Uncle Vanya | Page 3

Anton Chekhov
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Uncle Vanya
by Anton Checkov

UNCLE VANYA
SCENES FROM COUNTRY LIFE
IN FOUR ACTS
CHARACTERS
ALEXANDER SEREBRAKOFF, a retired professor
HELENA, his wife, twenty-seven years old
SONIA, his daughter by a former marriage
MME. VOITSKAYA, widow of a privy councilor, and mother of
Serebrakoff's first wife
IVAN (VANYA) VOITSKI, her son
MICHAEL ASTROFF, a doctor
ILIA (WAFFLES) TELEGIN, an impoverished landowner
MARINA, an old nurse
A WORKMAN
The scene is laid on SEREBRAKOFF'S country place
UNCLE VANYA
ACT I
A country house on a terrace. In front of it a garden. In an avenue of
trees, under an old poplar, stands a table set for tea, with a samovar, etc.
Some benches and chairs stand near the table. On one of them is lying a
guitar. A hammock is swung near the table. It is three o'clock in the
afternoon of a cloudy day.
MARINA, a quiet, grey-haired, little old woman, is sitting at the table
knitting a stocking.
ASTROFF is walking up and down near her.
MARINA. [Pouring some tea into a glass] Take a little tea, my son.
ASTROFF. [Takes the glass from her unwillingly] Somehow, I don't

seem to want any.
MARINA. Then will you have a little vodka instead?
ASTROFF. No, I don't drink vodka every day, and besides, it is too hot
now. [A pause] Tell me, nurse, how lo ng have we known each other?
MARINA. [Thoughtfully] Let me see, how long is it? Lord--help me to
remember. You first came here, into our parts--let me think--when was
it? Sonia's mother was still alive--it was two winters before she died;
that was eleven years ago--[thoughtfully] perhaps more.
ASTROFF. Have I changed much since then?
MARINA. Oh, yes. You were handsome and young then, and now you
are an old man and not handsome any more. You drink, too.
ASTROFF. Yes, ten years have made me another man. And why?
Because I am overworked. Nurse, I am on my feet from dawn till dusk.
I know no rest; at night I tremble under my blankets for fear of being
dragged out to visit some one who is sick; I have toiled without repose
or a day's freedom since I have known you; could I help growing old?
And then, existence is tedious, anyway; it is a senseless, dirty business,
this life, and goes heavily. Every one about here is silly, and after living
with them for two or three years one grows silly oneself. It is inevitable.
[Twisting his moustache] See what a long moustache I have grown. A
foolish, long moustache. Yes, I am as silly as the rest, nurse, but not as
stupid; no, I have not grown stupid. Thank God, my brain is not addled
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