Act IV Part II

When Lopakhin and Varya are left alone, they talk about the weather and travels, avoiding the subject of marriage. Lopakhin leaves the room hastily when called, and fails to propose to her. Varya is left devastated. After Varya is comforted by her mother, the family and all of the servants leave the estate one by one, after bidding farewell to the orchard. Madame Ranevskaya watches tearfully as her old life and home is boarded up and locked for the last time.

Firs, the older manservant then appears at the door having left hospital, looking extremely ill. He discovers that the door has been locked and believes that he has been left behind and forgotten. He feels very weak and decides to lie down for a while, and his body gives in and he dies. As Firs lies dead, all that can be heard is the sound of an axe striking the trees in the orchard.