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NINA。 ＇Hands him the bunch of flowers＇ Here are some flowers for
you。
DORN。 Thank you。 ＇He goes into the house。＇
PAULINA。 ＇Following him＇ What pretty flowers！ ＇As they reach the
house she says in a low voice＇ Give me those flowers！ Give them to me！
DORN hands her the flowers； she tears them to pieces and flings them
away。 They both go into the house。
NINA。 ＇Alone＇ How strange to see a famous actress weeping； and for
such a trifle！ Is it not strange； too； that a famous author should sit fishing
all day？ He is the idol of the public； the papers are full of him； his
photograph is for sale everywhere； his works have been translated into
many foreign languages； and yet he is overjoyed if he catches a couple of
minnows。 I always thought famous people were distant and proud； I
thought they despised the common crowd which exalts riches and birth；
and aveng ed themselves on it by dazzling it with the inextinguishable
honour and glory of their fame。 But here I see them weeping and playing
cards and flying into passions like everybody else。
TREPLIEFF comes in without a hat on； carrying a gun and a dead
seagull。
TREPLIEFF。 Are you alone here？
NINA。 Yes。
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The Sea…Gull
TREPLIEFF lays the sea…gull at her feet。
NINA。 What do you mean by this？
TREPLIEFF。 I was base enough to…day to kill this gull。 I lay it at your
feet。
NINA。 What is happening to you？ ＇She picks up the gull and stands
looking at it。＇
TREPLIEFF。 ＇After a pause＇ So shall I soon end my own life。
NINA。 You have changed so that I fail to recognise you。
TREPLIEFF。 Yes； I have changed since the time when I ceased to
recognise you。 You have failed me； your look is cold； you do not like to
have me near you。
NINA。 You have grown so irritable lately； and you talk so darkly and
symbolically that you must forgive me if I fail to follow you。 I am too
simple to understand you。
TREPLIEFF。 All this began when my play failed so dismally。 A
woman never can forgive failure。 I have burnt the manuscript to the last
page。 Oh； if you could only fathom my unhappiness！ Your estrangement is
to me terrible； incredible； it is as if I had suddenly waked to find this lake
dried up and sunk into the earth。 You say you are too simple to understand
me； but； oh； what is there to understand？ You disliked my play； you have
no faith in my powers； you already think of me as commonplace and
worthless； as many are。 ＇Stamping his foot＇ How well I can understand
your feelings！ And that understanding is to me like a dagger in the brain。
May it be accursed； together with my stupidity； which sucks my life…blood
like a snake！ ＇He sees TRIGORIN； who approaches reading a book＇ There
comes real genius； striding along like another Hamlet； and with a book；
too。 ＇Mockingly＇ 〃Words； words； words。〃 You feel the warmth of that sun
already； you smile； your eyes melt and glow liquid in its rays。 I shall not
disturb you。 ＇He goes out。＇
TRIGORIN。 ＇Making notes in his book＇ Takes snuff and drinks vodka；
always wears black dresses； is loved by a schoolteacher
NINA。 How do you do？
TRIGORIN。 How are you； Miss Nina？ Owing to an unforeseen
development of circumstances； it seems that we are leaving here today。
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The Sea…Gull
You and I shall probably never see each other again； and I am sorry for it。 I
seldom meet a young and pretty girl now； I can hardly remember how it
feels to be nineteen； and the young girls in my books are seldom living
characters。 I should like to change places with you； if but for an hour； to
look out at the world through your eyes； and so find out what sort of a
little person you are。
NINA。 And I should like to change places with you。
TRIGORIN。 Why？
NINA。 To find out how a famous genius feels。 What is it like to be
famous？ What sensations does it give you？
TRIGORIN。 What sensations？ I don't believe it gives any。
＇Thoughtfully＇ Either you exaggerate my fame； or else； if it exists； all I
can say is that one simply doesn't feel fame in any way。
NINA。 But when you read about yourself in the papers？
TRIGORIN。 If the critics praise me； I am happy； if they condemn me；
I am out of sorts for the next two days。
NINA。 This is a wonderful world。 If you only knew how I envy you！
Men are born to different destinies。 Some dully drag a weary； useless life
behind them； lost in the crowd； unhappy； while to one out of a million； as
to you； for instance； comes a bright destiny full of interest and meaning。
You are lucky。
TRIGORIN。 I； lucky？ ＇He shrugs his shoulders＇ H…m I hear you
talking about fame； and happiness； and bright destinies； and those fine
words of yours mean as much to meforgive my saying soas sweetmeats
do； which I never eat。 You are very young； and very kind。
NINA。 Your life is beautiful。
TRIGORIN。 I see nothing especially lovely about it。 ＇He looks at his
watch＇ Excuse me； I must go at once； and begin writing again。 I am in a
hurry。 ＇He laughs＇ You have stepped on my pet corn； as they say； and I am
getting excited； and a little cross。 Let us discuss this bright and beautiful
life of mine； though。 ＇After a few moments' thought＇ Violent obsessions
sometimes lay hold of a man： he may； for instance； think day and night of
nothing but the moon。 I have such a moon。 Day and night I am held in the
grip of one besetting thought； to write； write； write！ Hardly have I finished
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one book than something urges me to write another； and then a third； and
then a fourthI write ceaselessly。 I am； as it were； on a treadmill。 I hurry
for ever from one story to another； and can't help myself。 Do you see
anything bright and beautiful in that？ Oh； it is a wild life！ Even now；
thrilled as I am by talking to you； I do not forget for an instant that an
unfinished story is awaiting me。 My eye falls on that cloud there； which
has the shape of a grand piano； I instantly make a mental note that I must
remember to mention