[B-II-3]

[Deemer]

(Alone, Treplev goes into the bathhouse. He returns with a shotgun, leans it against the bathhouse, and goes back inside. This time he comes out carrying several dead sea gulls.)

(Ilya arrives as Treplev is staring down at the dead birds.)

ILYA: What's this?

TREPLEV: What's it look like? I shot them this morning.

ILYA: Why?

TREPLEV: They upset me.

ILYA: Why?

TREPLEV: I'm not sure.

ILYA: The seagulls aren't hurting anyone.

TREPLEV: They are scavengers. They survive on death.

ILYA: They keep the grounds clean! My job would be harder without them!

TREPLEV: They depend on death to survive. They have no real independence.

ILYA: What are you talking about? These are just birds, for Christ's sake.

TREPLEV: No. They are more than birds.

ILYA: How can they be more than what they are? They're sea gulls, plain and simple. They have a job to do, and they do it, and I like them for doing it. I don't see the point of shooting them for no reason at all.

TREPLEV: Who said I didn't have a reason?

ILYA: Well, what reason then?

TREPLEV: Excuse me.

(He picks up the shot gun and one dead bird and starts off.)

ILYA: What the hell are you doing now?

TREPLEV: I have something to take care of.

ILYA: You can't just leave these dead birds here.

TREPLEV: Too bad they don't eat their own.

ILYA: You're making a big mess here!

(Treplev doesn't reply.)

ILYA: (to audience) He's loony.

(Ilya moves off, entering the house.)

[follow Treplev]

[follow Ilya]