Act IV Part I

Everyone again gathers in the nursery, as they prepare to move out of the estate. All of the peasants from the town come to say goodbye to Madame Ranevskaya and Gayev, while Lopakhin wishes them the best with their travels by opening a bottle of champagne. Anya enters and yells at Lopakhin for ordering workers to cut down the orchard while the family are still there. Lopakhin apologises and immediately orders the workers to stop, in the hope that he may be reconciled with the family that he still loves, and that once loved him.

The young manservant Yasha informs Anya that the older manservant Firs has been taken to hospital. Once Yasha is alone Dunyasha enters and asks him for an affectionate parting. Yasha refuses, saying that he can no longer live in Russia and that he feels he belongs in France.

When Gayev and Madame Ranevskaya return to the nursery they reveal that Gayev has a new job in a bank, but that Madame Ranevskaya is returning to Paris to be with her deceitful lover. Madame Ranevskaya argues with Lopakhin for his stalling to propose to arya. Lopakhin admits that he can’t explain why he hasn’t yet proposed and that he will do so immediately.