Delphi Complete Works of Anton Chekhov (Illustrated) (378 page)

SCENE VI.

VOINITZEV and afterwards

PLATONOV.

VOINITZEV. It’s almost too much to bear! How long will it drag on? Today, tomorrow, and the day after . . . a week, a month, a year... There’ll be no end to this torment! I’d better shoot myself. ( Weeps.)

PLATONOV (entering with his arm in a sling). He sits... He’s crying, I think... {Pause.) My poor friend! (Approaches him.) For God’s sake, listen to me! I’ve not come to justify myself... It’s neither for me nor for you to judge me... I’ve come to implore not for my sake, but for yours... I beg of you, like a brother . . . Loathe me, hate me, if you will! Think of me as you like! Only . . . don’t kill yourself! I’m not speaking of revolvers, but . . . generally... Your health is not good... Your grief may finish you... It’s I who had better kill myself! Do you want my death? {Pause.)

VOINITZEV.
[Yes.]
I don’t want anything!

[PLATONOV. Good. I’ll shoot myself. {Pause.) With great pleasure. {Slaps him on the back.) Even educated people are good for nothing!] {Enter Anna Petrovna.)

SCENE VII.

VOINITZEV,

PLATONOV AND

ANNA PETROVNA.

ANNA PETROVNA. He here? (Slowly approaches Platonov.) Platonov, is it all true?

PLATONOV. Yes.

ANNA PETROVNA. He even dares to talk so coldbloodedly! So it’s true... You wretch, didn’t you know how low it all was?

PLATONOV. Wretch... You might be more polite. I knew nothing! Throughout the affair I’ve been conscious of only one thing: I’ve never wished him even a thousandth part of what he is now suffering!

ANNA PETROVNA. YOU should have also been aware, my friend, that the wife of a friend should not and cannot be the plaything of another! (Raises her voice.) You don’t love her! You did it out of mere boredom!

VOINITZEV. Ask him, maman, why he came here.

ANNA PETROVNA. It’s nasty! Nasty to make game of people! They’re only human, even as you are, you ultra-clever man!

VOINITZEV (jumping up). Why did he come here? It’s insolence! Why have you come here? I know

why you’ve come, but you won’t astonish us with your beautiful phrases!

PLATONOV. Who is “us”?

VOINITZEV. Now I know the value of those beautiful phrases! Leave me in peace, won’t you! If you’ve come to expiate your guilt by making pretty speeches, I want to tell you it can’t be done!

PLATONOV. It’s true that guilt can’t be expiated by pretty speeches. But neither can guilt be proven by shouting and spite. Didn’t I say I’d shoot myself?

VOINITZEV. That’s not the way to expiate guilt! I don’t believe your words now! I have only contempt for your words! There’s how a Russian may expiate his guilt! (Points out of the window.)

PLATONOV. What’s there?

VOINITZEV. There, by the well, lies a man who’s expiated his guilt!

PLATONOV. I saw that... You seem to be phrase- making just now, Sergey Pavlovitch! You are suffering from a grief... Why be theatrical about it?

VOINITZEV (sitting down). Mamany ask him why he came here.

ANNA PETROVNA. Platonov, what do you want here?

PLATONOV. YOU do your own asking. Why worry your mother? . . . Everything’s lost! One’s wife’s gone, everything’s lost, and nothing is left! Beautiful as a day in May is the Sofya-ideal, and it obscures from sight other ideals! Without a woman a man is like an engine without steam! The steam’s gone, and life’s lost! Everything’s lost! Lost are honour, and human dignity, and aristocracy, everything! The end’s come! [Now one may venture forth with a knife, may send a bullet into one’s head, may show contempt for another human being, may violate every sacred emotion!]

VOINITZEV. Must I listen to this? Can’t you leave me?

PLATONOV. Of course. But don’t you humiliate me, Voinitzev! I’ve not come here to be humiliated. Your grie£ does not give you the right to stamp on me in the mire! I’m a human being, and I expect to be treated like one. You are unhappy, but all your un- happiness is nothing compared with the suffering which I’ve undergone since you left me! It was a terrible night for me, Voinitzev, after you left me! [If you could have seen me during that night, then you, thirsting for vengeance, would have considered your own suffering as a paradise.] I swear to you, you philanthropists, that your suffering isn’t as terrible as the mere shadow of mine!

ANNA PETROVNA. That’s possible, but whose affair is it, your night, and your agony?

PLATONOV. Not yours?

ANNA PETROVNA. I assure you, not mine!

PLATONOV. Yes? Don’t lie, Anna Petrovna! (He sighs.) Perhaps, you’re right in your own fashion... Perhaps . . . But where’s one to find human beings? To whom might one go? (Covers his face with his hands.’) Where, then, are human beings? No one understands. No one. People are stupid, hard, heartless.

VOINITZEV. I quite understand! I understand you! You are a clever wretch! That’s what you are!

PLATONOV. I forgive you, fool, the word. Hold your tongue! {To Anna Petrovna.) And why do you stick about here, you lover of strong sensations? Is it curiosity? You’re not wanted here! Witnesses aren’t necessary!

ANNA PETROVNA. And you have no business here! You can get out! What insolence! You first make a scoundrelly mess, then you come and complain of your sufferings! . . . Anyhow ... If you don’t want to hear anything else, then you’d better go! Do me the favour!

VOINITZEV {jumping up). What more can you want from me, I don’t understand!

PLATONOV. I see that you don’t understand... He’s right who, in his grief, goes not to men but to the dram-shop. ... A thousand times right! {Goes to the door.) I’m sorry I’ve spoken with you . . . it’s humiliating! I was stupid enough to think you decent folk... You’re like the rest . . . peasants, uncouth savages. {Slams the door and goes out.)

[ANNA PETROVNA {runs up to Voinitzev). Sergey . . . what was he hinting at? Did you see him yesterday? {Pause.) Speak! Don’t torture me! Speak!

VOINITZEV. It’s not necessary...

ANNA PETROVNA {shaking him by his shoulders). Speak! What happened?

VOINITZEV. Let me alone... Have some pity!

ANNA PETROVNA. Speak! {Pause.)

VOINITZEV. I wanted to kill him. ... I went for him with a knife. ... If he hadn’t awakened, then . . . He had been sleeping...

ANNA PETROVNA. Ah . . . Now I understand... And you dared to call him a wretch! . . .] {Wrings her hands.) How appalling! Run this very instant after him! Tell him that . . .

VOINITZEV. What can I tell him?

ANNA PETROVNA. You’ll find what to say... Anything! Only run, Sergey! I beg of you! He came here moved by a noble emotion! You should have understood him, but you were stern with him. Run, my dear!

VOINITZEV. I can’t! Leave me in peace!

ANNA PETROVNA. But he’s not alone to blame! Sergey, we’re to blame! We all have passions, not all of us have the strength . . . Run! Tell him something conciliating! Show him that you’re a human being! For God’s sake... Go on! Be quick!

VOINITZEV. I’ll go out of my mind...

ANNA PETROVNA. GO out of your mind, only don’t dare to humiliate folk! . . . Ah . . . run quickly, for God’s sake! {Weeps.) Sergey!

VOINITZEV. Leave me in peace, maman!

ANNA PETROVNA. I’ll go myself... Why shouldn’t I? I myself. . . .

PLATONOV (entering). Ah-h! (Sits down on the divan.)

VOINITZEV (rises).

ANNA PETROVNA (aside). What’s the matter with him? (Pause.)

PLATONOV. I have a pain in my hand. ... I am hungry as the hungriest dog. ... I am cold... I’m being shaken by a fever... What pain! . . . What more do you want from me? Wasn’t that accursed night enough?

VOINITZEV (approaching Platonov). Mikhail Vas- silyitch, we’ll forgive one another. I ... I’m sure you’ll understand my position. We will part company properly... (Pause.) I forgive you... On my word of honour! If I could only forget all of this, I should be eternally happy! We shall leave each other in peace!

PLATONOV. Yes. (Pause.) No, I’ve all gone to pieces. The machine’s out of order. I want sleep terribly, yet I can’t sleep. Humbly I beg your forgiveness. Do what you think best. . . .

VOINITZEV (walks away from Platonov and sits down by the table).

PLATONOV. I shan’t leave here, not even if you fire the house! Who doesn’t like my presence can leave the room... ( Tries to lie down.) Give me some-

thing warm... Nothing to eat, I mean . . . but a blanket... I’m not going home. It’s raining... I’ll lie down here.

ANNA PETROVNA (walking up to Platonov). You’d better go home, Mikhail Vassilyitch. I’ll send you what you need. I might bring it myself. (Touches his shoulder.) Go! Go home!

PLATONOV. Who doesn’t like my presence can leave the room... Please give me some water to quench my thirst! I want to drink.

ANNA PETROVNA (gives him a decanter).

PLATONOV (drinking from the decanter). I’m ill... Quite ill, my dear!

ANNA PETROVNA. GO home! (Puts a hand on his forehead.) Your head is hot... Go home. I’ll send for Triletzky.

PLATONOV (quietly). I feel badly, Your Excellency! Badly... Badly. . . .

ANNA PETROVNA. GO! I beg of you, go! At all costs, you must go! Do you hear?

(Enter Sofya Egorovna.)

SCENE VIII.

The SAME and SOFYA EGOROVNA.

SOFYA EGOROVNA {entering). Do take your money back! What’s the idea of this magnanimity? I’ve already told you, it seems . . . (Sees Platonov.) You . . . here? Why are you here? {Pause.) Strange... What are you doing here?

PLATONOV. I?

SOFYA EGOROVNA. Yes, you!

ANNA PETROVNA. We’d better leave, Sergey! {They leave the room, but after a minute Anna Petrovna returns on her tip-toes and sits down in a corner.)

PLATONOV. Everything’s finished, Sofya!

SOFYA EGOROVNA. What do you mean?

PLATONOV. Just what I say... We’ll have a chat about it later.

SOFYA EGOROVNA. What does it all mean?

PLATONOV. [I’m terribly weary, Sofya, terribly weary! There are many of you, and I am alone... Have pity, please! ] I don’t want anything . . . neither love nor hate ... I want only peace! I beg of you ... I don’t even want to talk... I’ve had enough of everything... Please . . .

SOFYA EGOROVNA. What are you saying?

PLATONOV. I say, I’ve had enough. I don’t want any new life. I don’t even know what to do with the old one. I want nothing!

SOFYA EGOROVNA (shrugging her shoulders). I don’t understand. . . .

PLATONOV. YOU don’t understand? The knot’s broken . . . that’s what!

SOFYA EGOROVNA. You’re not going away with me?

PLATONOV. NOW, don’t allow yourself to get pale, Sofya. . . .

SOFYA EGOROVNA. Are you acting the scoundrel?

PLATONOV. In all likelihood... [I’m ready to do anything to get peace.]

SOFYA EGOROVNA. You infamous wretch! (Weeps.)

PLATONOV. I know... I’ve heard it a hundred times... We might have a talk about it later . . . without witnesses.

SOFYA EGOROVNA (sobbing).

PLATONOV. Why don’t you go to your room? The most superfluous thing in misfortune is tears... It had to happen, and it happened... Nature has its laws, and our life has its logic. ... It all happened according to our logic... (Pause.)

SOFYA EGOROVNA (between sobs). How am I to blame? What is it to me, what is it to my life, which you have taken, that you are tired? What is it to me? Don’t you love me any longer?

PLATONOV. Console yourself with something... If only, for example, with the fact that this scandal will serve as a lesson for your future!

SOFYA EGOROVNA. It’s not a lesson, but ruin! You dare say this to me? It’s downright low!

PLATONOV. Why cry? Like everything else, it’s become repugnant to me! (He shouts.) Can’t you see! I’m ill!

SOFYA EGOROVNA. You swore to me, you implored . . . you were the first to begin, and now you’ve come here! Have I become repugnant to you? Did you want me only for a fortnight? I hate you! I can’t look at you! Get out from here! (Weeps.)

ANNA PETROVNA. Platonov!

PLATONOV. Eh?

ANNA PETROVNA. You’d better go!

PLATONOV (rises and slowly walks to the door).

SOFYA EGOROVNA. Wait... Don’t go yet! You . . . isn’t it so? You, perhaps, aren’t sober... Sit down, think it over! (Catches him by the shoulders.)

PLATONOV. I’ve already sat, and thought. Get rid of me, Sofya Egorovna! I’m not your man! I’ve rotted so long, my soul has long since become a skeleton, and it’s too late to resurrect me! Far better to dig me in further, so that I might not contaminate the air! Believe me for the last time!

SOFYA EGOROVNA (wringing her hands). What am I to do? What can I do? Teach me! Or I’ll die. I won’t survive this piece of infamy! Not five minutes! I’ll kill myself... (Sits down in an armchair in a corner of the room.) What are you doing with me? (Grows hysterical.)

VOINITZEV (approaching Sofya Egorovna). Sofya!

ANNA PETROVNA. God knows what’s happening! Calm yourself, Sofya! Bring some water, Sergey!

VOINITZEV. Sofya! Don’t torture yourself... Stop it! (To Platonov.) Why are you waiting, Mikhail Vassilyitch? Go, for God’s sake!

ANNA PETROVNA. Enough, Sofya, enough!

PLATONOV (going up to Sofya Egorovna). Well . . . why? Eh-h . . . (Quickly walks away from her.) What idiocy!

SOFYA EGOROVNA. GO away from me! Everyone! I don’t need your help! (To Anna Petrovna.) Go away! I hate you! I know to whom I’m obligated for all this! It’ll cost you dearly!

ANNA PETROVNA. Sh-h . . . Your abuse is wasted.

SOFYA EGOROVNA. If it weren’t for your vicious authority over him, he wouldn’t have ruined me! (Weeps.) Go away! (To Voinitzev.) You too . . . go away!

VOINITZEV (goes from her, sits down by the table and presses his hands to his head).

ANNA PETROVNA (to Platonov). Go! How many times must you be told? You are an amazing idiot today! What more do you want?

PLATONOV (closing his ears). Where am I to go? I’ve become numb with cold... (Walks to the door.) If only the devil would take me . . . the sooner the better! (Enter Triletzky.)