I’m sure Natalie would be a perfect match for our Grisha.
One could not ask for better.
Someone is here.
Let’s see who it is, Kitty.
Kitty?
What’s wrong, my dear?
Godmother.
I left a lit candle before the icons.
What if it starts a fire?
You’ve been distracted these days.
Go.
Aliosha, my dear boy!
You’ve become a grownup man.
Please don’t.
Humility doesn’t suit heroes.
I saw your tunic at the ball. The medals...
I was doing my duty.
If you excuse me, I’d like to see Piotr Ivanovich.
Dad is at the kennels choosing dogs. We’re going on a hunt.
Grisha, escort our guest to your father.
I’ll order to serve us tea.
All right, Mother.
Let’s go.
Where were you stationed, Grigoriy Petrovich?
Ladoga Regiment, First Battalion.
Yes... We’ve been around.
We were at the Malakoff-Kurgan.
Wow.
You’ve had it hard.
I heard there were almost no survivors.
Yes. I was saved by God’s grace only.
We were virtually neighbors.
Our hussar brigade was in the battle of Balaklava.
Yes, it’s not far.
Do you remember--
Here is Papa. You have company.
Aleksey Fiodorovich!
Grisha, why do you keep our guest in the rain?
Hello, Piotr Ivanovich.
I came about the promissory note.
Let’s go to my study.
I’ll leave you to it. Let me see if everything is ready for the hunt.
Piotr Ivanovich, it won’t take long.
These matters don’t bear any rush.
Please sit down.
They should be settled in peace,
over a glass of nice brandy
or a pipe of good...
Turkish tobacco.
You must have come to ask for a respite.
I understand you’re in dire straits.
But! The interest.
Here.
Thank you for lending my mother
a helping hand in her hour of need.
-Well, well. -Thank you.
You’re most welcome. That’s what neighbors do.
This time I helped you,
and next time you’ll help me.
You seem a serious man.
I appreciate it when the debt is paid out fully and in due time.
Well, here is your note.
Silly me!
It’s locked in my desk.
Don’t hesitate to turn to me if you need anything.
For my part, I’m at your service if you ever need my support.
Papa.
Right. The hunt!
Why don’t you come with us?
To seal our friendship, so to say?
Father, Mr. Kosach didn’t bring his gun.
We can find one for him.
Please come with us.
-All right. -Let’s go!
How is your mother? How is Sofya Stanislavovna’s health?
Orysia, tighter!
Make it tighter. Don’t hold it in.
Why torture yourself?
What do you know!
I must be irresistible today.
Draw it tighter.
Miss...
What now?
Oh.
Yes, yes, you will see your Nazar.
You’re coming with me to the Chervinsky’s.
Good.
Here you go.
That’s it.
All right.
One of the Chervinskys will be scorched today.
Orysia.
Stop this nonsense.
Better fetch my French perfume.
Orysia,
the scent matters more than any gown.
It has to be so nice that
one sniff makes it.
Heel.
Rogue! Heel. Heel.
Belka, take!
Give it to me.
That was a royal shot, Papa.
A royal shot is when it falls to your feet.
This was an arshine short.
You need to know these things.
Mr. Kosach, your turn.
Good shot! Congratulations, Mr. Kosach.
I hope it won’t be the last.
Belka will find it.
My pet!
She never even ruffles a feather on a bird.
And her sense of smell! It’s one of a kind.
You rogue!
No, not to me.
Him. It was his shot.
You love your master, don’t you?
You naughty girl. You rogue.
Well, Grisha?
Your turn.
How could you miss?
Something’s wrong with the gun.
It’s either the cap or the sight.
Come on. Give it to me.
It’s a very good gun.
A bad workman always blames his tools.
I wonder how you managed to get your war awards.
In close combat.
Well, maybe.
Come on. I know a good spot over there.
Belka, come on.
Where have you been? We are flooded with work here.
It’s almost lunchtime.
Oh, Pavlusia.
What will it be?
What will it be? An apple strudel.
-I didn’t mean the menu. -What did you mean?
The young master that was here...
Well? Is it him?
Now you’ll learn your lesson.
I told you, you shouldn't mingle with him.
To nobility their own, and to the peasants - theirs.
Don’t be so sad.
He didn’t see you, did he?
So, from this day on,
forget about him. Got it?
Pavlusia, I can’t end it like that. I need to tell him the truth.
I’ll go wait for him at the mill. He’ll pass it on his way home.
Wait! What if milady asks for you?
Tell her...
I don’t know. Pavlusia, please think of something.
Where...
You naughty girl!
Let a fly kick you.
Belka.
Belka. Belka.
Look at her fidgeting. She smells a duck.
Belka, Belka, take!
Congratulations, Mr. Chervinsky.
Thank you.
Orysia.
Where are you?
Here you are.
Such a lasting scent.
This is Paris for you!
Tell them to harness the horses. Oh, one more thing.
Take my cape, air it out. We’re leaving soon.
Still banging?
Doesn’t it make your ears ring?
I’m used to it.
What are you doing here?
Don’t you know?
I came to see you.
What’s there to see? Am I some wonder?
I’d do more than looking.
I wish you even glanced at me once in a while.
I don’t want what isn’t mine.
What do you mean?
Everyone knows you’re fooling around with Yasha.
Nazar...
I’m just doing my duty.
My heart...
is here.
Galia.
What was your task for today?
Ironing the table lined we washed yesterday.
What are you doing here, then?
I came to get embers for the iron.
Couldn’t you get some in the kitchen?
Shoo!
Don’t even think about her.
I’ll skin you if I ever see you with her again.
Thank God you won’t go home empty-handed.
At least you shot a lame duck.
Good job, Mr. Kosach!
Thank you for a great hunt.
Belka!
What’s wrong?
What did you give to her, bastard?
-Piotr Ivanovich, I didn’t-- -Answer me!
Nothing new... As always...
You’ve poisoned my best bitch!
The food was good!
If she dies,
I’ll flog you to death.
-What’s wrong with her? -She choked on a feather.
Why don’t you say something? Tell him.
Stay out of it, Alejsey Fiodorovich.
Enough. Enough! Piotr Ivanovich, stop it!
Your Belka is fine.
Belka! My darling.
You’re fine! Good girl.
Good girl.
Comb her out!
He can’t hear you.
He’s unconscious.
Goodbye, Piotr Ivanovich.
What?
But the dinner? All this fowl!
This is wrong.
What’s wrong is beating a man to unconsciousness
just because your dog chokes on a feather.
Oh! So you’re a pacifist.
Well, this is none of your business,
Mr. Sissy.
It’s my dog and my huntsman.
If you don’t like it...
farewell and be damned.
Did you listen to your heart when choosing this road?
I just wanted to see you.
Tell me, did you want to see me?
Yes.
Pavlina.
It’s beautiful!
Thank you, ma’am.
I hope to God it tastes as good as it looks.
Here it goes.
Where is Kitty? I couldn’t find her.
It’s just... I...
I sent her to the store to get vanilla.
I want to make ginger ice-cream to go with the strudel.
But it appears we’re out of ginger, and vanilla is stale.
Why didn’t you tell Yakov?
It’s his job.
It is.
But Yakov doesn’t know the first thing about it.
He would buy the wrong flavor.
Katia knows what she’s doing.
All right.
Send her to me when she is back.
All right.
Oh, Katia.
Yosyp...
What does this mean? I need to go.
Why me?
I’m doing what I was told.
Are you kidding me?
I told you to harness the horses, not unharness them.
Milord came and said,
“Unharness them, Yosyp.”
Milord?
Father has been out on business since morning.
Are you drunk?
Miss, I promise you
I haven’t had a drink since Christmas.
Since I took my stove for the devil
and ran out of my house in a shirt with no pants. I swear.
Yosyp! It’s time for me to leave.
Milord said, “Unharness the horses, Yosyp, because...”
...because nobody is going anywhere. I said that.
Nicolas!
Let me go!
Sister! I missed you so much.
I’m so glad you finally came here from this Kiev of yours.
-I hope you’ll stay. -Don’t worry.
I need to deal with the land registry, and it will take a while.
Where were you going dressed up like this?
To the Kosachs?
Have you warmed towards the poor guy?
Oh, Nicolas.
Your Kosach proved to be a regular whippersnapper.
But... I think you’re too harsh on him.
He is madly in love with you.
He was.
Now he has abandoned your sister
for a new and weird passion.
It’s you!
I’m so happy.
I was afraid I wouldn’t see you again. I’m sorry if I offended you somehow.
No. You have to forgive me, Aliosha. I shouldn’t have doubted you.
I can swear there is nothing going on between me and Natalie.
-On my life and my honor! -There is no need. I believe you.
I’m so happy you’re here.
I hoped to see you, I dreamed about it. My angel!
I have to tell you...
to confess...
What’s this? Are you hurt? It’s blood!
No, it was just a regretful incident at the hunt.
Why don’t you go to the Chervinskys with me?
Grigoriy Petrovich will be there.
He is interesting to talk to.
So that’s who all this is for.
Sister, I’ve heard things about him.
What kind of things?
Well, he’s a known ladies’ man. He likes to flirt with young ladies.
Please be careful around him.
Oh, Nicolas.
You don’t know him at all.
Let’s go!
No. I’ll go to Aliosha.
All right. Don’t miss me too much.
Don’t you see the gilding has rubbed off?
Replace the plate immediately.
Piotr Ivanovich, the dinner!
Eat without me.
But... We’re expecting company. Natalie will be here.
I’m going to Gorshenin for a game of cards and a glass of brandy.
Do I even need to report to you?
Bon appetite!
Take the flowers.
Call Kitty. Tell her she’ll eat with us.
You stood up for a bondman?
Is it that strange?
I hate petty tyranny, no matter who the victim is.
Excuse this outburst.
I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.
You were saying...
The bondmen...
They are like children.
Their master has to act like their father, strict but fair.
If he made a mistake, you can scold him, but flogging a man is too much.
Excuse me, Aliosha. I have to go.
Wait. I did hurt you after all.
Please don’t go.
I must be on my way.
I’m begging you! Promise me I’ll see you tomorrow.
All right. Tomorrow at the same hour. Excuse me, I need to go.
Whoa!
This waiting
is unbearable.
When is he going to come?
Alevtina, darling.
Less corny acting and more feeling.
“This waiting is unbearable.
When is he going to come?”
You see?
Come on, show me a gentle girl.
This waiting is unbearable!
I said a gentle girl,
not an ancient Greek priestess!
Try again.
This waiting is unbearable.
When is he going to come?
This is unbearable.
Go on.
This waiting is unbearable.
Larisa.
M. George is here. Will you see him?
Show him in.
No, wait.
Give me a glass of water.
My throat is dry
because I’m so excited.
Stop.
Alevtina,
is this the way to drink water? It’s not vodka.
Why drink it in one gulp?
Don’t finish the whole glass.
Just take one sip.
And please, please be more gentle!
Stop!
Let me help.
Thank you, Nazar.
Katrusia, wait.
I wanted to ask you something.
Of course.
I... I want to learn how to read.
Aren’t you literate?
I wish.
A hammer and an anvil are all I know.
I couldn’t even sign my name if I needed to.
Can you help me?
Of course.
That’s it. Thanks, everyone. Tomorrow we’ll start from the same place.
Piotr Ivanovich, hello.
Sazon Sazonovich, let me introduce you.
Piotr Ivanovich Chervinsky, a landlord, my neighbor, and an old friend.
Recently he has been quite taken by the theater.
Really?
The last show was a balm for a weary soul.
I couldn’t sleep that night.
A wonderful production. Wonderful.
Directed by a true maestro.
Excuse me, gentlemen, but I’ll have to leave you.
I have urgent business.
Sazon Sazonovich. Piotr Ivanovich.
Aleksandr Vasilyevich is a man with a big heart.
You know, Sazon Sazonovich,
I have a big heart, too.
That’s great.
We are rehearsing a new play.
Our sets aren’t good enough. I want them to be beautiful.
I see.
I’m prepared to invest in them.
Will 800 rubles be enough for a start?
-That’s fantastic. -Sazon Sazonovich,
I have a small but sensitive request for you.
Tell me.
You understand, I’d like to help
true thespians shine...
on our stage.
All right.
The girl playing the maid.
I think she is capable of something bigger.
Why don’t you give her the lead?
Don’t you think the current performer is...
not exactly the right age?
I see, I see.
It’s not that easy.
You see, the parts have been distributed.
-It will cause a scandal. -One thousand rubles.
Hello? Where is actress Yakhontova?
Bring her here.
This is letter Yer, but it’s mute.
Weird. What is it there for, then?
I don’t know. It just is.
Look what we have here.
N, A, Z, A, R.
Nazar.
Now you try it. Here.
N...
Katia,
here you are.
Go to the mistress, quick. She has been waiting for hours.
I told her I had sent you to get vanilla and ginger, got it?
-Thank you, Pavlusia. -Run!
Hey, kid, you look gaunt.
Well...
Well.
You think I don’t see the way you look at Katia?
Look at her and look at me.
They let her eat with the nobles, and I can’t put two words together.
I’m not her equal.
No matter what you think...
she likes you, too.
Really?
Did she say that?
She said...
you were a nice...
and strong guy...
but a bit...
shy.
Girls.
Here.
Piotr Ivanovich, let me introduce you.
Larisa Viktorovna Yakhontova,
our rising star, I hope.
Nice to meet you.
Piotr Ivanovich Chervinsky, landlord.
And a philanthropist.
A man with a big heart.
I’ve been admiring your beauty and talent for a while.
Allow me to give you these modest flowers.
Thank you, Piotr Ivanovich.
You’ll have to excuse me. Business, you know.
Piotr Ivanovich, do we have a deal?
Yes. Come to Chervinka one of these days. We’ll take care of it.
Thank you.
I’m sorry you and Natalie didn’t work, Aliosha.
You would be the best match for her,
unlike this crook Chervinsky.
Yes. Grigoriy isn’t the man Natalie needs.
Let’s hope he will leave soon.
What brings you to our neck of woods?
It’s about the new land register.
Also,
a good friend asked me for a favor.
You probably heard of him. Andrey Zhadan.
-No. -He’s an outstanding person. A legend.
A former bondman...
who had bought himself out. He’s a genius.
In just a couple of years, he has scraped up quite a fortune.
Now he is planning to build a sugar mill in our region.
He asked me to find a location for him.
Unbelievable. Sounds like a fairy tale.
It’s not, Aliosha. It’s real life.
Introduce me to him.
He has a mill, I have sugar beet.
Beauty and talent are just raw diamonds.
They need a skillful jeweler to make them shine.
The one who can provide refined cutting and a beautiful setting.
I gather I’m the diamond and you are the jeweler.
Let me help you,
and you will shine.
What do you want in exchange?
Being with you, seeing you, always, everywhere, till the day I die.
Piotr Ivanovich, I’m flattered by your high opinion of my abilities,
and your offer is very tempting, but I have to say no.
You are married, and the bond of wedlock is sacred for me.
As a Christian, I can’t be instrumental in their breaking.
It’s a sin.
No, my dear! I wouldn’t even think about unmaking God’s making.
But my passion is so strong I can’t control myself.
Allow me...
to enjoy your company once in a while.
Piotr Ivanovich.
You are...
really something else!
Go ahead.
Zhadan is a simple man but not gullible.
First gather your crops, then start talking to him.
Anyway, you have always been a romantic.
Aleksey Fiodorovich, I beg your pardon.
-I didn’t know you were busy. -Wait.
Is there any news? Did you find out who she is?
I have been to all estates, sir. Nobody has heard of her.
Did you mention the horse?
Nobody knows her or her horse.
Nobody has had young ladies visiting lately.
-I haven’t been to the Chervinskys’ yet. -No need. She isn’t there.
All right, you may go.
So Natalie didn’t lie to me.
You did fall in love with a stranger.
What if this stranger doesn’t exist?
Is she just another of your dreams? Aliosha?
Stop mocking me.
She is real.
Then she must have reasons to protect her identity so expertly.
What reason might it be? What kind of secret?
What kind of secret can I woman have?
She must be married...
and unhappy.
Is it just an assumption or do you speak from experience?
Believe me, such relationships consume you whole.
The best thing you can do
is nip it in the bud.
Bravo!
-Bravo, my dear. -Thank you.
Natalie, darling,
will you sing for us?
I need an accompanist.
Maybe Kitty will help me out.
Kitty.
Kitty, help me!
Kitty, don’t be shy.
Good evening, Nazar.
Orysia!
What are you doing here?
I came with my mistress.
I asked her to take me with her.
I see.
Just to see you, my darling.
Why are you in the smithy?
Everybody is partying outside.
Let’s go there, too.
What is this smell?
It’s this fragrant brew,
to lure the guys.
Come on, Nazar, let’s have fun while the masters don’t need us.
I have...
work to do, Orysia.
Why don’t you go alone?
Nazar,
what’s wrong?
What happened?
I only came here for you.
Orysia,
you’re a nice...
and beautiful girl...
but I’m in love with someone else.
No!
Well. Would it be better if I lied to you?
-Tell me who she is. -She’s a local girl.
I won’t believe you if you don’t tell me. Who is she?
The one you sent me the ointment with. I’m sorry. Orysia!
I’m sorry, Orysia.
Orysia!
Thank you.
Thank you, my dear.
I didn’t have so much fun even at the opera.
Anna Lvovna, you overestimate my talent.
If not for Kitty and Grigoriy Petrovich,
the lieder wouldn’t sound so nice.
No, Natalya Aleksandrovna.
The praise is all yours. Right, Kitty?
Natalie!
Are you all right?
Kitty, bring the salts, quick!
Please excuse me.
I don’t need the salts.
It’s stuffy inside, and my corset...
Grisha, take Natalie out for a walk.
Fresh air can do miracles.
Natalya Aleksandrovna, I’d be honored if you agreed to go for a walk with me.
I’m sorry for this awkwardness.
Grigoriy Petrovich, you don’t say much.
Are you so bored with me?
Not at all.
It’s just that I’ve spent all these years at war...
with only soldiers for company.
There wasn’t much talking there.
How about before war?
They say that St. Petersburg ladies still remember
the brilliant Grigoriy Chervinsky.
There is no such thing as before the war.
My heart is calloused.
But whenever I see you, Natalie...
What?
...something is coming back to life inside me.
Something gentle and tender.