So this is what Mavka looks like.
Well,
let’s get to know each other.
Oh God.
Mother, send for a doctor!
I don’t think we need a doctor. It will pass.
I believe she really has fainted.
Yes.
-Ivan, help your master! -I can do it.
Bring some water and my vinaigrette!
My dear, don’t be so scared.
I don’t dine on young ladies, at least on Thursdays.
If not for Liddy, I wouldn’t be able to do it all.
She’s a miracle.
Natalie.
Would you like some tea?
You aren’t listening.
I am sorry.
My leg has been killing me all day.
All right.
Where is Kitty?
I haven’t seen her for a while.
She is visiting the Kosachs.
The way things are going,
I suspect the Kosachs and we will have a double wedding.
What is it with you?
All I hear is Kosach this and Kosach that.
Grig, what is the matter with you?
I just don’t want to share my big day.
Isn’t it...
Wait.
Are you... jealous?
Of whom?
Me, of course.
What do you think, Natalie?
Of course I am.
The very thought of this crook courting you,
bringing you presents, sending letters...
-Being brave at the war for me? -Yes. Yes!
You are a veritable Othello.
Don’t be jealous.
Or...
you can find another,
less striking fiancee,
so that no one ever gave her a second glance.
Natalie,
you do make me lose my mind.
It’s all because I am desperately in love...
-And afraid of losing you. -Grig.
Vasiliy, don’t stare at our guest.
She will think you have no manners.
Your soup is getting cold.
I like it when the whole family sits down to lunch together, Katia.
When Fiodor Semionovich was alive,
we used to get together every day.
We’d have lunch together, and at nights we’d play bingo.
Do you remember?
Yes, Mother.
Those were good times.
Yes.
Katia, do the Chervinskys get together a lot?
Unfortunately, no.
Grigoriy Petrovich has been away for years.
Piotr Ivanovich rarely eats at home, except for the breakfasts.
Anna Lvovna doesn’t eat much.
So, we don’t have big feasts very often.
This will change soon.
Grigoriy Petrovich is back. They say there is a wedding in the cards.
So you’II have your big family dinners.
Perhaps.
It’s just that...
I eat in the kitchen, not with the family.
Katia, do you do corves labor, too?
Marie!
You know, I remember how I was sitting at this table for the first time
many years ago, just like you are now, in this same spot.
I was very nervous.
It was my first visit to their house.
My father was friends with Semion Fiodorovich, Fedia’s father.
They were at the war together and decided upon our marriage
even before we two were born.
-How do you mean? -Oh yes.
They saved each other’s lives in a battle one day,
and then they swore that if they lived
and came back home, they’d become family.
So I knew who my husband would be since I was a little girl.
I was very nervous before my first visit to the Kosachs.
My mother-in-law, Marianna Nikolayevna, was a very strict woman
with impeccable manners and a piercing gaze.
The first time she directed that gaze at me, I fainted.
I fell down so awkwardly that I hit my forehead.
So I had to sit at the family dinner and appear at all parties with a lump!
Yelena Aleksandrovna?
Yelena Aleksandrovna.
-I beg your pardon. -Yes?
I’m very sorry. I mistook you for a friend of mine.
-Are you all right? -Yes, yes, I’m fine.
Again, I’m sorry.
You can’t leave me like this, without any explanation.
Don’t I deserve one?
My dear, my love.
I can’t help it.
I love you.
I love you so much.
But we have to end this.
I’II go back to my husband.
Everything will be the way it used to be before you.
It has to be done.
Wait!
There has to be an explanation.
I love you.
I won’t let you go.
I won’t let you go! You’re mine.
I am with a child.
I want it to be raised within the wedlock,
to have a future.
Do you hear?
Is it mine?
Don’t seek me, don’t write to me.
I’ve made up my mind.
It’s over.
Grigoriy Petrovich, hello.
To what do I owe the honor?
Lidiya Ivanovna, thank you for agreeing to see me at this early hour.
I have something important to discuss with you,
and I hope it will stay between us.
I must admit I am surprised.
What is the reason of such urgency and secrecy?
Honestly speaking, I am worried about this thing with Kosach and our Kitty.
Are you?
I believed all your thoughts were full with Natalie.
I’ve always thought men cared only about their fiancees
on the eve of the wedding.
You misunderstand me.
It’s my mother I am worried about.
Kitty is precious to Anna Lvovna.
She raised her since Kitty was a baby.
She gave all her heart to her.
She is proud of her.
She doesn’t see Kitty as just her ward.
I’m afraid my mother won’t survive Kitty
leaving our house.
Why are you so sure the wedding will take place?
I know Kosach has no money to buy her,
and your father will never make him such a gift.
-Well, as far as I know, at least. -Yes, that’s true.
Kosach doesn’t have a penny in his pocket.
But he is stubborn, so anything can happen.
Anyway, I don’t want this deal to go through.
I gathered that much.
What do you want from me?
You could help.
You’ve known Kosach and his family for a while.
You know his intentions, habits, and secrets.
Maybe there is something unusual, something disturbing.
A fact, a story, even an intent.
I see.
So...
If my father or mother learned about it by accident,
they might change their decision.
Let me get it straight, Grigoriy Petrovich.
You want me
to belie Kosach.
No, I didn’t mean...
I don’t know your motives, and neither do I want to.
I will never tar an honest man’s reputation.
Thank you, Sofya Stanislavovna.
You have a cozy, welcoming home.
I feel as if I had been here many times
and then just forgot about it.
I was very glad to meet you, too, my dear.
Well, you should go now.
Anna Lvovna will be worried.
Give her our regards.
-I will. -Goodbye, Katia.
-Children! -Goodbye.
Looks like we have my mother’s blessings.
Your worries were in vain, Katia.
I can’t believe this isn’t a dream, Aliosha.
Let’s go.
Vasiliy, go to your room.
This Katia really doesn’t look like a bondmaid. Well, almost.
God created all people equal. Remember this!
Go to your room, Marianna.
I wonder if Katia will have a peasants’ wedding or a noble one.
A noble one, of course. She is marrying a nobleman.
Now everything about her will be noble.
Maybe they’II through a wedding here and invite some gentlemen.
Maybe we could catch some for ourselves, too.
Why would the master throw a wedding for Katia here?
She’s a small fry.
Why not?
They raised her as if she were their one.
-They adore her. -That’s why she found herself a gentleman.
She couldn’t marry a bondman, could she?
What’s wrong with bondmen?
Maybe they tried to mold her after a noble lady, but she’s not.
She was and is a bondmaid just like us.
She’s not like us because she can get out of all this.
We’II die in this yoke, and so will our children.
Did you hear about the bondman who bought himself out,
and then a half of his village, too?
Mother,
thank you for being so kind and sensitive.
I hope you don’t believe now that she is trying to swindle me.
Enough, Aliosha. You’re right, I liked her.
But still... She is a bondmaid.
It’s not her fault, but it can cause a scandal.
-People won’t understand. -They will.
And those who don’t we don’t need in our lives.
Well, we will see.
I just want you two to be happy.
Oh God...
What is it, Mother?
I feel sorry for you, Aliosha.
It will be hard on you.
I wish I could do something to help.
The very fact that you accept Katia is a big help.
Don’t worry about the rest.
We’II find the money and survive the rumors.
-Excuse me. -What is it, Taras?
Aleksey Fiodorovich, a letter to you.
Lidiya Ivanovna wants me to come as soon as possible.
Is something amiss?
I don’t think so. She talks about some lucrative offer,
a deal I might be interested in.
See?
Lidiya Ivanovna has always been very kind and attentive to us.
Besides, entrepreneurship is in her blood.
The Shefers have always been good traders.
Lida’s father used to make money virtually from thin air.
So, Lida can be a good influence on you.
Go to her, Aliosha.
All right, Mother.
Don’t listen to these lies.
It’s not lies.
This Zhadan bought out his mother, father, brothers, and sisters.
Even his aunt! She was a seamstress, just like us.
Their master used to beat them all mercilessly.
-Like our Yasha? -Like Shefer’s executioner.
So, when Zhadan was 15, he went missing.
Nobody knew where he was. Some say he was a waterman at the Mirgorod market.
Others say he was in Turkey. Who knows?
Anyway, he bought himself out as soon as he came back.
-Just like that? -Just like that.
He built a house for himself in the city as soon as he became free.
He helps people. Whenever someone is hurting a bondman,
Zhadan comes to rescue.
The gentlemen are afraid to go against him.
They respect him.
I wish he came to us to teach a lesson to our Yasha.
The bastard has gone crazy.
He never could say anything to Katria.
No matter how furious he was.
He’d love to beat her up if he were allowed to.
Now he can touch her no more than a crane in the sky.
Why is that?
Is she free already?
Is she married?
Nobody knows what this fairy tale will end up with.
I don’t think she’II get her happy ending with this gent.
The highest tree has the greatest fall.
You should look for happiness among your own.
As for the gents, today he’s rich,
and tomorrow he'll gamble everything away.
And these sticklike arms of his!
He can’t swing an axe or put a harness on a horse.
And if he needs to kill a pig, he’II probably faint.
-Why would he need to kill a pig? -Yeah.
He has people for this. What, Galia?
Wouldn’t you marry a gent?
I don’t want your gents.
I want a regular guy.
Settle down, breed cattle with him,
not play the piano and sigh!
He’s not even handsome. He’s just... sleek.
Oh, Galia. Do you have to be so jealous?
Galia, don’t worry, no gent will ever propose to you.
A free Cossack - well, he won’t want to become a bondman because of you.
Buying you out? I don’t think so.
So what? They aren’t worthy of her anyway.
Galia doesn’t want to be free.
She is happy here with her masters. Right, Galia?
Go on, laugh at me. Laugh all you want.
You’II see!
Any man will gladly become a bondman for me if I want him to.
Did you hear that? I wondered what that noise was.
It must be your suitors knocking on the masters’ doors.
Galia, beware, they might break the gates!
You did the right thing turning to me, Piotr Ivanovich.
A right attire is a great force.
It can raise your status,
your self-confidence,
or even make you younger.
Younger is what I’m going for. Ten years would be nice.
Piotr Ivanovich.
Excuse me, I didn’t know you were busy.
Hello, Naum Filippovich.
Anna Lvovna,
my dear, our precious belle!
I should thank you for inspiring Piotr Ivanovich
to refresh his wardrobe.
Not just refresh it but bringing it up
to the latest Paris standards.
Not at all.
Piotr Ivanovich always tells me it’s a waste of time.
Right, Piotr Ivanovich?
What caused your interest to Paris fashion?
You’ve been telling me the whole town is going to be at the wedding,
so everything has to be perfect.
Why are you suddenly so peeved with my attempt
to look good for this event?
Not at all. I’m happy.
I’m very happy that you pay so much attention to details.
I just wanted to ask if you would join us for tea.
Alas, I need to go to to town.
Don’t wait me for dinner, either. I don’t think I’II be back by then.
Well, we are finished.
We just need to select the materials.
We will.
I thought my heart was going to stop.
Then I fainted.
But Aliosha was right.
His mother is so wonderful, so kind!
There are also younger sister and brother.
Marianna is slim like a stick,
and Vasia is so funny.
He kept studying me, never taking his gaze off me.
I hope you will be happy, baby.
Oh, Pavlusia.
Will we?
There are so many ordeals ahead of us.
Our love has just been born, and already we have to fight for it.
There, there.
Your Aleksey Fiodorovich is so stubborn
he’II break through any obstacle to get what he wants.
Right, get what he wants.
You can’t bite more than you can chew.
The Kosachs are poor as a church mouse.
Eavesdropping?
You mean bullfrog!
Come here.
Here, clean this so that it shone,
not like you always do, you lazy bones.
Aleksey Fiodorovich, thank you for coming so soon.
I’m at your service.
I won’t waste your time or mine
on a long foreword but will cut to the chase.
I know you are willing to buy out the Chervinckys’ bondmaid Kitty
and set her free.
I find this rather odd, but it is your wish,
and I’m not going to dispute it.
Also, I came to know about the price set by Piotr Ivanovich.
I realize it would be quite a predicament for you to find the said sum.
It’s almost impossible, but I don’t despair.
Good for you. Desperation is a mortal sin, and you can’t succumb to it.
The more so that I’m offering you a way out of this predicament.
I’II buy out Kitty for you.
Or rather, you’II do it.
Here is 4,800 rubles.
I don’t know how to thank you.
But, Lidiya Ivanovna...
I don’t think I’II be able to pay it back soon.
You don’t need to pay it back.
I can’t accept such a present.
It’s not a present. It’s a deal.
A deal?
I offer you my money as a spouse’s help.
You want to set Kitty free.
Yes. Set her free and marry her.
You will set her free...
but you will marry me.
Excuse me?
I’m not sure that I understand.
Marry you?
But I am engaged.
No, you understand me quite well.
You can look at it as a part of my dowry.
Besides, I am sure you can’t be really in love
with this yard hand.
It’s not love but passion.
It will pass, while real love grows with years.
I know you want to have this girl,
like a child wants its toy.
So I’II buy her for you.
Excuse me.
Would you give your husband a permission to have a mistress?
Why not?
Everybody has them.
I prefer to have one in our house as opposed to you chasing actresses.
Aliosha...
I love you so much.
You can’t even imagine.
I guess I can.
The world hasn’t seen a love like this.
I’d do anything for you.
You want Kitty? You’II get her.
Do you want a house in St. Petersburg? In Paris?
Lidiya Ivanovna.
If you are in love, you have to understand me.
I’m also in love.
It’s not a crush. It won’t pass.
I can’t accept your proposal either as a man or as a human.
You will meet a decent man who will feel as strongly towards you.
Please forgive me.
I promise I’II forget about what has passed between us
as soon as I’m out of your door. Goodbye.
Hello, Aleksey Fiodorovich.
Why are you so sad?
Have you been to the field?
Did you see the beets?
They are perfect.
Yes, beets are the root of all happiness.
Have a nice day, old man.
Why, aren’t they? We’II have good crops, God willing.
The best one in seven years.
They are growing like crazy.
Are you certain?
Will the crops be good?
Why not? Of course they will. Have no doubts.
Well, bye, old man.
It will.
You can be sure.
Off you go. Bring the carriage back in three hours. Don’t dare to get drunk.
Grigoriy Petrovich! Grigoriy Petrovich!
Young master, my dear!
You?
It’s me! Me, young master!
Grigoriy Petrovich, who is this lady?
She is our...
our former bondmaid.
Yes, ma’am. I used to be theirs.
You don’t remember me.
I’m Vasilina.
Grigoriy Petrovich sold me two months ago, that’s why you don’t remember.
Right. What are you doing here, though?
Does Suslov send his bondmaids to this kind of corves labor now?
-No, I’m free now. -What?
I’m my own mistress.
What do you mean?
That gentleman, Mr. Suslov, gambled me away to some officer the next day.
The officer took me to the barracks. They told him he couldn’t keep me there.
So he spent three days at a hotel with me.
Then he got drunk and told me to go away.
But I said, If you kick me out, sign a paper that I’m not a fugitive.
So he wrote a manumission for me.
So now I am as free as you are.
Or you, Miss. Thank you.
I’m so grateful to you, Grigoriy.
If not for you, I wouldn’t be standing here, a free woman!
-Here, take this. I said take this. -No, I didn’t mean...
And go away.
Don’t harass decent people.
Natalie, you look enchanting.
Grigoriy!
Natalie, darling.
Grigoriy Petrovich! Congratulations.
This is so romantic. Natalie, you’re so lucky!
Grig, let me introduce you. My old friends, Svetlana and Tamara.
-Hello. -Nice to meet you.
Excuse me for a minute.
Goddamn it.
My son Grigoriy. And this young lady...
I know who this lady is.
Overt flirtation ill becomes you, Father.
You can’t show your interest to women of this sort in public.
Stay out of my business, you whiffet!
I won’t allow you to humiliate my mother.
You are a married man, and you should remember this.
Young man, this is...
I’m not listening to you.
Do you imagine you have my father in your pocket?
Nonsense. He finds a new slut like you every week in the village.
By the way, one of them is roaming around the theater right now.
Do you want to say hello to Vasilina, Father?
Come out and see her.
Bondmaids are one thing,
but a public humiliation of an affair with an actress!
Once again, excuse me.
-Of course. -Natalie.
-Is something wrong, Grig? -No, everything is fine.
This wait is unbearable.
When, when will he come?
M. George is here.
Shall I show him in?
Yes. Go.
No, wait.
Bring me a glass of water.
My throat is dry from excitement.
This new play is such a bore.
I have a headache.
Grig,
why don’t we leave now, without waiting for the intermission?
Yes. Yes, darling.
- If that’s what you want. - It is.
Show him in.
A walk with you is more enticing than that histrionic nonsense.
M. George.
Aliosha, what is going on? Taras said you were leaving.
Where to? Why so late?
Thank you, Ivan. You may go.
I’m in a hurry. I’m going to Kiev.
I need to be there the day after tomorrow.
What for?
This is my only chance to find money to buy out Katia.
Wait. What about Lida’s offer?
Unfortunately, I couldn’t take it.
Why, Aleksey?
-You never tell me anything. -Not now, Mother.
Later.
Lidiya Ivanovna and I couldn’t come to an agreement.
So, the deal is off the table.
Forget it. Our hope lies elsewhere.
Aliosha, I hope the thing you’re going to Kiev for is legal.
Do you doubt me being a law-abiding citizen?
I don’t know what to think. I expect anything from you.
It is legal, Mother, but it’s a remote chance.
It could be a lifeline for me.
I hope I’II be lucky.
God help you, my boy.
I’II go to the kitchen and tell Gorpina
to pack you some mushroom and chicken pies for the road.
You can’t be in the dressing room. Get out of here at once.
Piotr Ivanovich, your son was quite clear. I’m not for you.
Go look somewhere else.
I’m begging you!
One word.
I’ve heard enough.
Larisa Viktorovna.
Larisa.
You are everything to me.
More than everything.
You’ve breathed life into me.
For you, I’d go to the gallows or into an ice-hole.
Oh, really?
Well... I did have women before.
It would be stupid to deny it. But they are all dust, sand, a mirage...
compared to you.
I... I have probably no pride or honor left if I’m still listening.
Nonsense. You don’t realize how much better you deserve.
You can’t imagine. I’ve never felt so alive
and happy with any woman before.
I didn’t know you could be so passionate.
You can’t imagine how much I need you.
I forgive you,
but please protect me from such humiliation in the future.
He is your son, but he has no right to talk to me like this.
I won’t let him hurt you again.
Just don’t send me away.
Let me stay close to you.
It’s time.
Larisa Viktorovna, a few more minutes.
I thought you would want to escort me home.
You wicked thing!
-Grisha! Are you back? -Mother.
How was the play?
It was horrible.
You are lucky you don’t go to the Nezhin theater, Mama.
It’s a waste of time.
Is Father back yet?
He went to Nezhin and said he won’t be back before midnight.
I see.
Grisha, is something wrong?
Nothing.
Did you have a fight with Natalie?
No, Mother.
Grisha,
I can see you are upset. What is it?
I can’t hide anything from you, Mama.
I don’t know how to talk to you about it.
Tell me the truth.
It can’t be worse than I imagined.
-Do you remember Vasilina? -I do.
I met her today near the theater.
I barely recognized her.
She looked so vulgar with this clothes and the rouge.
In a word, there is no doubt that she has become a fille de joie.
I must confess
I regret selling her to Suslov now.
Somehow, he gave her a manumission.
He set her free.
The poor girl had nowhere to go.
She had no choice but to go to the streets.
Mother, I keep wondering
if the same would happen to our Kitty.
No. No, Grisha. This is different.
Aleksey Fiodorovich loves our Kitty.
He wants to marry her. No, really, this isn’t the same.
Exactly. He is going to!
Aleksey is a nice and charming man,
but he is too inconstant in love.
As far as I know, Kitty isn’t his first mad passion.
He used to be in love with Natalie, and then he forgot her.
He didn’t do right by Lidiya Shefer, either.
Mother, if that’s how he treats noble girls,
what is going to happen to Kitty?
Will he stick to his word? Will he marry her after buying her out?
What if he gets tired of her
and throws her out,
so that Kitty will have to sell her body in the streets?
Is that what you want for your goddaughter?
Of course it isn’t, Grisha.
No.
If all you said is true,
we need to take a closer look at this Kosach.
I promise you,
I swear,
if I see anything suspicious,
I’ll make your father cancel the deal.
Mother. Please don’t worry yourself.
Everything will be fine, I’m sure.
Aliosha!
What are you doing here?
Aliosha, what happened? Tell me!
Don’t worry, my dear. Everything is fine.
I couldn’t leave without seeing you even for a minute.
Are you leaving? Where to? For how long?
To Kiev.
I hope to be back soon, but it depends.
Aliosha, why Kiev? Alone, at night?
Don’t worry. Everything will be all right. Trust me.
I’ll be thinking about you, and the time will fly by.
You also must think about me. Promise.
All right. I will! I will.
I have to go.
Wait. I was going to...
Here. Take this.
It’s a daguerreotype of myself
my Godmother had taken last Christmas in Kharkov.
It’s yours.
Look at it once in a while,
and it will feel as if we never parted.
It’s time.