Anna Karenina Page #6

(DROPPING IT)

Kitty . . . you look . . . you look--

KITTY:

Stiva told us you were back. How long are

you staying?

LEVIN:

I don't know. It depends on you.

KITTY:

On me?

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He has got ahead of himself. Doors are flung open and the hosts, Prince and

Princess Shcherbatsky, and a crowd of guests who have arrived together, are

greeting each other. Levin has to make a quick decision, and he makes the

wrong one--to go on.

LEVIN:

What I mean to say--I came with only one

purpose--I want to--will you be my wife?

Kitty panics. A wave of Guests is almost upon her.

LEVIN (CONT'D)

I'm sorry--sorry--wrong moment--but

will you?

KITTY:

I can't. I'm sorry.

Kitty flees. Levin seems stunned, surrounded now by greetings, laughter,

and servants with trays of drinks.

LEVIN:

Yes. It was impossible.

Prince and Princess Shcherbatsky receive a young married member of Kitty's

set, Countess Nordston . . . and introduce Levin, who hears and sees noth-

ing. He turns away, leaving the Countess hung out to dry.

Levin finds himself face to face with Burisov, a silky Officer in sky blue

uniform, who introduces himself.

BURISOV:

Burisov. Are you the brother of Nikolai

Levin?

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LEVIN:

Yes.

BURISOV:

He's in Moscow, he's staying at the Unicorn

in Khitrovka.

LEVIN:

How do you know?

BURISOV:

(SMILES)

It's the sort of thing I know.

He bows to Levin and turns away to greet someone.

Levin reacts, decides to leave. He makes for the door. He nearly collides

with someone, gives and receives an apology, and suddenly understands who

this man in Guards uniform must be. Levin turns.

LEVIN:

Count Vronsky?

VRONSKY:

Yes.

Levin pauses awkwardly. Vronsky hesitates, bows and continues on. Levin

witnesses Kitty seeing Vronsky approaching, and sees her face light up.

Vronsky kisses her hand.

VRONSKY (CONT'D)

(BANTERING)

Princess Kitty . . . It's been so long, and yet

it seems like yesterday.

His banter is lost on her. She laughs happily.

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KITTY:

It was yesterday!

Levin turns away and leaves.

EXT. SHCHERBATSKY HOUSE--NIGHT

Levin comes out of the grand house where several coaches are waiting. Hum-

bled and angry with himself and the world, he takes off his top hat and

considers putting his fist through it, but jams it back on his head. A horse-

cab comes along. Levin waves it down.

EXT. KHITROVKA, MOSCOW--NIGHT

A mean street, an area of poverty and crime. Levin pays off his cab.

INT. THE UNICORN, KHITROVKA--NIGHT

Levin goes up a dimly lit, dingy staircase. Snatches of MUSIC and SING-

ING drift up the stairs.

TOP OF THE STAIRS

Levin knocks at a door, then louder. The door is flung open. Nikolai

Levin is the spirit of consumptive, bohemian radicalism. He peers at Levin,

surprised.

LEVIN:

It's Kostya.

Nikolai roars with laughter which turns to wheezing.

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NIKOLAI:

God, look at him! You look like a capitalist!

(THEN SUSPICIOUSLY)

What do you want?

LEVIN:

Nothing. I came to see you.

Nikolai goes back into the room, shouting for "Masha." Levin follows him.

INT. NIKOLAI'S ROOM, KHITROVA, SAME TIME--

NIGHT:

Levin sees that he is in a tiny apartment. A Young Woman looks at him

fearfully from the inner doorway.

LEVIN:

Good evening, miss . . . madame . . .

NIKOLAI:

Don't talk to her like that. It frightens her.

You sound like a magistrate.

(shouts at her)

More vodka for my brother, quick about it.

LEVIN:

I don't want anything.

Masha goes to Nikolai and whispers to him, calming him.

NIKOLAI:

I'm all right.

He fills a wineglass with vodka and gulps it greedily.

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NIKOLAI (CONT'D)

Who told you where to find me?

LEVIN:

A colonel in the Third Department. They're

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