KATERYNA KOVALCHUK
MIKHAIL GAVRILOV
ALEKSEY YAROVENKO
KSENIA MISHINA
STANISLAV BOKLAN
YULIA AUG
OLGA SUMSKAYA
OLESYA ZHURAKOVSKAYA
IN
LOVE IN CHAINS
Go, go!
-The cape. -What?
Give me your cape.
You’re soaking wet.
-Come with me. -Don’t you dare!
We can wait out the rain there.
I’m not going anywhere with you. It’s a cursed place!
Cursed?
Yes! Didn’t you hear the legend? A ghost is haunting it. And...
There is death everywhere.
You’re obviously not from here. You don’t know the whole story.
It’s a story about a great, incredible love
full of kindness and self-sacrifice.
Come with me.
-This is wonderful. Don’t you agree? -It’s a beautiful waltz.
Excuse me.
Grigoriy Petrovich? Chervinsky? I can’t believe it.
I don’t remember a beautiful woman like you among my Nezhin friends.
Wait a minute. I remember these eyes.
Can you be Natalie Doroshenko?
What a stunning metamorphosis.
Thank you. Are you planning to stay long?
Everything must seem too simple and dull in our countryside
for a heartthrob from the capital.
You’re right, I was bored... up until this moment.
I am going to sing today. “I’m still madly in love with him.”
Really?
See? There are some surprises in this neck of the woods, too.
I can’t wait for it.
Chervinsky, my friend! Is it really you?
Danila?
-Kadochnikov? -Grisha?
You’ve changed so much.
Natalya Aleksandrovna, please excuse me.
Rest assured I won’t miss your singing.
Tell me what brings you here.
Natalie.
-He could be a perfect match for you. -Lidia, he is so cute!
What did really happen at this mill?
They probably told you the guileful mavka had killed them all.
Her beautiful rival, her cheating lover, and herself.
-Yes. -That’s not what really happened.
She did push her rival in the moor, and the latter drowned.
But when he saw her beloved miller grieving for the girl,
she came back to the moor and asked the moor spirit
to give Oksana back and take her instead.
The moor spirit said yes, because he had long been in love with mavka.
So she sacrificed herself for her beloved man to be happy with another.
Yes. The miller married Oksana, and they had a long happy life together.
At least, that’s what the mavka wanted to think.
She spent long nights crying over her love that hadn’t happen.
Her tears had cleared the moor, turning it into a lake with healing properties.
The storm is dying down.
When did you come back from ST. Petersburg?
A week ago. I’ve lost all I had gambling, so I had to come back to Mother.
She is happy, and I can save some money. How long will you stay?
Are you planning to settle down, start a family?
A family? No, my friend.
I’m not cut out to bear this cross.
I can see what kind of crosses you prefer.
Tell me about your service. How did you get your St. George’s Cross?
-In a battle? -In a battle.
Actually, I have two awards.
One that you can see, and another one in my leg.
Were you injured?
The bullet got stuck near the bone. The doctors were unable to extract it.
Yes. I’ll never dance at a ball again.
I heard you were in the headquarters.
Yes. Second aide-de-camp of the army group commander.
-You mean the man? -Yes, the man.
I’d see him every day like I see you now. All three years.
You must have made quite a career.
I’m a lieutenant. Army isn’t my cup of tea.
I prefer diplomacy.
I’ll stay with my parents for a while and then go back to the capital.
Just make sure no woman catches you first.
Don’t worry. I’m having a good time here.
Look at you!
Liddy, I can feel I’m blushing.
That’s it. You can go now. This wheel won’t hold on for long.
It needs repairs. But I think it can bear another verst or two.
I hope you aren’t far from home.
You are so good at it, though you aren’t a carpenter or a blacksmith.
Who taught you to fix carriages?
You pick up such things at war.
If something like this happened to me there,
I wouldn’t wait for someone to come fix it,
or I wouldn’t be here now.
-It’s getting late. -Yes.
Thank you. If not for you, I would get soaked.
Don’t mention it. You are soaked anyway.
Yes. You, too. You look like a water spirit.
I have to go. They must be worried at home.
Wait! I don’t even know your name. What is your name?
Mavka.
-Hello, Aleksey Fyodorovich. -Hello, Lidia Ivanovna.
I’m sorry for being so late. The circumstances...
Never mind. You’re here. It’s all that matters.
I’m glad you honored my reception with your presence.
It was meant for our war heroes, which includes you, too.
Lidia Ivanovna, I want to thank you for your support of my family.
My mother and I treasure your friendship.
Of course, I will pay everything back with time.
Enough, Aleksey Fyodorovich. What are you talking about?
For me, it’s a matter of honor.
If you do it, I will be seriously offended.
I was doing it at the bidding of my heart.
Finally! Where have you been so late?
Look at this storm!
And you are somewhere in the woods, all alone!
Don’t you have any shame?
No, you don’t. No shame.
What...
God!
Did you fall in the mud together with the carriage?
Why are you smiling like a cat seeing a piece of fatback?
Where did you get this dress?
You’re soaking wet! Go inside! Run!
Why don’t you say anything?
Pavlusia, I fell in love.
I used to be so scared of that mill.
I wouldn’t even look at it, let alone go inside.
I remember.
I think I wouldn’t be scared of anything if he were with me.
Are you really in love?
-Woe on you. -Is it bad, loving someone?
Pavlusia, I’ve never felt so good.
I want to sing and dance. I want to cry with happiness.
Who is he?
I don’t know.
Now you have it. How can it be? Is he not from here?
No. He is a nobleman.
A gentleman!
What did I tell you about gentlemen, baby?
Even if he loves you back, you won’t have a happy life.
It’s not on the cards.
Yes. He must have already forgotten about me.
I hope to God he has.
I wish he asked me for a waltz. He won’t even look at me.
Ladies and gentlemen, waltz!
Natalya Aleksandrovna, may I?
Aleksey Fyodorovich, of course. Welcome back.
We were so worried about you.
Natalie, I need to tell you something.
Aleksey, you seem too excited. Maybe we should talk later.
You have just come back.
No, Natalie, this can’t wait even a minute.
I’m begging you, hear me out and don’t judge me too hard.
You are an old friend. You have to understand.
Natalie, I was dying to see you. I missed you so much.
But now I have to beg your forgiveness. I can get down on my knees.
Aleksey, stop it. Get up immediately. This is embarrassing.
If you don’t stop it, I’ll leave. You don’t have anything to apologize for.
I am very, very sorry.
I will understand if you never want to see me again.
Aleksey, that’s enough! Tell me what happened.
I am madly in love with another woman. It was like a thunderbolt, like a storm.
-It’s the force of nature, Natalie. -What? Who is she?
-I don’t know. -You don’t know?
Aleksey, I knew you were extravagant,
but falling in love with a stranger is too much even for you.
Admit it: you were joking with me, weren’t you?
No, it’s true. I only saw her once, but I know she’s my destiny.
This sounds like a French romance novel.
They must be true to life, then. So... I’m in love, Natalie.
Nazar.
I’m here.
Nazar, Orysia sent this for you.
Thank you.
Are you the girl who gave me water this morning?
-Katria. -How do you know?
My heart told me. I’ll never forget your voice.
Don’t worry about your Orysia. Her mistress is very kind.
Nobody will hurt her in that house.
She isn’t mine. We come from the same village, that’s all.
Katrusia... Can I call you that?
Yes. I have to go. It’s very late. Good night, Nazar.
Good night, Katrusia.
“How we murder while we love!
How, filled with passion’s blind fury
Destroy what is closest to our hearts.”
-Natalie. -Tyutchev?
You are impossible. You always win.
I still have one rival to overcome.
Grigoriy Petrovich, do you want to play? I’ll give you a head start.
Don’t do it, my friend. This girl is merciless.
All right. I hope for a really interesting riddle.
You asked for it.
“Adele, your black eyes contain this power,
The grave of impassivity and cradle of happiness.”
Benediktov. It’s as old as the hills.
Natalie, you could have challenged me with something harder.
He is out of fashion in St. Petersburg.
Fashions come late to these back waters.
Who is in vogue now?
Podolinsky. Have you heard of him?
Ladies and gentlemen, cotillion!
Natalie, don’t say no. I dreamed about this dance all night.
Of course.
Thank you. If not for you, I would get soaked.
Wait! I don’t even know your name. What is your name?
Mavka.
Even if he loves you back, you won’t have a happy life.
It’s not on the cards.
“Delirious with her emotions,
she fell into the abyss where they had been inseparable for so long.
Basking in her love, she dreamed about it, but didn’t dare to hope
something like this could happen to her, a mere bondmaid.
Now she wasn’t someone’s property, Parashka,
but the count’s lawful wife.”
I like Praskovya. She was smart and resolute.
There was a chasm between her and her beloved.
She was a bondmaid, and he a gentleman.
But they paid no regard to people’s opinion.
Count Sheremetyev fought for his love, too.
It’s a shame it happens so rarely.
-Godmother. -Yes, darling?
I wanted to ask you...
Grisha.
-Good morning, Mother. -Good morning.
Don’t go, Kitty.
How did the party go? You came back so late.
There is nothing much to tell.
I’m sorry. You wanted to ask me something.
I was going to ask your permission to go riding today. May I?
God. I thought it was something serious. Of course you can. Go.
Grisha, so how was the party?
Well. It was nice, in a small town way.
How did you like Natalie?
She’s pretty. She sings well.
It’s easy to be a star in a backwater town.
So you didn’t like her.
What does it matter if I like her or not?
I’ve told you I wasn’t going to get married.
At least, not here.
In St. Petersburg, a marriage can be more lucrative.
Grigoriy Petrovich, urgent delivery for you.
Excuse me, Mother.
“I am prepared to examine your item and buy it immediately
if the price suits me. Amvrosiy Suslov, Esq.”
Mother, you will have to excuse me. I have things to do.
I can see that. I hope it’s good news.
It is. Don’t miss me too much.
Yakov.
Yes, Grigoriy Petrovich.
Where is the new maid, Vasilina?
Sewing at the servants’ quarters.
Bring her to me. Tell her to wear her best dress.
Let her hurry up. And arrange for the carriage to be prepared.
Yes, sir.
Hello.
We’re going for a ride. We are both free today.
Sir.
You look great. Shall we go for a ride, Vasilina?
Where are we going, Sir?
Be careful, Katia. A horse likes a strong hand.
It might kick you.
-Sir, where are we going? -Quiet. It’s none of your business.
-Keep your mouth shut. Go! -Go.
Hello, mysterious stranger.
As they say, listen to your heart, and it will show you the way.
Did you ask your heart whether you should take this road?
I just wanted to see you. Did you want to see me?
Yes.
No, 250 and not a ruble more.
I could sell her on an auction for 500. I’m offering her to you for 300.
Well, my dear, why don’t you go to the auction next Saturday?
You are so hard to persuade. Look at this beauty.
She’s smart, and she is very skilled. Pick it up.
All right, I agree. 300 it is.
I’m telling you, you won’t regret it. This girl is...
He was the one who started it. He moved the fence.
Your pigs were digging under it.
Enough.
You put the fence back into place. I won’t let anybody steal the land.
And you’ll give him a pig. Is that clear?
Yes, sir. Thank you for giving us justice.
Thank you, sir.
Pyotr Ivanovich, it was the last case.
Good. Let Vasilina bring me a cup of tea.
I’ll send you tea, but not with Vasilina.
Why not?
Grigoriy Petrovich put her in a carriage and took somewhere,
dressed to the nines.
I have to go back. It’s time.
I will be here tomorrow. And the day after tomorrow.
Will you be here?
I don’t know. It doesn’t depend on me.
Good boy.
Wait. I still don’t know your name.
I keep thinking about you, but I don’t know who you are.
You haven’t told me your name, either.
I’m sorry. How silly of me. Of course I should go first.
Aleksey Fyodorovich Kosach.
“Yours, forever yours, Aleksey Kosach.”
Goodbye, Aleksey Fyodorovich.
What happened? What did I do wrong?
You love another girl and want to see me. This is unseemly.
I still will be waiting for you. Do you hear me? Every day!
Grigoriy Petrovich.
Your father wants to see you. He said you should come as soon as you’re back.
-Where is he? -In the parlor.
Did you want to see me, Father?
Where is she?
I don’t know who you’re talking about.
-Tell me where Vasilina is, bastard! -Oh, her.
This morning I’ve been studying the state of our affairs,
like you wanted me to.
I found out everything was working just fine.
No idlers. Everybody works hard, earning their keep.
Everyone except for that girl. I’ve sold her.
What right did you have?
Excuse me, Father.
You wanted me to show more enthusiasm toward running the estate.
This girl is lazy and useless. I found someone ready to buy her.
-Why are you upset? -You didn’t ask me.
I didn’t want to disturb you with this trifle.
It’s not a trifle.
How...
How dare you do such things?
All right, let me be honest with you. Do you want to disgrace yourself?
Go to the buyer and demand your property back.
So, what’s the matter?
This is about honor and my mother’s peace of mind.
You think I don’t know why you care so much about this girl.
If you think it’s all right to hurt your wife’s feelings, I don’t.
You don’t?
You won’t get another kopeck from me, you whelp!
When Aleksey comes back, he needs to try his frock coats on.
We’ll decide which can be altered and which don’t fit anymore.
We can save them for Vasya when he grows up.
Alyosha, my darling, will you join me for tea?
I have things to do. I’ll join you later.
Wait. One more thing. About your wardrobe.
Later, Mother. It can wait.
What’s wrong with him?
Young master is upset. He’s sad.
Hey, boy!
Tell Grigoriy Petrovich his comrade in arms is waiting.
Wait!
Better tell him someone is here on a secret business.
Don’t tell him who I am. Let it be a surprise. He’ll be happy.
Wait. Wait.
Varenik. My darling.
Tell me, my dear, who was that lady riding a horse?
Is she your masters’ daughter?
No. She’s not a lady. It’s Katerina.
A bondmaid. She’s our mistress’s darling.
-A bondmaid? -Yes. Oh God.
What do you want?
There is a man who wants to see you. He said it was a secret.
Welcome. We’ve been waiting for you.
Natalya Aleksandrovna, you look amazing as always.
Thank you.
Hello to you, too, Pyotr Ivanovich. And you, Anna Lvovna.
Where is Grigoriy Petrovich?
Natalie is talking about your son day and night.
Father.
Come on, Aleksandr Vasilyevich. You’re embarrassing her.
Grigoriy Petrovich will be right with us. He must be hold up with something.
Let’s go inside.
Thank you.
Hello, comrade in arms.
Here is your money.
Naturally. You have always been sensible. Both now and then.
You know how to protect yourself.
Are you done? Now, get out and never come back. Do you hear me?
Grigoriy!
What the hell are you doing here?
We have company.
Yegor Reshetnikov. Grigoriy is such a good friend.
All these times he covered me from bullets with his own body,
sharing his last piece of bread with me.
Pyotr Ivanovich Chervinsky. Welcome.
We are always happy to see a war hero in this house.
Father, Yegor is a busy man.
He doesn’t have time to sit at tea with us.
Why? I’d gladly join your warm and pleasant little circle.
Good. Let’s go.
Come on.
Everybody loved the lieder. And you’ve played a big part in it.
Oh, and the most curious thing happened last night!
Kosach came when the party was in full swing.
Soaking wet and ruffled.
He asks me for a dance and immediately tells me he is in love.
-You must be so happy. -No, Kitty!
It’s not me he is in love with but a mysterious stranger
he met that night during the storm on his way there.
Can you imagine, Kitty? In the road!
It can’t be true.
It’s like in a novel, in a book. Even better.
Don’t you feel hurt?
Why would I? Not in the least.
I’m happy he has moved on from this unrequited love.
I’m not in love with him. Why would I be jealous?
Let Liddy worry about it.
I wish you could see her setting a trap for him all night,
watching him like a hawk. But all was in vain.
The bullets are raining, the shells are exploding, my horse rears up.
There is smoke everywhere, and I can’t even see my friend.
Still, I know he is there. He’d never betray me, my friend Grigoriy.
God. War is horrible.
Yes, ma’am, it is. But we won, and we’ll win again of we have to.
Grisha, you never told us about that battle.
-Is it the one you got your award for? -An award?
I must say I believed my son was a useless whippersnapper.
But when I saw his medal for the defense of Sevastopol
and St. George’s Cross for saving the banner...
Right. I forget. You should be proud of him.
Are you scared by war stories?
Not at all. We need heroes at all times, don’t we?
And it’s an honor to have them here with us,
even when they are too modest to talk.
It’s just because I hate boasting and idle talk.
What do you mean by boasting?
I’d be happy to boast my St. George’s Cross if I had one.
But I don’t.
Excuse Yegor Kuzmich and me for a minute.
We have an urgent business.
Please excuse us.
Don’t worry. You’ll see your Nazar is fine.
Nazar, do you hear me?
-Nazar? -I’m here.
I’ve brought someone to see you. To make your wounds heal sooner.
Hearing your voice helps them heal.
Orysia. Is that you I hear?
Yes, Nazar. Yes, my dear. I’m so happy you’re alive.
Why are you so arrogant? It won’t end well for you.
Nazar...
You took my money, and now you’re mocking me! Get out!
Grigoriy Petrovich, I don’t know why you’re upset.
I told them such a beautiful story about your nonexistent heroic deeds.
They’ll be even more proud of your awards now.
Your stolen awards.
I don’t remember your name on any of the lists.
So they must be stolen.
-I said get out! -Why? I like it here.
How much do you want for your silence?
-For my cooperation, for-- -Quick.
Come on, Grigoriy Petrovich. You don’t want to be disgraced, do you?
-If I only came back to the dining room... -How much?
Give me this bondmaid. Then I’ll leave you alone forever.