Complete Works of Anton Chekhov

SCENE VII.

VOINITZEV,

PLATONOV AND

ANNA PETROVNA.

ANNA PETROVNA. He here? (Slowly approaches Platonov.) Platonov, is it all true?

PLATONOV. Yes.

ANNA PETROVNA. He even dares to talk so coldbloodedly! So it’s true... You wretch, didn’t you know how low it all was?

PLATONOV. Wretch... You might be more polite. I knew nothing! Throughout the affair I’ve been conscious of only one thing: I’ve never wished him even a thousandth part of what he is now suffering!

ANNA PETROVNA. YOU should have also been aware, my friend, that the wife of a friend should not and cannot be the plaything of another! (Raises her voice.) You don’t love her! You did it out of mere boredom!

VOINITZEV. Ask him, maman, why he came here.

ANNA PETROVNA. It’s nasty! Nasty to make game of people! They’re only human, even as you are, you ultra-clever man!

VOINITZEV (jumping up). Why did he come here? It’s insolence! Why have you come here? I know

why you’ve come, but you won’t astonish us with your beautiful phrases!

PLATONOV. Who is “us”?

VOINITZEV. Now I know the value of those beautiful phrases! Leave me in peace, won’t you! If you’ve come to expiate your guilt by making pretty speeches, I want to tell you it can’t be done!

PLATONOV. It’s true that guilt can’t be expiated by pretty speeches. But neither can guilt be proven by shouting and spite. Didn’t I say I’d shoot myself?

VOINITZEV. That’s not the way to expiate guilt! I don’t believe your words now! I have only contempt for your words! There’s how a Russian may expiate his guilt! (Points out of the window.)

PLATONOV. What’s there?

VOINITZEV. There, by the well, lies a man who’s expiated his guilt!

PLATONOV. I saw that... You seem to be phrase- making just now, Sergey Pavlovitch! You are suffering from a grief... Why be theatrical about it?

VOINITZEV (sitting down). Mamany ask him why he came here.

ANNA PETROVNA. Platonov, what do you want here?

PLATONOV. YOU do your own asking. Why worry your mother? . . . Everything’s lost! One’s wife’s gone, everything’s lost, and nothing is left! Beautiful as a day in May is the Sofya-ideal, and it obscures from sight other ideals! Without a woman a man is like an engine without steam! The steam’s gone, and life’s lost! Everything’s lost! Lost are honour, and human dignity, and aristocracy, everything! The end’s come! [Now one may venture forth with a knife, may send a bullet into one’s head, may show contempt for another human being, may violate every sacred emotion!]

VOINITZEV. Must I listen to this? Can’t you leave me?

PLATONOV. Of course. But don’t you humiliate me, Voinitzev! I’ve not come here to be humiliated. Your grie£ does not give you the right to stamp on me in the mire! I’m a human being, and I expect to be treated like one. You are unhappy, but all your un- happiness is nothing compared with the suffering which I’ve undergone since you left me! It was a terrible night for me, Voinitzev, after you left me! [If you could have seen me during that night, then you, thirsting for vengeance, would have considered your own suffering as a paradise.] I swear to you, you philanthropists, that your suffering isn’t as terrible as the mere shadow of mine!

ANNA PETROVNA. That’s possible, but whose affair is it, your night, and your agony?

PLATONOV. Not yours?

ANNA PETROVNA. I assure you, not mine!

PLATONOV. Yes? Don’t lie, Anna Petrovna! (He sighs.) Perhaps, you’re right in your own fashion... Perhaps . . . But where’s one to find human beings? To whom might one go? (Covers his face with his hands.’) Where, then, are human beings? No one understands. No one. People are stupid, hard, heartless.

VOINITZEV. I quite understand! I understand you! You are a clever wretch! That’s what you are!

PLATONOV. I forgive you, fool, the word. Hold your tongue! {To Anna Petrovna.) And why do you stick about here, you lover of strong sensations? Is it curiosity? You’re not wanted here! Witnesses aren’t necessary!

ANNA PETROVNA. And you have no business here! You can get out! What insolence! You first make a scoundrelly mess, then you come and complain of your sufferings! . . . Anyhow ... If you don’t want to hear anything else, then you’d better go! Do me the favour!

VOINITZEV {jumping up). What more can you want from me, I don’t understand!

PLATONOV. I see that you don’t understand... He’s right who, in his grief, goes not to men but to the dram-shop. ... A thousand times right! {Goes to the door.) I’m sorry I’ve spoken with you . . . it’s humiliating! I was stupid enough to think you decent folk... You’re like the rest . . . peasants, uncouth savages. {Slams the door and goes out.)

[ANNA PETROVNA {runs up to Voinitzev). Sergey . . . what was he hinting at? Did you see him yesterday? {Pause.) Speak! Don’t torture me! Speak!

VOINITZEV. It’s not necessary...

ANNA PETROVNA {shaking him by his shoulders). Speak! What happened?

VOINITZEV. Let me alone... Have some pity!

ANNA PETROVNA. Speak! {Pause.)

VOINITZEV. I wanted to kill him. ... I went for him with a knife. ... If he hadn’t awakened, then . . . He had been sleeping...

ANNA PETROVNA. Ah . . . Now I understand... And you dared to call him a wretch! . . .] {Wrings her hands.) How appalling! Run this very instant after him! Tell him that . . .

VOINITZEV. What can I tell him?

ANNA PETROVNA. You’ll find what to say... Anything! Only run, Sergey! I beg of you! He came here moved by a noble emotion! You should have understood him, but you were stern with him. Run, my dear!

VOINITZEV. I can’t! Leave me in peace!

ANNA PETROVNA. But he’s not alone to blame! Sergey, we’re to blame! We all have passions, not all of us have the strength . . . Run! Tell him something conciliating! Show him that you’re a human being! For God’s sake... Go on! Be quick!

VOINITZEV. I’ll go out of my mind...

ANNA PETROVNA. GO out of your mind, only don’t dare to humiliate folk! . . . Ah . . . run quickly, for God’s sake! {Weeps.) Sergey!

VOINITZEV. Leave me in peace, maman!

ANNA PETROVNA. I’ll go myself... Why shouldn’t I? I myself. . . .

PLATONOV (entering). Ah-h! (Sits down on the divan.)

VOINITZEV (rises).

ANNA PETROVNA (aside). What’s the matter with him? (Pause.)

PLATONOV. I have a pain in my hand. ... I am hungry as the hungriest dog. ... I am cold... I’m being shaken by a fever... What pain! . . . What more do you want from me? Wasn’t that accursed night enough?

VOINITZEV (approaching Platonov). Mikhail Vas- silyitch, we’ll forgive one another. I ... I’m sure you’ll understand my position. We will part company properly... (Pause.) I forgive you... On my word of honour! If I could only forget all of this, I should be eternally happy! We shall leave each other in peace!

PLATONOV. Yes. (Pause.) No, I’ve all gone to pieces. The machine’s out of order. I want sleep terribly, yet I can’t sleep. Humbly I beg your forgiveness. Do what you think best. . . .

VOINITZEV (walks away from Platonov and sits down by the table).

PLATONOV. I shan’t leave here, not even if you fire the house! Who doesn’t like my presence can leave the room... ( Tries to lie down.) Give me some-

thing warm... Nothing to eat, I mean . . . but a blanket... I’m not going home. It’s raining... I’ll lie down here.

ANNA PETROVNA (walking up to Platonov). You’d better go home, Mikhail Vassilyitch. I’ll send you what you need. I might bring it myself. (Touches his shoulder.) Go! Go home!

PLATONOV. Who doesn’t like my presence can leave the room... Please give me some water to quench my thirst! I want to drink.

ANNA PETROVNA (gives him a decanter).

PLATONOV (drinking from the decanter). I’m ill... Quite ill, my dear!

ANNA PETROVNA. GO home! (Puts a hand on his forehead.) Your head is hot... Go home. I’ll send for Triletzky.

PLATONOV (quietly). I feel badly, Your Excellency! Badly... Badly. . . .

ANNA PETROVNA. GO! I beg of you, go! At all costs, you must go! Do you hear?

(Enter Sofya Egorovna.)