 Act 4 of the Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov, translated by Julius West. This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Act 4 The stage is set as for Act 1. There are no curtains on the windows, no pictures. Only a few pieces of furniture are left. They are piled up in a corner as if for sale. The emptiness is felt. By the door that leads out of the house and at the back of the stage, portmanteau and traveling paraphernalia are piled up. The door on the left is open. The voices of Varya and Anya can be heard through it. No pocking stands and waits. Yasha holds a tray with little tumblers of champagne. Outside, the Epikadov is tying up a box. Voices are heard behind the stage. The peasants have come to say good-bye. The voice of Gaev is heard. Thank you, brothers. Thank you. The common people have come to say good-bye. I am of the opinion, Yermalai Alexeyovitch, that they are good people, but they don't understand very much. The voices die away. Lubav Andriyevna and Gaev enter. She is not crying, but is pale, and her face trembles. She can hardly speak. You gave them your purse, Lubav. You can't go on like that. You can't. I couldn't help myself. I couldn't. They go out. No pocking, in the doorway, calling after them. Please, I ask you most humbly. Just a little glass to say good-bye. I didn't remember to bring any from town, and I only found one bottle at the station. Please do. Won't you really have any? Goes away from the door. If I only knew, I wouldn't have bought any. Well, I shan't drink any either. Yasha carefully puts the tray on a chair. You have a drink, Yasha, at any rate. To those departing, and good luck to those who stay behind. Drinks. I can assure you that this isn't real champagne. Eight rubles of bottle. It's devilish cold here. There are no fires to-day. We're going away. Ha-ha-ha! What's the matter with you? I'm just pleased. It's October outside, but it's as sunny and as quiet as if it were summer. Good for building. Looking at his watch and speaking through the door. Ladies and gentlemen, please remember that it's only 47 minutes till the train goes. You must go off to the station in 20 minutes. Hurry up. Dravimov, in an overcoat, comes in from the grounds. I think it's time we went. The carriages are waiting. Where the devil are my galoshes? They're lost. Anya! I can't find my galoshes! I can't! I've got to go to Kharkov. I'm going in the same train as you. I'm going to spend the whole winter in Kharkov. I've been hanging about with you people going rusty without work. I can't live without working. I must have something to do with my hands. They hang about as if they weren't mine at all. We'll go away now, and then you'll start again on your useful labours. Have a glass? I won't. So you're off to Moscow now? Yes. I'll see them into town, and tomorrow I'm off to Moscow. Yes. I expect the professors don't lecture nowadays. They're waiting till you turn up. That's not your business. How many years have you been going to the university? Think of something fresh. This is old and flat. Looking for his galoshes. You know, we may not meet each other again, so just let me give you a word of advice on parting. Don't wave your hands about. Get rid of that habit of waving them about. And then building villas and reckoning on their residents becoming freeholders in time? That's the same thing. It's all a matter of waving your hands about. Whether I want to or not, you know, I like you. You're thin, delicate fingers, like those of an artist, and you have a thin, delicate soul. Embraces him. Good-bye, dear fellow. Thanks for all you've said. If you want any, take some money from me for the journey. Why should I? I don't want it. But you've nothing. Yes, I have, thank you. I've got some for a translation. Here it is in my pocket. But I can't find my galoshes. Varya, from the other room. Take your rubbish away. Throws a pair of rubber galoshes onto the stage. Why are you angry, Varya? These aren't my galoshes. In the spring I sowed three thousand acres of poppies, and now I've made forty thousand rubles net profit. And when my poppies were in flower, what a picture it was. So I, as I was saying, made forty thousand rubles, and I mean I'd like to lend you some, because I can afford it. Why turn up your nose at it? I'm just a simple peasant. Your father was a peasant, mine was a chemist, and that means absolutely nothing. The parking takes out his pocketbook. No, no. Even if you gave me twenty thousand, I should refuse. I'm a free man, and everything that all you people, rich and poor, value so highly and so dearly, it hasn't the least influence over me. It's like a flock of down in the wind. I can do without you. I can pass you by. I'm strong and proud. Mankind goes on to the highest truths and to the highest happiness, such as is only possible on earth, and I go in the front rags. Will you get there? I will. I'll get there and show others the way. Axes cutting the trees are heard in the distance. Well, good-bye, old man, it's time to go. Here we stand, pulling one another's noses, but life goes its own way all the time. When I work for a long time and I don't get tired, then I think more easily, and I think I get to understand why I exist. And there are so many people in Russia, brother, who live for nothing at all. Still, work goes on without that. Leonid Andreevich, they say, has accepted a post in a bank. He will get sixty thousand rubles a year. But he won't stand it. He's very lazy. Anya at the door. Mother asks if you will stop them cutting down the orchard until she has gone away. Yes, really, you ought to have enough tack not to do that. Exit. All right. All right. Yes, he's right. Exit. Has Fears been sent to the hospital? I gave the order this morning. I suppose they've sent him. Anya, to Yipikadov, who crosses the room. Simeon Padleevich, please make inquiries if Fears has been sent to the hospital. I told Igor this morning. What's the use of asking ten times? The aided Fears, in my conclusive opinion, isn't worth mending. His forefathers had better have him. I only envy him. Puts a trunk on a hat-box and squashes it. Well, of course, I thought so. Exit. Two and twenty troubles. Varya, behind the door. Has Fears been taken away to the hospital? Yes. Why didn't they take the letter to the doctor? It'll have to be sent after him. Exit. Where's Yasha? Tell him his mother's come and wants to say goodbye to him. She'll make me lose all patience. Don Yasha has meanwhile been bustling round the luggage. Now that Yasha is left alone, she goes up to him. If you only looked at me once, Yasha, you're going away, leaving me behind. Weeps and hugs him round the neck. What's the use of crying? Drinks champagne. In six days I'll be again in Paris. Tomorrow we get into the express, and off we go, I can hardly believe it. Viva la France! It doesn't suit me here. I can't live here. It's no good. Well, I've seen the uncivilized world. I've had enough of it. What do you want to cry for? You behave yourself properly, and then you won't cry. When Yasha looks in a small mirror and powders her face. Send me a letter from Paris. You know I loved you, Yasha, so much. I'm a sensitive creature, Yasha. Somebody's coming. He bustles around the luggage, singing softly. Enter Rubav Andriyevna, Gaev, Anya, and Sholata Ivanova. We'd better be off. There's no time left. Looks at Yasha. Somebody smells of herring. We needn't get into our carriages the ten minutes. Looks round the room. Goodbye, dear house, old grandfather. The winter will go, the spring will come, and then you'll exist no more. You'll be pulled down. How much these walls have seen! Passionately kisses her daughter. My treasure, you're radiant. Your eyes flash like two jewels. Are you happy? Very. Very. A new life is beginning, mother. Yes, really. Everything's all right now. Before the cherry orchard was sold, we all were excited, and we suffered. And then when the question was solved once and for all, we all calmed down, and even became cheerful. I'm a bank official now, and a financier. Inside in the middle, and you, Luba, for some reason or other, look better, there's no doubt about it. Yes, my nerves are better, it's true. She puts on her coat and hat. I sleep well. Take my luggage out, Yasha. It's time. My little girl, we'll soon see each other again. I'm off to Paris. I'll live there on the money your grandmother from Yaroslav sent along to buy the estate. Bless her. Though it won't last long. You'll come back soon. Soon, mother, won't you? I'll get ready and pass the exam at the higher school, and then I'll work and help you. We'll read all sorts of books to one another, won't we? Kisses her mother's hands. We'll read in the autumn evenings. We'll read many books, and a beautiful new world will open up before us. You'll come, mother. I'll come, my darling. Embraces her. Lopakim, Charlotta is singing to herself. Charlotta is happy. She sings. Charlotta takes a bundle, looking like a wrapped up baby. My little baby, bye-bye. The baby seems to answer, ooh-ah, ooh-ah. Hush, my nice little boy. Ooh-ah, ooh-ah. I'm so sorry for you. Throws the bundle back. So please find me a new place. I can't go on like this. We'll find one, Charlotta Devaneva. Don't you be afraid. Every body's leaving us, various going away. We've suddenly become unnecessary. I've nowhere to live in town. I must go away. Hmm, never mind. Enter Pishon. Nature's Marvel. Oh, oh, let me get my breath back. I'm faked out. My most honored. Give me some water. Come for money, what? I'm your humble servant, and I'm going out of the way of temptation. Exit. I haven't been here for ever so long, dear madam. To Lopakin. You here? Glad to see you, man of immense brain. Take this. Take it. Gives Lopakin money. Four hundred rubles. That leaves eight hundred and forty. Lopakin shrugs his shoulders in surprise. As if I were dreaming. Where did you get this from? Stop. It's hot. A most unexpected thing happened. Some Englishman came along and found some white clay on my land. To Luba of Andrievna. And here's four hundred for you, beautiful lady. Gives her money. Give you the rest later. Give us water. Just now a young man in the train was saying that some great philosopher advises us all to jump off roofs. Jump, he says. And that's all, too. Think of that now. More water. Who were these Englishmen? I've leased off the land with the clay to them for twenty-four years. Now, excuse me, I've no time. I must run off. I must go to Snoikov and to Cardimonov. I owe them all money. Good-bye. I'll come in on Thursday. We're just off to town, and tomorrow I go abroad. What? Why, to town? I see furniture, trunks. Well, never mind. Never mind. These Englishmen are men of immense intellect. Never mind. Be happy. God will help you. Never mind. Everything in this world comes to an end. Kisses Luba of Andrievna's hand. If you should happen to hear that my end has come, just remember this old horse, and say, there was one such and such a Simeon-Petian. God bless his soul. Wonderful weather, yes? Exit deeply moved, but returns at once and says in the door, Dašenka sent her love. Now we can go. I've two anxieties, so the first is poor Fears. Looks at her watch. We've still five minutes. Mother Fears has already been sent to the hospital. Yasha sent him off this morning. The second is Varya. She's used to getting up early and to work, and now she's no work to do. She's like a fish out of water. She's grown thin and pale, and she cries, poor thing. You know very well, Yarmala Alexyevich, that I used to hope to marry her to you. And I suppose you're going to marry somebody. Whispers to Anya, who nods to Charlotte, and they both go out. She loves you. She's your sort. And I don't understand. I really don't why you seem to be keeping away from each other. I don't understand. To tell the truth, I don't understand it myself. It's all so strange. If there's still time, I'll be ready at once. Let's get it over once and for all. I don't feel as if I could ever propose to her without you. Excellent. It'll only take a minute. I'll call her. The champagne's very appropriate. Looking at the tumblers. They're empty. Somebody's already drunk them. Yasha coughs. I call that licking it up. Excellent. We'll go out. Yasha, ale, I'll call her in. Varya, leave that and come here. Come. Exit with Yasha. Lopakim looks at his watch. Yes. There is a restrained laugh behind the door. A whisper. Then Varya comes in. Varya, looking at the luggage in silence. I can't seem to find it. What are you looking for? I packed it myself and I don't remember. Where are you going to now, Barbara Mikhailovna? I? To the Ragulins. I've got an agreement to go and look after their house, as housekeeper or something. Is that at Yashnevo? It's about fifty miles. So life in this house is finished now. Varya, looking at the luggage. Where is it? Perhaps I've put it away in the trunk. Yes, there'll be no more life in this house. And I'm off to Kharkov at once, by this train. I've a lot of business on hand. I'm leaving Epikolov here. I've taken him on. Well, well. Last year at this time the snow was already falling, if you remember. And now it's nice and sunny. And it's rather cold. There's three degrees of frost. I didn't look. And our thermometer is broken. Yermolay Alekshevich. As if he has long been waiting to be called. This one is. Exit quickly. Varya, sitting on the floor, puts her face on a bundle of clothes, and weeps gently. The door opens. Lubav Andriyevna enters carefully. Well, we must go. Varya, not crying now, wipes her eyes. Yes. It's quite time, little mother. I'll get to the Ragulins today, if I don't miss the train. Anya, put Anya at things. Enter Anya, then Gaev, Shalata Ivanova. Gaev wears a warm overcoat with a cape. A servant and drivers come in. Yep, Epikolov bustles around the luggage. No, we can go away. Away. My friends, my dear friends, can I be silent in leaving this house forevermore? Can I restrain myself in saying farewell from expressing those feelings which now fill my whole being? Uncle. Uncle, you shouldn't. Double the red into the middle. I'll be quiet. Enter Trafimov, then Lopakhin. Well, it's time to be off. Epikolov, my coat. I'll sit here one more minute. It's as if I'd never really noticed what the walls and ceilings of this house were like. And now I look at them greedily, with such tender love. I remember when I was six years old on Trinity Sunday I sat at this window and looked and saw my father going to church. Have all the things been taken away? Yes, all, I think. To Yepokadov, putting on his coat. You see that everything's quite straight, Epikolov? You might depend upon me, Yermalai Alexievich. What's the matter with your voice? I swallowed something just now. I was having a drink of water. What manners. We go away, and not a soul remains behind. Till the spring. Varya, drags a numberlla out of a bundle and seems to be waving at a boat. Lopakine appears to be frightened. What are you doing? I never thought. Come along, let's take our seats. It's time. The train will be in directly. Peter, here they are, your galoshes, by that trunk. And how old and dirty they are. Come on. The train, the station, cross in the middle, a white double in the corner. Let's go. Are you all here? There's nobody else. Locks a side door on the left. There's a lot of things in there. I must lock them up. Come. Goodbye, home. Goodbye, old life. Welcome, new life. Exit with Anya. Varya looks around the room and goes out slowly. Yasha and Charlotte, with her little dog, go out. Till the spring then. Come on. Till we meet again. Exit. Lubav Andriyevna and Gaev are left alone. They might almost have been waiting for that. They fall into each other's arms and sob restrainedly and quietly, fearing that somebody might hear them. My sister, my sister. My dear, my gentle, beautiful orchard. My life, my youth, my happiness. Goodbye, goodbye. Mother. Kui. To look at the walls and the windows for the last time. My dead mother used to like to walk about this room. My sister, my sister. Mother. Kui. We are coming. They go out. The stage is empty. The sound of keys being turned in the locks is heard, and then the noise of the carriages going away. It is quiet. Then the sound of an axe against the trees is heard in the silence, sadly, and by itself. Steps are heard. Fears comes in from the door on the right. He is dressed as usual in a short jacket and white waistcoat. Slippers on his feet. He is ill. He goes to the door and tries the handle. It's locked. They have gone away. Sits on a sofa. They have forgotten about me. Never mind. I will sit here. And Leni Dandrea, which will have gone in a light overcoat, instead of putting on his far coat. I didn't see. Oh, these young people. Life has gone on, as if I had never lived. Sits on a sofa. I lie down. You have no strength left in you. Nothing left at all. Oh, you. Bunkler. He lies without moving. The distant sound is heard, as if from the sky, of a breaking string, dying away sadly. Silence follows it. And only the sound is heard, some way away in the orchard, of the axe falling on the trees. Curtain. End of Act Four. End of The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov.