Act Four
The stage is set as for Act I. There are no curtains on the windows, no pictures; only a few pieces of furniture are left; they are piled up in a corner as if for sale. The emptiness is felt. By the door that leads out of the house and at the back of the stage, portmanteaux and travelling paraphernalia are piled up. The door on the left is open; the voices of Varya and Anya can be heard through it. Lopakhin stands and waits. Yasha holds a tray with little tumblers of champagne. Outside, Epikhodov is tying up a box. Voices are heard behind the stage. The peasants have come to say good-bye. The voice of Gaev is heard: “Thank you, brothers, thank you.”
Yasha
The common people have come to say good-bye. I am of the opinion, Ermolai Alexeyevitch, that they’re good people, but they don’t understand very much.
The voices die away. Lubov Andreyevna and Gaev enter. She is not crying but is pale, and her face trembles; she can hardly speak.
Gaev
You gave them your purse, Luba. You can’t go on like that, you can’t!
Lubov
I couldn’t help myself, I couldn’t!
They go out.
Lopakhin
In the doorway, calling after them
Please, I ask you most humbly! Just a little glass to say good-bye. I didn’t remember to bring any from town and I only found one bottle at the station. Please, do!
Pause
Won’t you really have any?
Goes away from the door
If I only knew—I wouldn’t have bought any. Well, I shan’t drink any either.
Yasha carefully puts the tray on a chair
You have a drink, Yasha, at any rate.
Yasha
To those departing! And good luck to those who stay behind!
Drinks
I can assure you that this isn’t real champagne.
Lopakhin
Eight roubles a bottle.
Pause
It’s devilish cold here.
Yasha
There are no fires to-day, we’re going away.
Laughs
Lopakhin
What’s the matter with you?
Yasha
I’m just pleased.
Lopakhin
It’s October outside, but it’s as sunny and as quiet as if it were summer. Good for building.
Looking at his watch and speaking through the door
Ladies and gentlemen, please remember that it’s only forty-seven minutes till the train goes! You must go off to the station in twenty minutes. Hurry up.
Trofimov, in an overcoat, comes in from the grounds.
Trofimov
I think it’s time we went. The carriages are waiting. Where the devil are my goloshes? They’re lost.
Through the door
Anya, I can’t find my goloshes! I can’t!
Lopakhin
I’ve got to go to Kharkov. I’m going in the same train as you. I’m going to spend the whole winter in Kharkov. I’ve been hanging about with you people, going rusty without work. I can’t live without working. I must have something to do with my hands; they hang about as if they weren’t mine at all.
Trofimov
We’ll go away now and then you’ll start again on your useful labours.
Lopakhin
Have a glass.
Trofimov
I won’t.
Lopakhin
So you’re off to Moscow now?
Trofimov
Yes. I’ll see them into town and to-morrow I’m off to Moscow.
Lopakhin
Yes.... I expect the professors don’t lecture nowadays; they’re waiting till you turn up!
Trofimov
That’s not your business.
Lopakhin
How many years have you been going to the university?
Trofimov
Think of something fresh. This is old and flat.
Looking for his goloshes
You know, we may not meet each other again, so just let me give you a word of advice on parting: “Don’t wave your hands about! Get rid of that habit of waving them about. And then, building villas and reckoning on their residents becoming freeholders in time—that’s the same thing; it’s all a matter of waving your hands about.... Whether I want to or not, you know, I like you. You’ve thin, delicate fingers, like those of an artist, and you’ve a thin, delicate soul....”
Lopakhin
Embraces him
Good-bye, dear fellow. Thanks for all you’ve said. If you want any, take some money from me for the journey.
Trofimov
Why should I? I don’t want it.
Lopakhin
But you’ve nothing!
Trofimov
Yes, I have, thank you; I’ve got some for a translation. Here it is in my pocket.
Nervously
But I can’t find my goloshes!
Varya
From the other room
Take your rubbish away!
Throws a pair of rubber goloshes on to the stage.
Trofimov
Why are you angry, Varya? Hm! These aren’t my goloshes!
Lopakhin
In the spring I sowed three thousand acres of poppies, and now I’ve made forty thousand roubles net profit. And when my poppies were in flower, what a picture it was! So I, as I was saying, made forty thousand roubles, and I mean I’d like to lend you some, because I can afford it. Why turn up your nose at it? I’m just a simple peasant....
Trofimov
Your father was a peasant, mine was a chemist, and that means absolutely nothing.
Lopakhin takes out his pocket-book
No, no.... Even if you gave me twenty thousand I should refuse. I’m a free man. And everything that all you people, rich and poor, value so highly and so dearly hasn’t the least influence over me; it’s like a flock of down in the wind. I can do without you, I can pass you by. I’m strong and proud. Mankind goes on to the highest truths and to the highest happiness such as is only possible on earth, and I go in the front ranks!
Lopakhin
Will you get there?
Trofimov
I will.
Pause
I’ll get there and show others the way.
Axes cutting the trees are heard in the distance.
Lopakhin
Well, good-bye, old man. It’s time to go. Here we stand pulling one another’s noses, but life goes its own way all the time. When I work for a long time, and I don’t get tired, then I think more easily, and I think I get to understand why I exist. And there are so many people in Russia, brother, who live for nothing at all. Still, work goes on without that. Leonid Andreyevitch, they say, has accepted a post in a bank; he will get sixty thousand roubles a year.... But he won’t stand it; he’s very lazy.
Anya
At the door
Mother asks if you will stop them cutting down the orchard until she has gone away.
Trofimov
Yes, really, you ought to have enough tact not to do that.
Exit.
Lopakhin
All right, all right... yes, he’s right.
Exit.
Anya
Has Fiers been sent to the hospital?
Yasha
I gave the order this morning. I suppose they’ve sent him.
Anya
To Epikhodov, who crosses the room
Simeon Panteleyevitch, please make inquiries if Fiers has been sent to the hospital.
Yasha
Offended
I told Egor this morning. What’s the use of asking ten times!
Epikhodov
The aged Fiers, in my conclusive opinion, isn’t worth mending; his forefathers had better have him. I only envy him.
Puts a trunk on a hat-box and squashes it
Well, of course. I thought so!
Exit.
Yasha
Grinning
Two-and-twenty troubles.
Varya
Behind the door
Has Fiers been taken away to the hospital?
Anya
Yes.
Varya
Why didn’t they take the letter to the doctor?
Anya
It’ll have to be sent after him.
Exit.
Varya
In the next room
Where’s Yasha? Tell him his mother’s come and wants to say good-bye to him.
Yasha
Waving his hand
She’ll make me lose all patience!
Dunyasha has meanwhile been bustling round the luggage; now that Yasha is left alone, she goes up to him.
Dunyasha
If you only looked at me once, Yasha. You’re going away, leaving me behind.
Weeps and hugs him round the neck.
Yasha
What’s the use of crying?
Drinks champagne
In six days I’ll be again in Paris. To-morrow we get into the express and off we go. I can hardly believe it. Vive la France! It doesn’t suit me here, I can’t live here... it’s no good. Well, I’ve seen the uncivilized world; I have had enough of it.
Drinks champagne
What do you want to cry for? You behave yourself properly, and then you won’t cry.
Dunyasha
Looks in a small mirror and powders her face
Send me a letter from Paris. You know I loved you, Yasha, so much! I’m a sensitive creature, Yasha.
Yasha
Somebody’s coming.
He bustles around the luggage, singing softly. Enter Lubov Andreyevna, Gaev, Anya, and Charlotta Ivanovna.
Gaev
We’d better be off. There’s no time left.
Looks at Yasha
Somebody smells of herring!
Lubov
We needn’t get into our carriages for ten minutes....
Looks round the room
Good-bye, dear house, old grandfather. The winter will go, the spring will come, and then you’ll exist no more, you’ll be pulled down. How much these walls have seen!
Passionately kisses her daughter
My treasure, you’re radiant, your eyes flash like two jewels! Are you happy? Very?
Anya
Very! A new life is beginning, mother!
Gaev
Gaily
Yes, really, everything’s all right now. Before the cherry orchard was sold we all were excited and we suffered, and then, when the question was solved once and for all, we all calmed down, and even became cheerful. I’m a bank official now, and a financier... red in the middle; and you, Luba, for some reason or other, look better, there’s no doubt about it.
Lubov
Yes. My nerves are better, it’s true.
She puts on her coat and hat
I sleep well. Take my luggage out, Yasha. It’s time.
To Anya
My little girl, we’ll soon see each other again.... I’m off to Paris. I’ll live there on the money your grandmother from Yaroslav sent along to buy the estate—bless her!—though it won’t last long.
Anya
You’ll come back soon, soon, mother, won’t you? I’ll get ready, and pass the exam at the Higher School, and then I’ll work and help you. We’ll read all sorts of books to one another, won’t we?
Kisses her mother’s hands
We’ll read in the autumn evenings; we’ll read many books, and a beautiful new world will open up before us....
Thoughtfully
You’ll come, mother....
Lubov
I’ll come, my darling.
Embraces her.
Enter Lopakhin. Charlotta is singing to herself.
Gaev
Charlotta is happy; she sings!
Charlotta
Takes a bundle, looking like a wrapped-up baby
My little baby, bye-bye.
The baby seems to answer, “Oua! Oua!”
Hush, my nice little boy.
“Oua! Oua!”
I’m so sorry for you!
Throws the bundle back
So please find me a new place. I can’t go on like this.
Lopakhin
We’ll find one, Charlotta Ivanovna, don’t you be afraid.
Gaev
Everybody’s leaving us. Varya’s going away... we’ve suddenly become unnecessary.
Charlotta
I’ve nowhere to live in town. I must go away.
Hums
Never mind.
Enter Pischin.
Lopakhin
Nature’s marvel!
Pischin
Puffing
Oh, let me get my breath back.... I’m fagged out... My most honoured, give me some water....
Gaev
Come for money, what? I’m your humble servant, and I’m going out of the way of temptation.
Exit.
Pischin
I haven’t been here for ever so long... dear madam.
To Lopakhin
You here? Glad to see you... man of immense brain... take this... take it....
Gives Lopakhin money
Four hundred roubles.... That leaves 840....
Lopakhin
Shrugs his shoulders in surprise
As if I were dreaming. Where did you get this from?
Pischin
Stop... it’s hot.... A most unexpected thing happened. Some Englishmen came along and found some white clay on my land....
To Lubov Andreyevna
And here’s four hundred for you... beautiful lady....
Gives her money
Give you the rest later....
Drinks water
Just now a young man in the train was saying that some great philosopher advises us all to jump off roofs. “Jump!” he says, and that’s all.
Astonished
To think of that, now! More water!
Lopakhin
Who were these Englishmen?
Pischin
I’ve leased off the land with the clay to them for twenty-four years.... Now, excuse me, I’ve no time.... I must run off.... I must go to Znoikov and to Kardamonov... I owe them all money....
Drinks
Good-bye. I’ll come in on Thursday.
Lubov
We’re just off to town, and to-morrow I go abroad.
Pischin
Agitated
What? Why to town? I see furniture... trunks.... Well, never mind.
Crying
Never mind. These Englishmen are men of immense intellect.... Never mind.... Be happy.... God will help you.... Never mind.... Everything in this world comes to an end....
Kisses Lubov Andreyevna’s hand
And if you should happen to hear that my end has come, just remember this old... horse and say: “There was one such and such a Simeonov-Pischin, God bless his soul....” Wonderful weather... yes....
Exit deeply moved, but returns at once and says in the door
Dashenka sent her love!
Exit.
Lubov
Now we can go. I’ve two anxieties, though. The first is poor Fiers
Looks at her watch
We’ve still five minutes....
Anya
Mother, Fiers has already been sent to the hospital. Yasha sent him off this morning.
Lubov
The second is Varya. She’s used to getting up early and to work, and now she’s no work to do she’s like a fish out of water. She’s grown thin and pale, and she cries, poor thing....
Pause
You know very well, Ermolai Alexeyevitch, that I used to hope to marry her to you, and I suppose you are going to marry somebody?
Whispers to Anya, who nods to Charlotta, and they both go out
She loves you, she’s your sort, and I don’t understand, I really don’t, why you seem to be keeping away from each other. I don’t understand!
Lopakhin
To tell the truth, I don’t understand it myself. It’s all so strange.... If there’s still time, I’ll be ready at once... Let’s get it over, once and for all; I don’t feel as if I could ever propose to her without you.
Lubov
Excellent. It’ll only take a minute. I’ll call her.
Lopakhin
The champagne’s very appropriate.
Looking at the tumblers
They’re empty, somebody’s already drunk them.
Yasha coughs
I call that licking it up....
Lubov
Animated
Excellent. We’ll go out. Yasha, allez. I’ll call her in....
At the door
Varya, leave that and come here. Come!
Exit with Yasha.
Lopakhin
Looks at his watch
Yes....
Pause.
There is a restrained laugh behind the door, a whisper, then Varya comes in.
Varya
Looking at the luggage in silence
I can’t seem to find it....
Lopakhin
What are you looking for?
Varya
I packed it myself and I don’t remember.
Pause.
Lopakhin
Where are you going to now, Barbara Mihailovna?
Varya
I? To the Ragulins.... I’ve got an agreement to go and look after their house... as housekeeper or something.
Lopakhin
Is that at Yashnevo? It’s about fifty miles.
Pause
So life in this house is finished now....
Varya
Looking at the luggage
Where is it?... perhaps I’ve put it away in the trunk.... Yes, there’ll be no more life in this house....
Lopakhin
And I’m off to Kharkov at once... by this train. I’ve a lot of business on hand. I’m leaving Epikhodov here... I’ve taken him on.
Varya
Well, well!
Lopakhin
Last year at this time the snow was already falling, if you remember, and now it’s nice and sunny. Only it’s rather cold.... There’s three degrees of frost.
Varya
I didn’t look.
Pause
And our thermometer’s broken....
Pause.
Voice At the Door
Ermolai Alexeyevitch!
Lopakhin
As if he has long been waiting to be called
This minute.
Exit quickly.
Varya, sitting on the floor, puts her face on a bundle of clothes and weeps gently. The door opens. Lubov Andreyevna enters carefully.
Lubov
Well?
Pause
We must go.
Varya
Not crying now, wipes her eyes
Yes, it’s quite time, little mother. I’ll get to the Ragulins to-day, if I don’t miss the train....
Lubov
At the door
Anya, put on your things.
Enter Anya, then Gaev, Charlotta Ivanovna. Gaev wears a warm overcoat with a cape. A servant and drivers come in. Epikhodov bustles around the luggage
Now we can go away.
Anya
Joyfully
Away!
Gaev
My friends, my dear friends! Can I be silent, in leaving this house for evermore?—can I restrain myself, in saying farewell, from expressing those feelings which now fill my whole being...?
Anya
Imploringly
Uncle!
Varya
Uncle, you shouldn’t!
Gaev
Stupidly
Double the red into the middle.... I’ll be quiet.
Enter Trofimov, then Lopakhin.
Trofimov
Well, it’s time to be off.
Lopakhin
Epikhodov, my coat!
Lubov
I’ll sit here one more minute. It’s as if I’d never really noticed what the walls and ceilings of this house were like, and now I look at them greedily, with such tender love....
Gaev
I remember, when I was six years old, on Trinity Sunday, I sat at this window and looked and saw my father going to church....
Lubov
Have all the things been taken away?
Lopakhin
Yes, all, I think.
To Epikhodov, putting on his coat
You see that everything’s quite straight, Epikhodov.
Epikhodov
Hoarsely
You may depend upon me, Ermolai Alexeyevitch!
Lopakhin
What’s the matter with your voice?
Epikhodov
I swallowed something just now; I was having a drink of water.
Yasha
Suspiciously
What manners....
Lubov
We go away, and not a soul remains behind.
Lopakhin
Till the spring.
Varya
Drags an umbrella out of a bundle, and seems to be waving it about. Lopakhin appears to be frightened
What are you doing?... I never thought...
Trofimov
Come along, let’s take our seats... it’s time! The train will be in directly.
Varya
Peter, here they are, your goloshes, by that trunk.
In tears
And how old and dirty they are....
Trofimov
Putting them on
Come on!
Gaev
Deeply moved, nearly crying
The train... the station.... Cross in the middle, a white double in the corner....
Lubov
Let’s go!
Lopakhin
Are you all here? There’s nobody else?
Locks the side-door on the left
There’s a lot of things in there. I must lock them up. Come!
Anya
Good-bye, home! Good-bye, old life!
Trofimov
Welcome, new life!
Exit with Anya.
Varya looks round the room and goes out slowly. Yasha and Charlotta, with her little dog, go out.
Lopakhin
Till the spring, then! Come on... till we meet again!
Exit.
Lubov Andreyevna and Gaev are left alone. They might almost have been waiting for that. They fall into each other’s arms and sob restrainedly and quietly, fearing that somebody might hear them.
Gaev
In despair
My sister, my sister....
Lubov
My dear, my gentle, beautiful orchard! My life, my youth, my happiness, good-bye! Good-bye!
Anya’s Voice
Gaily
Mother!
Trofimov’s Voice
Gaily, excited
Coo-ee!
Lubov
To look at the walls and the windows for the last time.... My dead mother used to like to walk about this room....
Gaev
My sister, my sister!
Anya’s Voice
Mother!
Trofimov’s Voice
Coo-ee!
Lubov
We’re coming!
They go out.
The stage is empty. The sound of keys being turned in the locks is heard, and then the noise of the carriages going away. It is quiet. Then the sound of an axe against the trees is heard in the silence sadly and by itself. Steps are heard. Fiers comes in from the door on the right. He is dressed as usual, in a short jacket and white waistcoat; slippers on his feet. He is ill. He goes to the door and tries the handle.
Fiers
It’s locked. They’ve gone away.
Sits on a sofa
They’ve forgotten about me.... Never mind, I’ll sit here.... And Leonid Andreyevitch will have gone in a light overcoat instead of putting on his fur coat....
Sighs anxiously
I didn’t see.... Oh, these young people!
Mumbles something that cannot be understood
Life’s gone on as if I’d never lived.
Lying down
I’ll lie down.... You’ve no strength left in you, nothing left at all.... Oh, you... bungler!
He lies without moving. The distant sound is heard, as if from the sky, of a breaking string, dying away sadly. Silence follows it, and only the sound is heard, some way away in the orchard, of the axe falling on the trees.
Curtain.