[S-III-1]

[Deemer]

(Masha enters the study. She is alone. She moves to a desk and recognizes Treplev's handwriting on a poem.)

MASHA: (to audience) Why doesn't he understand how much I love him? He's written a poem for Nina. I would give anything in the world if he would write a poem for me.

(Suddenly she tears it up.)

MASHA: There! If I can't have it, then no one will.

(She looks around the study.)

MASHA: I'm sure Pyotr hides a bottle here somewhere.

(She starts looking for a bottle.)

MASHA: Boris thinks I drink too much. What does he know? It's easy enough for him to say, with women falling for him all the time. Who falls for Masha? At least I have Semyou. Medvedenko will take care of me. There are worst fates than being cared for.

(She finds a small bottle of vodka.)

MASHA: Here. I knew there was one somewhere.

(She takes a drink. As she is drinking, Treplev enters.)

[continue]