[Chekhov]
(Irina calls from the back of the house.)
IRINA: Boris!
TRIGORIN: She's calling me to come in and pack, I suppose. Suddenly I don't feel like leaving. (He looks toward the lake.) The lake is so beautiful.
NINA: See the house with the garden across the lake?
TRIGORIN: Yes.
NINA: That was my mother's house. I was born there. I've spent all my life at this lake. I know every little island.
TRIGORIN: It's beautiful. (He sees the seagull on the ground.) What's that?
NINA: A seagull. Konstantin shot it.
TRIGORIN: To shoot such a beautiful bird . . . Nina, I don't want to leave. Will you persuade Irina that we should stay?
(He writes something in his notebook.)
NINA: What are you writing?
TRIGORIN: An idea for a story struck me just now. A young girl like you has lived her entire life by a beautiful lake. She loves the lake, like a seagull, and is free and happy, like a seagull. And then a man comes and, having nothing better to do, destroys her as easily as he might shoot a seagull.
IRINA: (Calling from house) Boris! Where are you?
TRIGORIN: Coming!
(He starts toward the house, looking back at Nina, then to Irina.)
TRIGORIN: What is it?
IRINA: We're staying.
(Trigorin enters the house.)
NINA: I feel like I'm in a dream . . .
(She starts away.)
NINA: Oh yes - I'm supposed to tell you we're having an intermission . . .
(End of Act II)