the proposal

PRODUCER : TGT (ENGLISH) STUDIO : J.N.V. BARSOOR DIST. DANTEWADA (C.G.)

DEEPAK KUMAR G.

Natalya is an excellent house keeper ,well educated and not bad looking. What more do I want? I am already 35 – a critical age.

Its impossible for me not to marry.

I ought to lead a regular and quiet life.

I’m excitable and always getting awfully upset ; at this very moment my lips are trembling. Anyhow I have to propose her today.

Natalya : Oh Lomov! How do you do? Papa said some merchant came for his good. Anyway, why are you in evening dress! Are you going to ball or what? Looking handsome.

Lomov : Actually , I came to ask you............of course you’ll be surprised and perhaps even angry....but

• Lomov : You know me and I know your family since my childhood. My Oxen Meadows touch your birchwood...............

• Natalya : Excuse me you say, “My Oxen Meadows, but they are ours.”

• Lomov: You are mistaken, Natalya Stepanovna. They are mine.• Natalya : Ours!

Chubukov enters and takes side of Natalya.

• Lomov : You think I am fool. You call my land yours. You are not a neighbour, you’re a grabber. I’ll take you to court.

• Chubukov : You pettifogger! Your grandfather was a drunkard. Your aunt ran with an architect. Your father was a guzzling gambler.

• Natalya: Its dishonest! Its mean! The monster(Lomov exits after this insult)

Chubukov: Turnip ghost has the confounded cheek to

make a proposal.• Natalya : What? He came to propose me. (shouts)

Call him back. Why didn’t you tell me before? I’m dying. Fetch him.

(Angry father curses himself to be father of a young daughter and calls Lomov again.)

• Chubukov: Now you talk to him yourself.

Model LessonForgive us, Ivan VassilevitchI remember now Oxen Meadows are yours. Lets talk of something else. Are you going to start shooting soon?

Yes with my best dog, Guess for whom I gave 125 roubles and now he has gone lame. Guess is better than your Squeezer.

GUESS

SQUIZZER

NATALYA: Our Squeezer is thoroughbred animal. Yours is low bred. Such dogs are found under every bush.Lomov: Your squizzer is a bad hunter. He is overshot. Why shout, Madam? My heart is palpitating.

SQUIZZERGUESS

PAPA TELL US TRULY WHICH IS THE BETTER DOG OUR SQUIZZER OR HIS GUESS.

Don’t excite yourself, my precious one. Lomov , No doubt your dog is purebred, firm on his feet, has well –sprung but he is old and short in muzzle.

Model LessonYour dog runs after a sheep when other are running after a fox.

• You intriguer, old rat, jesuit. Shut up! Oh my heart ! Your late wife used to beat you. My heart burst! Where is my shoulder? I die. (falls into an armchair.)

My dear its not true. Let’s stop arguing. You pup , fool, partridge. You are under slipper of your house-keeper.

• What sort of hunter are you? Papa, look! He is dead! (wails)

Lomov comes in conscience. Chubukov tells him to kiss Natalya and marry her.

(After kissing)Lomov : Very nice, too. Now I understand. I am happy.

Natalya : I’m happy too.Chubukov : What a weight of my shoulder, ouf!Natalya: still you will admit Guess is worse than Squeezer.Lomov : BetterNatalya : WorseChubukov : Well, that’s a way to start your family bliss! Have some champagne!

END OF THE PLAY.

Beginning of new life.