Chekhov by Anton Chekhov

Author:Anton Chekhov
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781588362667
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2017-01-07T16:00:00+00:00

Act Two

The setting is the same as in Act One. It is eight o’clock in the evening. The barely audible strains of an accordion come from outside. The stage is dark. Enter NATASHA wearing a dressing gown and holding a candle. She crosses the stage, stopping at the door to ANDREI’s room.

NATASHA. What are you doing, Andrei? Reading? No, nothing’s wrong. I just . . . (She goes over to another door, opens it, looks in, then shuts it.) Has anyone left a light burning? . . .

ANDREI (entering with a book in his hand). What are you doing, Natasha?

NATASHA. Just making sure nobody’s left a light burning . . . The servants are impossible now that carnival is here. I’ve got to keep an eye on things. You never know what might happen. Yesterday at midnight on my way through the dining room I saw a candle burning. I still haven’t been able to find out who lit it. (She sets down the candle.) What time is it?

ANDREI (glancing at his watch). A quarter past eight.

NATASHA. And Olga and Irina aren’t home yet. Still slaving away, poor things. Olga at her staff meeting, Irina at the telegraph office . . . (She sighs.) Just this morning I told your sister, “Irina darling,” I said, “you take care of yourself, now.” But she won’t listen. A quarter past eight, you say? I’m worried. Little Bobik isn’t well. Why does he get so cold? Yesterday he had a fever, and today he’s cold all over . . . I’m so worried.

ANDREI. It’s nothing, Natasha. The boy’s fine.

NATASHA. Still, I think he needs a special diet. I’m worried. And the carnival people are due tonight at nine. I wish they’d stay away.

ANDREI. I don’t know what to tell you. They were invited, after all.

NATASHA. This morning the little darling woke up and looked at me, and all at once he smiled. Don’t you see? He recognized me. “Hello there, Bobik,” I said. “Hello, my sweet.” And he laughed. Babies understand, they understand perfectly. So I’ll order the servants not to let the carnival people in, all right, dear?

ANDREI (indecisively). But isn’t that up to Olga and Irina? This is their house.

NATASHA. Theirs too. I’ll tell them. They’re so kind . . . (She starts walking off.) I’ve ordered yogurt for your supper. The doctor says you’re to eat nothing but yogurt or you’ll never lose weight. (She stops.) Bobik gets so cold. I’m afraid it’s the room. We should find another room for him until the weather turns warm. Irina’s room, for instance. It’s just right for a baby: dry, and sunny all day. We’ll have to tell her. She can move in with Olga for a while . . . She’s never at home in the daytime anyway; she just sleeps here . . .

(Pause.)

Why don’t you say something, Andrei?

ANDREI. I was thinking . . . Besides, there’s nothing to say . . .

NATASHA. I see . . . Now, what was I going to tell you? .

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