ACT ONE

[DR-I-1]

[Deemer]

(Sitting at the dining room table over tea are Irina, Trigorin, Polina and Dorn.)

IRINA: I think he's looking very well, all things considered. He's not getting any younger.

DORN: Sorin will be the first to agree with you. How he loves to complain!

POLINA: I'll be complaining at his age myself, I expect.

DORN: Then shame on you. Life must be faced squarely.

IRINA: None of us are perfect.

DORN: All of us have the capacity to be better than we are. Don't you think so, Trigorin?

TRIGORIN: I believe all of us have the capacity to be worse than we ever imagined.

IRINA: He's pulling your leg.

DORN: Maybe he's not. Are you?

TRIGORIN: I'm serious. She likes to pretend I'm not as cynical as I am.

IRINA: You just like people to think you're cynical. People think cynics are smarter than other people.

DORN: They are!

IRINA: That is a myth. Happiness and intelligence are not incompatible.

DORN: What says the writer to that?

TRIGORIN: The writer has learned never to disagree with a beautiful woman. Especially this one.

IRINA: I hope that's a compliment.

TRIGORIN: I compliment you as often as I can.

IRINA: You do. And what kind of a cynic is that?

DORN: A cynic who appreciates beautiful women.

(Ilya enters.)

[continue]