[G-III-4]

[Deemer]

(Polina enters.)

ILYA: I've been looking for you.

POLINA: I've been picking up trash along the shore.

ILYA: Have you now?

POLINA: Someone has to. Are they ready to leave yet?

ILYA: And what kind of trash did you find?

POLINA: Why are you suddenly so interested?

ILYA: It's my job, in case you've forgotten.

POLINA: If it's your job, why don't you do it?

ILYA: I do plenty enough around here.

POLINA: And I help you.

ILYA: Do you?

POLINA: Have you been drinking?

ILYA: No. I've been observing.

POLINA: Observing what.

ILYA: Guess.

POLINA: What is wrong with you? I feel like you're playing games with me.

ILYA: I am.

POLINA: Not any more.

(She starts to leave.)

ILYA: I know everything.

(This stops her. A pause.)

ILYA: You must think I'm very stupid.

POLINA: You don't know anything.

ILYA: I know he won't run off with you, no matter how much you beg him. In fact, all you are going to accomplish by that is to drive him away. Then where will you be?

POLINA: He loves me.

(Ilya laughs.)

POLINA: You know nothing!

ILYA: Then he loves a pig.

POLINA: You're a bastard.

ILYA: Better than being a fool.

POLINA: A coward. A real man wouldn't stand there and let another man have an affair with his wife!

ILYA: He can have you. The trouble is, he won't take you. So like I said before. Where does that leave you?

(Polina is silent.)

ILYA: Let me tell you. Let's say you leave me. You're alone. Masha is going to marry, she can't run off with you. Dorn will have nothing to do with you once you stop falling into his lap here. You can't stay here. Where will you go?

POLINA: Masha will put me up until I get settled.

ILYA: That's a laugh! She's marrying a school teacher who can't even support the dependents he already has! Now he's getting a wife. You think he wants a mother-in-law in the bargain? No, Polina, Masha won't take you in. You'll be left on the street with nowhere to go, is what will happen. You're too old to make a buck there, even if it occurred to you.

POLINA: I'll go to Moscow and find work.

ILYA: Excellent! Shall I help you pack?

(Again Polina is silent.)

ILYA: Well?

POLINA: Why are you doing this?

ILYA: Just making sure you understand the situation.

POLINA: I hate you.

ILYA: Are you packing or not?

(Polina stays but says nothing.)

ILYA: Very well.

POLINA: How long have you known?

(Ilya laughs.)

POLINA: What kind of husband does nothing?

ILYA: One who doesn't care, my dear.

POLINA: I should leave you.

ILYA: But you won't. Because you have nowhere to go.

POLINA: If I stay, I will still see him.

ILYA: Don't you see he's already tired of you?

POLINA: No, I don't see. You just say that to torment me.

ILYA: Open your eyes. I've seen how he looks at Masha.

POLINA: What do you mean?

ILYA: A girl with a broken heart is so ready for attention.

POLINA: That's not true.

ILYA: Your eyes are open but you see nothing.

POLINA: Masha would have nothing to do with him.

ILYA: I hope that's true.

POLINA: Poor Masha will be in love with Kostya her whole life.

ILYA: Then she's a fool.

POLINA: Like her mother.

ILYA: At least you admit it.

POLINA: What happened to us?

ILYA: You tell me. Am I chasing after Irina?

(Polina laughs.)

POLINA: That would be a sight.

ILYA: No more absurd than you, my dear.

POLINA: He loves me.

ILYA: We've already been through that. I should get the horses ready.

POLINA: What do we do now?

ILYA: Life goes on.

POLINA: That's it?

ILYA: Of course that's it. You expect miracles?

POLINA: I expect something to be different.

ILYA: Then you get the horses ready. That'd be different.

POLINA: Did you ever love me?

ILYA: Is that all you can think about?

POLINA: Is all I've ever thought about. All I've ever wanted is to be in love and happy.

ILYA: And how often have you succeeded?

(Polina is silent.)

ILYA: That's what I thought. You are like all women. You live in a dream world. You are possessed by the obsession that life can be wonderful.

POLINA: You don't want happiness?

ILYA: When do I have time to be happy?

POLINA: I feel sorry for you.

ILYA: Don't waste your energy.

POLINA: I couldn't live in a world without the hope of happiness.

ILYA: It's not so hard.

POLINA: I'd ask myself, What's the point?

ILYA: And while you were asking, your work would remain undone.

POLINA: There's more to life than work.

(Ilya laughs.)

ILYA: Have you noticed how only the lazy say that?

POLINA: You can't call me lazy. I do my share around here. I just don't complain all the time.

ILYA: Your share, huh? That'll be the day.

POLINA: You don't appreciate me.

ILYA: Go slobber on the doctor. I have work to do.

(Ilya exits to prepare the horses. Polina exits to kitchen.)

Follow Ilya.

Follow Polina.