hate onions!
ANDREI
Stop!!
TUZENBACH
When are the entertainers coming?
IRINA
They said around nine; so, soon.
TUZENBACH
(embracing Andrey and singing)
Oh my house, my house, my fine fine house..
ANDREI
(dances and sings)
Newly built of maple wood...

CHEBUTYKIN
(dances and sings)
It’s walls are like a sieve
They all laugh.

TUZENBACH
(to Andrei)
Yes - drink, drink, and we’ll go with you to the University
of Moscow.

SOLYONY
Which one? There are two universities in Moscow.
ANDREI
There’s only one.

SOLYONY
No, there’s two.
ANDREI
I don’t care! Maybe there’s fifty.
 30.

SOLYONY
There are two universities in Moscow; the old one and the
new one, and if you won’t listen to me, I’ll go to another
room.
(exits)

TUZENBACH
Bravo! A grand exit! Funny man.
MASHA
(dancing by herself)
The Baron’s drunk, the Baron’s drunk, the Baron’s drunk...
Natasha enters.
NATASHA
(to Chebutikin)
Doctor!
(whispers something to Chebutikin, then
exits. Chebutikin touches Tuzenbach on
the shoulder and whispers something to
him)

IRINA
What?
CHEBUTYKIN
Time for us to go. Goodbye.

TUZENBACH
Yes, time we went home.
IRINA
But the entertainers will be here any minute.

ANDREI
There won’t be any entertainers. Natasha says Bobik isn’t
well, you see, and...oh, I don’t care.
IRINA
(distainfully)
Bobik isn’t well.
MASHA
Why did she do that!? Oh, all right. It’s not Bobik that’s
sick, it’s her.

Andrei exits, Chebutikin follows

him; in the dining room they are
saying goodbye.
 31.

MASHA
Let’s go outside; we can talk there.
Goodbyes, etc; all exit. Anfisa
enters, starts clearing the table.
Andrey wearing an overcoat, and
Chebutikin enter.
CHEBUTYKIN
I never married, life flashed by too fast. Also because I
was in love with your mother. But she was married to your
father.
ANDREI
Nobody should get married.
CHEBUTYKIN
Loneliness is a terrible thing, Andrei. But it doesn’t
matter, I suppose.
ANDREI
Lets go.

CHEBUTYKIN
Why are you in such a hurry?
ANDREI
Before Natasha stops me.

CHEBUTYKIN
Ah!
ANDREI
I won’t play cards tonight, I’ll just watch. I don’t feel
well, my asthma; what can I do for it?

CHEBUTYKIN
How should I know?
ANDREI
You’re a doctor.

CHEBUTYKIN
I don’t remember anything.
They exit. The doorbell rings; then
again. Irina enters.
IRINA
Who’s that?
 32.

ANFISA
The entertainers.
Doorbell.

IRINA
Send them home, tell them...tell them something.
Anfisa goes out; Irina walks around
the room, thinking; Solyeny enters.
SOLYONY
Where is everybody?
IRINA
Gone home.
SOLYONY
Are you here alone?
IRINA
Yes, alone; goodnight.
SOLYONY
I behaved badly tonight, said stupid things; but you aren’t
like the others, you understand how I really am. I love you.

IRINA
Go away.
SOLYONY
I do, I love you...your eyes alone--

IRINA
Stop it!
SOLYONY
Please understand....I...I....
(pause)
I can’t make you love me. It’s all right. But if another
man...I won’t have that. Your eyes...
Natasha enters in her nightgown,
goes to the door of Andrei’s room.

NATASHA
Must be in there; let him read.
(notices Solyony)
Oh! I didn’t know you were here! I’m practically naked!

SOLYONY
I don’t care; goodbye.
(exits)
 33.

NATASHA
You’re tired, aren’t you? You should always go to bed
earlier...
IRINA
Is Bobik asleep?
NATASHA
Yes, but not soundly. Oh, I keep meaning to ask
you...Bobik’s nursery is cold and damp and your room is so
nice for a baby. You could move into Olga’s room! For a
time, I mean.
IRINA
(not understanding)
Where?

NATASHA
You’d be in the same room with Olga, and Bobik in your
room. He’s so sweet; I said to him today, "little Bobik,
you are mine, my little groundhog," and the way he looked at
me, he knew exactly what I said.
(doorbell)
That must be Olga; she’s so late.
(Anfisa enters and whispers in Natasha’s
ear)
Protopopov? How funny!
(to Irina)
Protopopov is here, and wants me to take a sleigh ride with
him! Isn’t that funny? Well, I might go, just for a few
minutes; it’s so funny, isn’t it?
(to Anfisa)
Tell him I’ll be right there.
(Anfisa leaves; another doorbell)
Now that must be Olga.
Natasha rushes out. Irina sits
staring blankly; Kulygin, Olga and
Vershinin enter.

KULYGIN
I thought there was going to be a party!
VERSHININ
When I left the room was full, and the Carnival people--?

IRINA
Everyone’s gone.
KULYGIN
Masha too? Where did she go? And why is Protopopov out there
in his sleigh?
 34.

IRINA
I don’t know, I’m tired...
KULYGIN
Oh...
(understanding)
oh! Natasha’s a bad little girl...
OLGA
The meeting is just now over. God, my head aches. Andrei
lost two hundred rubles yesterday; the whole town is talking
about it. I’m exhausted.
KULYGIN
Yes, it tired me out too.
VERSHININ
My wife wanted to scare me again; this time she almost did
die. It’s all right now. Well; I’ll say goodnight then.
(to Kulygin)
Let’s go somewhere; I don’t want to go home now.
KULYGIN
No, I’m too tired. Did Masha go home?
IRINA
Probably.
KULYGIN
(kissing Irina’s hand)
Goodnight. I have all day tomorrow and the next day to rest.
Goodnight. I did want tea, thought tonight would be a party.
O fallacem hominum spem!
VERSHININ
I’ll go out alone then.
Vershinin and Kulygin exit.
OLGA
My head hurts...Andrei lost at cards...I’m going to lie
down. Tomorrow I’ll have off...I can rest. Oh, my head...
(she exits)
IRINA
All gone. No one left.

Accordion plays in the street;

Anfisa sings. Natasha, in nice
clothes, crosses the dining room,
talking over her shoulder to
Anfisa:)
 35.

NATASHA
I’ll be back in a half-hour, or a little more; not long at
all.
(she exits; Irina alone)

IRINA
(staring blankly straight ahead)
Moscow. Moscow....
CURTAIN
 36.

ACT THREE
About a year later.The room shared
by Olga and Irina. 2:00 a.m. A
fire-alarm is ringing. Masha is
lying on a sofa dressed in black.
Enter Olga and Anfisa.
ANFISA
They’re downstairs. I asked them to come up but they kept
crying "we don’t know where papa is - he may be burned
up." In the yard are some people, no coats, bare arms...
OLGA
Take this grey dress...and this...and the blouse...the skirt
too. My God, how awful. All of Kirsanovsky Road must have
burned. Take this...and this. The Vershinins house was
partially burned; they should sleep here tonight.
ANFISA
Can’t you call Ferapont; I can’t manage all this.
OLGA
(rings a bell)
He won’t answer.
(goes to door, calls out)
Ferapont! Somebody! This is awful..
(Ferapont enters)
Take these things down; the Kolotilin girls are downstairs;
let them have this too.
FERAPONT
In the year 1812 Moscow was burning too. And Napolean came -
wasn’t he surprised!

OLGA
Go on, go on...
FERAPONT
Yes miss.
(he exits)
OLGA
Give them everything. We don’t need anything, give it all
away. I can barely stand. Don’t let the Vershinins go home.
Of course the doctor is drunk; probably on purpose so nobody
can call him.
ANFISA
Olga dear, please, don’t get rid of me, don’t send me away!

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 37.

OLGA
What are talking about; nobody’s sending you away.
ANFISA
I’m working, I do my best, but I’m getting old, everyone
will say "send her away", and where would I go?

OLGA
You’re tired; sit down. You’re so pale; just rest.
Natasha enters.

NATASHA
They say we should form a committee to help those whose
houses have burned. It’s a good idea; we should always help
the poor, it’s the duty of the rich. There are so many
people in the house, every room is full. There’s influenza
in the town; I’m afraid the children will get it.
OLGA
From this room you can’t see the fire, thank God. It’s
quiet.

NATASHA
Yes; my hair must be a mess.
(looking in a mirror)
They say I’ve gained weight but it isn’t true. Masha’s worn
out, she’s asleep, poor dear.
(Noticing Anfisa)
Don’t you sit down in my presence! Get up! Leave the room!
(Anfisa quicky exits; to Olga:)
Why you keep that old woman I don’t understand!
OLGA
Excuse me?

NATASHA
She’s no good anymore; she’s a peasant, she needs to be with
her people. We need order in the house, not useless people
crowding us. You’re tired, aren’t you? Our future head
mistress is tired; when Sophie starts school I’ll be quite
afraid of you.
OLGA
I won’t be head mistress.

NATASHA
It’s settled, Olga; they’ll appoint you.
OLGA
I’ll refuse; I don’t need more work. You were mean to
Anfisa; I can’t stand that. It upsets me.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 38.

NATASHA
Oh, I’m sorry; forgive me; I didn’t mean to hurt your
feelings.
Masha gets up angrily, grabs her
pillow and exits.
OLGA
It’s the way we were brought up, maybe it seems strange to
you, but such behavior...

NATASHA
I’m so sorry, please forgive me...
OLGA
Rudeness hurts me.

NATASHA
I say too much, sometimes, it’s true. But you must see she
would be just as happy in the country, maybe happier.
OLGA
She’s been with us thirty years.

NATASHA
But she can’t work now, she can’t do anything, she sleeps
and sits around.
OLGA
Well let her sit.
NATASHA
Olga, she’s only a servant. I don’t understand you. I’ve got
a wet nurse, we’ve got a cook, a housemaid, why do we need
that old woman? What good is she?
Sound of fire alarm.
OLGA
I’ve aged 10 years tonight.

NATASHA
Olga...dear...we need to understand each other. You’re at
school all day, I’m home; you’re teaching while I’m taking
care of the house, I’m dealing with the servants. So I know
what I’m talking about. And that old woman, that parasite!
She’s going away tomorrow! And don’t stop me! I won’t have
it! And, dear dear Olga, if you don’t move downstairs, we’ll
always be arguing like this! It’s awful; it upsets me.
Kulygin enters.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 39.

KULYGIN
Where’s Masha? We need to go home. The fire’s dying down.
Only one part of the town burned badly, but a wind came up
and it looked like the whole town would be destroyed. My God
I’m tired. You know, Olga, I sometimes think...if it wasn’t
for Masha I would have married you. You’re a good person.
(hears something)
OLGA
What’s that?

KULYGIN
The doctor is hopelessly drunk. I think he’s coming up. What
a man. I’ll hide.
(he stands in a corner or somewhere)
OLGA
He didn’t drink for two years.
Chebutykin enters.
CHEBUTYKIN
The hell with all of them. They think I’m a doctor, I can
cure everything; I can’t do anything, I’ve forgotten
everything I knew. Hell with them! Last week I treated a
woman at Zasyp; she died, and it was completely my fault. 25
years ago I knew something, but it’s gone. That
woman...comes back when I close my eyes; I can’t forget her.

Irina, Vershinin and Tuzenbach

enter; Tuzenbach in civilian
clothes.
IRINA
Sit down; nobody will come in here.
VERSHININ
The whole town would have burned if it weren’t for the
soldiers. Splendid people.

KULYGIN
What time is it?
TUZENBACH
Past three; getting light.

IRINA
They’re all in the dining room; nobody’s going to leave;
that Solyony’s in there too.
(to Chebutykin)
You should go to bed, doctor.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 40.

CHEBUTYKIN
Don’t call me doctor! I’m fine.
KULYGIN
(to Chebutykin)
You’ve been hitting the bottle, doctor! Bravo! In vino
veritas, as the ancients used to say.
TUZENBACH
People asked me to organize a concert; for the benefit of
families who’ve lost their homes.

IRINA
What good will that do?
TUZENBACH
We could do it; Masha plays the piano superbly.

KULYGIN
Yes, she does.
IRINA
She’s forgotten how; hasn’t played for three or four years.

Chebutykin picks up a clock and

examines it.
VERSHININ
I’m filthy from the fire. I heard yesterday that our brigade
may be transferred. Some say to Poland, others Tchita.
TUZENBACH
I heard that too. This town will be a desert.
IRINA
We’ll go away too.
Chebutykin drops the clock, which
smashes.
CHEBUTYKIN
Smithereens!
KULYGIN
What did you do?

IRINA
That clock belonged to mother.
CHEBUTYKIN
To your mother...your mother. Maybe I didn’t break it, only
looks like I did. I don’t know, nobody knows anything.
Natasha is having a little affair with Protopopov, and you
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 41.

CHEBUTYKIN (cont’d)
don’t see it. You sit here and see nothing, and Natasha has
her little affair.
(singing)
"May I offer you a fig...?"

Chebutykin exits.
VERSHININ
(laughs)
When the fire began I ran home. The house was safe, but my
girls were standing in the doorway. Their mother God knows
where. People running, screaming; dogs running everywhere;
chaos. I took their hands and ran here. And here was my
wife, screaming, crying, angry.
(Masha comes in with the pillow and sits
on the sofa)
Never mind; think of the future. Two,three hundred years...I
know, I’m philosophizing again. But I need to. Eventually
life on earth will be rich and full and beautiful. Here
there are only you sisters, but in generations to come there
will be six, then 12...;in a strange mood today. I want to
actually live.

MASHA
Tram-tam-tam!
VERSHININ
Tam-tam!

MASHA
Tra-ra-ra?
VERSHININ
(laughing)
Tra-ta-ta!

Solyony enters.

IRINA
No; go away; you can’t stay here.
SOLYONY
The baron can be here and I can’t?

VERSHININ
We should go; how’s the fire?
SOLYONY
Dying down; no, really, why is he here and not me!?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 42.

VERSHININ
Tram-tam-tam!
MASHA
Tram-tam!

VERSHININ
(to Solyony)
Let’s go to the dining room.
SOLYONY
All right; I won’t stay and provoke the geese...chook chook!
(or whatever geese sound like; they go
out)
IRINA
I hate him. Baron, wake up!

TUZENBACH
(waking up)
I’m tired. Brick-yard. Not talking in my sleep. I really am
going to the brick factory, to work; it’s almost settled.
(to Irina)
You’re so pale and lovely. So pale you light up the room.
You’re sad...come with me; let’s work together.
MASHA
Baron go away.

TUZENBACH
You’re here too? Didn’t see you..all right, I’m going.
(to Irina)
I remember your name-day. You talked of the joy of work, and
you were happy. What happened? I’d give my life for you....

MASHA
Oh, please go, this is too much....
TUZENBACH
Yes. Goodbye.
(he exits)
MASHA
(to Kulygin)
Are you asleep?

KULYGIN
Eh?
MASHA
You should go home.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 43.

KULYGIN
My sweet Masha, my precious--
IRINA
She’s very tired. Let her rest, Fedya.

KULYGIN
Of course. Masha, I love you so much...
MASHA
(angrily)
Amo, amas, amat; amamus, amatis, amant.
KULYGIN
You’ve been my wife seven years, our wedding seems like
yesterday, doesn’t it? I’m content. I really am content.

MASHA
And I’m bored! And there’s something else, it’s a nail in my
head--Andrei...he mortgaged the house to the bank and his
wife grabbed the money, and this house doesn’t belong to
just him, but to us four! It’s ours!

KULYGIN
Why worry about it, Masha? Andrei is in debt to everyone, so
there it is.
MASHA
It’s a nail in my head.
(she lies down)
KULYGIN
But we’re not poor; I work. The high school, private
lessons. I do my duty. Omnia mea mecum porto.

MASHA
It’s not that, I don’t want anything; but it’s not right,
it’s not right.
KULYGIN
(kisses her)
You’re tired. Rest a half hour, and I’ll sit out there and
wait.
(he goes)
I’m content, Masha. I am.

IRINA
Andrei was working towards a professorship. Yesterday he was
bragging about becoming a member of the District Council.
He’s a member with Protopopov as chairman. The whole town is
laughing at him. And tonight--everyone running to the fire,
he sits in his room the whole time. Playing that damn
violin.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 44.

(Olga comes in an begins tidying.)

I can’t stand it.
OLGA
What? What’s the matter?

IRINA
I don’t remember the Italian word for window! Every day I
forget a little more, life is running away from me, we’ll
never go to Moscow, and I don’t know the Italian for
ceiling, either!

OLGA
Shhh.....
IRINA
I can’t work anymore. First a telegraph clerk, now in town
council, and I despise every scrap of work they throw at me;
I’m thin and ugly and there’s nothing, nothing!--that gives
me the slightest satisfaction...
OLGA
Don’t cry, I can’t stand to see you cry...

IRINA
I’m not crying; it’s over; I’m fine.
OLGA
Listen to me. As a sister, as a friend, as someone who loves
you...marry the Baron.
(Irina weeps)
You respect him, you like him. He’s not good looking, but
he’s nice. Nobody marries for love, not really. You know
that. That’s in books. I’d marry without love. I’d marry
anyone that proposed...even an old man...as long as he’s a
good man. He doesn’t even have to be that good.
IRINA
I always thought we’d move to Moscow and there I would meet
someone. I’ve been dreaming of him, I’ve been loving him all
these years...
OLGA
When the Baron left the army and come here in civilian
clothes the first time...he was so ugly he made me cry. But
you know, I don’t think he’s quite as ugly now.

Natasha comes in by one door, walks

across the room, and exits through
another door without speaking.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 45.

MASHA
She walks around like she started the fire. She probably
wanted to.
OLGA
You’re the silliest person in the family, do you know that?
MASHA
I want to tell you both something. I’ll never say this
again. I’m in love. I love Vershinin.

OLGA
Stop; I don’t want to listen to it.
(walking a bit away)
MASHA
What can I do? At first he was so odd; then I felt sorry for
him, then one day I loved him.
OLGA
I’m not listening; you can say anything you want, I can’t
hear it.

MASHA
I love him, and it’s terrifying. Is it wrong? I don’t know.
And don’t tell me you know either.
Andrei and Ferapont enter.

ANDREI
(angry)
What do you want?
FERAPONT
I’ve told you ten times already, Andrei.
ANDREI
I’m not Andrei to you! I’m "your honor!"
FERAPONT
The firemen ask permission, your honor, to go through the
garden on their way to the river. Otherwise they’ll have to
go around, which will be hard. Your honor.
ANDREI
All right; tell them all right!
(Ferapont leaves)
I’m sick of him.
(pause)
What a tremendous fire! Dammit! Ferapont made me so mad that
I said something rude. "Your honor."
(to Olga)

(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 46.

ANDREI (cont’d)
Why don’t you say something? All right. It’s time to stop
all the whispering; since you’re all here. Let’s have it
out. What do you have against me? What?

OLGA
Please, let’s talk about it tomorrow...
ANDREI
Don’t get excited, I’m asking calmly...what is the problem
you all have with me? Tell me.

Vershinin’s voice is heard

VERSHININ
(offstage)
Tram-tam-tam!

MASHA
(standing up, loudly)
Tra-ta-ta. Good night Olga, sweet dreams.
(kisses her)
Good night Irina, sweet dreams.
(kisses her)
Good night, Andrei; leave them alone now, they’re tired.
Good night.
(she goes out)
OLGA
Yes, please wait till tomorrow, we have to get to bed.
ANDREI
Fine. I’ll say what I have to say and then go. For some
strange reason you don’t like Natasha. She’s a wonderful
woman; concientious, straightforward, honorable--she is! I
love and respect her, hear me? I respect her and insist you
respect her too. All the faults you see are in your
imaginations.
(Pause)
Another thing: you seem disappointed, and angry, with me for
not being a professor. But I am a proud member of the
District Council! And that is as sacred and noble as being a
scholar; more!
(pause)
And I’ve mortaged the house. Without getting your
permission. For that I’m sorry, and ask that you forgive me.
I had to do it...because of some debts. Thirty-five thousand
if you need to know. But I’m not gambling now. I gave up
cards.
Pause; Kulygin enters

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 47.

KULYGIN
Isn’t Masha here? Where is she? Strange.
(no one answers; he goes out)
ANDREI
(pacing)
You won’t listen to me. Natasha’s an excellent woman,
excellent wife...when I married her, I thought we’d be
happy....all of us...but my God!
(collapses; pause)
I’m sorry, I’m sorry...don’t believe this....don’t believe
any of it.
He exits; Kuligin comes back in.
KULYGIN
Where’s Masha? Isn’t Masha here?
(no one answers)
How strange!
He exits. Firebell rings in the
street.

IRINA
The brigade is leaving, transferred to some place far away.
OLGA
It’s a rumor.

IRINA
Then we’ll be alone. Olga?
OLGA
Yes?

IRINA
I do respect the Baron. He’s is a fine man. I’ll marry him.
To hell with Moscow.
CURTAIN
 48.

ACT FOUR
Garden with a verandah, a table on
it with bottles of champagne and
glasses. Noon. CHEBUTYKIN is in a
good mood throughout the act, sits
in an easy chair. Wearing military
cap. IRINA, KULYGIN (with a medal
on his chest) and TUZENBACH.

TUZENBACH
(looking at watch)
Not long now. Three batteries today, three tomorrow, then
the town will be quiet.

KULIGIN
Very.
CHEBUTYKIN
I’m going tomorrow. In a year I’ll retire, then I’ll come
back here. One year and I’ll get my pension. I’ll come back
and be different; I’ll be a quiet, respectable person.
IRINA
Well, you do need to completely change your personality,
that’s true.

CHEBUTYKIN
Oh, I will, I’m sure I will.
KULYGIN
You won’t reform, Doctor! - We can’t reform him.

CHEBUTYKIN
If you appreciated me I’d reform.
At the back of the stage, Andrei is
wheeling a baby carriage.

IRINA
(to Chebutykin)
You were on the boulevard last night, weren’t you? Tell me
what happened.

CHEBUTYKIN
Nothing. Nothing to speak of.
KULYGIN
I heard Solyony and the Baron met there last night.

TUZENBACH
Stop that talk; you see me right here.
(he goes into the house)
 49.

KULYGIN
What I heard was...Solyony kept mocking the Baron, who lost
his temper and said something..
CHEBUTYKIN
Pigfeathers! You don’t know.
KULYGIN
I’ve heard...Solyony is in love with Irina and is jealous of
the Baron. Makes sense. Irina is very nice.

From the background a voice hollers

something; Irina jumps.
IRINA
Everything startles me today.
(pause)
All my things are ready; after dinner I’ll send off my
luggage. Tomorrow we’ll marry, then he’ll go to the brick
factory and the day after that I’ll be teaching school.
(cheerfully)
A new life beginning!
(mood changes)
God help me.
KULYGIN
All that doesn’t seem real.
IRINA
What do you mean?
KULYGIN
It’s like you’re talking abstract ideas. Not sure what I
mean by that. But I wish you all happiness!

CHEBUTYKIN
(to Irina)
My girl, little sparrow. Fly away.
KULYGIN
The soldiers will be gone, everything will go back ast it
was before they came. Say anything you want. Masha is a
good, honest woman. She makes me happy, I love her very,
very much.
IRINA
Protopopov is here; in the dining room.
KULYGIN
Olga isn’t here?
 50.

IRINA
No; they sent for her. It’s hard to live here alone, without
Olga. Since she’s headmistress and lives at the school I
never see her, I’m alone, I’m bored, I hate the room I live
in. I know we’re never going to Moscow. When the Baron
proposed for the 50th time...he’s a good man, it’s
remarkable how good he is...I agreed. And when I did, I
suddenly felt light, happy: I was floating. But last
night...I heard something.
CHEBUTYKIN
It’s nothing - pigfeathers!
Natasha calls to them from inside.
NATASHA
Our headmistress is here!

KULYGIN
Let’s go in.
Kulygin and Irina go into the
house.

CHEBUTYKIN
(reading newspaper; softly:)
Tarara-boom-dee-ay...
Masha approaches.

MASHA
And there he is, snug and smug.
CHEBUTYKIN
Well why not?
Masha sits down. Pause.
MASHA
Did you really love my mother?

Pause.
CHEBUTYKIN
Yes. Very much.

MASHA
Did she love you?
Pause
 51.

CHEBUTYKIN
I don’t remember.
Pause
MASHA
When you get happiness in tiny bits, snatching them here and
there...you get hard and bitter. I’m boiling inside.
ANDREI
When will they be quiet in there?

CHEBUTYKIN
Soon. The first, second and fifth batteries are going at
one, I’m going tomorrow.
ANDREI
Something happened last night; everyone’s whispering about
it, won’t tell me anything.
CHEBUTYKIN
Solyony and the Baron got into it and Solyony challenged the
Baron to a duel. Not far away, just beyond the river.
Getting close to time in fact, twelve thirty or so. I’ll
have to be there, as a supposed doctor. This is his third
duel.
MASHA
Whose?

CHEBUTYKIN
Solyony’s.
MASHA
And the Baron’s?

CHEBUTYKIN
What about him?
MASHA
Stop them, the Baron could be wounded or even killed.
CHEBUTYKIN
I like him well enough, but one baron more or less in the
world, what does it matter?

ANDREI
A duel is immoral; to be a doctor and do nothing to stop it
is also immoral.
CHEBUTYKIN
Maybe we’re not real, nothing is real, ever think of that?
 52.

MASHA
(referring to people inside)
How do they keep talking; what for? What is there to talk
about? I’m not going in there...when Vershinin comes, tell
me...

She walks away to another part of

the garden.
ANDREI
The officers are going, you’re going, Irina is getting
married, I’ll be all alone.
CHEBUTYKIN
What about your wife?
ANDREI
A wife is a wife.
(Ferapont enters with papers)
Oh she’s splendid of course, an honest, well-bred woman,
excellent woman...but there’s something about her that’s
depraved and repulsive. She’s like a horrible, hairy animal.
Anyway, she’s not a human being. Oh, of course I love
Natasha, it’s just that most of the time she makes me want
to blow my brains out.
CHEBUTYKIN
(getting up)
I’m going away tomorrow, maybe I’ll never see you again, so
listen. Put on your cap, pack up your bag and walk
off...keep walking, don’t look back...keep walking until you
don’t know where you are. The farther, the better.
Solyony enters.

SOLYONY
It’s time; half-past twelve.
CHEBUTYKIN
All right.
(to Andrei)
If anyone asks, say I’ll be back shortly. God, I’m sick of
this.
SOLYONY
What are you groaning about, old man?

CHEBUTYKIN
Shut up.
SOLYONY
How are you feeling?
 53.

CHEBUTYKIN
None of your business.

SOLYONY
The old man is excited. Don’t worry, it won’t be much, I’ll
just clip his wing a little. Teach him not to insult me,
that’s all.
Solyony and Chebutykin exit.

FERAPONT
Your honor. Papers for you to sign.
ANDREI
Leave me alone!

Andrei exits with baby carriage.

FERAPONT
That’s what papers are for! To be signed!

Ferapont follows him out while

Irina and Tuzenbach enter; Kulygin
crosses the stage calling for
Masha.
TUZENBACH
I’m the only man in town happy the soldiers are leaving.
IRINA
That’s natural.

TUZENBACH
Irina...I’ll be back in a little while.
IRINA
Where are you going?

TUZENBACH
To see my old comrades off.
IRINA
That’s not true. You’ve been distracted all day.
(pause)
What happened on the boulevard last night?
TUZENBACH
(briskly)
Be back in an hour; less.
(takes her hand)
It’s five years since I fell in love with you, I can’t
believe it, and you’re more beautiful today. Those eyes.
Tomorrow we’ll go away, we’ll work, maybe we’ll be rich!
You’ll be happy, I promise. I know you don’t love me.
 54.

IRINA
I’ll be your wife, I’ll be faithful, but I can’t love you.
I’m sorry. I’ve never been in love; maybe I don’t know how.
I used to dream of falling in love all the time...maybe
that’s why I can’t love a real person.
(pause)
TUZENBACH
Say something to me.
IRINA
What?
TUZENBACH
Anything.
IRINA
I don’t know, I can’t think..what do you mean?
(pause)
TUZENBACH
The birches, these maples; I see them as if for the first
time. Beautiful trees...how wonderful life should be under
them. Look how that tree is dead, but waves in the wind with
the others; it’s still a part of life, isn’t it?
(kisses her hand)
Goodbye.
IRINA
I’m coming with you.
TUZENBACH
No!--
(he starts off, then turns)
Irina!
IRINA
Yes?
TUZENBACH
(not knowing what to say)
I...didn’t have coffee this morning! I just
realized. Please ask them to make me some.
He exits quickly. Irina stands for
a moment, then walks back and sits
down. Andrey enters with baby
carriage, with Ferapont behind him.
FERAPONT
--but the papers aren’t mine, they’re from the government--I
didn’t invent them--
 55.

ANDREI
--Our town has a hundred thousand people in it, and everyone
is just like everyone else; not one saint, not one artist,
nobody remarkable - nobody to inspire --they only eat,
drink, sleep and die--The wives decieve their husbands and
the husbands lie to everybody and pretend they don’t see or
hear anything! And the children that grow up in this filth
have all the purity and ideals ripped out of them and they
grow into pitiful dead creatures like their father and
mother--what do you want!?

FERAPONT
There are papers to sign.
ANDREI
You’re an infection!

FERAPONT
(handing him the papers)
The clerk from the court just told me that there was as much
as two hundred degrees of frost in Petersburg last winter.
ANDREI
I do hope for the future...there I see light, I see freedom.
I see myself and my children being free from goose and
cabbage, from naps after dinner...
FERAPONT
He says two thousand people were frozen to death.It was
either in Petersburg or Moscow, I don’t remember.
ANDREI
(in a rush of feeling)
My sisters...

NATASHA
(through the window)
Who’s talking so loud out there? Is it you, Andrei? You’ll
wake baby Sophie in the carriage! Il ne faut pas faire du
bruit, la Sophie est dormee deje. Vous etes un ours.
(angry)
If you want to talk, give the carriage to someone else;
Ferapont, take the baby carriage!
FERAPONT
Yes ma’am.

ANDREI
(confused)
I’m talking quietly.
 56.

NATASHA
(to her child, inside the room)
Bobik! Naughty Bobik! Little rascal!
ANDREI
I’ll look through these, and sign what needs signing, and
then you can take them back to the board.
Andrei goes into the house with the
papers; Ferapont pushes the
carriage farther into the garden.

NATASHA
(indoors)
Bobik, what’s mamma’s name? Little darling! And who is
this?...this is auntie Olga; say to auntie: "good morning,
Olga!"

From the house enters Vershinin,

Olga and Anfisa; Irina comes up.
ANFISA
Good morning Irina! Do you know how happy I am? Living in
the high school with dear Olga, a big apartment, a room to
myself and my own bed! How about that, for an old sinner
like me?
VERSHININ
(to Olga)
We need to go, Olga. I wish you every...every...where is
Masha?
IRINA
Somewhere around here; I’ll look.

VERSHININ
Please; I have to hurry.
ANFISA
I’ll look too.
(shouting)
Mashenka, aa-oo!
Irina and Anfisa exit somewhere.
VERSHININ
The town gave us a kind of lunch; champagne, the mayor made
a speech. But my heart was here.
(looking around)
I’ve gotten used to this.
 57.

OLGA
Will we ever see each other again, you think?
VERSHININ
No. My wife and girls will stay for another two months.
Please, if anything happens, if my girls need anything...

OLGA
Yes of course, of course. Don’t worry about that.
(pause)
After tomorrow, it’ll be a new life for us too. Nothing ever
turns out the way...I didn’t want to be headmistress, and
here I am; we wanted to go to Moscow but...
VERSHININ
Well...thank you for everything. Forgive me if...I did
anything wrong. I know I talked a lot, forgive me for that
too. Don’t think badly of me.
OLGA
(wiping her eyes)
Why doesn’t Masha come?

VERSHININ
What else can I say to you? What can I philosophize about?
(laughs)
Life is hard. But we must realize that as it goes on it gets
clearer and easier, and it looks to me now...
(looks at his watch)
I have to go. Humanity is searching for something and of
course will find it.
(very distracted)
If...you know..hard work was combined with education and
education with hard work...
(looks at his watch)
I have to go.
OLGA
Here she comes.

Masha enters.
VERSHININ
I’ve come to say goodbye.
Olga moves away to give them
privacy.
MASHA
Goodbye...
A long kiss.
 58.

OLGA
(quietly, almost to herself)
Don’t, don’t...
Masha sobs.

VERSHININ
Write to me. Don’t forget me. Let me go...my time is up!
Olga, take her, I need...I’m late...
Embraces Masha again and quickly
goes off.
OLGA
Masha...stop...please.
Kulygin enters.

KULYGIN
Never mind, let her cry. Dear Masha, you’re my wife, and I’m
happy, I swear. I won’t complain, I’ll never blame...Olga
is my witness. We’ll begin our old life again, and I will
never say a word, not a hint...

MASHA
(trying to calm herself)
By the sea a green oak...upon that oak a chain of gold...I’m
going mad...by the sea...a green oak...

OLGA
Shhh...Masha...get her some water.
MASHA
I’m not crying now.

KULYGIN
She’s not crying now, she’ll be fine.
The faint sound of a far-away shot.
NO pause or space before or after
the shot.
MASHA
By the sea strand a green oak tree, upon that oak a chain of
gold, the cat is green, the oak is green, it’s all mixed
up...
(drinks water)
I’ll calm down in a minute; it doesn’t matter; what does
"strand" mean? Why do those words keep...my thoughts are...
OLGA
Shhh...good, good...let’s go inside...
 59.

MASHA
(angry)
I’m not going into that house, I won’t.

IRINA
Let’s sit then; we don’t have to talk. I’m going away,
tomorrow...
Pause

KULYGIN
I took a false beard from a boy in the third grade
yesterday. Look.
(he puts on beard)
Don’t I look just like the German teacher?
(laughs)
MASHA
(smiling)
You really do look like him.

OLGA
(laughs)
Yes you do.
Masha weeps.

IRINA
There...it’s all right...
KULYGIN
Yes, very much like him....

Natasha enters.
NATASHA
(to the maid back inside)
What? Mr. Protopopov will sit next to Sophie and Andrei will
push Bobik’s carriage.
(to the others)
Children take so much work, don’t they? Dear Irina is going
away tomorrow, what a pity; why don’t you stay another week?
(sees Kulygin in the beard, screams)
You scared me!
(back to Irina)
I’m used to you now, and you really won’t be easy to part
with. I’ll put Andrey with his wretched violin in your room,
he can saw away there all day!--and I’ll put Sophie in his
room. She is so adorable! Do you know what she said today?
Guess! You’ll never guess; so I’ll tell you. She looked at
me with those adorable eyes - have you really looked at her
eyes? --they’re stunning, for such a little baby they are
absolutely stunning; anyway, she looked at me with those
very eyes and said....."momma." She really did!
 60.

KULYGIN
Fine child.
NATASHA
And tomorrow I’ll be all alone. So sad. First I’ll have this
avenue of birch trees cut down. Then that maple--it’s
positively ghastly in the evening, isn’t it?
(to Irina)
Oh my dear! That sash isn’t right for you at all, not at
all. Quite bad taste, honestly; you need to wear something
brighter; and then I’ll have flowers planted everywhere and
the scent will just engulf.
(angry)
Why is there a fork on that seat?
(going into the house, to the maid)
Why is a fork lying on that chair!? Hold your tongue!

KULYGIN
Thar she blows.
A band playing a march is heard.
OLGA
They’re going.
Chebutykin enters.
MASHA
All our friends going..happy journey, friends...
(to Kulygin)
We should go home. Where’s my coat?
KULYGIN
I took it into the house; I’ll get it.

Kulygin goes into the house.

OLGA
Yes, let’s all go home, it’s time.

CHEBUTYKIN
Olga.
OLGA
Yes?
(pause)
What?
CHEBUTYKIN
It’s nothing. Come here.
(he whispers in her ear)
 61.

OLGA
No...
CHEBUTYKIN
I’m worn out, nothing to say...
(suddenly angry)
It doesn’t matter!
MASHA
What happened?

OLGA
(putting her arms around Irina)
This is a bad day...
IRINA
(quietly)
Tell me, for God’s sake.
CHEBUTYKIN
The Baron has been killed in a duel.
IRINA
(weeps)
I knew it, I knew...
CHEBUTYKIN
(taking out a paper, sitting down)
I’m worn down...cry, cry....
(softly)
Tarara-boom-dee-ay...it doesn’t matter, not
really...sparrow...
The three sisters are huddled
together.

MASHA
Listen to that band. All going away, all gone. We begin our
life over; again...

IRINA
A time may come when we’ll know what all this is for.
(with resolve)
Let’s believe that. Meanwhile. Tomorrow I’ll teach at the
school. Soon winter will come and cover us with snow, and
we’ll all work.

OLGA
I like the music, it’s so brave. Our life isn’t over.
Eventually we’ll know why we’re living, why it’s...hard. If
we could only know...that’s all we would need. If we could
only know.
 62.

The music is growing softer;

Kulygin brings out the coat,
smiling happily. Andrei wheels out
the baby carriage.

CHEBUTYKIN
(soft; reading his paper)
Tarara-boom-dee-ay...it doesn’t matter, doesn’t matter.
OLGA
If we only knew.

CURTAIN