Complete Works of Anton Chekhov

SCENE VIII.

The SAME and SOFYA EGOROVNA.

SOFYA EGOROVNA {entering). Do take your money back! What’s the idea of this magnanimity? I’ve already told you, it seems . . . (Sees Platonov.) You . . . here? Why are you here? {Pause.) Strange... What are you doing here?

PLATONOV. I?

SOFYA EGOROVNA. Yes, you!

ANNA PETROVNA. We’d better leave, Sergey! {They leave the room, but after a minute Anna Petrovna returns on her tip-toes and sits down in a corner.)

PLATONOV. Everything’s finished, Sofya!

SOFYA EGOROVNA. What do you mean?

PLATONOV. Just what I say... We’ll have a chat about it later.

SOFYA EGOROVNA. What does it all mean?

PLATONOV. [I’m terribly weary, Sofya, terribly weary! There are many of you, and I am alone... Have pity, please! ] I don’t want anything . . . neither love nor hate ... I want only peace! I beg of you ... I don’t even want to talk... I’ve had enough of everything... Please . . .

SOFYA EGOROVNA. What are you saying?

PLATONOV. I say, I’ve had enough. I don’t want any new life. I don’t even know what to do with the old one. I want nothing!

SOFYA EGOROVNA (shrugging her shoulders). I don’t understand. . . .

PLATONOV. YOU don’t understand? The knot’s broken . . . that’s what!

SOFYA EGOROVNA. You’re not going away with me?

PLATONOV. NOW, don’t allow yourself to get pale, Sofya. . . .

SOFYA EGOROVNA. Are you acting the scoundrel?

PLATONOV. In all likelihood... [I’m ready to do anything to get peace.]

SOFYA EGOROVNA. You infamous wretch! (Weeps.)

PLATONOV. I know... I’ve heard it a hundred times... We might have a talk about it later . . . without witnesses.

SOFYA EGOROVNA (sobbing).

PLATONOV. Why don’t you go to your room? The most superfluous thing in misfortune is tears... It had to happen, and it happened... Nature has its laws, and our life has its logic. ... It all happened according to our logic... (Pause.)

SOFYA EGOROVNA (between sobs). How am I to blame? What is it to me, what is it to my life, which you have taken, that you are tired? What is it to me? Don’t you love me any longer?

PLATONOV. Console yourself with something... If only, for example, with the fact that this scandal will serve as a lesson for your future!

SOFYA EGOROVNA. It’s not a lesson, but ruin! You dare say this to me? It’s downright low!

PLATONOV. Why cry? Like everything else, it’s become repugnant to me! (He shouts.) Can’t you see! I’m ill!

SOFYA EGOROVNA. You swore to me, you implored . . . you were the first to begin, and now you’ve come here! Have I become repugnant to you? Did you want me only for a fortnight? I hate you! I can’t look at you! Get out from here! (Weeps.)

ANNA PETROVNA. Platonov!

PLATONOV. Eh?

ANNA PETROVNA. You’d better go!

PLATONOV (rises and slowly walks to the door).

SOFYA EGOROVNA. Wait... Don’t go yet! You . . . isn’t it so? You, perhaps, aren’t sober... Sit down, think it over! (Catches him by the shoulders.)

PLATONOV. I’ve already sat, and thought. Get rid of me, Sofya Egorovna! I’m not your man! I’ve rotted so long, my soul has long since become a skeleton, and it’s too late to resurrect me! Far better to dig me in further, so that I might not contaminate the air! Believe me for the last time!

SOFYA EGOROVNA (wringing her hands). What am I to do? What can I do? Teach me! Or I’ll die. I won’t survive this piece of infamy! Not five minutes! I’ll kill myself... (Sits down in an armchair in a corner of the room.) What are you doing with me? (Grows hysterical.)

VOINITZEV (approaching Sofya Egorovna). Sofya!

ANNA PETROVNA. God knows what’s happening! Calm yourself, Sofya! Bring some water, Sergey!

VOINITZEV. Sofya! Don’t torture yourself... Stop it! (To Platonov.) Why are you waiting, Mikhail Vassilyitch? Go, for God’s sake!

ANNA PETROVNA. Enough, Sofya, enough!

PLATONOV (going up to Sofya Egorovna). Well . . . why? Eh-h . . . (Quickly walks away from her.) What idiocy!

SOFYA EGOROVNA. GO away from me! Everyone! I don’t need your help! (To Anna Petrovna.) Go away! I hate you! I know to whom I’m obligated for all this! It’ll cost you dearly!

ANNA PETROVNA. Sh-h . . . Your abuse is wasted.

SOFYA EGOROVNA. If it weren’t for your vicious authority over him, he wouldn’t have ruined me! (Weeps.) Go away! (To Voinitzev.) You too . . . go away!

VOINITZEV (goes from her, sits down by the table and presses his hands to his head).

ANNA PETROVNA (to Platonov). Go! How many times must you be told? You are an amazing idiot today! What more do you want?

PLATONOV (closing his ears). Where am I to go? I’ve become numb with cold... (Walks to the door.) If only the devil would take me . . . the sooner the better! (Enter Triletzky.)