The Queen of Spades Page #2

---

with deliberate appreciation.

Thus the Countess Ranevskaya, acknowledged

the most beautiful woman in Russia,

came to excite his attention.

He had learned that in spite of a jealous husband

all the men of fashion vied with each other

for her favors.

Go now. Later.

Countess.

Who is it? What do you want?

I think you will need my master's help.

I need no one's help.

You will, Countess. You will need it tomorrow.

Tomorrow? Can he see into the future then?

He can see a long way.

Who is he?

He is known as Saint Germain.

You will find him at the Dolgoruki Palace.

When the last of the guests had left,

the countess went down the secret stairway.

to admit the young stranger she had promised to meet.

She alone had the key to the hidden door.

But in the early hours of the morning...

What are you doing?

Where's the money?

I beg you. I beseech you.

The money's not mine. My husband will find out.

Do you wish to ruin me?

I have no wish but to save myself from ruin, Countess.

Give me the key.

Why, you pray?

A common thief parading as a gentleman?

You should take more care, madame...

with your amorous escapades.

My husband.

Anna, is anything the matter?

Give me the key.

Anna!

Why don't you answer me?

She was haunted by the fear of scandal.

The money belonged to her husband's regiment,

Somehow she must replace it without delay.

In her despair she remembered

the strange message from Saint Germain.

She had no alternative but to answer

the mysterious summons.

Nothing else could save her.

She would sell her soul... anything...

to save herself.

She went to the Dolgoruki Palace.

Go!

Saint Germain gave her the secret

of the three winning cards.

In return she made the solemn vow

that no one else would ever know the secret.

Holy Virgin, have mercy.

Have mercy on me.

One hour later she was on the way

to the gaming rooms.

Accept this pledge.

She played the three cards in succession.

She won a fortune.

But the horrors of her visit to Saint Germain...

left a mark on her soul

for the rest of her life.

Please, sir, spare a kopek.

Please, please, sir.

Spare a kopek.

Please, sir, spare a kopek.

Please, please.

Who owns that house?

Countess Ranevskaya.

Not often she gives a ball.

Countess Ranevskaya.

She's still alive?

Oh!

Will you do me a favor?

I like the army.

Oh, that's very good for me.

What is it?

Well, you see...

A secret of the heart.

Yes, yes...

Do you know the young woman in the house?

Lizaveta Ivanovna?

Of course I know her.

This is her dress I've got here now.

Wants to make it look new, poor thing.

As if we could work miracles.

Is there a chance of meeting Lizaveta Ivanovna?

Oh, I don't know. The old countess never lets her

out of her sight.

It's come here, do this, do that, all day long.

This coat of mine needs seaming.

Look, the seam here... could you?

Lizaveta!

Ana Fyodorovna.

Why do you come creeping into the room?

You're like the rest of them in this house.

The sudden shock might bring on a heart attack,

you'd hope.

If you think me capable of such wicked thoughts,

Anna Fyodorovna, would it not be better for me to go?

Go? And where could you go, pray?

Is that the gratitude you give your benefactress...

for taking you, a poor orphan, into her care?

You cannot want me here

if you think I wish for your death.

Why are you dressed up like that, pray?

Whom are you intending to captivate?

The prince my grandson was announced just now.

You said we were going for a drive, Anna Fyodorovna.

Drive in this weather?

It's calm out. There's not a breath of...

What's that you said?

It's calm out, and quite mild.

Nothing of the sort. It's windy and bitterly cold.

You don't wish to go, then?

I should think not.

Sit down and read to me.

But Anna Fyodorovna...

But, but! Always objections.

I was about to remind you that Prince Fyodor is here.

Hm, well...

Now get the book.

What were we reading?

Don Juan, Countess.

I think it's on the shelf here.

Love stories, love stories.

Always reading love stories.

What are you doing there?

Not there, not there!

Close it!

Close it, I said! Close it!

How dare you!

You're a wicked, wicked girl.

I'm sorry, Anna Fyodorovna.

I had no idea there was anything there. I'm...

Where is the key to that door?

Give it to me.

I have no key, Anna Fyodorovna, I tell you...

Have you used that staircase to admit others

to your room?

How could you say such...

Lies and duplicity!

No one in this house speaks the truth,

not anyone.

I will see, Lizaveta Ivanovna.

We shall find the key missing.

Oh...

There it is...

after all.

Prince Krykulin and Prince Narumov.

Quick! Give me my stick!

Give me my stick.

How do you do, grandmother?

Allow me to present my friend, Andrei Andeievich,

Prince Narumov.

Be seated. And you too, Fyodor.

No, no, no!

Oh, my poor little one.

Narumov... Narumov... yes.

I remember your dear mother quite well.

Princess Darya Petrovna.

That was my grandmother, Countess.

Your grandmother?

Oh, yes, yes.. Of course.

I was forgetting.

What have you been reading lately, Fyodor?

You must bring me some of the latest French novels.

Not one where the heroine drowns herself for love.

Varvaruschka!

What is it, my little one.

Oh, there. Tell old Varvaruschka all about it.

I know I oughtn't to mind anymore.

But she's so cruel Varvaruschka, darling.

Why should she be so cruel?

She's old. She's near the grave

and she hasn't found peace, poor soul.

I was so happy once.

A home, my mother, my father.

So happy.

You will be again, poor lonely heart.

Will I?

Sometimes I feel I'll never leave this house.

I know.

Little caged bird.

But you'll see. Be patient.

And someday soon, perhaps,

you will meet someone who will love you very much.

He will help you to be free and happy again.

Where is that dog taking us?

This is not the way to the bird market.

It's the way we always come, Anna Fyodorovna.

Well, it looks quite different to me.

Lizaveta Ivanovna?

Orderly Narumov. I came with Fyodor Pavlovitch

the other day

I hoped to be presented to you but you ran away.

Yes, of course, Prince Narumov.

May I accompany you?

Yes, if you wish.

I have to buy some more little birds

for the countess's aviary.

Your honor.

Buy a nice fat duck, sir.

Buy a duck, sir.

A duck, buy a nice fat duck.

Yes, your honor?

I hate to see caged birds.

How can one enjoy their singing?

If I ever come into a fortune I shall buy all little birds.

Every one of them.

And I shall set them free and watch them fly away

into the clouds.

Go tell Lizaveta Ivanovna to come at once!

I cannot be kept here waiting all day.

Yes, Excellency.

Will you be at the Opera next week?

Yes, I will.

Do you think I might see you there?

Please do, if you wish.

Perhaps we might continue our conversation.

Do you think, Lizaveta Ivanovna,

I might come to your box in the theater?

Oh, I do. Yes, indeed I do. Please excuse me now,

I daren't keep the countess waiting.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes