ACT FOUR

[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.)

[continue]