Act 3, Part 1 Summary

The third act is set in what has become Olga and Irina's bedroom, at around three in the morning. Fire alarms ring offstage. Masha lies on a sofa as Olga and Anfisa enter, and conversation reveals that there has been a major fire in the town. As Olga goes through her clothes looking for things she can give to the fire's victims, Anfisa talks about two little girls downstairs, imagining that their father has been killed. Olga comments that Vershinin's house has been almost completely destroyed and that Fedotik's home has burned to the ground. She calls for help with the clothes, and a moment later Ferapont comes in and takes out an armful, commenting as he goes on a fire in Moscow that he survived. After he's gone, Olga tiredly tells Anfisa to give everything away, makes arrangements for the...