The Proposal

Ivan Lomov, a wealthy but highly hypochondriac landowner, arrives at the home of his neighbor Stepan Chubukov. He is dressed in formal evening clothes. Chubukov initially fears Lomov has come to borrow money, but Lomov reveals he wishes to propose marriage to Chubukov's twenty-five-year-old daughter, Natalya. Chubukov is overjoyed and goes to fetch her.

When Natalya enters, she is unaware of Lomov's romantic intention, believing it is a casual business visit. While making small talk, Lomov mentions his property, the Oxen Meadows, which lay between their lands. Natalya immediately objects, claiming the meadows belong to her family. The two engage in a heated argument, completely forgetting the marriage proposal, until Lomov has a palpitation and storms out.

Chubukov then accidentally reveals to Natalya that Lomov had come to propose. Hysterical, Natalya demands her father bring Lomov back. When Lomov returns, they try to avoid the meadows topic, but quickly fall into a second intense argument over whose hunting dog is superior (Lomov's Guess or Natalya's Squeezer). Lomov collapses from his nervous ailments. Fearing he is dead, they panic, but when he revives, Chubukov quickly shoves their hands together, blesses their marriage, and they continue arguing even as they toast.