Anna Karenina Page #7

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Mama! Mama!

You know how fond I am of Anna.|Don't think l'm condemning her.

But she simply doesn't understand|her situation.

I cannot receive her.|I can't change the world.

I know she won't be received|in court circles.

But our close friends,|they can and they must understand.

She might meet people in my house|who take a different view of things.

You'II be snubbed by them.

No, as long as her situation remains...|irregular...

I simply cannot receive her.|Don't be angry with me.

I see...

Please understand it's not my fault.

But l'm pained all the more

because this ends our friendship, too.

You will understand that for me|there can be no other way.

Are you really going to the theatre?

Why shouldn't I?|l've wanted to hear Patti for so long.

Why do you ask in such a frightened|tone?

After all, there isn't any reason|not to go...

l'm not going alone. Yashvin|won't be a compromising escort.

Anna, what's wrong with you?

- What do you mean?|- You know you can't go.

Why? You're busy.|You can stay at home.

- Don't you realize that...|- No! And I don't want to!

- But you must understand...|- I don't care to!

For us, only one thing counts:|whether we love each other or not.

There can be no other consideration.

Why can't I go to the theatre?

I love you|and there's nothing else that matters.

Why aren't you looking at me?

You know my feelings for you|will never change.

But l'm begging you not to go.

And I beg you to give me one good|reason why I should not.

Alyosha! Why do you come so late?

What a shame!|Madame Kartasova had no right...

- What did she do?|- She insulted Madame Karenina.

Go on, Maman is waiting.

No one can ever see you anymore.

Madame Karenina|is creating a sensation.

So much so they're forgetting Patti.

- I asked you not to speak in this...|- I only say what everyone's saying.

l'm so glad you're going to meet her.

Even though she's my sister,|I can say outright that she's...

a remarkable woman.

You'II see for yourself.

Her position in society is horrid!|Her situation's hell.

And there's no hope of its changing.

- Why?|- It's a long and boring story.

First her husband, then she,|refused the divorce.

Now they live in the country.

Another woman would have lost|courage long ago, but she...

You'II see how she's organized her|life, how calm she is.

She has a daughter. She must be|quite busy with her.

You think every woman is just|another brood hen, don't you?

If a woman is busy at all,|it can only be with children.

- Give us some work, sir.|- No, I have nothing for you.

- Where do you come from?|- From far away.

- Why did you come here?|- In search of work.

No, we don't have anything.|Only enough for our own peasants.

- Well, God bless you.|- Goodbye, sir.

Hard as their work is,|they haven't enough of it.

I admit there's much injustice|in the world.

Yes, it's true,|I do feel it but...

You won't give up what is yours|to them.

How can I do that?

But you're convinced|that it is unjust.

I always feel the injustice|of my being so much richer than them.

But I have my responsibilities|to the land, to my family,

and to society as well.

You see?|And I think

you must either admit that|the existing order is just

and defend your rights,

or acknowledge that you're enjoying|unjust privileges,

and then take pleasure in them.

I cannot enjoy them

when I see how poor my people are,|and know that it's unjust.

Well, then, don't enjoy them.

I feel l've long known and loved you|because of your friendship with Stiva

and because of your lovely wife.

But if she can't forgive me|my situation,

I hope she would never be able|to forgive me.

To forgive, one must go through it...|l'm not trying to prove something.

I only want to live and not harm|anyone... excepting me.

I have a right to that,|haven't I?

Once a peasant told me:|'All people are different.

One lives solely for his needs,|another for the salvation of his soul.

He remembers the Lord.'

To live not for what attracts you,|but for a God

that no one can understand|or define.

Do you think l'm living? L'm not.

Alexei can go|wherever and whenever he likes.

He has every right, I have none.

A great many couples stay for years|in the same old rut

that is hated by both husband and|wife

simply because there's neither strife|nor happiness between them.

For me to be happy,

I must have with me|both my son and Alexei.

I love both of them equally,|and both more than myself.

If I can't have them both,|then nothing matters. Nothing matters.

That's the eternal mistake|of imagining happiness

as a fulfilled desire.

And what if all we have to look|forward to

is suffering, doubt and endless|dissatisfaction with oneself?

One cannot live then.

One must eitherjustify his life|to himself or...

A number of times I have been close|to suicide.

I hid the rope,|so I wouldn't hang myself.

I was afraid of carrying a gun about|lest I should shoot myself.

I am saved from despair|by love alone.

Do I regret anything? No.

If I had to live my life over,|l'd do the same thing,

because I love and l'm loved...|No. To live... to live!

You fell in love with that vile woman!

She has bewitched you,|I see it in your eyes.

I shall die...|Why did you marry me?

Why?|You would be free now. Go away!

Kitty, I beg of you... Stop it...|Kitty, please...

At what time?

- You're going away?|- Yes.

- Today?|- Yes. L'm going to Kashin.

We have to elect|The Marshal of the Nobility.

- I hope you won't feel Ionely.|- I hope I won't.

I received a box of books|from Gautier's.

- Will you be gone long?|- A few days.

Oh, no...

l'II have to take a trip to Moscow.

Well, if you have to go to Moscow,|l'II come too.

- L'm only going for a few days.|- L'II go for a few days too.

I won't stay here all alone.

Either we should separate|or we should live together.

l'd like to be with you always,

but I have obligations towards|my friends, towards society.

I understand.|But I shall go to Moscow too.

That sounds like a threat.|Let's not talk about it anymore.

- Why not?|- I must have some occupation!

Socially you have already got|far too many occupations.

You're a member of six public bodies:|you're a counselor, a juryman...

You've got so many obligations|that it looks like a farce.

Why are you so irritable, Anna?

No... I can't live like that!

You've grown tired of me,|l'm a burden to you.

You must not despair.

Your sorrow is great,|but you must find consolation.

I am crushed, annihilated.|I am no longer a man.

I cannot find the strength|to support me.

Christ's love|is our support.

- I am weak. I am crushed.|- My dear friend...

I foresaw nothing|and now I understand nothing.

It's not the loss I have sustained.

I have no regrets. But the humiliation|I suffer before people

because of my situation.

It is wrong, but I cannot help it.

Ask Him to help you.

Only in Him we will find comfort,|deliverance and love.

And now for practical matters.

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