[II-10]

[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)

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