Act II, Detailed Summary of The Cherry Orchard: "The Cherry Orchard" by Anton Chekhov
The act opens with Dunyasha talking to Yepikhodov. She is telling him that he must not deceive her. There enter Lyubov with Lopakhin. The latter is asking Lyubov "here's no time to waste." The day of auction is approaching soon. But Lyubov just cannot maker her mind cut the cherry orchard. She says: "I had a lot of money yesterday, but there's very little to-day. My poor Varya feeds everybody on milk soup to save money, in the kitchen the old people only get peas, and I spend recklessly."
Lopakhin gets frustrated when she does not respond for saving of her estate: "I've never met such frivolous people as you before, or anybody so non-business and peculiar. Here I am telling you in plain language that your estate will be sold, and you don't seem to understand." She asks Lopakhin to advice and he reiterates the leasing of the orchard to the vacationers to raise money. But she says no. Lopakhin cannot control himself here: "I must cry or yell or faint. I can't stand it! You're too much for me!" He stands up to go while Lyubov stops him: "Please don't go away. It's nicer when you're here".
Lyubov gets emotional: "Oh, my sins. ... I've always scattered money about without holding myself in, like a madwoman". She tells that after the death of her husband and her death, she fell in love with a cruel and selfish man. She left her home for that man and he just robbed her cheated on her. And today she is back in her home among her own people. Now her cheater lover is imploring her to return to him.
Lyubov asks Lopakhin to marry Varya and instead of giving a clear agreement or showing interest in her, he simply says "yes". He seems neither in nor out. Soon, the topic changes and Lopakhin again wants her to think of saving her orchard. She ignores and he agitates: "Nothing will come of it. And you won't pay your interest, don't you worry." Lyubov congratulates Varya about her relation being tied with Lopakhin. But Varya does not take any interest in it nor does Lopakhin seems interested. Before leaving he merely reminds them: "Let me remind you, ladies and gentlemen, on August 22 the cherry orchard will be sold. Think of that! ... Think of that! ..." They all go except Trofimov and Anya; they are flirting while Anya is lost in the big meaningless talk of Trofimov.
