Anna Karenina Page #28

and Gypsies--whose conditions I infinitely

prefer to my own. I will not return to this

house until divorce has put you into the

street. Meanwhile my son will be sent to

live with my eldest sister.

ANNA:

(WAILS)

Alexei . . . please . . . leave me Serozha . . . !

Karenin looks at her with contempt.

KARENIN:

Do you think I would let you have my son?

You are depraved, a woman without honour. I

thank God the curse of love is lifted from me.

He walks out with the box of letters.

EXT. STREET, MOSCOW--DAY

WINTER AGAIN:

Oblonsky arrives outside his office building in a cab. He enters.

INT. GOVERNMENT BUILDING, MOSCOW--DAY

Saluted by the Hall Porter, Oblonsky mounts a semi-grand staircase and

arrives at the entrance to his department. He goes in.

124

INT. OUTER ROOM, OBLONSKY'S OFFICE, SAME

TIME--DAY

Levin stands up in his almost new, hardly used coat, top hat and boots.

OBLONSKY:

Levin! What . . . ?

Levin smiles, hopefully, sheepish.

LEVIN:

I need your advice . . .

It's a reprise. Oblonsky understands. He seizes Levin and kisses him.

INT. RECEPTION ROOM, OBLONSKY HOUSE--NIGHT

A small group. Dolly is playing the piano. Kitty turns the pages for Dolly.

The old Prince Shcherbatsky and the Princess are with Countess Nordston

and Oblonsky.

COUNTESS NORDSTON

Well, is he coming?

Kitty, keeping half an eye on the door, sees Levin enter and misses the page-

turn. Oblonsky goes to greet Levin.

LEVIN:

Am I late? Who is here?

OBLONSKY:

Of course you're late! Come and meet . . .

Countess Nordston.

125

COUNTESS NORDSTON

(drily, amused)

We nearly met at the Shcherbatsky's last winter.

Levin, puzzled, bows to her and to the Prince and Princess, who are respec-

tively pleased and making the best of it, and then to Dolly who approaches.

PRINCE SHCHERBATSKY

Come into the fold . . .

DOLLY:

Kitty is here.

Levin is shaken. Dolly leads him to Kitty, who is frightened, shy and

shamefaced. Dolly leaves them.

KITTY:

Konsantin . . . what a long time since we

saw each other.

LEVIN:

Since you saw me, but I saw you not so long

ago.

KITTY:

When?

LEVIN:

You were driving to Ergoshovo . . . I was at

Kashin for the haymaking.

KITTY:

Oh, but why didn't you . . . ?

They are both embarrassed by the wrong step.

126

LEVIN:

I'm so glad to see you. You're just the same.

KITTY:

I hope not--I was young and silly in those

days.

LEVIN:

Months and months ago!

KITTY:

And you haven't changed.

LEVIN:

No. I haven't.

Kitty looks up at him, decoding. They gauge each other shyly.

OBLONSKY:

Permit me to announce--soup Marie Lou-

ise, carp with asparagus, and roast beef! I

went to the market in person!

But Matvey at that moment presents Oblonsky with a visiting card on a

salver. Oblonsky reads it.

OBLONSKY (CONT'D)

(TO MATVEY)

An extra place.

INT. ENTRANCE HALL, OBLONSKY HOUSE, SAME

TIME--NIGHT

The new arrival is Karenin. Oblonsky is pleased.

127

OBLONSKY:

Karenin!--I'm glad you came.

KARENIN:

I've been on tour in the regions, a govern-

ment commission . . . I'm sorry--I have

come to tell you our connection must be

severed. I'm going to divorce your sister.

OBLONSKY:

Divorce? Dear me, what are you talking

about? Don't be in a hurry. Stay to dinner

and later talk it over with Dolly--

KARENIN:

Prince Oblonsky, everything is over between

our families.

OBLONSKY:

(REPROACHFULLY)

Alexei . . . divorce is one thing but dinner

is quite another.

INT. DINING ROOM, OBLONSKY HOUSE--NIGHT

Dinner for eight-- clockwise, Oblonsky, Countess Nordston, Prince Shcher-

batsky, Kitty, Karenin, Dolly, Levin and Princess Shcherbatsky.

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