Anna Karenina Page #30

Can you Forgive. And Forget.

Levin puts down I L Y.

LEVIN (CONT'D)

I never stopped . . .

He looks up to see silent tears streaming down her face. His own eyes flood.

EXT. STREET, MOSCOW--NIGHT

Karenin walks away from the Oblonsky house. He lifts his face to meet the

snowflakes. He looks tortured. Snow melts on his face like tears. He takes

from his wallet a telegram.

CLOSE UP TELEGRAM:

I BEG YOU TO COME. I NEED YOUR FORGIVENESS.

I AM DYING.

KARENIN:

Die, then.

He stands in the snow, uncertain.

133

INT. TRAIN (MOSCOW TO ST. PETERSBURG)--NIGHT

Karenin sits like a statue.

INT. ENTRANCE HALL, KARENIN HOUSE--DAY

Karenin is let into the house by Kapitonich.

KARENIN:

How is your mistress?

KAPITONICH:

Safely delivered of a daughter, Your

Excellency.

KARENIN:

So . . . she is well?

KAPITONICH:

The mistress is very poorly. The doctor . . .

Karenin, going to the stairs, sees Vronsky's cloak and cap on the coat stand.

INT. BEDROOM LEVEL, KARENIN HOUSE, SAME

TIME--DAY

Karenin comes up the staircase. When he reaches his dressing room he hears

Anna shouting for "Alexei" in her delirium. He hesitates. Anna shouts the

name again. Karenin enters Anna's boudoir.

134

INT. ANNA'S BOUDOIR, KARENIN HOUSE, SAME

TIME--DAY

Karenin sees Vronsky sitting with his hands over his face. Vronsky jumps

up in confusion.

VRONSKY:

She's dying. Please let me stay.

Karenin looks at him coldly and enters the bedroom.

INT. BEDROOM, KARENIN HOUSE--DAY

Anna is not seeing or hearing, struggling against the Doctor and the Mid-

wife, while Annushka holds her hand.

DOCTOR:

Thank God! She talks only of you.

In her delirium, Anna keeps up a bright prattle.

ANNA:

Why doesn't he come? He is kind. He will

forgive me.

MIDWIFE:

He's here--look--look--can't you see him?

ANNA:

I want Alexei! Why doesn't he come? Give

me some water. No, I mustn't, it's not good

for my little girl. Or let her have a nurse.

Yes--don't bring her here, because Alexei

is coming and it will hurt him to see her.

135

ANNUSHKA:

He's come, my dear--look there . . .

Annushka gives way to Karenin, who kneels by the bed, taking Anna's

hand.

DOCTOR:

(TO ANNUSHKA)

More ice.

Annushka hurries out.

ANNA:

Oh, what nonsense. I must be asleep, that's

what it is. You think he won't forgive me

but you don't know him. No one knows

him except me. I'm not afraid of him now.

Karenin gazes at her. He looks at her as he's never looked at her.

ANNA (CONT'D)

I'm afraid of death, though.

Karenin tries to speak but cannot. He starts making shushing noises as to a

baby. She quietens down. She seems to recognise him.

ANNA (CONT'D)

Oh, my dear. Don't look at me like that.

I am not the one you think. I'm afraid of

her. She fell in love with another man. I'm

the real one. But I'm dying now, then she'll

be dead, too. Poor man! Let him come in.

Alexis! Alexis!

136

INT. BOUDOIR, KARENIN HOUSE, SAME TIME--DAY

Vronsky hears her calling. He comes into the bedroom.

INT. BEDROOM, KARENIN HOUSE, SAME TIME--DAY

Vronsky covers his face, unmanned. The Doctor nods to the Midwife--

"Leave them alone." They leave.

ANNA:

Take your hands away from your face. Look

at my husband. He's a saint! Take his hand.

Alexei--take his hands away.

Karenin pulls Vronsky's fingers, and holds on to Vronsky's hand.

ANNA (CONT'D)

Forgive him, too. Thank God, thank

God . . .

DAWN:

Anna is asleep. Karenin is alone with her. The crisis seems to be over. She

opens her eyes.

ANNA (CONT'D)

So you came.

Karenin puts his face down to her shoulder. She strokes him.

ANNA (CONT'D)

If I had died as I wanted, you would be free

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