Vanya On 42nd Street Page #8

This is the last time. Where shall we meet?

Quickly, say it.

- And one kiss.

- I swear to God!

- How beautiful you are. Your face -

- No, please. Please go away.

- You tell me where we're gonna meet tomorrow.

- No!

- It's over. It's decided.

- Please leave me.

By the orchard, 2:00. Yes?

Let me go. Let me -

Oh, God.

Very well.

Never mind it.

Today, my dear friend -

The weather -

Wouldn't you say the weather,

which looked so cloudy formerly...

is changed and the sun's out...

in what we must say

has turned into a splendid afternoon?

The winter crop's quite good actually.

The only mark against it is...

the days grow short and -

What can anyone do about that?

I would entreat you...

please...

to exercise all of your influence

to see that my husband and I...

quit this place at once.

This afternoon.

- Do you hear?

- Yes.

Did you hear what I said?

You know, I - I -

I saw this whole thing.

I -

Tell me you -

Heard what I said.

We're leaving here today.

You know, Your Excellency,

I myself have been feeling...

particularly other than well of late.

Although in my case it's my head.

- My head in particular has been feeling -

- Where are the others?

Where are they? I hate this house.

Why should I live in a labyrinth?

Twenty-six rooms, everybody wandering -

Please ask Maman to come in here.

Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated.

- What did he say?

- Oh, not now.

What is it?

I simply cannot learn to live the country life.

He won't be coming here anymore, is that it?

- Tell it to me. Yes?

- Sonya.

Sonya!

Fine, she ignores me.

Oh, Nurse, would you come in too, please?

And now, ladies and gentlemen, if you would...

like the sunflower, turn your attentive heads.

Here is Maman.

Now, ladies and gentlemen...

"I've summoned you here, citizens,

to inform you that the inspector general...

has chosen to pay us a visit. "

Uh, joking aside then, and in a serious vein...

I've asked you here for your help and advice

in the full hope that I shall receive them.

I'm a scholar, a man of books.

I've long been a stranger to the intricacies...

the vicissitudes of the business life.

I cannot live without

the help and guidance of practical folk.

So, I've asked you...

Ivan Petrovich, Yelena...

Ilya llych -

- Maman.

- Ah.

An old man, not a well man.

A man who knows from his age -

manet omnes una nox -

Uh-huh.

That time and tide happens to us all.

- My life is finished.

- Oh.

But I possess a young wife...

and for us to continue living in the country

is simply not possible.

We are not made to live the country life.

Nor can we live in town...

on an income of the magnitude

this estate provides.

We could sell the forest.

A measure both extreme and nonrenewable.

For once sold, it yields no more income.

So where can we seek to find a strategy

that provides...

both a definite and still

a permanent source of income?

I have sought for and, I think,

found that strategy...

and now have the honor

of presenting it to you.

In broad strokes, in general principle...

our estate yields

on the average two percent.

I propose to sell it.

If we sell the estate

and invest in interest-bearing bonds...

we receive four to five percent.

Four to five!

And I think there'll be enough surplus...

to purchase a villa in Finland!

Excuse me. I'm sorry.

Uh, would you repeat what you said?

I will, with the proceeds,

invest in interest-bearing bonds...

and with whatever residue there is...

purchase a small home in Finland.

Yes.

No, not the Finland part.

You - You said the proceeds.

The proceeds of what?

My sale of the estate.

Ah, yes.

You see, now that was the thing...

that caught my attention.

You're going to sell the estate?

And -

Wh-where do I go?

And - And, uh - And Sonya here, please?

Uh, and my mother,

if I may be so picayune?

Why, certainly. All in good time.

- One cannot do everything at once.

- No, one cannot.

You know, speaking of human ignorance...

I always supposed that this estate,

which you're going to sell, belonged to Sonya.

- No.

- If I may...

as my late father purchased this estate

as a dowry for my sister...

so that it passed,

in my ignorance to look upon the law...

from my sister to Sonya,

to whom it belongs.

- Certainly. Who denies it?

- Well -

Of course, it belongs to Sonya, without whose

consent one would not think of selling it...

and - and for whose benefit it shall be sold.

Am I out of my mind? Am I raving?

Why are we listening to this? Why -

Please! Please don't contradict Alexandr!

Please!

Believe me,

he sees far better than we what is right.

Well, I'm going to have a drink of water.

Then you just say...

whatever you wish to say.

- You just -

- Why do you inflame yourself?

Do I say my plan is ideal?

It's a plan. Just a plan!

If it is found unsuitable, I shall discard it.

- Your Excellency -

- Yes.

I myself have,

in addition to my reverence for your learning -

- Yes.

- A feeling of kinship...

which brings me close to you.

Now, my brother,

whom I think you know, Grigory llych -

Do you know his brother-in-law,

Fustian Trofich Lakidomov?

- He has a degree too -

- No, not now. Not now. Please!

- No, we're talking business!

- All right.

Ask him.

- What should I ask him?

- The estate was purchased from his uncle.

- Was it not?

- Yes, it was, for the price at that time.

Yes, it was, for the price...

of 95,000 rubles...

of which my father paid down 70...

leaving a debt outstanding of -

Now are you following this?

Because this estate

could not have been bought...

had I not renounced my share, you see,

of my inheritance...

in favor of my sister, whom I dearly loved.

Additionally, had I not toiled like an ox

to discharge the remaining debt -

- I'm sorry I brought it up.

- Which stands free and clear...

thanks to me,

thanks to my efforts.

And here you walk in here

and propose throwing me out in the snow.

I have managed the estate for 25 years.

For 25 years I have worked,

I have sent you the money.

During all that time, not once...

have you thought to think about the man

who worked for you!

Not once.

Twenty-five years, you have paid me...

the magnificent sum

of 500 rubles a year.

And not once did it occur to you

that you might increase it.

Ivan Petrovich, I am not a practical man.

You could've raised it anytime you wanted.

Oh-ho, I see. I should've stolen!

And you despise me because I'm not a thief!

Yes, I should've stolen.

Then I wouldn't be a pauper today!

- Jean, please.

- Vanya, Vanya, words.

Don't ruin good relations.

I've lived like a mouse in the wall,

my mother and I.

Our thoughts and our feelings

turned toward you.

Talked about your works,

we talked about our pride in you...

mentioned your name in awe.

Our nights were spent

reading your periodicals...

your publications...

which now fill me with disgust.

My eyes have opened now.

You write about art?

You understand nothing about art,

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