Brian Friel: Plays 3: Three Sisters; A Month in the Country; Uncle Vanya; The Yalta Game; The Bear; Afterplay; Performances; The Home Place; Hedda Gabler (Brian Friel- Plays) by Friel Brian

Author:Friel, Brian
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Published: 2014-02-04T00:00:00+00:00

Act Four

Vanya’s room which serves as his bedroom and as the office of the estate. A door left leads to the main house. A door right opens on to the hall.

Close to the window a large table with account books and various papers. A bureau. Some bookcases. A large set of scales.

A smaller table for Astrov. On it are his paints and drawing materials. Beside this smaller table a large portfolio. A cage containing a starling. On the wall hangs a big map of Africa, very out of place in these surroundings. A large sofa covered in oilcloth.

Close to the door right a mat for the peasants to wipe their feet.

It is late evening of the same day as Act Three. The place is very still.

Telegin and Marina are facing each other, winding wool. Telegin is agitated.

Telegin Listen! There’s the carriage coming round to the front. They must be about to leave.

Marina Move back.

Telegin Hurry up, will you? We’re going to miss them.

Marina We’re going to miss nothing.

Telegin Far too late to be setting out. It will be midnight by the time they get to Kharkov.

Marina Where?

Telegin You know – Kharkov; where they’re going to.

Marina Where’s Kharkov?

Telegin How would I know? They’re right to be getting away from here though. Did you hear her? – Elena. Hysterical. ‘I’ve got to get away from this house! Anywhere! I won’t spend another hour in this place!’ Did you hear her?

Marina (sharply) Indeed I did.

Telegin Couldn’t even take time to pack all their stuff. The rest will have to be sent on to them.

Marina Disgraceful, that’s what it was! Shouting and crying and shooting their guns! I never thought I’d see a scene like it in this house.

Telegin A little dip all right.

Marina A little dip? Shameful! The sooner we get back to our old routine the better: breakfast at eight; dinner at one; and tea at seven. That was how a Christian family used to behave.

Telegin You’re right, Marina.

Marina At least a family that called itself Christian. Hold it (wool) a bit tighter.

Telegin I was walking through the village this morning; and old Boris was standing at the door of his shop; and just as I had passed him –

Marina I’ll take that end (of wool). Sorry?

Telegin Doesn’t matter.

Marina Just as you had passed him –?

Telegin Just as I had passed him he shouted after me: ‘There goes Telegin, the sponger. Still living on hand-outs, Telegin?’ There were a lot of people around. I was a bit hurt, Marina – you know. Just a little bit hurt.

Marina Always a coarse creature, that Boris.

Telegin Suppose so.

Marina And since his wife left him, more bitter than ever.

Telegin I’d forgotten that.

Marina And even though we all work as hard as we can, in a way we all depend on God’s hand-outs, don’t we? Nobody pays the slightest attention to Boris any more. Where’s Sonya?

Telegin In the garden with the Doctor. Searching for Vanya. Afraid he might do some harm to himself.

Marina Where’s his revolver?

Telegin (whispers) I have it.

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