[B-I-1]

[Deemer]

(Ilya arrives at the boathouse. He speaks to the audience.)

ILYA: Polina thinks I have vodka stashed away here. How wrong she is.

(He uncovers a bottle hidden along the side of the boathouse.)

ILYA: Cognac!

(He takes a drink.)

ILYA: She thinks I'm oblivious to her flirtations with the doctor. Of course, he will have nothing to do with her, that's easy enough to see. A man in his position, a doctor, he can have any woman he wants - so why would he be interested in someone like Polina? She flatters herself imagining that he has an interest in her.

Poor Polina, she can't accept that she's just a farm wife. She'd rather be a doctor's mistress! What a delusion she has!

(He toasts and drinks.)

(Treplev enters.)

[continue]