Krotkaya

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"Lenfilm" studio

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

The Meek One

(a fantastic story)

St. Petersburg.

The capital.

Hardly any other place

could influence a man's soul

in such dark, harsh and

mysterious ways...

...like St. Petersburg does it.

Pawnbroker's - 5th floor

Now, see for yourselves

what is happening in those

big black dusky houses

of St. Petersburg.

Look closer.

And see for yourselves - what

kind of life this is.

I'll leave you here for a

moment, I won't be long.

I'll only make arrangements about our

passports and departure.

Is anything wrong, Madam, my dear?

It's alright, Lukeria.

You can go.

Are you happy, Madam?

Yes.

Well, Master should've apologized

a long time ago

Thank God it's all over now.

Yes, Lukeria.

Go away.

Madam!

(german accent)

Hey boy, vat's goink on down zere?

A woman has jumped

out of the window!

Here, Mister!

Too late.

Too late.

I've named my story "fantastic",

while I consider it to be

realistic to the utmost.

The "fantastic" part is in the

form of the story,

where the man constantly

speaks to himself.

It's her fault!

It's her fault.

I wanted her to kneel before me,

for all my sufferings.

And I was well worth it!

That was my plan!

But I must be missing

something here...

something I didn't take

into account...

I'll tell it all, like I understand it...

..That's the horror of it, that

I understand it all!

I'll just put it in order.

"Housemaid".

That was not the first time

she came to me

she needed money to pay

for the ads in newspapers.

And she hardly could,

at the time.

Nobody will take things like this,

as you might have already noticed.

Even Mauzer won't.

I could give you money for it,

only as a favor.

Here.

Two rubles.

Only as a favor.

Two rubles is not enough.

Could you take a look... at this?

You'd better remove the mounting,

and take the icon with you.

Or, you know... doesn't feel like...

Can you do that?

Well, it's not like I'm not allowed to,

but maybe you wanted to...

Go on, remove it.

Look,

forget the removing part, I'm going

to put it over there in the icon case,

and you, you'll get

10 rubles for it.

I don't need ten.

Give me five rubles,

I'll pay off by all means.

Don't you want a ten?

The icon's worth it.

Forget about your pride,

I've been in your shoes, I know

how hard it could be.

And now you see me in

this kind of work

only because of all the

things I've been through.

So is that your revenge?

You see, I'm...

Part of that power which does...

constantly strive to do evil,

and constantly does good.

Wait, that lines...

I heard it somewhere...

Where?

In such words Mephistopheles

introduces himself to Faust.

Did you read "Faust"?

- Not really...

- So you didn't.

You should.

But don't think that I try to pose

as Mephistopheles

to cover up my line of work.

A pawnbroker is a pawnbroker.

That is true.

You're strange...

I didn't want to say anything...

...of the kind.

Of course there's a good deed

in any kind of work.

I'm not talking about

myself, mind you...

As for me, I'm doing nothing

except for evil.

But...

Then I decided to test her

one more time.

Here, listen.

"Young lady, orphan, will work

as a governess for small children

In case the employer is

an elderly widower,

she could also help

with the housework.

See? That was published

this morning.

By the evening she must've

already found a job.

That's a good advertisement.

You're right, one can do good

on any kind of work.

On any kind.

Oh yes, I remember that day...

When she came out...

I made up my mind

once and for all.

She's still hoping to

find a place, Master.

Asks her aunt for a little

time to think.

They gave her that "little", and

looks like it's running out today.

- Lukeria, is Madam at home?

- Where else would she be?

To hell with you, old fool!

- Is that him?

- Yes, Master, he's a local grocer.

He's outlived two wives,

God bless them.

Now he has put an eye on her.

They're going to sell her, Master.

Listen here, Lukeria.

Go up there and tell her

that I'm here,

and I would like a word

with her, most urgent.

Master, are you really?..

She's been a slave for her

aunts for three years.

Sewing...

...scrubbing floors...

They used to beat her.

Reproached her for the food.

Later she told me all in details.

Well...

Don't be surprised.

I am a frank man, as you

might have noticed,

I've studied thoroughly

everything about you.

So...

I will consider it an honor,

a fortune...

An honor? A fortune?

Wait, don't rush

with the answer.

You may misinterpret my intentions.

These are exactly "Honor" and "Fortune".

With your "yes" you'll bless me.

Yes, that is so.

I am not really talented,

nor am I clever,

or maybe even kind.

I'm a cheap egoist.

- Why are you saying all this? Don't!

- No, I will.

I will.

You must believe that with your "yes"

it is me who gains, not you.

My income is not great, but I promise

you'll never be hungry.

But no dresses, dances, theaters,

nothing of the kind.

Maybe later, when I'm

closer to my goals.

When you're a pawnbroker,

you have only one goal.

You'll learn about it later.

I am waiting for your answer.

So...

Give me a second.

Is she really deciding between me

and that merchant?

No, I wasn't afraid that

she would decline,

I knew the grocer was even

more repulsive than me,

and that I'm in the role of

liberator, I knew all that!

Oh, the lowness is truly what a man

understands best of all!

So, what will be your answer?

I'm very grateful.

Yes.

God will repay you, Master,

for taking her.

Only don't tell her what I said.

She's meek, but proud.

Proud, huh?

A proud one...

Proud ones are especially

good, when...

...when you no longer doubt

your power over them.

Taking her in my house, I wanted

absolute respect, authority.

What's that for?

I don't keep dogs or servants,

and in my line of work this

is necessary for protection.

On all her joys and raptures

I answered with cold indifference

That was my plan!

She saw quickly the difference in us...

...and the mystery in me.

The mystery - that's what

I counted on!

Listen...

Two months had passed.

How do I start here, it's

very difficult to...

Whenever you start making excuses,

it gets even more difficult.

You see, young ones despise

money, for instance.

I immediately started talking

about money.

I emphasized that topic,

to such extent, that she became

more and more silent.

When you were my fiancee,

I told you,

that the cost of our living, meaning

food for you, me and Lukeria,

is one ruble per day,

not more.

Then I raised it myself

on 30 kopecks.

Same goes for the theater.

I said we couldn't afford it, but

now it's allowed once a month.

Good, exspensive seats.

You must be satisfied.

What's funny?

I can live without theater,

save us some money.

Well, you can't make a fortune

without saving,

I need to get thirty thousand

in three years.

Yes, you heard me! I deserve it!

I started this business, only to...

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