Kateryna Kovalchuk
Mikhail Gavrilov
Aleksey Yarovenko
Ksenia Mishina
Stanislav Boklan
Yulia Aug
Olga Sumskaya
Olesya Zhurakovskaya
in
LOVE IN CHAINS
Chernigov province, 1856
Don’t touch him, bastard!
Go away!
You’ll get some as well when your turn comes!
Holy Mother of God,
my only hope is for you.
Mitigate the hearts of all evil people.
Give strength and patience to all those miserable and imprisoned,
protect me, an orphan, who has remained without her mother and father,
from human hatred and anger the world is so full of.
I give myself unto the mercy of your cover,
amen.
Dang! You idiot!
Pavluska, it’a sin to curse starting from the morning.
So it’s no sin after lunch?
Why do you look like you’ve just gulped some vinegar?
Yakov is being cruel again.
He’s a beast alright, I hope he burns in hell!
Pavlusya, don’t talk like that!
Uh-huh.
How’s the godmother?
Don’t ask.
She didn’t even look at her favorite marmalade.
Godmother… it’s like your thoughts are somewhere far away.
What is it with you?
Seven years ago Grisha went to the capital.
While he was in Saint Petersburg, he often wrote letters.
And then he went to war. And his letters became more and more rare.
And then they stopped altogether.
-He’ll come back. -What if he won’t?
The war is over.
Chernigov regiment has come back home a long time ago.
And there isn’t a word from Grisha.
-I had a bad dream last night. -Which dream?
I had a dream… that a black crow flew into our yard.
I try to chase it away but… it keeps sitting and looking at me.
Without blinking.
Katyusha…
What if Grisha…
-I hope to God it’s not true… -We will pray for him.
I am praying for him every second. For my only son.
Godmother, do you want me to read to you?
Please do.
Until Pyotr Ivanovich comes back.
Young Ratmir, having directed to the south the hurried pace of his horse,
thought he’d catch up with Ruslan’s wife before sunset.
But the day was getting closer to the dusk.
In vain the knight was looking into faraway fogs.
Nezhin, Doroshenko’s mansion
I feel sorry for poor Terentyev.
He has blown off his whole mansion in just three years.
And he had the chance to win it all back.
This is to our benefit, Aleksandr Alekseyevich.
The men in his mansion are hard-working and strong, and the girls are beautiful.
They say now they’ll be selling everyone off
for rock-bottom price, 100 roubles or something.
Let’s go to Terentyev tomorrow and choose something for ourselves.
You will buy the village and I only need a maid.
But we have to start early.
Or the best ones will be taken.
Natalie!
Good afternoon.
Natalia Aleksandrovna, greetings to you.
-You look beautiful. - Thank you.
Natalie, you were saying you needed a chambermaid.
That is right, Daddy. Marfa is about to give birth.
She won’t be able to serve anymore.
Oh, these women are hard to please.
You bring some girl to her, and then she says,
no Daddy, I don’t like her, get me another one.
You are right, Pyotr Ivanovich.
So what, will you go with me tomorrow to choose a girl?
No, Daddy. You go without me, okay?
I won’t be able to stand that.
How can you treat living people like cattle?
If you don’t choose yourself, they’ll get you someone weak and limping.
Natalie is right. This is not a proper place for her.
Rude people and all sorts of things.
Natalie, why don’t you come to our place for lunch?
Well, if Anna Lvovna is not against that, I’ll do so with great pleasure.
It’s decided then. We’ll be expecting you tomorrow.
Thank you!
Tomorrow for lunch? But… I am totally unprepared for it.
What do you need to prepare for? This is no reception.
But all my thoughts are about other things.
Until I find out what happened to Grisha I can’t think about anything else.
Why are fussing so much about him? Grisha this and Grisha that!
For me the main thing is for him to come back a hero.
And with the shield or on the shield…
Don’t say that.
There has been no news from our son for a long time.
Okay, okay, I’ll try to find out about our son,
and you stop imagining horrors and get ready to receive guests.
Come in!
We took a new chambermaid from the village.
You’ll have to train her.
Well, come in.
What is your name?
Vasilinka.
And I am Katya.
Look, Vasilinka.
Come here.
Look. You put the fork to the left of the plate.
And you put the knife to the right.
There is nothing complicated here, you’ll learn everything quickly.
Do you put this out for the masters for every lunch?
Well, yes.
All of them are not good enough.
-What can you do? -I am a craftswoman.
A craftswoman.
This one can work. She’s probably a craftswoman in many things.
She looks good. But no, I don’t think so.
You shouldn’t take dark-skinned ones.
What if she’s a gypsy?
Do you want me to show you my roses in the conservatory?
Or we can play lotto. Well?
Really, Anna Lvovna, I am interested in everything
because I haven’t left our place for a long time.
You are so beautiful.
Thank you.
-Good afternoon. -Good afternoon.
Please meet. Natalie, this is Kitty.
Kitty, this is Natalie.
The daughter of Aleksandr Vasilyevich Doroshenko.
-Pleased to meet you. -Likewise, Kitty.
Anna Lvovna and I were thinking of taking a walk in the garden.
Will you keep us company?
I am sorry, I have to see if everything is ready in the kitchen.
Kitty is very anxious.
Specially for your arrival she has been cooking
something sophisticated from French cuisine.
How sweet. Your Kitty is very beautiful.
Pavlina, you really have to look at her!
Come on, look out the window, they are taking a walk in the garden now.
Well…
She’s so airy, like from a fairy tale.
Come on, look!
You know, the pie won’t bake itself while I’ll be looking out the window.
She’s so beautiful…
So sophisticated…
Well, she’s rich.
No, Pavlina, she’s not your regular rich girl.
She’s so rayonnante, adorable.
Adorable! Better come and check if I’ve put everything in.
What if I’ve forgotten some blanche or mange.
Aleksandr Vasilyevich, this one looks good as well.
What can you do?
Answer when the master asks you!
I can do everything. I wash, iron, polish silver, scrub floors…
Aleksandr Vasilyevich, she can do everything.
So take her. You won’t regret it.
Pyotr Ivanovich, I’m not choosing a girl for myself.
My daughter needs a chambermaid.
Follow me.
Thank the master, idiot, you will be serving in a decent house.
Master, maybe you need a good blacksmith?
He can do everything, got hands of gold.
-I don’t need a blacksmith… -And I could use one in Chervinka.
Open your mouth.
At least one without rotten teeth.
Hands of gold, you say?
How many years have you been working at the smithy?
All my life. Late Ivan Nikiforovich had a big smithy.
When he shot himself master Terentyev inherited everything.
Follow me.
Aleksandr Vasilyevich, you were saying…
Let’s go.
Well, a skilled blacksmith for half-price? That’s a good advantage, I think.
Goodbye, Orysya.
We’ll see each other again, God willing.
Goodbye.
Kitty, how great!
Bravo, Kitty!
-You play like an angel. -Thank you.
We really have to play duets with you!
Anna Lvovna, I am so happy that papa came up with this trip for me.
You are always welcome in our home.
Thank you. And I invite you and Kitty to our place.
Thank you. But I think it won’t be appropriate.
I am sorry.
Anna Lvovna, is Kitty upset about something?
Why isn’t my invitation appropriate?
Please forgive me, I haven’t warned you beforehand.
Kitty doesn’t go out.
Anna Lvovna, but why?
Kitty has a talent. She needs to be in society.
The thing is, Kitty is our bondmaid.
A bondmaid?
Ah, mistress, I am sorry, I am sorry!
I am no mistress for you!
Ah, Daddy, and I was doubting that the Chervinsky were good people!
They brought up a bondmaid like their own daughter!
That is really surprising.
Pyotr Ivanovich has never told me about that.
And you say that newspapers only write stupid things!
And that’s not so! Kitty speaks French, and how beautifully she plays the piano!
I think this is a fashion that has come down from the capital.
Over there, they say, they even made a ballet company out of serfs.
I can’t understand one thing.
If they brought her up like this, why won’t they set her free?
Well, it’s their decision, we won’t meddle in that.
What do I do? Do I present you your gift or tease you and wait a bit?
A gift? Which gift, Daddy?
I haven’t come back from the market empty-handed.
Here. This is for you, ma cherie.
What is your name?
Orysya.
I had to pay dearly for her.
Pyotr Ivanovich said I was squandering money,
but I think that 300 roubles for such a craftswoman is a good bargain.
Daddy…
Pavlina, feed him and send him to the washhouse.
Have you got lice?
If he has lice, get his head shaved.
-Who are you? -I am your bondmaid Vasilinka.
Katka, find Yakov and tell him to come to my study.
Pavlina will show you a bench in the servants’ quarters,
you’ll spend the night there.
Sit down, lad.
-What’s your name? -Nazar.
Galya, go back to work, quick!
I don’t know what they used to feed you with,
but we’ve got some broth and pickled cabbage, are you okay with that?
I hope it’s not just water.
Well, that’s good.
That mistress that was in the kitchen, is she a relative of the masters?
You wish. She’s a bondmaid.
Like you and I.
Don’t set hopes for her. She’s a consolation of our mistress.
Eat, eat.
Who’s that new quick-eyed girl?
But you ordered to find a fresh and ripe canary.
Are you happy with her?
Let’s see, let’s see.
Please sit down, Anna Lvovna.
Why are you so pale today? Has the guest made you unhappy?
Thank you for the guest.
She distracted me, though for a short time only.
From heavy thoughts.
Have you found out about Grisha? Where is he, how is he?
I talked to colonel Kaliberda in the English club.
He told me not to cry beforehand.
The headquarters have things to deal with after the battles.
Pyotr Ivanovich…
We have buried two daughters.
If God takes Grisha away…
Anna Lvovna…
I don’t know why I should keep living.
You should occupy yourself with something, Anna Lvovna.
Take my example.
I’ll start my business now and won’t be done until late.
Greeks are bastards. They charge excessive prices for loading grain.
And our people are in a deal with them.
But I’ll fix that!
Yes. You are right.
We shouldn’t forget about business.
Oh, here you are.
Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you all over the place.
What? Have I done something wrong?
So how do you like it in the masters’ house, girl?
Probably better than in the village among the cows?
I eat better. And the work is not hard.
You have to thank me.
I advised the master to take you into his home.
Thanks masses.
And don’t forget to thank the master separately.
It is by his grace that you’ll be living well now.
Sure. I will go bow down to him when occasion arises.
For his kindness.
Godmother… do you want tea?
Do you want me to read to you, again?
Please do, Kitty.
But you know what, do it as loud as you can.
We have stopped on Ruslan’s death.
But what have I said? Where is Ruslan?
He is lying dead in an open field.
-His blood... -Louder, Kitty!
doesn’t pour anymore, an avid crow is circling over him…
Louder, Kitty!
He is silent, his armor doesn’t move. His helmet remains still…
And now keep your mouth shut.
Take this. And get out!
Why are you crying?
It’s nothing.
Where did you go with Yashka yesterday?
To the master. To wave… the fan.
Well, well… what’s up with you?
I hope that thing of his falls off.
Look, Orysya. This machine will sew instead of you.
-And you will only control it. -I am afraid of coming close to it.
Orysya is right. You won’t manage to teach her to use Singer.
Papa, nonsense!
Chervinsky’s bondmaid plays the piano and speaks French.
This means we’ll be able to teach Orysya as well.
What if you, daughter, have been telling me tall tales about that bondmaid?
Papa, we’ll go visit Chervinsky and you’ll see everything for yourself.
You’ve intrigued me. We’ll go there, for sure!
What are you doing?
Auntie Pavlina, I wish I could sit in a fancy dress
so that masters looked at me like that!
You shouldn’t be jealous of her. You idiot!
Remember – beautiful dress, white skin,
speaking French, playing the piano – and what?
She is still a serf.
A master won’t marry one like that.
And she won’t agree to marry a good simple guy.
She doesn’t have a place.
-She is probably doomed to stay alone. Go! -I am going!
This is incredible. Bravo! Bravo!
Daddy, I told you she was an angel!
Well, to play like that you should have practiced since the early years.
That’s true.
Kitty has been playing since the age of five,
I’ve found the best teachers for her.
I wish you could hear how they praised her.
They said she’d be a success on big stages.
By the way, Monsieur Charon, I am sure you know him, called Kitty a miracle.
Anna Lvovna, I think we should start dinner now.
Katka! Go back to the kitchen!
-Please follow me. -Please do.
Mr Sushilin! Good morning!
Good morning, good morning.
So today, again you don’t have anything to make godmother happy?
You haven’t guessed, Katya.
There is a letter, it has arrived from the Crimea.
-Finally. -From her son, right?
Thank you, Mr Sushilin!
He’s alive!
-Is the letter from Grigoriy Petrovich? -From him.
Safe and sound. Thank God!
On the 25th… That’s the day after tomorrow, Katya!
My Grishenka… my son…
Godmother… it’s happiness… and you’re crying!
Why am I losing it? I have to run now!
And tell Pyotr Ivanovich everything!
Well, let’s see what he’s earned at war.
God, he’s coming back alive, that’s the most important thing.
That’s the only thing you women care about.
Even if he was hidin in the bushes the whole time.
Pyotr Ivanovich, don’t talk like that. Our Grisha is different.
How different? How different?
Just remember how much mone he squandered in Saint Petersburg
when he came back from Germany.
Do you think others at his age spend less?
Others might even earn some nice capital,
and our son turned out to be good for nothing here as well.
And he went to war to become a hero.
But he hasn’t got the character for that.
Grisha is a kind and noble boy.
I only hope for one thing. That war has tempered him and made him a man.
Of course, how else?
Okay.
Anna Lvovna, I have…
something else to talk to you about.
Pavlusya, I am so happy for godmother. She was so restless these last days.
Mistress is happy, and we are sad.
Why should we be sad, Pavlina?
Because Grishka has taken after his father, the heartless bastard!
That’s why!
Okay, Pavlusya, I will go to godmother.
Enough with this bondmaid strolling around the house, she’s no princess!
All this upbringing!
I have brought Kitty up like my own daughter!
She has the right.
Kitty? Which Kitty? Katka is a bondmaid!
A daughter of another bondmaid!
I don’t want to see her at our table again!
Her place is in the servants’ quarter! With the servants!
What you are asking me about is completely impossible.
Anna Lvovna, I am not asking you. I am ordering you.
What’s this?
What’s all those tears?
Who has offended you? Answer!
Katka, don’t make me be cruel, I’ll find out anyway.
Tell me quickly, what happened?
-Why doesn’t Pyotr Ivanovich like me? -What?
And his look… as if he wants to burn me down with it…
Why does he hate me so much?
-And he loves me, you think? -That’s different.
He doesn’t even know that word, Katya.
Why… why has he allowed godmother to take me into the house then?
Bring me up properly?
Well… Anna Lvovna should have things that make her happy, right?
No… there is some mystery here. They are hiding something from me.
Listen. You read too many books and then you imagine stories.
What is in your head?
Pavlusya!
You were in this house even before I was born.
You know my mom, my daddy – who were they?
Your mother served in the anteroom and your father was a groom.
How many times do I have to repeat that?
Then why did godmother decide to take me into the house?
Why me?
I don’t know! And you don’t imagine stories.
Better go home than sit and cry here.
Fancy that!
Quick!
You heard me?
He’s coming! He’s coming!
Anna Lvovna, what kind of parade is that? A bit more, and you’d have ordered music!
Oh my God, you’re alive, Grisha!
Grisha!
-Well, hello, son. -Father!
That’s it. Come into the house.
Thank God he’s come back.
Yes, a hero, a hero.
And the medal, the medal!
Anna Lvovna, just look at the man our son has turned into!
Have I surprised you?
Yes, I was worried that you’d pull a trick just like before
and humiliate the name of Chervinsky.
But you haven’t let your father down, you haven’t.
Grisha, why didn’t you write? Were you wounded?
Mother, don’t worry about that so much. A mere scratch.
I was in the hospital for a long time and that’s why I didn’t write
or your heart wouldn’t survive that.
That’s how a real man would act!
Where were your injured? In your leg?
Mother, don’t worry so much. It’s nothing.
I am so happy to come back home.
But you’ll be remembering war for a long time.
Yes, father.
The only thing that irritates me is that I was in the hospital for such a long time
when I could be with the others fighting.
Oh my God… How you have changed, Grisha.
Well, he’s a hero now.
They wrote in newspapers that Turks cut our soldiers’ heads off.
I was even afraid of looking into those newspapers.
Mother, you shouldn’t recall those sad things.
I am here, everything is fine.
-Your salmon is so delicious. -Did you like it?
-Very much. -I’ll tell Pavlina now to bring more.
I’ll go myself.
Don’t exert yourself, mother, I remember the way to the kitchen perfectly well.
Grisha… you are hurting!
Mother…
Our son has become such a man... Right, Petya?
I have never thought I’d be able to proudly say that this is my son.
What are you doing here?
Who are you, girl?
I asked you a very simple question. Who are you?
I am...
God, what have you forgotten here, Grigoriy Petrovich?
I am craving for more salmon.
Bring me some.
You tell your mother and you’ll get salmon, and coulibiac, and ice-cream…
I am imploring you, keep away from that devil!
Grisha, tell me, do you remember Aleksandr Vasilyevich Doroshenko?
Of course.
Well, recently he visited us with his daughter.
I have to tell you that Natalie has become a darling girl after her schooling.
By the way, I met a darling girl in the kitchen. Who is she?
This is Kitty, my foster daughter.
Foster daughter! She is a bondmaid.
She is spoiled beyond belief,
a nobody sitting at the same table with the masters!
Foster daughter!
I see now. Katerina. Got it.
How noble he is. And the uniform really suits him.
Yeah, he’s got nifty cords on his jacket.
Aglets, Pavlina. They are called aglets.
He is limping, have you noticed? He is wounded.
He’s hero, no less.
Enough, Pavlusya. Godmother is crying with joy.
Even Pyotr Ivanovich is smiling.
That’s it! They ordered to put everything on the table.
Everything we’ve got in the house.
Like he’s a pig or something and can eat it all!
Pavlusya, I think you’re mistaken about Grigoriy Petrovich.
May I?
Won’t you offer me to sit down?
Please do.
Anna Lvovna is so happy you’ve come back.
She’s been praying to God for your return day and night.
What about you?
Have you been praying?
Of course I have.
Thank you, dear Kitty.
Your prayers have helped me survive.
Don’t say that, Grigoriy Petrovich! It wasn’t just my prayers.
You know, Katya, what you miss the most at war?
-No, I don’t. -Love. Love and mercy.
Could you give me love?