Anna Karenina Page #6

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The Countess Lydia is a woman

of rare quality.

She fully supports me in this predicament.

Ha! She would.

Besides, l have told Sergei

his mother is dead.

Alexis!

He prays for her.

lt's better so. l've made up my mind.

Do you mean Lydia's made up your mind?

l resent interference, Prince Oblonsky.

Well, l can't believe it. A mother...

A lost woman. Dead.

She forfeited her rights as a mother.

But, Alexis, if you ever had any love for her,

you wouldn't...

How dare you use such a word to me?

Go to your casino girls,

teach them about love!

Do you think l have no heart,

that my career has blinded me,

that all l care about is another cross

to pin onto my chest?

Do you think l have not suffered?

My nights are torment.

l can bear nobody anymore.

Not even my son.

That...

That woman!

l have done my duty to her.

And more than my duty. Ha!

But for her l am a machine.

She told me so.

Look at her.

Her mouth...

her body...

it all reeks of...

of passion, of inordinate desires.

Even the scent...

the scent she...she wore.

lt's bad for me to talk like this.

Well, l...

l have talked to you. l promised.

Ah, well.

Family life always leads you

into fun of this sort.

There... There is one other thing, Alexis,

if you don't mind.

Vronsky's rich, we all know,

but if he doesn't marry her, one day she'll be

left high and dry, that's certain.

Oh, she doesn't know it, of course.

Divorce to her is the only way

of seeing her son.

And she is my sister.

l must think of her future.

l even thought of a...

a duel.

A duel.

Divorce.

No, l abominate divorce.

The vulgarity. The scandal.

Oh, Alexis, Alexis,

be generous.

l am a Christian, a son of the Church.

No.

l refuse a divorce.

Anna will never see her son again.

That's my last word.

All right.

l will tell her what you said.

That is your concern.

But why, Alexis? Why?

They are happy.

( # Lively folk music)

(Laughter and chatter)

You should have been there, Vronsky.

lt was wonderful.

Serpukhovskoy, good luck.

- Ah, prosit!

- (Anna ) Salute.

Ah-ha, that's Venice.

And what else did the regiment get up to

that night?

Then...the Lieutenant General

suddenly leapt up onto the table

and started to dance the gopak!

(Laughs ) l can just see himii

The boys were singing their heads off!

# Has anyone seen my love go by?

(Both) # Did she forget or did she die? #

- Flat again!

- As usual.

- Where are you off to, Anna?

- Call me.

- l, erm...l hope l haven't...

- Oh, no, no, no.

- A real woman, that.

- lsn't she?

l have no regrets.

- So you guessed why l came.

- Yes, and to hell with you.

Have some more champagne.

lt's good to see you anyway.

My true respects.

And a general too.

(Chuckles ) You could have had yours

for the asking.

Smoke?

Thank you.

l thought about it once, you know.

And now?

No.

No.

Pity.

Venice, how was it?

Oh, beautiful. Very beautiful.

Rather boring too.

Of course, Anna adored it all,

the painting side it, all that old stuff.

- Did you see any Russians?

- Good Lord, no.

We didn't run away from here

to meet them all again in Italy.

No, not a soul.

Well, now we're back again

l expect we'll entertain at my place

in the country, not Petersburg.

Yes, don't be too sure of that, dear boy.

You know these snobs. They'll make you wait.

Think so?

Well, we'll make do with each other.

l'm content.

Of course.

Madame Karenina...

- You've got the divorce, l mean.

- Ahi

lt's only a matter of days.

Splendid.

Then l am too late.

- For what?

- You know quite well.

- For my resignation.

- lt's a pity.

Man, you could have waited,

laid low for a while.

You know what the army's like.

All they ask is a little, erm, pliancy.

Say yes and wait.

But l am not...pliant.

Oh, nothing personal, Serpukhovskoy.

Why not? l'm pliant...

as a dancing master.

l promise you l stiffen up

when it comes to the point.

- You're wise.

- So can you be.

lt can't last. Come, listen.

You must hear me out.

l think Madame Karenina is charming,

yes, absolutely, a rare woman,

- but there's...

- But what?

We've always been friends, dear boy.

- You had a magnificent career.

- And now l haven't. So?

You could take it up again tomorrow.

Only, be honest...

it's forever, you and she?

(Laughs ) The questions the man asks.

Yes!

l hope so.

What are you trying to say?

l love Anna.

Quite.

And if you can marry, well and good.

You see? l yield.

Marry, you can take up your career again,

go higher than me.

- Serpukhovskoy...

- You know it's true.

- But if Karenin refuses...

- l have told you he won't.

But supposing he does.

Then we'll go and live in the country.

l'll be content.

And you'll have plenty to do. Oh, yes, plenty.

Counting your acres

in the middle of the steppes.

- You'll be bored, Vronsky.

- Bored? What nonsense!

One accepts.

You're not forced to.

- You have never been in love.

- The Lord be thanked.

l've seen what it does to an officer's career.

Remember Mazankov?

He ran off with a tart.

l could wish you had.

But think about it.

A woman of the highest character in society,

you snatched her from where she belongs.

Women are materialists, Vronsky,

terre--terre.

Once you've taken them on, it's...

Are you offended?

No.

But you're wrong about Anna.

l have nothing more to say.

l have an infinite respect for Madame Karenina,

but it's you l love.

l'm sorry, l'm due at the opera, l must be off.

- lf you ever need any...

- Oh, l know, l know.

Anna!

Anna?

Oh, you're going. You must come again.

With the utmost pleasure.

(Vronsky ) l'll walk you to the door.

Oh, please don't trouble.

Oh, l insist.

- Do you love me? Say you love me.

- Anna!

- What are you afraid of?

- Of you, of you!

Now, when will you learn

you're my life, my...

- Yes...

- Anna, l adore you.

Serpukhovskoy!

- Annushka, did they have everything?

- Yes, my lady.

Put them on the carpet.

l love unwrapping them myself.

ls this the piano?

You don't think he's too old?

l promised him one for his birthday.

That must be the train.

- The porter gave me a letter for you.

- Oh, put it on the table.

(Plays scales )

- What do you think of that?

- lt's a living miracle!

l made a toy once for my little boy.

lt was a sledge out of a wooden shoe.

l didn't know you had a little boy, Annushka.

Where is he?

He's dead.

l put the sledge in his coffin

so that he could go to heaven in it.

Oh, Annushka.

Anna! Serpukhovskoy thinks you're wonderful.

He's coming to supper tomorrow.

He won't give the divorce.

Well, that's that, then. We'll do without it.

- Sergei, l must see Sergei.

- You will. You must be patient. just wait.

- When will l see him?

- Soon. He can't be vindictive forever.

l'll do something.

You're trembling. Look at me, Anna.

l'm here. Think of me.

l'm your child too.

Yes.

How strange...

that two people can love each other

with such a chasm in between.

- Anna.

- You on one side and l on the other.

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