Tatiana and Michael are being called from outside. She launches herself at Michael to embrace him, and runs out.
MICHAEL (cont.) God, I'm starving!
Michael pauses to stuff his mouth with food from the table, then follows Tatiana.
SPRING 1835
Garden and verandah.
Varvara comes out onto the verandah.
VARVARA Where are you all? The newlyweds are here!
Liubov appears in the garden.
LIUBOV Maman, they've been married for months.
VARVARA You wouldn't be so calm if you knew what I know!
She sees Tatiana and Alexandra and calls to them before hurrying back inside.
VARVARA (cont.) Come on!—Varenka's here with her husband.
Tatiana and Alexandra enter, making a beeline for Liubov and beside themselves with outrage. Alexandra has a letter.
ALEXANDRA Liubov! Michael's in love with guess who, Natalie Beyer!
TATIANA No, he's not, she's in love with him. The nerve of the woman!
VARVARA (reappearing crossly) Tatiana!
TATIANA We're coming, Mother, what's all the fuss?
LIUBOV Varenka's having a baby.
VARVARA (panicked) Who told you?
LIUBOV You did.
VARVARA I did not, I did not! You don't know, do you hear, you don't know. (She darts back inside.)
TATIANA (sobered) Poor Varenka!
ALEXANDRA Aunties! What a day!
LIUBOV What's happened?
ALEXANDRA Michael's back from Moscow and he's brought this stupid letter from Natalie Beyer … listen, it's to you too, are you ready? ‘My friends! I take up my pen as a duty to myself, to you, and to the Universal Idea. Michael has opened his heart to me. Ah, if only you knew the Michael I know! If only you understood him!’
TATIANA Imbecile!
LIUBOV But in Moscow she was all over Nicholas Stankevich.
TATIANA It's because Nicholas Stankevich likes you. (Liubov demurs.) Yes, he does, he led Natalie up the garden; she told us. Go on, Alexandra!
ALEXANDRA ‘With all the love you bear him, you can't see that Michael's virile and vigorous nature is being frustrated by your'—yes, my friends, your—listen to this—'limited progress in transcending the objective reality in which you see him only as your brother—’
LIUBOV What's he been complaining about?
TATIANA Not getting his own way in everything, I suppose.
LIUBOV None of her business. Anyway, he does.
ALEXANDRA There's lots more.
But Varenka comes from inside, her eyes brimming with emotion. Her pregnancy does not show.
VARENKA Oh, there you are! It's just us … Oh good.
ALEXANDRA Varenka!—look at this. From Natalie Beyer!
TATIANA She's after Michael!
LIUBOV Varenka … !
ALEXANDRA Can you believe the little minx?
Then they recall themselves to Varenka, suddenly shy.
ALEXANDRA (cont.) How are you?
TATIANA Hello, Varenka.
LIUBOV We've missed you horribly.
VARENKA Oh, so have I! I've told Dyakov I'm going to come back again and stay for a few months.
TATIANA Until the—?
Alexandra claps her hand over Tatiana's mouth.
ALEXANDRA We don't know, we don't know!
The four sisters collapse together in tearful happy embraces.
Alexander appears on the verandah, fulminating.
ALEXANDER Did you know about this?
TATIANA AND ALEXANDRA No!
LIUBOV About what?
ALEXANDER Where is he? Damnable boy! Egotist! Wait till he's got children of his own. Oh, congratulations, my dear—Dyakov told me—very good.
DYAKOV, aged about fifty, a cavalry officer, smoking a celebratory cigar, joins Alexander. His three sisters-in-law respond.
SISTERS Congratulations! How lovely! We can't wait! …
DYAKOV I'm the happiest man in the world.
ALEXANDER (resuming) Your brother's going to end up in the Peter-and-Paul Fortress under lock and key!
He goes back inside with Dyakov.
LIUBOV (to Tatiana) What did she say?
Michael, keeping a canny eye out for Alexander, appears from near the house smoking a cigar. He is in uniform.
MICHAEL Have you heard? Wonderful news. I'm going to be an uncle! Well, of course you have.
LIUBOV Congratulations.
MICHAEL Thank you, thank you. I haven't got used to it yet. Yes, it's an amazing feeling, an uncle at last. Congratulations to you, too, Varenka. And Dyakov, of course. Another cavalry officer! Behind my back while I was serving my country.
TATIANA Father's looking for you.
VARENKA (in regard to Alexander) What have you been up to?
MICHAEL What have you been up to is more like it.
Varenka, speechless for a moment, turns to flee in tears. Liubov, with a reproachful look at Michael, leaves with Varenka—further into the garden.
MICHAEL (cont.) (watching them go) Illusion … it's only illusion. Well … can I have my letter back?
ALEXANDRA It's not yours, it's to us.
MICHAEL The letter is to you but the paper and ink were only on loan.
Alexandra crumples the letter and throws it at him.
ALEXANDRA There you are, keep it! Natalie Beyer is a pompous impertinent little snot and she's going to get what for!
TATIANA Go to her, then—it's obvious you care more for her than us, she understands you so well.
MICHAEL So in general you disagree with her analysis.