Anna Karenina Page #37

SEROZHA:

You don't want that . . . Let me see.

164

Serozha tears open the package, lifts the lid of the cardboard box and finds

a puppet, a beautifully dressed marionette.

SEROZHA (CONT'D)

Oh, he's grand!

INT. UPPER LEVEL, KARENIN HOUSE, SAME TIME--

DAY:

Korney, the Valet, among others, has joined the "conference" and is blaming

Kapitonich.

KORNEY:

It's your fault for letting her in!--you

should be sacked.

KAPITONICH:

Oh yes, you would have sent her packing!

Ten years I've been keeping the door and

the mistress was always kind to me. You

should stick to stealing the master's clothes.

LUKICH:

I've had enough of this--it's my job to get

the boy out of bed before His Excellency

comes . . .

INT. SEROZHA'S ROOM, KARENIN HOUSE, SAME

TIME--DAY

Lukich cautiously opens the door. He sees mother and son working the pup-

pet and laughing quietly. Lukich backs off. Anna looks round to see the

door closing.

165

ANNA:

Darling Kutik, Maman can't stay . . .

Serozha clings to Anna.

SEROZHA:

Don't go!--he's not coming yet.

ANNA:

Yes, I must, and you must love Papa--

he's better than I am. When you're

grown-up . . .

SEROZHA:

No one in the whole world is better than

you.

Anna hugs him.

INT. OUTSIDE SEROZHA'S ROOM, KARENIN HOUSE,

SAME TIME-- DAY

The Servants in a huddle look round at the sound of a door, and approach-

ing footsteps round a blind corner.

There is no one in view when Karenin comes around the corner. The Ser-

vants have vanished. He goes to Serozha's door. Anna comes out.

He stops, astonished. Anna looks at him boldly, then pulls down her veil.

Karenin bows. Anna walks past him.

166

INT. VRONSKY'S FLAT, ST. PETERSBURG--DAY

Anna comes "home" from Karenin's house. The visit has changed her. She

sits down in her hat and coat. Annushka comes in.

ANNA:

Where's Anya?

ANNUSHKA:

She's still asleep. Should I take your coat?

Anna shakes her head.

ANNUSHKA (CONT'D)

Are you feeling unwell, Madame?

ANNA:

I'm not sleeping.

ANNUSHKA:

I can send out for something.

Anna nods.

LATER:

Twilight. Anna appears not to have moved. The baby is heard crying in

another room. Anna's face remains set, but she reacts on hearing Vronsky

coming in.

VRONSKY:

Why are you in the dark?

He turns on a gaslight.

167

VRONSKY (CONT'D)

Yashvin is going to call . . . you remember him.

(about her clothes)

Are you going out?

ANNA:

To where? To whom?

VRONSKY:

What's the matter?

ANNA:

I didn't know what happened to you.

VRONSKY:

But I told you yesterday . . . My brother . . .

ANNA:

Does it take all day for you to meet your

brother? Does he need you more than I do?

Vronsky sits next to her and puts his arms round her.

VRONSKY:

What's happened?

Anna shakes her head.

VRONSKY (CONT'D)

Well . . . Alexander agreed to everything.

Mother's house in Moscow will go to him,

and the country estate will be our new

home . . . as soon as the divorce . . . Karenin

hasn't answered your letter yet?

Anna shakes her head. She stands up at last and takes off her hat.

168

INT. VRONSKY'S FLAT, ST. PETERSBURG--NIGHT

Yashvin is a welcome visitor.

YASHVIN:

It's wonderful to have you both returned.

ANNA:

How good you are to come. You're the very

first person to call on me since our return.

Yashvin gets the point of that. He is embarrassed.

ANNA (CONT'D)

I received a note from Princess Betsy asking

me if I'd call on her between six-thirty and

eight. Or was it seven?

Yashvin got the point of that, too.

ANNA (CONT'D)

Alas, between six-thirty and seven is just

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