SOFYA YEGOROVNA. You’ve said it all before . . . What more can you say? We have to separate . . . What more is there to say? Are you trying to prove that I am doing you wrong? Don’t bother! I know what to think of myself. . .
VOINITSEV. What can I say? Ugh, Sofya, Sofya! You know nothing! Nothing, otherwise you wouldn’t look down your nose at me like that! The things that are going on inside me are horrible! (Gets on his knees before her.) What are you doing, Sophie? Where are you driving the two of us? For heaven’s sake, be merciful! I’m dying and losing my mind! Stay with me! I will forget all about it, I’ve already forgiven all of it . . . I’ll be your slave, I’ll love you . . . I will, in a way I haven’t loved before! I’ll make you happy! You’ll be happy with me, like a goddess! He won’t make you happy! You’ll ruin both yourself and him! You’ll be the ruin of Platonov, Sofya! . . . I know you can’t be forced to be kind, but do stay! You’ll be happy again, you won’t look as pale as a corpse, so miserable! I’ll be a man again, I’ll be able to face you again . . . Platonov! That’s pie in the sky, but . . . do stay! Let’s turn back the clock, before it’s too late! Platonov will agree . . . I know him . . . He doesn’t love you, but just . . . you gave yourself to him, and he took you . . . (Rises.) Are you crying?
SOFYA YEGOROVNA (rises). Don’t assume these tears have anything to do with you! Perhaps, Platonov will agree . . . Let him agree! (Sharply.) You’re all such vulgar people! Where is Platonov?
VOINITSEV. I don’t know where he is.
SOFYA YEGOROVNA. Stop pestering me! Leave me alone! I hate you! Get out of here! Where’s Platonov? Vulgar people . . . Where is he? I do hate you!
VOINITSEV. What for?
SOFYA YEGOROVNA. Where is he?
VOINITSEV. I gave him money, and he promised me he’d go away. If he kept his promise, it means he’s gone away.
SOFYA YEGOROVNA. You bought him off? Are you lying?
VOINITSEV. I paid him a thousand rubles, and he gave you up. Although that’s a lie! It’s all lies! Don’t believe me, for heaven’s sake! Alive and well, that damned Platonov! Go and get him, smother him in kisses! . . . I didn’t buy him off! And how can you . . . he be happy? For this is my wife, my Sofya . . . What does it all mean? And even now I don’t believe it! Are you and he on Platonic terms? It hasn’t gone as far as . . . the main event?
SOFYA YEGOROVNA. I’m his wife, mistress, whatever you like! (Tries to leave.) What’s the point in keeping me here? I haven’t the time to listen to all this . . .
VOINITSEV. Wait a bit, Sofya! You’re his mistress? Whatever do you mean? You talk so shamelessly! (Grabs her by the arm.) How could you? How could you?
Enter ANNA PETROVNA.
SOFYA YEGOROVNA. Leave me alone! (Exits.)
SCENE III
VOINITSEV and ANNA PETROVNA.
ANNA PETROVNA enters and looks out the window.
VOINITSEV (waves his hand in dismissal). It’s all over!
Pause.
What’s going on out there?
ANNA PETROVNA. Osip’s been killed by the peasants.
VOINITSEV. Already?
ANNA PETROVNA. Yes . . . Near the well . . . Do you see it? There he is!
VOINITSEV (looks out the window). So what? It serves him right.
ANNA PETROVNA. Have you heard the news, sonny boy? They’re saying Platonov has vanished somewhere and . . . Read the letter?
VOINITSEV. I have.
ANNA PETROVNA. Bye-bye estate! How do you like that? Bingo . . . The Lord gaveth, and the Lord tooketh away . . . There’s your famous financial wheeling and dealing for you! And all because we put our trust in Glagolyev . . . He promised to buy the estate, and didn’t even go to the auction . . . The servant girl says that he’s gone to Paris . . . Pulled one over on us, the bastard, in his old age! If it hadn’t been for him, you and I could have paid off the interest fine and dandy and could have gone on living here . . . (Sighs.) In this world you mustn’t trust your enemies, or your friends, for that matter!
VOINITSEV. Yes, you mustn’t trust your friends!
ANNA PETROVNA. Well, landed gentry? What will you do now? Where will you go? The Lord gaveth to your ancestors, but tooketh away from you . . . You’ve got nothing left . . .
VOINITSEV. It doesn’t matter to me.
ANNA PETROVNA. No, it does matter. How are you going to eat? Let’s sit down . . . (Sits down.) How gloomy you are . . . What’s to be done? It’s a shame we’ve got to abandon the cozy little nest, but what can you do, love? You can’t turn back . . . That’s how it’s got to be, I suppose . . . Be a clever boy, Serzhel! The first thing is to be calm and collected.
VOINITSEV. Don’t pay any attention to me, maman! Why bother about me? You can hardly sit still yourself . . . First console yourself, and then come and console me.
ANNA PETROVNA. Well . . . Womenfolk don’t matter . . . Womenfolk are always in the background . . . The first thing is to be calm and collected! You’ve lost what was yours, but the important thing is not what used to be but what lies ahead. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you, a good, hardworking, man’s life! What’s there to grieve about? You’ll go into a prep school or a high school, you’ll start working . . . I think you’re a fine fellow. A philologist, well meaning, never been involved in anything shady, you’ve got convictions, demure, a married man . . . If you want to, you’ll go far! I think you’re a clever boy! Only you mustn’t quarrel with your wife . . . You no sooner got married when you started quarreling . . . Why don’t you tell me about it, Serzhel? Your heart is aching, but you keep it quiet . . . What’s going on between the two of you?
VOINITSEV. Nothing’s going on, it’s already gone on.
ANNA PETROVNA. What then? Or maybe it’s a secret?
VOINITSEV (sighs). A terrible misfortune has befallen our house, mamma Anyuta! Why haven’t I told you before now? I don’t know. I kept hoping against hope, and besides I was ashamed to say anything . . . I only learned about it myself yesterday morning . . . And I couldn’t care less about the estate!
ANNA PETROVNA (laughs). How alarming! Has she lost her temper or something?
VOINITSEV. You laugh! Just wait, you’ll wipe that smile off your face!
Pause.
She has betrayed me . . . I’m honored to introduce myself: a cuckold!
ANNA PETROVNA. Don’t be silly, Sergey?! What silly fantasies! To say such monstrous things and without a second thought! You’re incredible! Sometimes you talk such drivel it simply makes my ears droop! A cuckold . . . You don’t even know the meaning of the word . . .
VOINITSEV. I do know, maman! Not in theory, but I already know it in practice!
ANNA PETROVNA. Don’t insult your wife, you crackpot! Ah . . .
VOINITSEV. I swear to God!
Pause.
ANNA PETROVNA. This is strange . . . What you’re saying is impossible. You’re spreading slander! Impossible! Here, in Voinitsevka?