ACT THREE

[G-III-1]

[Deemer]

(Medvedenko and Ilya are in the garden. Ilya is looking toward the lake and boat house with binoculars.)

ILYA: He just kissed her. Here, see for yourself.

MED.: I take your word for it.

ILYA: They've been out there over an hour.

MED.: It must be so painful for you.

ILYA: What do I care? She cooks my meals. She does my laundry. When she stops doing that, then she'll hear from me.

MED.: How can you say that?

ILYA: The trouble with you, Semyou, is you're a romantic. Look where it gets you.

MED.: It has nothing to do with whether one is a romantic or not.

ILYA: They are embracing and kissing again. Idiots. They think they are fooling me.

MED.: If my wife was doing that, I couldn't keep my rage inside myself.

ILYA: Polina will never leave me. The doctor just uses her. I laugh at how gullible she is.

MED.: Your heart is made of stone.

ILYA: Better than mush, like yours.

MED.: Why must you treat me like an enemy?

ILYA: I'm not.

MED.: This is treating me like a friend?

ILYA: Of course you're my friend! I wouldn't be sharing this with you if you weren't.

MED.: Then God help your enemies.

ILYA: I just refuse to slobber over spilt milk.

MED.: But watching your own wife in the arms of another! How can't it bother you? Aren't you jealous?

ILYA: She's the one who should be jealous. My woman in town is half her age.

MED.: You have a woman in town?

(Treplev enters in a rush. Seeing them, he stops.)

[continue]