[III-7]

[Chekhov]

IRINA: He scared me.

TREPLEV: It's not good for him to live here - he gets depressed and restless in the country. If you'd loan him the money, he could live in town.

IRINA: I don't have money to loan. I'm an actress, not a banker.

TREPLEV: Will you change my bandage for me? You're so good at it.

(She'll prepare to change the bandage.)

IRINA: The doctor's late.

TREPLEV: Yes, he was supposed to be here at ten - it's already noon.

IRINA: Sit down. (He does, and she takes off his bandage.) It looks like a turban on you. Yesterday someone asked the kitchen help what nationality you were. It's almost healed, just a slight scar. (She kisses his head.) When I'm gone, you won't do something like that again, will you?

TREPLEV: No, mother; it's like I was temporarily insane, I was so depressed. It won't happen again. (He kisses her hands.) You have such golden hands. I remember when I was a child, when you were still playing the regional theaters, there was a fight in our courtyard and a neighbor, a washerwoman, was almost beaten to death. She was unconscious when they picked her up, but you cared for her and took her medicine, you even washed her children in a tub. Do you remember?

IRINA: No. (She puts on a fresh bandage.)

TREPLEV: Two ballerinas also lived there. They'd come over for coffee.

IRINA: I remember that.

TREPLEV: They were very religious.

(There's a pause.)

TREPLEV: Lately I've felt like a child again, loving you as innocently as I did then. But why do you let that man influence you so much?

IRINA: Konstantin, you don't understand him. He's a man of great principles.

TREPLEV: When I challenged him to a duel, his "great principles" didn't stop him from being a coward. Now he's running away.

IRINA: That's ridiculous. I myself asked him to leave.

TREPLEV: Great principles! Here we are arguing about him, and he's off somewhere laughing at us - and trying to expand Nina's mind and show her what a genius he is.

IRINA: You certainly enjoy saying upsetting things to me. I told you how much I respect him, and I don't want you speaking badly of him in my presence.

TREPLEV: Mother, I don't respect him. You want me to think he's a genius, don't you? Well, I can't lie. His books make me sick.

IRINA: You're jealous. People without talent are always putting down real genius. I'm sure it's a comfort to you.

TREPLEV: Real genius! I've got more genius and talent than the lot of you! You and Trigorin, all of you, are boring and out-dated. Yet you have control of the arts and won't tolerate anything but your convention of cliches. Well, I won't accept this. I reject you all!

IRINA: That attitude leads to decadence!

TREPLEV: Then go run to your boring theater and act in your pitiful plays.

IRINA: I have never acted in a pitiful play! Who are you to criticize me? You can't even write a cheap vaudeville sketch. You sponge off me!

TREPLEV: How can I, when you're a miser?

IRINA: And you a beggar!

(Treplev starts crying softly.)

IRINA: You're a nobody. (A pause.) Please don't cry. Stop this. (She starts crying herself.) Please. (She starts kissing him on the forehead, cheeks, head.). Forgive me. I feel miserable. It's my fault. Do forgive me, darling boy.

TREPLEV: (embracing her) If you only knew what I've been through. I've lost everything. She doesn't love me; I can't write . . . my life is hopeless.

IRINA: Everything will work out, you'll see. He's leaving today, and she'll love you again. (She wipes away his tears.) Now we're friends again.

TREPLEV: Yes, mother.

IRINA: Make friends with him. You don't need a silly duel.

(Trigorin can be heard.)

TREPLEV: Don't make me see him again. I couldn't stand it. I'm leaving, (He removes his bandage.) The doctor can bandage me later.

(He leaves as Trigorin enters.)

[follow Treplev]

[stay here]