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ARKADINA。 You don't understand。
DORN。 There is nothing to understand in this case； it is quite clear。
MEDVIEDENKO。 He ought to give up smoking。
SORIN。 What nonsense！ ＇A pause。＇
DORN。 No； that is not nonsense。 Wine and tobacco destroy the
individuality。 After a cigar or a glass of vodka you are no longer Peter
Sorin； but Peter Sorin plus somebody else。 Your ego breaks in two： you
begin to think of yourself in the third person。
SORIN。 It is easy for you to condemn smoking and drinking； you have
known what life is； but what about me？ I have served in the Department of
Justice for twenty…eight years； but I have never lived； I have never had any
experiences。 You are satiated with life； and that is why you have an
inclination for philosophy； but I want to live； and that is why I drink my
wine for dinner and smoke cigars； and all。
DORN。 One must take life seriously； and to take a cure at sixty…five
and regret that one did not have more pleasure in youth is； forgive my
saying so； trifling。
MASHA。 It must be lunch…time。 ＇She walks away languidly； with a
dragging step＇ My foot has gone to sleep。
DORN。 She is going to have a couple of drinks before lunch。
SORIN。 The poor soul is unhappy。
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DORN。 That is a trifle； your honour。
SORIN。 You judge her like a man who has obtained all he wants in
life。
ARKADINA。 Oh； what could be duller than this dear tedium of the
country？ The air is hot and still； nobody does anything but sit and
philosophise about life。 It is pleasant； my friends； to sit and listen to you
here； but I had rather a thousand times sit alone in the room of a hotel
learning a role by heart。
NINA。 ＇With enthusiasm＇ You are quite right。 I understand how you
feel。
SORIN。 Of course it is pleasanter to live in town。 One can sit in one's
library with a telephone at one's elbow； no one comes in without being
first announced by the footman； the streets are full of cabs； and all…
DORN。 ＇Sings＇
〃Tell her； oh flowers…〃
SHAMRAEFF comes in； followed by PAULINA。
SHAMRAEFF。 Here they are。 How do you do？ ＇He kisses
ARKADINA'S hand and then NINA'S＇ I am delighted to see you looking
so well。 ＇To ARKADINA＇ My wife tells me that you mean to go to town
with her to…day。 Is that so？
ARKADINA。 Yes； that is what I had planned to do。
SHAMRAEFF。 Hmthat is splendid； but how do you intend to get
there； madam？ We are hauling rye to…day； and all the men are busy。 What
horses would you take？
ARKADINA。 What horses？ How do I know what horses we shall
have？
SORIN。 Why； we have the carriage horses。
SHAMRAEFF。 The carriage horses！ And where am I to find the
harness for them？ This is astonishing！ My dear madam； I have the greatest
respect for your talents； and would gladly sacrifice ten years of my life for
you； but I cannot let you have any horses to…day。
ARKADINA。 But if I must go to town？ What an extraordinary state of
affairs！
SHAMRAEFF。 You do not know； madam； what it is to run a farm。
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The Sea…Gull
ARKADINA。 ＇In a burst of anger＇ That is an old story！ Under these
circumstances I shall go back to Moscow this very day。 Order a carriage
for me from the village； or I shall go to the station on foot。
SHAMRAEFF。 ＇losing his temper＇ Under these circumstances I resign
my position。 You must find yourself another manager。 ＇He goes out。＇
ARKADINA。 It is like this every summer： every summer I am insulted
here。 I shall never set foot here again。
She goes out to the left； in the direction of the wharf。 In a few minutes
she is seen entering the house； followed by TRIGORIN； who carries a
bucket and fishing…rod。
SORIN。 ＇Losing his temper＇ What the deuce did he mean by his
impudence？ I want all the horses brought here at once！
NINA。 ＇To PAULINA＇ How could he refuse anything to Madame
Arkadina； the famous actress？ Is not every wish； every caprice even； of
hers； more important than any farm work？ This is incredible。
PAULINA。 ＇In despair＇ What can I do about it？ Put yourself in my
place and tell me what I can do。
SORIN。 ＇To NINA＇ Let us go and find my sister； and all beg her not to
go。 ＇He looks in the direction in which SHAMRAEFF went out＇ That man
is insufferable； a regular tyrant。
NINA。 ＇Preventing him from getting up＇ Sit still； sit still； and let us
wheel you。 ＇She and MEDVIEDENKO push the chair before them＇ This is
terrible！
SORIN。 Yes； yes； it is terrible； but he won't leave。 I shall have a talk
with him in a moment。 ＇They go out。 Only DORN and PAULINA are left。＇
DORN。 How tiresome people are！ Your husband deserves to be thrown
out of here neck and crop； but it will all end by this old granny Sorin and
his sister asking the man's pardon。 See if it doesn't。
PAULINA。 He has sent the carriage horses into the fields too。 These
misunderstandings occur every day。 If you only knew how they excite me！
I am ill； see！ I am trembling all over！ I cannot endure his rough ways。
＇Imploringly＇ Eugene； my darling； my beloved； take me to you。 Our time
is short； we are no longer young； let us end deception and concealment；
even though it is only at the end of our lives。 ＇A pause。＇
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DORN。 I am fifty…five years old。 It is too late now for me to change
my ways of living。
PAULINA。 I know that you refuse me because there are other women
who are near to you； and you cannot take everybody。 I understand。 Excuse
meI see I am only bothering you。
NINA is seen near the house picking a bunch of flowers。
DORN。 No； it is all right。
PAULINA。 I am tortured by jealousy。 Of course you are a doctor and
cannot escape from women。 I understand。
DORN。 ＇TO NINA； who comes toward him＇ How are things in there？
NINA。 Madame Arkadina is crying； and Sorin is having an attack of
asthma。
DORN。 Let us go and give them both some camomile tea。
NINA。 ＇Hands him the bunch of flowers＇ Here are some flowers for
you。
DORN。 Thank y