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that way； and he destroys her out of idleness； as this gull here has been
destroyed。 ＇A pause。 ARKADINA appears at one of the windows。＇
ARKADINA。 Boris！ Where are you？
TRIGORIN。 I am coming this minute。
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He goes toward the house； looking back at NINA。 ARKADINA
remains at the window。
TRIGORIN。 What do you want？
ARKADINA。 We are not going away； after all。
TRIGORIN goes into the house。 NINA comes forward and stands lost
in thought。
NINA。 It is a dream！
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The curtain falls。
ACT III
The dining…room of SORIN'S house。 Doors open out of it to the right
and left。 A table stands in the centre of the room。 Trunks and boxes
encumber the floor； and preparations for departure are evident。
TRIGORIN is sitting at a table eating his breakfast； and MASHA is
standing beside him。
MASHA。 I am telling you all these things because you write books
and they may be useful to you。 I tell you honestly； I should not have lived
another day if he had wounded himself fatally。 Yet I am courageous； I
have decided to tear this love of mine out of my heart by the roots。
TRIGORIN。 How will you do it？
MASHA。 By marrying Medviedenko。
TRIGORIN。 The school…teacher？
MASHA。 Yes。
TRIGORIN。 I don't see the necessity for that。
MASHA。 Oh； if you knew what it is to love without hope for years
and years； to wait for ever for something that will never come！ I shall not
marry for love； but marriage will at least be a change； and will bring new
cares to deaden the memories of the past。 Shall we have another drink？
TRIGORIN。 Haven't you had enough？
MASHA。 Fiddlesticks！ ＇She fills a glass＇ Don't look at me with that
expression on your face。 Women drink oftener than you imagine； but most
of them do it in secret； and not openly； as I do。 They do indeed； and it is
always either vodka or brandy。 ＇They touch glasses＇ To your good health！
You are so easy to get on with that I am sorry to see you go。 ＇They drink。＇
TRIGORIN。 And I am sorry to leave。
MASHA。 You should ask her to stay。
TRIGORIN。 She would not do that now。 Her son has been behaving
outrageously。 First he attempted suicide； and now I hear he is going to
challenge me to a duel； though what his provocation may be I can't
imagine。 He is always sulking and sneering and preaching about a new
form of art； as if the field of art were not large enough to accommodate
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The Sea…Gull
both old and new without the necessity of jostling。
MASHA。 It is jealousy。 However； that is none of my business。 ＇A
pause。 JACOB walks through the room carrying a trunk； NINA comes in
and stands by the window＇ That schoolteacher of mine is none too clever；
but he is very good； poor man； and he loves me dearly； and I am sorry for
him。 However； let me say good…bye and wish you a pleasant journey。
Remember me kindly in your thoughts。 ＇She shakes hands with him＇
Thanks for your goodwill。 Send me your books； and be sure to write
something in them； nothing formal； but simply this： 〃To Masha； who；
forgetful of her origin； for some unknown reason is living in this world。〃
Good…bye。 ＇She goes out。＇
NINA。 ＇Holding out her closed hand to TRIGORIN＇ Is it odd or even？
TRIGORIN。 Even。
NINA。 ＇With a sigh＇ No； it is odd。 I had only one pea in my hand。 I
wanted to see whether I was to become an actress or not。 If only some one
would advise me what to do！
TRIGORIN。 One cannot give advice in a case like this。 ＇A pause。＇
NINA。 We shall soon part； perhaps never to meet again。 I should like
you to accept this little medallion as a remembrance of me。 I have had
your initials engraved on it； and on this side is the name of one of your
books： 〃Days and Nights。〃
TRIGORIN。 How sweet of you！ ＇He kisses the medallion＇ It is a
lovely present。
NINA。 Think of me sometimes。
TRIGORIN。 I shall never forget you。 I shall always remember you as I
saw you that bright daydo you recall it？a week ago； when you wore
your light dress； and we talked together； and the white seagull lay on the
bench beside us。
NINA。 ＇Lost in thought＇ Yes； the sea…gull。 ＇A pause＇ I beg you to let
me see you alone for two minutes before you go。
She goes out to the left。 At the same moment ARKADINA comes in
from the right； followed by SORIN in a long coat； with his orders on his
breast； and by JACOB； who is busy packing。
ARKADINA。 Stay here at home； you poor old man。 How could you
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pay visits with that rheumatism of yours？ ＇To TRIGORIN＇ Who left the
room just now； was it Nina？
TRIGORIN。 Yes。
ARKADINA。 I beg your pardon； I am afraid we interrupted you。 ＇She
sits down＇ I think everything is packed。 I am absolutely exhausted。
TRIGORIN。 ＇Reading the inscription on the medallion＇ 〃Days and
Nights； page 121； lines 11 and 12。〃
JACOB。 ＇Clearing the table＇ Shall I pack your fishing…rods； too； sir？
TRIGORIN。 Yes； I shall need them； but you can give my books away。
JACOB。 Very well； sir。 TRIGORIN。 ＇To himself＇ Page 121； lines 11
and 12。 ＇To ARKADINA＇ Have we my books here in the house？
ARKADINA。 Yes； they are in my brother's library； in the corner
cupboard。
TRIGORIN。 Page 121 ＇He goes out。＇
SORIN。 You are going away； and I shall be lonely without you。
ARKADINA。 What would you do in town？
SORIN。 Oh； nothing in particular； but somehow ＇He laughs＇ They
are soon to lay the corner…stone of the new court…house here。 How I should
like to leap out of this minnow…pond； if but for an hour or two！ I am tired
of lying here like an old cigarette stump。 I have ordered the carriage for
one o'clock。 We can go away together 。
ARKADINA。 ＇After a pause＇ No； you must stay here。 Don't be lonely；
and don't catch cold。 Keep an eye on my boy。 Take good care of him；
guide him along t