I need my sleep.

She goes out.

LOPAKHINWell, I’ll see you all again in three weeks. (kissing Liubov’s hand) Goodbye for now—time to go. (to Gaev) Goodbye. (exchanging kisses with Pishchik) Goodbye. (giving his hand to Varya, then Firs, and Yasha) I wish I didn’t have to leave. (to Liubov) Think it over about the dachas and decide. Let me know, I can get you fifty thousand up front—seriously, think about it.

VARYA (angrily)Oh, go if you’re going!

LOPAKHINI’m off—I’m off—

Lopakhin leaves.

GAEVVulgarian. Oh—sorry!—he’s Varya’s intended, he’s her nice young man.

VARYADon’t say that, uncle.

LIUBOVOh, come along, Varya—nothing would make me happier. He’s a good man.

PISHCHIKA decent fellow, truth be told, one of the most . . . as my Dashenka is the first to say . . . well, she says a lot of things. (gives a snore, then immediately wakes up again) Be that as it may, dear lady, if you could lend me two hundred and forty roubles . . . I’ve got to pay the interest on my mortgage tomorrow . . .

VARYA (alarmed)We haven’t got it! We haven’t!

LIUBOVHonestly, I have nothing.

PISHCHIKWell, it’ll turn up from somewhere. (laughs) I never lose hope. Just when I’m thinking here we go, all is lost, lo and behold, they build a railway over my land and the money comes in. It will come right again, you’ll see—something will turn up, if not today, tomorrow. Dashenka will win the lottery, that ticket’s worth two hundred thousand.

LIUBOVWell, I’ve had my coffee—so it’s time for bed.

FIRS (scolding Gaev)You’ve put on your wrong trousers again. What’s to be done with you?

VARYAAnya’s asleep.

She quietly opens the window. Gaev opens the other window. There is a blaze of white blossom.

VARYA (cont.)The sun’s up, it’s not cold at all now. Come and see, Mama, look at the orchard, isn’t it beautiful? Oh God, breathe the air! And the starlings are singing.

GAEVThe orchard is all in white. Do you remember it, Liuba?—the long avenue as far as you can see, straight as a ribbon, do you remember how it shines on moonlit nights? You haven’t forgotten?

LIUBOV (looking out of the window at the orchard)Oh, it’s my childhood come back!—innocent days!—when I slept in the nursery and woke with happiness every morning and looked out at the garden.