Original subtitles

ANNA KARENINA

BASED ON THE NOVEL BY LEO TOLSTOY

AND "IN THE JAPANESE WAR" BY VIKENTY VERESAEV

EPISODE 8

Count Vronsky!

They've sent a carriage to take you to Imachen.

MANCHURIA, CHINA, 1904

A year ago I wouldn't had believe I'd be drawn to Peking,

as I once was to Florence.

Have you heard what Peking's most remarkable palaces are called?

The Palace of Deepest Peace, the Palace of Heavenly Silence,

the Temple of Earthly Peace.

Peace, serenity, silence.

Very well, I'll go to Imachen in the morning.

You know, Sergei,

she still has a hold on me.

A strong hold.

What do you mean?

Thirty years, and she won't let me go.

She's always nearby.

Even now, she's here!

Anna!

Where are you?

Maybe in Imachen, or wherever, she'll let me go.

Well, Chunsheng. Let's go, "Born in Springtime".

Let's go.

What did you say?

"Let's go" in Chinese.

But you didn't finish the story.

There was no ending.

Plenty of time till tomorrow.

Let's go, Chunsheng, let's go.

What exactly do you want from me?

A decision, some sort of decision.

I appeal to you simply as a man, not as a statesman.

As a kind man, and a Christian.

You must have pity on her.

I was under the impression that Anna already had everything she wanted.

Alexei, for God's sake, leave it.

What's past is past,

and you know very well that the one thing she wants and wishes for, is a divorce.

I presumed that Anna would refuse a divorce

if I made me keeping our son a condition of the divorce.

I replied to that effect, and thought the matter was closed.

- And I consider it so. - But she's not even asking for him now.

Alexei, you're a good man. Put yourself in her place for a moment.

The question of divorce is a matter of life and death to her now.

Are you refusing to honor your promise, then?

I have never refused to do that which is possible,

but I require time to consider how much of what I promised is possible.

Alexei, I refuse to believe this!

She is as unhappy as a woman can be, and you cannot refuse in such...

I shall see how much of what I promised is possible.

As a religious man,

I cannot act against Christian law in such a grave matter.

But divorce is permitted in Christian societies, including ours.

And the Church allows divorce.

It iis allowed...

but not in a case like this.

- I have already told you. - Alexei, I hardly recognize you.

Didn't you forgive all?

And, moved by Christian feeling, want to make any sacrifice?

Didn't you wish to give your cloak when your coat was taken?

- And now this? - I'm asking you...

to drop it

- Drop the subject. - Forgive me.

Forgive me if I have upset you, I...

I am just a messenger doing his duty.

I must think it over.

You shall have my final answer the day after tomorrow.

Mr. Karenin is here.

Sergei may come in.

Sergei?

He's "Mr. Karenin" now? I thought it was some official with the same name!

Alexei...

- Anna asked me to see him. - Just bear in mind that we never...

speak about his mother.

Please don't say a word about her.

What a fine fellow he's grown to be!

No longer little Sergei, but a real Mr. Karenin!

- Do you even remember me? - Yes, uncle.

He remembers.

Well, how are you?

Well, goodbye, Alexei.

I await your decision.

Sergei!

What do you do at school when you're not in lessons?

We play, "Railroads".

- How�s that? - Well, it's like this:

two boys sit on a bench, and another stands on it.

They're all harnessed to it by their arms, or belt.

And we go through all the rooms.

We open the doors beforehand.

Do you... remember your mother?

Leave me�alone.

What is it to you whether I remember or not?

Why should I remember? Leave me in peace.

You know...

I've had an inspired idea.

Why wait here for the divorce?

It'll be just the same in the country. Don't you think?

Absolutely.

- When are you thinking of going? - When?

The sooner the better.

We shan't be ready by tomorrow.

So the day after tomerrow.

Yes... wait, no.

That's Sundiay? I have to visit Mother.

You could visit her tomorrow.

No, I can't. The papers and money I need won't be ready by tomorrow.

In that case, we won't go at all.

Why ever not?

I won't go any later.

Sunday, or not at all.

But why?

That doesn't make sense.

It doesn't make sense to you, because you don't care about me.

You don't want to understand my life!

All I had here was that poor English girl.

And you said that it was pretentious!

You said I don't love my own daughter, and pretend to love this English girl.

You said it was unnatural!

I never said that!

I only said that I did not relate to this...

sudden infatuation.

You boast about your honesty, but don't tell the truth.

I never boast. And I never tell lies.

I love clarity.

Clarity is not in the form but in the love.

All right. We'll go the day after tomorrow, if you want.

I'll write to Mother asking her to send me the money.

It's just a pity that you have no respect for my opinion at all!

Respect...

was invented to hide the empty place where love should be!

If you don't love me any more, it would be better, more honest to say so.

This is unbearable!

Why do you test my patience? It has limits.

- What do you mean by that? - What do I mean?!

I must ask you: what do you want from me?

What can I want?

All I can want is for you not to abandon me, as you would like.

But that's secondary, it's not what I want.

I want love...

and there is none.

So it's all over.

Wait.

Wait!

What's all this about?

I said we should leave in three days, you reply that I'm dishonest and a liar!

And a man who blames me because he's sacrificed everything for me

is worse than dishonest. He's heartless!

And let me tell you something else.

I don't care what your mother thinks, or whom she wants you to marry.

And a heartless woman, whether she's old or not,

your mother or anyone else, is of no interest,

and I don't wish to know her.

Anna I'd ask you not to speak disrespectfully about my mother.

If a mother's heart cannot tell her where her son's happiness and honor lie...

then she has no heart.

I'll ask you again not to speak disrespectfully about my mother!

You don't love your mother.

It's all just words, words, words.

If so, then you must...

I must make up my mind?

I have.

We�ve always made up after our quarrels. But today a whole day has gone by!

And it wasn't a quarrel.

What was it then?

It was...

an open acknowledgement of complete coldness.

You know,

I think I don't care any more...

whether we go to the country or not, whether I get a divorce or not.

It doesn't matter.

All that matters is to punish him.

Anna. What...

What are you saying?

And defeat him.

There is only...

one way

of reviving his love for me

and punishing him.

How can you say such things?

You're scaring me!

I've been thinking.

I just have to drink a bottle of opium, and I'll die...

it's so simple, so easy.

And then he'd suffer he'd be sorry, and cherish my memory.

But it will be too late,

I will be no more, I'll be nothing but a memory to him.

Stop, Anna, stop That's a terrible thing to say!

"How could I have said those cruel things to her?

How could I?

And now she is no more.

She's gone forever. She is there."

Anna, stop this at once!

You know, I�ve been thinking lately,

about that time when I was ill after the birth.

Why didn't I die then?

Yes, I must die.

Die.

Anna, please stop! I can't hear this.

And then the shame and disgrace my husband's, and Sergei's,

and my own disgrace: death will atone for it all!

Anna, stop!

Go and lie down. You look very unwell.

No, enough.

I will live.

And he loves me!

This will pass, as before.

Yes, it will pass.

There, you're crying.

They�re tears of joy,

Darling, you need to rest.

I'll go home. You come and see me tomorrow.

Thank you, Dolly, darling.

Thank you.

- Good day, Count. - My respects, ladies.

Your mother asked me to give you this.

Thank you.

I hear you're going away. For long?

I don't know yet, Princess.

I think so. For a long time.

Goodbye then. Good luck, Count.

Goodbye.

Walk on!

Who was that?

Princess Sorokina and her daughter came

and brought me the money and papers from Mother.

How are you?

We're going tomorrow, aren't we?

You are. But I'm not.

Anna, we can�t go on like this.

You are. But I'm not.

This is becoming unbearable.

You'll be sorry for this.

Get my carriage ready.

So I left.

I hated her at that moment.

I went into town to do a few things...

then to my mother's estate...

although I don't remember why.

There I received a note from Anna.

She had written it as soon as I left,

but her servant didn't find me until that evening.

Do you remember what she wrote?

Yes, I do.

Anna wrote:

"I was wrong. Come home, I must explain.

For God's sake come, I'm afraid."

I answered immediately.

I wrote that I only just got her note, that I'd be home soon.

I sent it to her.

But she was already at that station.

I still don't understand how she ended up there.

Well, it was too late.

So if your note had reached her, then nothing would have happened?

Indeed not.

That time it certainly wouldn't have happened.

Lavrenty!

Where did the count go?

His Ecellency went to the stables.

He said that if you cared to drive out,

the carriage would come back for you.

Go to the stables

and ask the count to come back as soon as he can.

Here's a note.

Yes.

Papa will be home soon.

Tomorrow we'll go to the country, and all will be well.

Papa.

Whoa!

- Sergeant! - Yes sir!

- Where's your Commander? - Inside.

- Bring him here. - Yes sir.

What news?

The Japanese wili be here soon.

A big detachment about seven miles from here.

- What are they doing here? - Who knows?

It's chaos. Nobody knows where anybody is.

I recommend you packsup and leave as fast as you can.

Otherwise it'll be too late. Leave.

Onwards! Move aside!

Surely it can't be over?

No, it cannot be.

He will come back.

Ma'am, you must wait for a reply.

But how can he explain that smile?

That excitedness after his chat with that Sorokina woman?

Even if he doesn't explain it, I'll believe him.

He's coming, he'll be here shortly.

Fifteen minutes there, and fifteen back.

- Yes. - Should be here by now.

How could he leave me in this state?

How can he go on living without having made up with me?

He's had plenty of time to get back.

Unless I'm mistaken.

- Perhaps I miscalculated? - Anna, that must be him.

That's the sound of our carriage!

We missed the Count.

- He's driven to his mother's. - What?

What did he say?

Oh, he diidn't receive it.

Take this note to his mother's country estate.

And bring back an answer immediately.

And what about me?

What should I do?

Oh yes...

- I can send a telegram. - Of course.

Write this down.

Write and tell them

to send a telegram to his mother, for the Count.

"I must talk to you.

Come at once."

Annushka, dear, what should I do?

why are you so upset?

These things happen.

Why cton�t you...

visit Dolly?

Perhaps that will make you feel better.

Yes I'll go now.

But what if a telegram comes?

- Send it on to Dolly. - Yes.

No, I'll come back myself.

Let me go with you.

I mustn't think.

I must do something.

Leave this place.

Get out of this house!

Anna, darling why don't you come through?

I meant to come to yours a note came from Stiva.

He says he can't work out what Karenin wants

but he'll try to get a final answer out of him.

I thought you had a visitor.

Yes, Kitty is here.

She's in the nursery.

I'll get the letter. Karenin didn't refuse. In fact,

- Stiva is hopeful. - I'm not,

and I don't even want to hope! It's of no interest to me.

- Anna, dear, but I am. - What's this?

Does Kitty consider it degrading to meet me?

Perhaps she's right.

But it's not for her, who was in love with Vronsky, to show me that!

But I do understand.

No respectable woman

can receive me in my position.

Anna, what are you saying?

You're so agitated!

Kitty won't meet me, will she?

She's hiding from me.

What nonsense.

Kitty is having trouble nursing, and I was advising her.

She'll be delighted, she's just coming. Do come through.

There's no point.

I came to say goodbye to you. I must go.

My dear, where to? Do stay.

I must go to the station.

Why the station, Anna? Please stay!

Goodbye, Dolly!

Perhaps he...

missed the train and is back already.

But before leaving forever, I'll tell him everything.

Never have I hated anyone as much as I hate that man!

But His Excellency never received the letter.

Oh no, he knows everything.

He's chatting with his mother and Sorokina gloating at my suffering!

I'll go to the station.

If he's not there, his mother's.

I'll catch him at it!

What was he looking for in me?

Not love, but gratification of his vanity.

Yes, he boasted about me!

Not any more.

No longer proud of me just ashamed of me.

He has taken all that he could from me and now...

he doesn't need me.

It will be all right, ma'am.

- Everything will be fine. - No, Annushka.

Yes, he probably loves me, but how?

The zest is gone.

If I leave him deep down he will be glad.

My love grows more passionate and selfish, while his fades and fades.

It can't be changed.

God, if he's only kind to me out of duty, without loving me,

then it's 1000 times worse than contempt. It's hell!

I don't know these streets at all.

Hills, it seems, and houses everywhere.

Houses full of people. As many as the eye can see.

And they all hate each other.

No, it's impossible!

Life is tearing us apart.

I create his misery, and he creates mine.

And there's no altering either of us

We've tried everything, but the screw's come unscrewed.

My God, he's just like that hideous old man from my dream.

Who speaks French,

pounding on some metal, and mumbling away.

Lord, how wretchedly I love and hate him.

My God, how hard my heart is beating.

I said the bank owed me five rubles, it didn't have change for a ten.

What the hell is this! How dare you doubt me?

- Here's ten for you! - Why ten? You owe five.

Oh, go to hell.

I'll cut the deck.

A card?

Colonel, sir, a card?

Yes.

I'll play it safe.

You play like a provincial clerk's wife,

who's seen her first pile of money and is guarding it greedily.

I'll show my hand.

Five points. What do ou have?

A damn useless hand!

King, queen, ten. Not a single point.

Ace, eight, and nine.

You win again, Colonel.

You get all the luck.

Not always. Whose turn to deal?

Yours, sir.

For ten rubles.

Gentlemen, we're leaving now.

Vronsky, sir, your carriage is ready.

Thank you. We'll I just finish this hand.

- Another one? - Yes.

Damn! Another useless card.

- And you? - Mine.

Damn the Japanese are rather close!

Is it time to go?

Show your hands.

Everyone all right?

- Are you OK? - Damn...

Colonel, sir?

Yes, time to go indeed.

Get in the cart! Drive the carts onto the roadli

Vronsky, sir,

Load the carts! Get the wounded men onto the carts!

Vronsky, sir, your carriage is here.

- Have you seen the Chinese girl? - Sir, we've got to go.

Chunsheng!

Chunsheng!

There you are. Come on Chunsheng. don't be afraid.

Let�s go, Chunsheng.

Don't be afraid.

Goodbye then, Chunsheng!

Are you allright?

- All right? - All right.

Goodbye.

- Vronsky, sir, please get going! - I'm staying here.

I can't leave you here. You're wounded.

- You pity me thet much? - It's not that I pity you.

- Staff Officers can't be taken prisoner. - Believe me, I won't be taken prisoner.

Don't forget, I'm your superior.

We can hold them for an hour.

Why are you doing this?

God willing, we'll meet again.

Take care of Chunsheng.

Listen, Sergei...

maybe I was wrong at the station.

Maybe it wasn't Anna after all.

Sometimes it seems she's alive.

She just went away somewhere, and doesn't want to come back.

What are you saying?

There was a funeral She was buried long ago.

To hell with the funeral!

They always wanted to get rid of her.

Sir, they're flanking around the gully!

- How many men do we have? - About fifty.

Right, Captain, take ten men and hold the right flank.

- I'll stay here. - Yes sir!

Your Excellency, the Japanese have two infantry battalions.

- We can't hold them. - Not without entrenchments, no.

Go out past the huts. Spread out.

Targeted shots only.

- Those still alive, retreat in 30 minutes. - Yes sir!

Targeted shots only! Save your bullets!

Don't show yourselves!

Volley firing!

Fire!

END OF EPISODE 8