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card…table in the centre of the room； SHAMRAEFF lights the candles and
arranges the chairs； then fetches a box of lotto from the cupboard。
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The Sea…Gull
TRIGORIN。 The weather has given me a rough welcome。 The wind is
frightful。 If it goes down by morning I shall go fishing in the lake； and
shall have a look at the garden and the spotdo you remember？where
your play was given。 I remember the piece very well； but should like to
see again where the scene was laid。
MASHA。 ＇To her father＇ Father； do please let my husband have a
horse。 He ought to go home。
SHAMRAEFF。 ＇Angrily＇ A horse to go home with！ ＇Sternly＇ You
know the horses have just been to the station。 I can't send them out again。
MASHA。 But there are other horses。 ＇Seeing that her father remains
silent＇ You are impossible！
MEDVIEDENKO。 I shall go on foot； Masha。
PAULINA。 ＇With a sigh＇ On foot in this weather？ ＇She takes a seat at
the card…table＇ Shall we begin？
MEDVIEDENKO。 It is only six miles。 Good…bye。 ＇He kisses his wife's
hand；＇ Good…bye； mother。 ＇His mother…in…law gives him her hand
unwillingly＇ I should not have troubled you all； but the baby ＇He bows to
every one＇ Good…bye。 ＇He goes out with an apologetic air。＇
SHAMRAEFF。 He will get there all right； he is not a major…general。
PAULINA。 Come； let us begin。 Don't let us waste time； we shall soon
be called to supper。
SHAMRAEFF； MASHA； and DORN sit down at the card…table。
ARKADINA。 ＇To TRIGORIN＇ When the long autumn evenings
descend on us we while away the time here by playing lotto。 Look at this
old set； we used it when our mother played with us as children。 Don't you
want to take a hand in the game with us until supper time？ ＇She and
TRIGORIN sit down at the table＇ It is a monotonous game； but it is all
right when one gets used to it。 ＇She deals three cards to each of the
players。＇
TREPLIEFF。 ＇Looking through the pages of the magazine＇ He has
read his own story； and hasn't even cut the pages of mine。
He lays the magazine on his desk and goes toward the door on the
right； stopping as he passes his mother to give her a kiss。
ARKADINA。 Won't you play； Constantine？
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The Sea…Gull
TREPLIEFF。 No； excuse me please； I don't feel like it。 I am going to
take a turn through the rooms。 ＇He goes out。＇
MASHA。 Are you all ready？ I shall begin： twenty…two。
ARKADINA。 Here it is。
MASHA。 Three。
DORN。 Right。
MASHA。 Have you put down three？ Eight。 Eighty…one。 Ten。
SHAMRAEFF。 Don't go so fast。
ARKADINA。 Could you believe it？ I am still dazed by the reception
they gave me in Kharkoff。
MASHA。 Thirty…four。 ＇The notes of a melancholy waltz are heard。＇
ARKADINA。 The students gave me an ovation； they sent me three
baskets of flowers； a wreath； and this thing here。
She unclasps a brooch from her breast and lays it on the table。
SHAMRAEFF。 There is something worth while！
MASHA。 Fifty。
DORN。 Fifty； did you say？
ARKADINA。 I wore a perfectly magnificent dress； I am no fool when
it comes to clothes。
PAULINA。 Constantine is playing again； the poor boy is sad。
SHAMRAEFF。 He has been severely criticised in the papers。
MASHA。 Seventy…seven。
ARKADINA。 They want to attract attention to him。
TRIGORIN。 He doesn't seem able to make a success； he can't
somehow strike the right note。 There is an odd vagueness about his
writings that sometimes verges on delirium。 He has never created a single
living character。
MASHA。 Eleven。
ARKADINA。 Are you bored； Peter？ ＇A pause＇ He is asleep。
DORN。 The Councillor is taking a nap。
MASHA。 Seven。 Ninety。
TRIGORIN。 Do you think I should write if I lived in such a place as
this； on the shore of this lake？ Never！ I should overcome my passion； and
give my life up to the catching of fish。
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The Sea…Gull
MASHA。 Twenty…eight。
TRIGORIN。 And if I caught a perch or a bass； what bliss it would be！
DORN。 I have great faith in Constantine。 I know there is something in
him。 He thinks in images； his stories are vivid and full of colour； and
always affect me deeply。 It is only a pity that he has no definite object in
view。 He creates impressions； and nothing more； and one cannot go far on
impressions alone。 Are you glad； madam； that you have an author for a
son？
ARKADINA。 Just think； I have never read anything of his； I never
have time。
MASHA。 Twenty…six。
TREPLIEFF comes in quietly and sits down at his table。
SHAMRAEFF。 ＇To TRIGORIN＇ We have something here that belongs
to you； sir。
TRIGORIN。 What is it？
SHAMRAEFF。 You told me to have the sea…gull stuffed that Mr。
Constantine killed some time ago。
TRIGORIN。 Did I？ ＇Thoughtfully＇ I don't remember。
MASHA。 Sixty…one。 One。
TREPLIEFF throws open the window and stands listening。
TREPLIEFF。 How dark the night is！ I wonder what makes me so
restless。
ARKADINA。 Shut the window； Constantine； there is a draught here。
TREPLIEFF shuts the window。
MASHA。 Ninety…eight。
TRIGORIN。 See； my card is full。
ARKADINA。 ＇Gaily＇ Bravo！ Bravo！
SHAMRAEFF。 Bravo！
ARKADINA。 Wherever he goes and whatever he does； that man
always has good luck。 ＇She gets up＇ And now； come to supper。 Our
renowned guest did not have any dinner to…day。 We can continue our game
later。 ＇To her son＇ Come； Constantine； leave your writing and come to
supper。
TREPLIEFF。 I don't want anything to eat； mother； I am not hungry。
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The Sea…Gull
ARKADINA。 As you please。 ＇She wakes SORIN＇ Come to supper；
Peter。 ＇She takes SHAMRAEFF'S arm＇ Let me tell you about my
reception in Kharkoff。
PAULINA blows out the candles on the table； then she and DORN roll
SORIN'S chair out of the room； and all go out through the door on the left；
except TREPLIEFF； who is left alone。 TRE