Anna Karenina Page #2

Nikolai.

Kostya.

What is it?

What do you want?

I dont want anything.

I came to see you.

Youre my brother.

This woman is my lifes

companion.

Maria Nikolayevna.

I took her out of a brothel.

But anyone who wants

to know me must respect her, too.

All right, then, Masha,

supper for 3, then.

With vodka and wine.

Your brother drinks too much.

Take no notice of her.

Shes a whore.

You are a gentleman.

Nikolai, dont drink.

Leave me a...

Leave me alone.

I'll beat you.

How about supper, then?

Have a drink.

Tell me how you do it.

Why arent you married yet?

Oh, no luck.

I think there must be something

about me that repels people.

Why?

For me, everythings over.

For you...

Come back with me...

to the country.

For the sake of your health.

No. Too much to do.

I've become a communist.

Nikolai, the police.

Theyll persecute me like they do

anyone whos not a scoundrel.

Here.

You want to fell

magnanimous...

feel righteous.

I'll let you have that

satisfaction.

Don t think too badly

of me, Kostya.

Mama, please.

Princess Kitty, may I ask you

for the quadrille?

I'm sorry, but I'm promised

to count Vronsky,

but you may have

the second quadrille.

An honor, princess.

The master of ceremonies

can never be refused.

It was nice of you

to come in good time.

Such a bad habit to be late.

- Where may I take you?

- Madame Kareninas over there, I think.

Will you take me to her, please?

Pardon, mesdames,

monsieurs, pardon.

You even dance into the room.

Princess Kittys one of my

most faithful helpers.

She adorns the ballroom and

makes the ball gay.

- May I have the pleasure?

- No. I never dance if I can help it.

Oh, but you must tonight.

Well, but if its impossible

not to dance, let us dance, then.

Well?

Nothing.

Princess, you are such

a delight.

Is your card free

for the mazurka?

I should withdraw.

This is turning out

absurdly.

Will you stay to supper? I have a

wonderful cotillion in mind.

No, I wont stay. I've danced

more at this ball

than I have in a whole winter

in Petersburg.

These few brief moments

intoxicated Anna

liKe a light pouring into

the darK room that was her llfe.

Weve stopped, mistress.

I want a breath of air.

What are you

doing here?

You know that I have come

to be where you are.

I cannot help myself.

Forgive me if what

I say offends you.

You shouldnt say that.

And I beg you, if youre a gentleman,

to forget this as I willforget it.

Not one word...

not one gesture of yours...

Shall I...

could I ever forget.

Stop it.

Yes, as you see, here is

your devoted husband

burning with impatience

to see you.

Is Seriozha all right?

Is that all the reward

I get for my ardor?

Yes, hes quite all right.

Did you have

a good night?

Excellent. Thank you.

Ah, weve met before, I believe.

Count Vronsky.

You set off with the mother and return

with the son. Back from furlough, I presume.

So, my dear, how was Moscow?

I hope I may have the honor

of calling on you.

Delighted. Were at home

on Mondays.

I told you it was mama!

I knew!

Oh, my pet.

Gifts from Tanya

and Grisha.

Tanya can read now, you know?

Shes even teaching Grisha.

Is she nicer than me?

To me youre nicer than anyone

else in the world.

I know I am.

On the whole, then, your

visit was a success?

I cannot see how a man

like that can be exonerated,

even if he is your brother.

But I'm glad it all ended satisfactorily

and that youre back again.

You wouldnt believe how

irksome it is to dine alone.

I missed you, too.

Time for bed.

Betsy,

- I'm beginning to lose hope.

- Whatever hope could you have?

None.

Excuse me. I'm afraid

I've become ridiculous.

Oh, my dear, you're in

no danger of that.

A man pursuing a young girl

might be ridiculous,

but a man in love

with a married woman,

that has something fine

and grand about it.

It could never be ridiculous.

Next you'll be telling me

that young girls should be

virtuous, women chaste,

men virile, and children should be

brought up

to pay their debts and earn their

bread and all the other nonsense.

But look at them...

Karenin,

that awful Lydia lvanovna.

So old-fashioned,

so stuffy.

They surround her.

When I am old and ugly,

I'll become like them.

For a beautiful woman

like Anna, it is too soon

for her spirit to be crushed

by such boredom.

We must rescue her

before it is too late.

Come to my house

on Saturday.

Is it true that the younger Vlassiev

girl is going to marry Topov?

Yes, they say its

quite settled.

I am surprised at her parents.

I heard it was a love match.

A love match? What antediluvian

ideas you have.

Who talks of love nowadays?

That foolish old customs

not left us yet.

The only happy marriages are

marriages of convenience

where both parties have sown

their wild oats.

In my young days, I was

in love with a deacon.

I didnt know that

it did me any good.

No, but joking apart.

I believe that

before one can know

what love really is,

one must have a fall

and pick oneself up again.

Even after marriage?

Lts never too late.

I've been wanting to tell you that you

behaved badly, very badly, indeed.

You think I dont know

that I behaved badly?

But who made me?

How can you say that?

You know why.

That only shows

you have no heart.

I came here tonight knowing

that I would meet you

to make it perfectly clear

this must stop.

You make me feel as if

I was guilty of something.

What do you

want me to do?

I want you to go

to Moscow and...

You dont want that.

Then do this for me.

Never utter

those words again.

And let us

be good friends.

Friends

we shall never be.

You know that.

There is only one way

we can be happy.

I have nothing left

but you. Remember that.

Nothing matters anymore...

Not even life...

for one moment

of happiness like this.

Happiness?

Dont ever

speak of it again.

I have to warn you.

Warn me?

What about?

That by thoughtlessness and

indiscretion, you may cause yourself

to be talked about

in society.

Youre beginning

to attract attention.

I'm sure

theyre only rumors.

You are always like that.

You dont like me to be dull,

and then you dont like it

when I go out

and enjoy myself.

Stop it. You Know

I cant stand it.

And I would like to know

what all this is about.

Your feelings are the affair

of your own conscience,

but I am duty-bound to point out

to you your duties.

Our lives have been joined

not by man but by God.

Only a crime

can sever that union.

A crime of that nature brings

its own heavy punishment.

I dont understand

a thing you are saying.

And besides,

I'm desperately sleepy.

Anna, for Gods sake, dont

speak like that. Perhaps I am mistaken.

But believe me, what I say

I say as much for my sake as for yours.

I am your husband,

and I love you, but if

- there are the slightest grounds...

- I have nothing to say.

It is really bedtime.

Here it is.

Stupid miss

with the right barrel.

Stiva?

Whens Kitty

getting married?

She isnt thinking

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