Anna Karenina Page #2

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- Oh, yes, forgiven...

- Why, only yesterday you told Anna.

- Leave Anna out of it, if you please.

- I...I know I'm a brute.

- You, a brute? Oh!

just because l was carried away

for a few minutes...

- Carried away?

- Dolly, nine years of life together.

- Go away.

- Dolly, please put your gown on.

Don't touch me! Go away.

- l love you, Dolly.

- Go away, go away.

You're killing me. You're a stranger to me.

- A stranger! (Sobbing)

- All right, all right,

but for mercy's sake, stop crying,

the servants will hear you.

God, it's hot.

Haven't got my tie on.

- Well, what do you want?

- The guests are arriving, Excellency.

Well, what do you expect me to do about it?

- Your coat, Excellency.

- Oh, yes, my coat.

Oh, Matvey.

- Shall l ask Madame Karenina?

- Yes, go and find her!

Oh, and, Matvey...

l suppose nothing's ready.

Madame has given all the necessary orders.

Oh!

Darling, you're a darling!

In spite of everything, you've...

Oh, you're an angel.

Oh, Dolly, if only you could understand

how unimportant all this is.

Well, l mean, of course it's serious,

yes, very serious.

- You remembered the champagne?

- From Lo.

- And the brandy?

- '68 Rserve.

Darling, look at me!

- Never again, l swear it on...

- (Sobbing)

Oh. That's...

(Dolly sobbing)

Oh, Anna, Anna, l implore you.

Go and put your coat on, Stiva.

- But the Grand Duke is coming!

- Go and put your coat on.

Thank you, Anna. Thank you very much.

- l wish l were dead.

- You love him.

Forgive him. You forgave him yesterday.

When l think of him with that woman,

here in this house!

- l know.

- l had such trust in him.

How can you understand? You're happy.

- l loved him, Anna, l loved him so much.

- You still love him.

l hate him.

You love him.

Oh, forgive him.

He's suffering too, in his own way.

He's suffering? You know what he did?

The night of our quarrel

he went straight off to the casino

and had supper with a lot of dancing girls.

Suffering!

- You're his wife.

- His habit.

It's the same thing for a man.

Five children, and he gets into debt

and runs after women.

Is this a life?

And your life, Anna...

you're happy at least?

Oh, l have my little Sergei.

Ah, yes. And you're a great lady,

you go to court.

And then Alexis Karenin never.

No, never.

Only l don't love him.

And did you think l could, Dolly?

That statue?

You wrong me. l'm a woman.

But everyone thinks you're happy

with Karenin.

Good, that's how l want it to be.

Let them envy my happiness.

You know how it used to be the fashion

to wear masks, Dolly?

Well, that's my happiness.

That surprises you.

Oh, l've wept too, Dolly,

l've rebelled against this marriage,

against my parents who forced it on me

as though it were an unbelievable good fortune.

But then l had Sergei.

l'm resigned.

You?

That shocks you?

Oh, l know l used to be so full of hope

at one time.

Well, now l'm in a hurry to grow old.

There'll be peace, Dolly, afterwards.

Anna!

A woman's life is short.

- (Sobs )

- Oh, Dolly, Dolly, Dolly.

You're not going to start crying again

on my account. Now think of yourself.

And of Stiva waiting to be forgiven.

Oh, you're good, Anna.

l'm glad you came.

How beautiful you are.

- My hair's coming down.

- (Stiva ) Dolly!

l shall go upstairs to dress, Stiva.

But remember, l am only doing it

for the sake of the children,

for Grisha and Misha.

And Ania and Tania and little Monia.

Only for them.

Oh, Anna, Anna, you're wonderful!

And you're a lunatic.

Now, don't you dare start anything again.

No, no, no, of course not.

Oh, thank you, little sister.

l'm happy, so very happy.

- Then go up to Dolly and make her happy too.

- Yes, l'll go at once.

She's a wonderful woman, you know, Anna.

She even remembered the champagne.

Oh, er, if any of the guests...

l'll take care of everything.

Ah...

my Anna.

And all for a man like Karenin,

- that pickled carp.

- Shh.

(Humming happily)

(Anna ) Only friends in here, Matvey,

do you understand?

- Are the guests being entertained?

- Yes, excellency.

But it is not housekeeper's work.

Matrona is quite overwhelmed.

The Prince and Princess

will be joining them at once.

Thank you, excellency.

May l ask your excellency

for news of Master Sergei?

lndeed you may, Matvey.

There you are.

There he is.

Oh, he has grown into

a fine little gentleman.

But they've cut off all his curls.

Quite the young man.

lt's better that way.

He's adorable.

Oh, Kitty!

The best flower of the ball.

- Oh, Anna.

- What is it?

- l thought you'd come in mauve, not black.

- Why mauve?

Or lilac - at least it's more romantic.

Quelle horreur.

Don't you love me still, even in black?

Oh, l do, l do, it's terribly distinguished.

Well, l felt quite certain

that you'd come in pink.

What does it feel like to be eighteen?

Nineteen. Oh, dreadfully old!

Oh, l know. Oh, l felt just like that

when l was nineteen.

ln red stockings and a little satin cloak!

And l'd sit with my cheek against the window,

looking out into the snow

- and dreaming.

- Oh, l know.

Feeling the dark room behind you

and the warmness, and wondering...

wondering who will be

coming down the street.

ls he coming?

ln his uniform.

Anna, l think he's going to speak to me.

Oh, don't be frightened. You're very pretty.

l don't mind about other men,

but somehow...

somehow when l'm with him

l can...l can hardly breathe.

- ( # Waltz playing)

- Oh... Oh, Anna, it's going to be a lovely ball.

You're so young. So very young.

Don't you love dancing?

But you're the most beautiful of all.

Anna, say something to him.

- To Vronsky?

- Speak to him, say something nice about me.

- You've met him.

- You don't need me.

Besides, you should ask Dolly, you know that.

Oh, Dolly.

Would you?

Yes, l will.

Oh! Anna, thank you!

You've got my life in your hands.

My whole life.

Ladies, ladies, what's this? Not dancing?

Anna Karenina, shame on you!

For shame, are you in hiding?

Ah, ravissante!

Parfaitement ravissante.

Mademoiselle Kitty.

Now come, on with the dance.

Oh, no, l don't feel in the least like it,

Korsunsky.

The queen of the ball?.

Oh, come now, Madame Karenina.

- just once round the room, it's nearly finished.

- Please...

Anna.

- lf we must.

- Bravo!

Ah, Vienna! What rhythms!

(Hums along)

Good evening, Count.

Good evening, Kitty. Nice gown.

- Do you like it?

- Yes. Very much.

Like a dream you float, dear lady!

That's Anna Karenina.

l know.

( # Waltz ends )

The next mazurka?

With pleasure.

- (Korsunsky ) Encore, encore!

- No.

- Bis, bis!

- No, no, no, not now.

Then some champagne.

Allow me to get it for you.

And Miss Kitty of the pink feathers,

something for you - a water ice?

- l'll come with you.

- No, wait, Kitty.

Nothing? Oh, but l insist on the krakowiak

after the mazurka.

Orchestra!

He's quite mad, Korsunsky...

(All talking at once )

(Kitty giggles ) We're all talking at once.

( # Orchestra playing)

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