The Undiscovered Chekhov

AT

A

PATIENTS

BEDSIDE

D OCTORS POPOV AND MILLER are standing by a patient’s bed, arguing.

POPOV: I must confess that I’m not a strong believer in conservative methods.

MILLER: My dear colleague, I haven’t said a word about conservatism... it’s up to you what you believe or don’t believe, what you acknowledge and what you don’t acknowledge. What I’m saying is we need, in concreto, a change in regime.

THE PATIENT: Oh! (With difficulty he rises from the bed, walks to the door, and peeks apprehensively into the next room.) Nowadays even the walls have ears!

POPOV: The patient is complaining about oppression—tightness in the chest—the feeling of not being allowed to breathe. "We’ll have to resort to strong measures.

The patient groans and looks fearfully toward the window.

MILLER: But before we go to extremes, I suggest we scrutinize his constitution.

THE PATIENT (turning pale): Gendemen, please don’t speak so loud! I’m a civil servant, a family man! People are walking by right outside the window.... I have servants! Oh!(He wrings his hands despairingly.)