Anna Karenina Page #41

ANNA:

That's twenty minutes away in the train--

you could go to see her tomorrow--or was

it that you wanted to spend Sunday with

Princess Sorokina?

VRONSKY:

Please don't spoil everything. I can't see

Maman tomorrow because she won't have

read the papers she has to sign. Oh, and

then there's the bank . . . But we can leave

on Tuesday.

ANNA:

In that case, let's not bother. I'll leave on

Sunday or not at all.

VRONSKY:

That's absurd!

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ANNA:

It's absurd to you because you have no

understanding for my life here.

VRONSKY:

Anna . . . Anna . . .

ANNA:

You've stopped loving me. You've given

up everything for me, and it's turned you

against me. Why lie about it?

VRONSKY:

Stop. I put off our departure for a day or

two, and you tell me I don't love you.

ANNA:

Because I've been living off your love and

there's none left, so this is over! Finished.

She leaves him, slamming the door.

INT. BEDROOM, HOTEL, SAME TIME--DAY

Anna comes in and lies down on the bed, closes her eyes, sits up, pours a

dose from the medicine bottle by the bed, and lies down. Vronsky comes in.

He takes her hand.

ANNA:

I'm sorry. I don't mind when we go.

VRONSKY:

I'll telegraph Maman. We'll go on Sunday.

I'll do anything you want.

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ANNA:

You should leave me.

VRONSKY:

I don't want to. I love you.

ANNA:

Why?

VRONSKY:

You can't ask why about love.

INT. DINING ROOM, HOTEL SUITE--DAY

Anna comes straight from bed. She is drugged and shaky. The room is

empty but there is a coffee tray on the table. Anna feels the coffeepot and

pours herself a cup.

INT. STUDY, HOTEL SUITE--DAY

Vronsky is at his desk. Anna enters with her coffee. Vronsky is reading a

telegram. Seeing her enter, he puts the telegram under his papers.

VRONSKY:

So--will you be all packed? I'll be out

today making the arrangements.

ANNA:

Is that your way of telling me you'll be at

your mother's with that simpering little

princess?

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VRONSKY:

No. I'll be with my lawyers. I'm waiting for

some documents. Then I'm having dinner

to say goodbye to old comrades.

ANNA:

Well, I know what that means.

VRONSKY:

My God, this is unendurable.

He controls himself.

VRONSKY (CONT'D)

I can invite them here if you like.

ANNA:

Thank you, but if I'm not fit to dine in soci-

ety, I won't eat with the band. Who was the

telegram from?

Vronsky retrieves the telegram and hands it to her.

VRONSKY:

I didn't show it to you, because Stiva keeps

telegraphing what we already know. Kare-

nin promises nothing, but will consider . . .

Anna tosses the telegram aside unread.

ANNA:

I told you I don't care about the divorce, so

why hide the telegram? What else do you

hide from me?

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VRONSKY:

I hide nothing from you.

ANNA:

Why do you care about the divorce?

What has it got to do with us loving each

other?

VRONSKY:

Until we're married, our daughter is legally

Karenin's. I care about it because we need to

be free to marry.

ANNA:

You're perfectly free to marry anyone your

mother wants.

VRONSKY:

But we aren't talking about--

ANNA:

Yes, we are, and, by the way, compared to

your mother I'm the Virgin Mary.

Vronsky is silent with anger. He gets up and goes out, returning with his

hat in his hand.

VRONSKY:

Is there anything you wish to say to me?

She remains silent. He leaves again. She lights a cigarette.

187

EXT. HOTEL BUILDING, SAME TIME--DAY

The Sorokina Coach draws up outside the door. The coach with its crest

and the Coachman's livery (a bright yellow cockade) are highly distinctive.

INT. HOTEL SUITE, SAME TIME--DAY

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