Anna Karenina Page #5

one must always pay a cardsharper

but need not pay a tailor.

Quite right.

One must never tell a lie to a man,

but one may to a woman.

Naturally.

One must never cheat anyone,

but one may a husband.

Inevitably.

One must never pardon an insult

but may freely give one.

- Obviously.

- Well, it's trivial.

- It's nonsensical.

- My dear Vronsky...

has your liver

been bothering you lately?

Your Highness.

What is it, Kouzma?

Yashvin, if you'll excuse me,

something unexpected...

Certainly, certainly. I understand.

Thanks, old boy.

No, no, this way, if you don't mind.

- Oh, of course.

- Thank you.

- Your liver's much improved.

- Yes, yes.

Anna.

Alexei, I had to come.

Anna, you're here.

This awful month.

This awful separation.

Alexei.

I've been sitting in that house, watched.

Night after night,

we dine together in silence.

He sits across the table

and watches me...

cold, polite, merciless.

I can't tell you what it's been.

My darling.

A prisoner with no hope of reprieve.

And for me too.

Life has been dead, tasteless.

Each day I think...

Days go by,

life goes by without you.

Anna, you're not going back to him.

I felt that just this once I had to see you.

I had to come, Alexei.

You're not going back to him.

What shall I do?

You're going away with me.

Yes.

Yes, Alexei.

Don't leave me ever again.

Oh, Anna.

It is like Levin to be

late for his own wedding.

I was beginning to think

you meant to run away.

- I'm ashamed to tell you what happened.

- What happened?

Better tell me now than later.

My stiff shirt only came

at the last moment.

Take the bride's hand and lead her in.

Shall we go out in a gondola

on the Grand Canal...

and find a serenata?

Yes.

Shall we explore all the little canals...

those murderous little water alleys...

where the Doges used to throw

their enemies?

Yes.

Shall we go to St. Mark's

and feed the pigeons?

Yes.

- Shall we be really energetic...

- Yes?

and go out on the balcony?

- Alexei?

- Yes, Anna?

Is there pain in the world?

Are there tears?

For this hour, they are extinct.

I feel pain.

- I feel tears.

- Why?

Because I'm so happy...

not to think...

only to live...

only to feel.

And the breath of Russia is sweet

And sweet over all the land

Broods the soul of Russia

Do you remember Pushkin's poem?

You miss Russia.

You miss home.

Alexei...

put your arms around me.

You're trembling.

Are you cold?

We'll be punished.

- Punished?

- For being so happy.

Mother!

Mother!

Sergei. Sergei, what is it?

I dreamed...

- I thought...

- Yes?

That Mother came in

and kissed me good night.

But when I woke up,

I found she wasn't here.

Was she here?

No, Sergei.

But I'm sure she kissed me good night.

Sergei...

you might as well know,

once and for all.

What?

That your mother is dead.

Dead?

Yes.

But that means

that I won't see her again?

That I'll never see her again?

Yes.

But I don't believe it, Father.

She loved me too much to die.

Even the people that love one die.

And the people one loves.

But I don't believe Mother is dead.

If I go to sleep...

Yes, Sergei.

Yes, go to sleep.

If I go to sleep...

I know Mother will come...

and kiss me good night.

What an adorable boy.

We're still in Venice.

And I love you.

Yes, I know.

But there was something

in that boy's eyes.

Something in his face.

Alexei, let's go home.

I say if our government

had a spark of courage...

we'd be in the Serbian-Turkish war

right now.

Lock, stock and barrel.

Do you think there's a chance

of our getting in?

- Well, Vronsky!

- Nice to see you.

- How was Italy?

- I'm glad to see you, Vronsky.

You really think there's a chance of our

getting in the Turko-Serbian war?

Not much. The government's lazy.

I'll let you in on a secret. Most of us

are planning to resign from the army...

form a private regiment...

and enlist for the Serbs

against the Turks.

- Would that interest you, Vronsky?

- Interest me? Of course.

- But I...

- Oh, naturally. I understand.

These Serbs are of our race,

of the Slav race.

They are fighting our battle.

And we are cowards

if we don't join them.

Right.

You'd like to join us,

wouldn't you, Vronsky?

- Terribly. But you see, Yashvin...

- I know.

It's worse, isn't it? More binding

when you're not married.

- Yashvin, will you do me a favor?

- Of course.

When things come to a head

about this war business...

will you let me know?

- Certainly. Depend on it.

- Thank you.

And by the way,

don't mention this to anybody.

I understand.

Excuse me, madam.

May I bring you some tea?

You haven't eaten the whole day.

No, thank you. Nothing.

Hello, Anna.

How are you?

Did you have a good time with Yashvin?

Well, you know Yashvin. He's...

He's always jolly.

- What did you do?

- Oh, talked.

He told me all the army gossip.

Then we went around to the club.

- Did you enjoy it?

- It was nice seeing the old crowd again.

- Somehow...

- As you're no longer part of that life...

you felt yourself an outsider.

Yes, as a matter of fact.

And you thought...

Never mind.

What's the matter with you today,

Anna?

And you thought,

"Why did I give all this up?

All this jolly life. For what?"

That's what you thought.

I see it in your eyes.

- Really, Anna, your imagination is...

- It's the truth, though.

- It's the truth.

- You're conjuring up phantoms.

Am I? Well, perhaps I am.

But no more. I have a surprise for you.

I've taken a box at the opera tonight.

We're going out into the world.

We've been too much alone together.

After all,

we live in the world, don't we?

- Think it's a good idea to go to the opera?

- Why not?

Everybody in St. Petersburg

will be there.

What of it?

Seems rather brazen.

Are you ashamed to be seen with me?

There's no talking to you today, Anna.

- I quite understand.

- I wish you'd have the good sense...

- to face the realities of our position.

- What are they?

Karenin refuses to give you a divorce.

There's no use flaunting ourselves in

everybody's face. It's a mistake, Anna.

I'm willing to go alone.

Very well.

We'll go to the opera.

- It's shocking.

- Why? It isn't a secret.

There's something so public

about an opera.

Very ill-advised.

He has courage in the field, sir,

and in society too.

That's not courage, Yashvin.

That's suicide.

How beautiful Madam Karenina looks.

They are a superb couple.

Why, Lili, how can you talk like that?

They're not even a couple.

Our friends seem very eager to see us.

Did you think they'd be indifferent?

Oh, Captain Yashvin.

How do you like the opera?

I like it when they dance,

but I hate it when they sing.

But you mustn't take my word.

My tastes are all bad.

Pardon me.

Your mother sent me. She would like you

to visit her in her box.

If you'll pardon me, Anna.

I'll leave you with Yashvin.

Who is the young lady

with Countess Vronsky?

The Princess Sorokina.

She's very pretty,

the Princess Sorokina, isn't she?

Oh, yes. She's considered one

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