Anna Karenina Page #3

There is another interruption: Serozha, aged seven and a half, and his

tutor, Vasily Lukich, enter for a ritual "good morning." Serozha is a little

frightened of his father, but the mother and son are in love. Anna goes

straight to Serozha, her heart lifted, to hug him.

KARENIN (CONT'D)

Good, good!--I have the world waiting

for me, there's never time to look at your

exercises!

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LUKICH:

Sergei Alexeyich is doing very well, Your

Excellency.

ANNA:

(a button missing)

Tsk-tsk, who put this shirt on you? Never

mind. I'll come and hear you read.

KARENIN:

Tomorrow, perhaps. Thank you, Lukich--

perhaps tomorrow.

Lukich bows. Anna goes with Serozha, relinquishing him finally. She closes

the door on them.

ANNA:

Alexei, do you think nine years of mar-

riage and children should count for nothing

against a . . . an infatuation?

Karenin cracks his knuckles, concedes.

KARENIN:

No. Very well.

(kisses her hand)

But sin has a price, you may be sure of that.

INT. OBLONSKY'S DRESSING ROOM, OBLONSKY

HOUSE--DAY

Oblonsky has been bunking down on his couch. He moans and groans. He

gets up and tries the door to the bedroom. It's locked. He knocks timidly.

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OBLONSKY:

(PITEOUSLY)

Dolly . . . please think of the children . . .

He listens hopefully. The other door, leading to the upper landing, is opened

violently by Dolly.

DOLLY:

You think of the children! Their lives are

ruined now!

She slams the door behind her.

INT. BEDROOM LEVEL, OBLONSKY HOUSE, SAME

TIME--DAY

Oblonsky comes out of his dressing room to see the main bedroom door

slammed. He attempts to go in but the door is locked.

OBLONSKY:

Oh, Dolly . . . I beg you . . .

Matvey come to the top of the stairs with a telegram.

MATVEY:

Telegram. Should I send up the barber?

OBLONSKY:

No, just the razor.

Oblonsky tears open the telegram.

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MATVEY:

Don't worry, sir, things will shape them-

selves, you'll see.

OBLONSKY:

(RELIEVED)

My sister Anna's coming tomorrow. We're

saved.

INT. OBLONSKY'S OFFICE, MOSCOW--DAY

Inner doors open and Oblonsky comes out of his private office. He is his

genial self. Everyone in the general office-- minor officials, clerks-- stands

up for him and bows. Oblonsky is wearing government uniform--green

coat with gold embroidery on the collar--instead of his own coat. Oblonsky

is helped out of one coat into the other.

DOORKEEPER:

Some man came without an appointment,

Your Excellency . . . waiting outside.

Oblonsky opens the door to look. Levin is sitting waiting on a bench, wear-

ing a sheepskin coat, cap and scuffed boots.

OBLONSKY:

Levin! Where did you disappear?

He seizes Levin and kisses him.

LEVIN:

(NERVOUS)

I'm very anxious to see you. I need your

advice.

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OBLONSKY:

Well, then, come into my room.

Oblonsky leads Levin back through the general office, where everyone stands

up again. Levin's sheepskin and boots attract curious glances.

OBLONSKY (CONT'D)

This is my oldest friend, Konstantin Dmit-

rich Levin! Someone send word I'll be a few

minutes late.

INT. OBLONSKY'S PRIVATE OFFICE, SAME TIME--DAY

Oblonsky leads Levin inside and closes the door.

OBLONSKY:

I've been hard at it. Sit down.

Levin undoes his coat and sits down.

LEVIN:

Hard at what exactly?

OBLONSKY:

Why, we're overwhelmed with work!

LEVIN:

Oh--paperwork.

OBLONSKY:

Paperwork is the soul of Russia. Farming

is only the stomach. When am I going to

come and shoot some snipe?

Seeing the clothes Levin is wearing, he laughs.

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OBLONSKY (CONT'D)

Oh, but look at you, in Western clothes

you told me you'd never wear again. Some-

thing's up.

LEVIN:

Yes. I'm in love. I've come back to propose.

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