YELENA ANDREEVNA. But I understand so little of it.
ASTROV. There’s nothing to understand, it’s simply uninteresting.
YELENA ANDREEVNA. To tell the truth, my mind wasn’t on it. Forgive me, I have to subject you to a slight interrogation, and I’m embarrassed, I don’t know how to begin . . .
ASTROV. Interrogation?
YELENA ANDREEVNA. Yes, interrogation, but . . . quite a harmless one. Let’s sit down.
They sit.
This concerns a certain young person. Let’s talk openly, like friends, and not beat around the bush. All right?
ASTROV. All right.
YELENA ANDREEVNA. It concerns my stepdaughter Sonya. Do you like her?
ASTROV. Yes, I respect her.
YELENA ANDREEVNA. Do you like her as a woman?
ASTROV (not immediately). No.
YELENA ANDREEVNA. A few words more — and it’s all over. Have you noticed anything?
ASTROV. No.
YELENA ANDREEVNA (takes him by the hand). You don’t love her, I see it in your eyes . . . She is suffering . . . Understand that and . . . stop coming here.
ASTROV (rises). My time’s up now . . . Actually, there’s never any time . . . (After a shrug. ) When could I? (He is embarrassed. )
YELENA ANDREEVNA. Oof! what a disagreeable conversation! I’m as relieved as if I’d been lugging around a twenty-ton weight. Well, thank goodness, that’s over. We’ll forget we ever had a talk and . . . and you will go away. You’re an intelligent man, you understand . . .
Pause.
I’m blushing all over.
ASTROV. If you had said something a month or two ago, maybe I might have considered it, but now . . . (Shrugs.) But if she’s suffering, well, of course . . . The only thing I don’t understand is: why did you have to conduct this interrogation? (Stares her in the face and wags his finger at her.) You are a sly fox!
YELENA ANDREEVNA. What’s that supposed to mean?
ASTROV (laughing). A sly fox! Suppose Sonya is suffering, I’m ready to accept that, but what’s the point of your interrogation? (Not letting her speak, energetically.) Come now, don’t act so surprised, you know perfectly well why I’m here every day . . . Why and for whose sake I’m here, you know very well indeed. Cunning little vixen, don’t look at me like that, this chicken’s an old hand . . .
YELENA ANDREEVNA (bewildered). Cunning vixen? I don’t understand.
ASTROV. A beautiful, fluffy weasel . . . You need victims! For a whole month now I’ve done nothing, let everything slide, seek you out greedily—and you’re awfully pleased by it—awfully . . . Well, what of it? I’m beaten, you knew that even without an interrogation. (Crossing his hands over his chest and bowing his head.) I surrender. Go ahead, eat me up.
YELENA ANDREEVNA. You’re out of your mind!
ASTROV (laughs through his teeth). You’re inhibited . . .
YELENA ANDREEVNA. Oh, I’m a better, more decent person than you think! I swear to you. (About to go.)
ASTROV (blocking her path). I will go today, I won’t come here any more, but . . . (takes her by the arm, looks around) where shall we get together? Tell me quickly: where? Here someone might come in, tell me quickly . . . (Passionately.) What a wonderful, elegant . . . One kiss . . . Just let me kiss your fragrant hair . . .
YELENA ANDREEVNA. I swear to you . . .
ASTROV (not letting her speak). Why swear? There’s no need to swear. There’s no need for more words . . . Oh, what a beauty! What hands! (Kisses her hands.)
YELENA ANDREEVNA. That’s enough, once and for all . . . go away . . . (Extricates her hands.) You’re out of control.
ASTROV. Then tell me, tell me where we’ll get together tomorrow? (Takes her by the waist.) You see, it’s inevitable, we have to get together. (Kisses her; at that moment VOINITSKY enters with a bouquet of roses and stops in the doorway.)
YELENA ANDREEVNA (not seeing Voinitsky). For pity’s sake . . . let go of me . . . (Puts her head on Astrov’s chest.) No! (Tries to go.)
ASTROV (restraining her by the waist). Drive tomorrow to the forest preserve . . . around two o’clock . . . Yes? Yes? Will you?
YELENA ANDREEVNA (having seen Voinitsky). Let go! (in intense embarrassment walks over to the window.) This is horrible.
VOINITSKY (puts the bouquet on a chair; agitated, wipes his face and the inside of his collar with a handkerchief). Never mind . . . Yes . . . never mind . . .
ASTROV (peeved). Today, my dear Mr. Voinitsky, the weather’s not too bad. It was overcast this morning, as if it was going to rain, but now it’s sunny. To tell the truth, autumn’s turned out lovely . . . and the winter wheat’s doing all right. (Rolls the diagram into a cylinder.) Only trouble is: the days are getting shorter. (Exits.)
YELENA ANDREEVNA (quickly goes over to Voinitsky). You will make every effort, you will use all your influence to get my husband and me to leave here this very day! You hear? This very day!
VOINITSKY (mopping his brow). Huh? Well, yes . . . fine . . . Hélène, I saw it all, all of it . . .
YELENA ANDREEVNA (on edge). You hear? I must leave here this very day!
Enter SEREBRYAKOV, SONYA, TELEGIN, and MARINA.
TELEGIN. Your Excellency, I’m not in the best of health either. Why, for two days now, I’ve been under the weather. My head feels sort of, y’know . . .
SEREBRYAKOV. Where are the others? I do not like this house. Just like a labyrinth. Twenty-six enormous rooms, everyone scatters, and you can never find anyone. (Rings.) Request Mariya Vasilyevna and Yelena Andreevna to come here!
YELENA ANDREEVNA. I’m here.
SEREBRYAKOV. Please, ladies and gentlemen, be seated.
SONYA (going over to Yelena Andreevna, impatiently). What did he say?