按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The Sea…Gull
The Sea…Gull
by Anton Checkov
1
… Page 2…
The Sea…Gull
CHARACTERS
IRINA ABKADINA； an actress
CONSTANTINE TREPLIEFF； her son
PETER SORIN； her brother
NINA ZARIETCHNAYA； a young girl； the daughter of a rich
landowner
ILIA SHAMRAEFF； the manager of SORIN'S estate
PAULINA； his wife
MASHA； their daughter
BORIS TRIGORIN； an author
EUGENE DORN； a doctor
SIMON MEDVIEDENKO； a schoolmaster
JACOB； a workman
A COOK
A MAIDSERVANT
The scene is laid on SORIN'S estate。 Two years elapse between the
third and fourth acts。
2
… Page 3…
The Sea…Gull
ACT I
The scene is laid in the park on SORIN'S estate。 A broad avenue of
trees leads away from the audience toward a lake which lies lost in the
depths of the park。 The avenue is obstructed by a rough stage； temporarily
erected for the performance of amateur theatricals； and which screens the
lake from view。 There is a dense growth of bushes to the left and right of
the stage。 A few chairs and a little table are placed in front of the stage。
The sun has just set。 JACOB and some other workmen are heard
hammering and coughing on the stage behind the lowered curtain。
MASHA and MEDVIEDENKO come in from the left； returning from
a walk。
MEDVIEDENKO。 Why do you always wear mourning？
MASHA。 I dress in black to match my life。 I am unhappy。
MEDVIEDENKO。 Why should you be unhappy？ ＇Thinking it over＇ I
don't understand it。 You are healthy； and though your father is not rich； he
has a good competency。 My life is far harder than yours。 I only have
twenty…three roubles a month to live on； but I don't wear mourning。 ＇They
sit down＇。
MASHA。 Happiness does not depend on riches； poor men are often
happy。
MEDVIEDENKO。 In theory； yes； but not in reality。 Take my case； for
instance； my mother； my two sisters； my little brother and I must all live
somehow on my salary of twenty…three roubles a month。 We have to eat
and drink； I take it。 You wouldn't have us go without tea and sugar； would
you？ Or tobacco？ Answer me that； if you can。
MASHA。 ＇Looking in the direction of the stage＇ The play will soon
begin。
MEDVIEDENKO。 Yes； Nina Zarietchnaya is going to act in Treplieff's
play。 They love one another； and their two souls will unite to…night in the
effort to interpret the same idea by different means。 There is no ground on
which your soul and mine can meet。 I love you。 Too restless and sad to
stay at home； I tramp here every day； six miles and back； to be met only by
3
… Page 4…
The Sea…Gull
your indifference。 I am poor； my family is large； you can have no
inducement to marry a man who cannot even find sufficient food for his
own mouth。
MASHA。 It is not that。 ＇She takes snuff＇ I am touched by your
affection； but I cannot return it； that is all。 ＇She offers him the snuff…box＇
Will you take some？
MEDVIEDENKO。 No； thank you。 ＇A pause。＇
MASHA。 The air is sultry； a storm is brewing for to…night。 You do
nothing but moralise or else talk about money。 To you； poverty is the
greatest misfortune that can befall a man； but I think it is a thousand times
easier to go begging in rags than to You wouldn't understand that；
though。
SORIN leaning on a cane； and TREPLIEFF come in。
SORIN。 For some reason； my boy； country life doesn't suit me； and I
am sure I shall never get used to it。 Last night I went to bed at ten and
woke at nine this morning； feeling as if； from oversleep； my brain had
stuck to my skull。 ＇Laughing＇ And yet I accidentally dropped off to sleep
again after dinner； and feel utterly done up at this moment。 It is like a
nightmare。
TREPLIEFF。 There is no doubt that you should live in town。 ＇He
catches sight of MASHA and MEDVIEDENKO＇ You shall be called when
the play begins； my friends； but you must not stay here now。 Go away；
please。
SORIN。 Miss Masha； will you kindly ask your father to leave the dog
unchained？ It howled so last night that my sister was unable to sleep。
MASHA。 You must speak to my father yourself。 Please excuse me； I
can't do so。 ＇To MEDVIEDENKO＇ Come； let us go。
MEDVIEDENKO。 You will let us know when the play begins？
MASHA and MEDVIEDENKO go out。
SORIN。 I foresee that that dog is going to howl all night again。 It is
always this way in the country； I have never been able to live as I like here。
I come down for a month's holiday； to rest and all； and am plagued so by
their nonsense that I long to escape after the first day。 ＇Laughing＇ I have
always been glad to get away from this place； but I have been retired now；
4
… Page 5…
The Sea…Gull
and this was the only place I had to come to。 Willy…nilly； one must live
somewhere。
JACOB。 ＇To TREPLIEFF＇ We are going to take a swim； Mr。
Constantine。
TREPLIEFF。 Very well； but you must be back in ten minutes。
JACOB。 We will； sir。
TREPLIEFF。 ＇Looking at the stage＇ Just like a real theatre！ See； there
we have the curtain； the foreground； the background； and all。 No artificial
scenery is needed。 The eye travels direct to the lake； and rests on the
horizon。 The curtain will be raised as the moon rises at half…past eight。
SORIN。 Splendid！
TREPLIEFF。 Of course the whole effect will be ruined if Nina is late。
She should be here by now； but her father and stepmother watch her so
closely that it is like stealing her from a prison to get her away from home。
＇He straightens SORIN'S collar＇ Your hair and beard are all on end。
Oughtn't you to have them trimmed？
SORIN。 ＇Smoothing his beard＇ They are the tragedy of my existence。
Even when I was young I always looked as if I were drunk； and all。
Women have never liked me。 ＇Sitting down＇ Why is my sister out of
temper？
TREPLIEFF。 Why？ Because she is jealous