[G-IV-1]
[Deemer]
(Sorin and Dorn in the garden. Sorin sits in his wheelchair.)
SORIN: The older I get, the more I like bad weather.
DORN: You ought to be ecstatic today then.
SORIN: I wonder why that is? I don't like it because bad weather depresses me. On the contrary, it exhilarates me.
DORN: It gets your attention.
SORIN: I'm not sure what you mean.
DORN: A storm, the more violent the better, gets your attention, while a warm summer day just puts you to sleep. You like bad weather because it doesn't put you to sleep.
(Sorin laughs.)
SORIN: Maybe you're right!
(Dorn smiles.)
DORN: I, on the other hand, like bad weather because it depresses me.
SORIN: Why do you want to be depressed?
DORN: I find it comforting to live as closely to the truth of life as I can.
SORIN: You think life is depressing?
DORN: I think it's tedious.
SORIN: Your life is tedious but only because you make it so. That's a different story entirely.
DORN: I suppose I should say "touche!" But I won't. I don't want to give you the satisfaction of being right.
SORIN: You never do!
(They both laugh.)
SORIN: I'm going to give all this to Kostya. Did I tell you?
DORN: Several times. I think it's a splendid idea.
SORIN: A place like this is made for a writer. I always wanted to write.
DORN: It's never too late.
SORIN: Hogwash! You don't believe that any more than I do.
DORN: I'm serious. Many a successful author has started writing after retirement.
SORIN: I can't keep thoughts in my head long enough to write them down. Everyone thinks I'm dying, you know. They treat me like a corpse already.
DORN: You mean Polina.
SORIN: And Ilya, even Kostya. They all treat me like a dying old man.
DORN: Maybe that's because you are a dying old man.
SORIN: Go to hell.
DORN: I probably shall.
SORIN: I may meet you there.
(They laugh again. They are having a good time.)
SORIN: I feel good today. Irina will arrive and treat me like a patient and the day will be ruined.
DORN: She worries about you.
SORIN: I think she'll be angry if I give all this to Kostya and not to her. Even though she would never live here.
DORN: Maybe she'll surprise you.
SORIN: I've never known her to surprise me. I know what she's going to say before she says it.
DORN: But you won't be here to see how she takes it, will you?
SORIN: What was it you said? Touche?
(Medvedenko enters.)