A short time later. They still have their dessert plates, but the coffee has been forgotten.
BARBARA (To Jane): It’s in the bookcase in the kitchen.
(Jane goes off. The others look at Benjamin.)
MARIAN: She’s getting a book, Uncle. One of yours.
TIM: Actors have to be asked. You said that, Mr. Apple. We’re asking.
BARBARA: You were telling Tim about your Gaev.
(Jane returns with a book, which she hands to Tim.)
JANE: It was right on top. Tim can read the other characters’ lines.
RICHARD: Or maybe Marian. We were talking earlier, Marian, about that time you tried out for the Rhinebeck theater? (Miming) To play a blind girl?
MARIAN (To Barbara): Why were you talking about that? (To everyone) That was really embarrassing.
TIM (Handing Benjamin the book): Here . . . From there, Mr. Apple . . .
(Benjamin takes the book.)
BENJAMIN (Reads Gaev, as if for the first time): “The harder you pray, the more trouble you know you’re in. I’ve wracked my brains for a way out. All I come up with are fantasies that aren’t going to happen. Maybe suddenly we inherit a fortune—out of the blue. Maybe Anya marries a rich man. Maybe I go to Yaroslavl and try my luck with my aunt, who is very, very rich.”
TIM: Varya says, “If only God would help us!”
JANE: Why don’t you stand up, Uncle.
(He doesn’t stand, just looks closely at the book.)
MARIAN (To Tim): Why did you choose this?
TIM: It’s the most Gaev has to say in the play.
BENJAMIN (Reads to Jane as his “Anya”): “Sweetie. My child. You’re not my niece—”
(The others look at each other.)
“. . . you’re my angel. On Thursday I was at the district court, a lot of us were there, we were talking and one thing led to another and someone was saying that he knew someone else who might take a note signed by me and loan me enough to pay the interest we owe the bank.”
TIM (Reading): “God help us.”
BENJAMIN: “I’ll go back on Tuesday. That should do it. We’ll pay the interest. I’m certain. I swear on my honor, on anything you want—this estate will not be sold. I swear on my happiness! Let’s shake hands. May I rot in hell if I let it be auctioned. I swear—by everything I hold dear.” (He looks up) I don’t remember any of this. What’s going to happen to them?
(He turns the page.
Off, the dog begins to bark.
Pause.)
BARBARA (To the others): You’re sure you don’t want coffee?
JANE: We should get back to Bard. And Richard has a two-hour drive.
RICHARD (About the dog): He’s probably hungry.
BARBARA (To Richard): You can sleep here.
JANE: I’ll do the dishes . . .
BARBARA: That all can wait.
RICHARD (About the dog): He threw up in the car. On the way up.
BENJAMIN: What’s that?
BARBARA: That’s Toby, Uncle.
BENJAMIN: Who the hell is Toby?
JANE: He’s—your new dog.
BENJAMIN: What are you talking about? Where’s Oliver?
(They hesitate. Then:)
BARBARA: I think I saw Oliver resting out back.
JANE (Continuing): I’ve had some wine. I wasn’t supposed to. I’m the driver.
TIM: You had like a half of a glass.
JANE: I know. Still—I won’t be able to work.
BARBARA: It’s nine. The polls have closed. Should we turn on the TV?
BENJAMIN: That stupid dog is going to upset Oliver. He’s not been well you know.
RICHARD: Really?
TIM: Should we pick up?
(Tim is picking up plates.)
BARBARA: Tim, you’re the guest. Richard . . .
(Richard takes the plates from him.)
RICHARD (To Jane): So—American manners: a world revealing itself around the dinner table . . .
JANE: Or buffet?
RICHARD: Or buffet.
MARIAN (To Richard with a salute): Mr. Republican . . .
RICHARD: I promise you all that when I’m home with my friends in New York—I’ll still laugh at all the Sarah Palin jokes, trash the “goddamn” Tea Partiers, and make fun of John Boehner. Which isn’t hard to do.
MARIAN: No. But it’s enjoyable.
RICHARD: And so forth and so on. No one will know.
MARIAN: They’ll know when you’ve become a real Republican.
RICHARD: How will they know?
MARIAN: The horns. (To everyone) Adam says, if the polls were right, our brand-new Republican senator from Idaho is now—Mr. Crapo. Senator Crapo.
(Laughter.)
And our brand-new Republican from Arkansas? Boozman!
(Laughter.)
RICHARD (As he goes off to the kitchen): I think it’s pronounced Crāpo. So are we now just going to make fun of their names? Uncle, I’ll go get Toby for you . . .
BENJAMIN: I don’t need a dog. I’ve got a dog.
RICHARD: Well, he wants to see you.
(He heads off. Marian starts to follow him. Jane stops her.)
JANE: We didn’t talk about health care?
MARIAN: Don’t get me started on that Rube Goldberg mess . . .
(As Marian goes:)
JANE (To Marian): So explain to me again—why can’t we buy drugs from Canada?
BARBARA (Picking up a plate): Are we going to turn on the TV and watch the returns or not?
JANE: I’m going to do your dishes.
BARBARA: No you’re not. I need something to do . . .
(Richard returns.)
RICHARD (To his sisters): Toby shat all over the kitchen.
BARBARA: Jesus Christ.
(Barbara hurries off. Jane follows.)
JANE (From off): Oh my god. Toby! Bad dog.
RICHARD (To Tim): I hate picking up dog shit. And this isn’t the hard stuff either . . . He must have eaten something when you left him outside, Tim.
TIM: Maybe just being out of the city . . .
RICHARD (A look at his watch; calls out): I have to go!
MARIAN (Coming back out): Jane’s going to tie him to a tree outside. He needs to be hosed down again. (To Benjamin) He rolled all in it.
BENJAMIN: I don’t care.
RICHARD: Marian . . .
MARIAN: I know you need to go. I’ll clean up the kitchen later. Just watch where you walk.
(Distant barking from the backyard.)
RICHARD: Uncle, good to see you . . . (Turns to Tim) Tim . . .
(He slaps him on the back) We’ll get together in the city. You too, Uncle. Come to the city. We’ll see a show—
(Barbara has snuck up behind Richard. Tim and Marian see her, but she gestures for Tim to keep quiet and for Marian to join in.
And now Barbara attacks her brother, tickling him.)
What the hell are you doing? Stop that!
(Marian joins the attack.)
Stop. Marian!! Stop this! Stop it, damn it!
(Jane comes in.)
Jane!
MARIAN: Where’s Toby?!
JANE (As they try to tickle him): He’s tied to a tree . . . I’ve washed my hands.
(They are all chasing him.)
RICHARD: Uncle Benjamin, stop them.
JANE (To Tim): We used to do this every time he got too big for his britches . . .
BARBARA: Won a big case.
MARIAN: Or got into Princeton!
(They surround him, tickle him.)
RICHARD: Tim! Tim! Help!
TIM: I think I’m supposed to help. Three women against—
BARBARA: Oh you think so—
(She goes to attack/tickle Tim, Jane interferes.)
JANE: He’s not family. He’s safe.
(And the brief burst is over. They huff and puff, look at each other. Suddenly, smiling Richard goes to tickle Marian. She doesn’t resist, then suddenly she is crying.)
RICHARD: What? What?
MARIAN (Trying not to cry): Sometimes it all feels so hopeless . . .
RICHARD (Hugging her): Don’t go there. Don’t go there, please . . .
BENJAMIN: Why is she crying?
(Short pause.)
JANE (To Tim): We should go . . . Toby’s outside. He needs to be hosed.
I could do it if you—
BARBARA: No. No, I’ll put on old clothes. Go.
TIM: Marian. Barbara. Thank you.
BARBARA (To Jane): You did wash your hands?
MARIAN: When are we going to get together again like this?
(They hesitate.)
RICHARD: Soon.
BARBARA (Hugging Richard good-bye): Is that a promise?
(They have begun to shake hands with Tim.)
MARIAN: Love to Pamela. Good luck with the new job.
BARBARA: And the apartment.
RICHARD: We’re going to wait on that. Save some money first. Though Pamela’s looking . . .
JANE (To Richard): We’re parked next to each other. We’ll say good-bye out there . . . (To Tim) Are we forgetting anything?
TIM: I’ve got the book.
JANE: Bye.
RICHARD: Bye, Uncle Benjamin. Don’t forget Toby.
(Richard, Jane and Tim leave.)
BENJAMIN: Don’t forget who?
(Short pause. The dog is heard barking from the yard. Marian begins to roll up her sleeves and head for the kitchen.)
BARBARA (Stopping Marian from going into the kitchen): I’ll put on old clothes . . .
(Barbara picks up. Marian looks at Uncle Benjamin.)
MARIAN: Uncle Benjamin? I could play you one of those songs . . . That you used to sing. (To Barbara) Would you mind? I’ll come back and help . . .
(Barbara shakes her head.
Marian helps Benjamin up.)
Stand up. You’re done eating. Come with me, Uncle Benjamin.
BENJAMIN: Where are we going?
MARIAN: To Barbara’s piano . . .
BENJAMIN: Why?
BARBARA: She’s going to play us a song, Uncle Benjamin.
MARIAN (To Barbara): Leave some of that for me . . .
(In the distance, the dog barks. Marian and Benjamin go off.
Barbara folds up the card table.
Then from the next room: music from the piano, and we
hear Marian singing as she plays.)
While the moon her watch is keeping,
All through the night.
While the weary world is sleeping . . .
(Benjamin begins to sing with Marian.)
MARIAN AND BENJAMIN (Off, singing):
All through the night.
O’er thy spirit gently stealing,
All through the night.
MARIAN (Calls): I think he remembers the song, Barbara!
BARBARA (Surprised): Does he?
(As Marian prompts him:)
Visions of the night revealing,
All through the night . . .
MARIAN AND BENJAMIN (Singing):
Though I roam a minstrel lonely,
All through the night.
My true harp shall praise sing only,
All through the night.
(As she listens, Barbara joins in.)
MARIAN AND BENJAMIN (Off) AND BARBARA (Singing):
Love’s young dream, alas, is over,
Yet my strains of love shall hover.
Near the presence of my lover,
All through the night.
(And Barbara, with the folded-up card table, heads off.)
END OF PLAY