Anna Karenina Page #27

Good evening, Your Excellency.

Kapitonich is uneasy. A Footman comes from a service door. He sees Vron-

sky and looks to Kapitonich.

VRONSKY:

I am expected.

Kapitonich nods to the Footman.

INT. RECEPTION ROOM, KARENIN HOUSE, SAME

TIME--NIGHT

Anna, six months pregnant, is seated almost formally. The Footman lets

Vronsky in and retires closing the door. Anna runs to Vronsky.

119

ANNA:

No!--no. I will not live like this!

He holds her, calming her, hushing her.

He leads her into a Winter Garden conservatory off the Reception Room.

ANNA (CONT'D)

Waiting hour after hour while you're drink-

ing champagne with naked actresses--

don't think I don't know!--Lisa Merkalova

still calls on me.

VRONSKY:

It's punishment enough that I'm on escort

duty, without . . .

ANNA:

Yes--I'm sorry--it's my demon, I can't help it.

VRONSKY:

You wrote that you were ill.

ANNA:

Did I? Well, I am!

(GAILY)

But don't worry! It won't be for long, I'll

soon be out of your way--soon!

VRONSKY:

Stop.

ANNA:

No, it's true. I was told it in a dream.

120

VRONSKY:

There, it was only a bad dream.

ANNA:

Yes, and I'm only going to die having your

baby.

VRONSKY:

That's all nonsense!

She kisses him all over his face.

ANNA:

Tell me it is, tell me it is. You love me. Only me.

VRONSKY:

Your note said your husband would be out.

ANNA:

He was late. Serves him right. And you.

Why do you call him my husband? He isn't

my husband--he's a clock, a wooden doll--

VRONSKY:

But it was awkward . . . a matter of your

honour. You made an agreement.

Anna flares up again.

ANNA:

Do you think of my honour when you're

sharing whores with your Hindoo!

VRONSKY:

Your demon again!

121

ANNA:

I'll be glad to die, before you start to hate me!

VRONSKY:

Anna . . .

Anna gives a gasp. She laughs.

ANNA:

Put your hand there. There! Did you feel

him move!

INT. COMMITTEE CHAMBER, ST. PETERSBURG--NIGHT

"The Committee" is in session. Stremov has the floor. He is referring to a

map of Russia on an easel, splotched with colours. Karenin is there but not

listening, his thoughts far away.

STREMOV:

I must respectfully ask Minister Karenin

whether his proposals for the regulation of

these colourful Gypsy tribes, of these schol-

arly God-fearing Jews, and of--but I'm

afraid I have lost the Minister's attention . . .

All turn to look at Karenin, who sits staring at nothing, unaware even of

the pause. He wakes. For a beat he hardly knows where he is.

INT. ENTRANCE HALL, KARENIN HOUSE--NIGHT

Kapitonich lets Karenin in. Karenin is brisk.

122

KARENIN:

Who is here?

KAPITONICH:

Only Madame, Your Excellency.

Karenin goes up the staircase. There is an urgency in him, a fury.

INT. ANNA'S BOUDOIR, KARENIN HOUSE, SAME

TIME--NIGHT

Karenin walks in and goes to her bureau, empties out little drawers and

receptacles, looking for the key to the main drawer. Anna comes in from the

bedroom, alarmed, in her nightdress.

ANNA:

I wanted to see him because . . .

KARENIN:

I do not wish to be told why a woman wants

to see her lover.

He pulls furiously at the locked drawer, then looks around for an implement.

ANNA:

What are you . . . ?

KARENIN:

I want his letters.

Karenin finds an iron bootjack. Anna tries to stop him. He pushes

her aside and smashes the wood around the lock, then, struggling against her,

he takes from the open drawer a pretty cardboard box, a good guess. He

confirms that it contains letters.

123

KARENIN (CONT'D)

I am going to Moscow tomorrow, and

then to the provinces with a commission

to investigate conditions among the Jews

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