Mrs. Chervinsky, Mr. Chervinsky,
this isn’t what you think.
Really?
What is it, then?
Don’t bother.
You can’t possibly explain this.
We don’t need your words.
We’ve seen it with our own eyes.
Katia, Katia!
She has nothing to apologize for.
If this is anyone’s fault, it’s mine.
Katerina Stepanovna hasn’t done anything.
Hasn’t she?
Oh, she has!
It’s her fault.
Not only did she disobey me... but she also lied to me.
-But, Godmother! -Shut up.
As for you, sir,
your actions are inexcusable.
I have an excuse.
My pure and immense love for your ward.
Pure?
Enough.
Had we come...
just a moment later...
No, Mr. Kosach.
Now your intentions are perfectly clear.
Her broken heart wasn’t enough for you.
You wanted to take her honor, too.
It’s a lie!
Piotr Ivanovich, why don’t you say something?
Sir, please get out of here.
Didn’t you hear him? Out!
Sir. Your tone is inappropriate.
Is it?
You came
to our manor uninvited
and broke into our house
with most filthy intentions.
Yakov,
I’ve changed my mind.
Go to the police and tell them there is a burglar in our house.
You know this is nonsense.
Sir, will you please leave?
So this is who she is.
Pretending to be an innocent flower...
And then hiding in a barn with a beau!
Don’t you dare!
Don’t anyone dare!
Go, sir.
Please leave.
Godmother.
Believe me, Aliosha didn’t mean anything wrong.
I’m disappointed in you.
I never expected you to act like this.
Don’t you understand
this gentleman’s foul intentions?
Don’t you realize he’ll use you and throw you out?
No, Godmother.
No! You’re mistaken.
Aleksey Fiodorovich assured me...
This is unbelievable.
Don’t you hear me?
I do. I’m sorry,
but I had to talk to Aliosha.
Talk?
Is this what you call talking?
Enough.
No more talking, no more meetings.
I forbid you, do you hear?
You made me do this. Enough.
You are under house arrest.
Nicolas!
I’m so glad you finally came.
Why the hell did you go to the Chervinskys the day before? Why?
To see her.
Madman.
I think I know what can save you, though.
-Well? -I’ll go to the woman
who has started all this.
Let Miss Shefer convince the Chervinskys
that you are an angel
who never planned to elope
with their fair Kitty.
That’s exactly what I’m going to do.
To do what?
Elope with her.
“...has mercy upon us and save us...
as He is the Lover of Man. Amen.”
Bless me, Father, and help me.
I know what worries you, Anna.
The tomorrow’s wedding.
All fledglings have to grow up, leave their nest,
and build their own.
This isn’t why I came, Father.
My goddaughter Katerina is out of control.
She fell in love with our neighbor Kosach.
So much...
so that she can’t think of anything else.
I heard he wanted to buy her out.
He did...
...but only...
to satisfy his lowly lust.
Fortunately, kind people warned me in time
and saved the innocent soul.
This is strange.
I don’t understand.
Do you mean Aliosha Kosach?
Or someone else?
I’ve known him since birth.
I was the one who baptized him.
Father, people change,
especially those who went through a war.
When was the last time he was in church?
You see?
He frequents the casino, though.
So, you decide if it would be right...
to give him power over our Kitty.
She doesn’t listen to me, though.
She keeps trying to sneak out.
I had to lock her up
to prevent her committing a sin.
What shall I do, Father?
All right, I’ll come visit you.
Maybe right after the baptism.
How many times do I have to say this?
This is insane!
Are you out of your mind? Come to senses!
Katerina is their property. It would be a theft.
It would be justice.
They ruined her parents’ lives.
Now they take away Katia’s happiness
just because they can.
Have you thought about what comes next?
Where, how, with what are you going to live?
I have.
I’ll leave the sugar beet money to Mother.
Then I’ll get a fake passport for Katia,
and we’ll get married.
After that, we go to Poland.
I’ll ask my cousin once removed to give me a job.
He works at the Krakow city council.
Theft!
Forgery!
Escape!
What makes you think your uncle will say yes?
You’ll spend the rest of your life on the run,
in constant fear of exposure... and jail.
So what? Some people live like this.
Besides, I’m sure Uncle won’t say no.
He always loved me.
I’m not scared of anything as long as Katia is with me.
Hello, Varvara Yegorovna.
Anna Lvovna! It has been ages, my dear.
You must be...
very busy.
I still can’t believe it.
Before I knew it,
it’s almost the wedding day.
I’ve been meaning to come visit you
and catch up,
but you are a veritable hermit now.
I didn’t suppose you wanted to see anyone.
Why?
I’m always glad to have company.
Then let’s go to your house.
Let me distract you from the wedding preparations a bit.
Katria, Katria.
What have you done?
Here.
I’ve brought you something to eat.
You shouldn’t have, Pavlina dear.
I’m not hungry.
Please take it away.
All right.
Stop this nonsense!
You should talk to Anna Lvovna...
tell her you’re sorry.
I didn’t do anything wrong.
I only wanted to be happy.
Is it a sin, a crime?
I have nothing to apologize for.
That’s exactly how our house looked
before my wedding with Nikifor.
The noise, the ruckus,
everything upside down!
I enjoyed the fuss, though.
Yes...
It was so long ago.
Yes. Time flies by.
It feels like just yesterday I was a bride,
and now my son is getting married.
Varia, I’m so glad you came.
I haven’t been myself lately.
One minute I’m happy, the next I’m sad
and want to cry...
for no reason.
Are you sure there is no reason?
What do you mean?
Well...
I wasn’t sure if I should talk to you about it.
About what?
All right.
As your friend, I will tell you.
I would be grateful
if someone had opened...
my eyes to my husband.
A bitter truth is better than a sweet lie.
Tell me.
-Come on. It’s a whim! -It’s not a whim. It is love.
Don’t you understand? I can’t live without her.
Your horse is ready, Nikolay Aleksandrovich.
It’s not a game,
this thing you’re planning.
You won’t be able to say later, “I’m sorry, I didn’t think.”
There must be another way out.
What if you talk to Mr. Chervinsky alone?
I’m sure he won’t be able to resist a bigger price.
It’s hopeless.
I’m prepared to be a mediator.
Moreover,
in spite of my principles,
I’m ready to loan you...
the rest of the money
if he names an unreasonable price.
Give me your word...
you won’t elope.
Go, Nicolas.
All right, Anna.
I would keep my mouth shut...
if it didn’t become so unseemly.
Their affair is the talk of the town.
-They don’t even try to hide it. -Who is she?
This is the most indecent part.
How could you do this?
Having an affair with this actress in front of the whole town!
I forget her name.
Raisa, Larisa...
Oh!
Larisa Yakhontova. How do you like it?
My Nikifor saw them at a restaurant yesterday.
They were having dinner.
Piotr Ivanovich...
Holding her hand, kissing her fingers!
Enough.
I mean, he can’t blemish the family name like this.
Enough.
All right, you want to have a mistress.
But parading her?
Especially on the eve of your son’s wedding.
Unbelievable.
This actress...
Hello,
Varvara Yegorovna.
Sorry for interrupting.
Mother, Father Pimen is here to see you.
Grigoriy Petrovich, hello.
-Congratulations. -Thank you.
Nikifor Lukich and I expect you tomorrow.
And now you’ll have to excuse us, if you don’t mind.
Father Pimen is waiting for Mama.
-Of course. -You know, the wedding preparations...
I understand.
Thank you for the invitation.
-Bless me, Father. -God bless you.
God bless you.
Your hand, please.
God bless you. Where is she?
At home.
Galina.
Here is the key.
Take Father Pimen to Kitty.
Who is Kitty?
Just my goddaughter.
Thank you for coming, Varia.
You’ll have to excuse me. So many things to do.
Don’t be so upset, darling.
You don’t look like yourself.
It is going to be all right.
We’ll show this cheeky woman.
-Varvara Yegorovna, come on. -Grigoriy Petrovich.
Goodbye.
I’m sure you’ll look great in your wedding attire.
Definitely. Come on, go!
-Go! -Have a nice trip.
Mother,
I hope you didn’t believe this gossipmonger.
Nikolay Aleksandrovich,
you don’t come see me often.
Too bad.
I’m always glad to see you.
I came here for a reason, Lidiya Ivanovna.
Interesting.
It’s about Aleksey Kosach.
Even more interesting.
You have my undivided attention.
I know for a fact that Anna Lvovna changed her decision
regarding Kosach after talking to you.
Willingly or not, you persuaded her that Aleksey is a bad person.
As a result, his wedding with Katerina Verbitskaya was thwarted.
I ask you
to talk to Anna Lvovna immediately
and rectify this mistake.
I don’t believe it a mistake.
You don’t!
I didn’t expect you to admit your intrigue so easily.
What do you mean?
I was talking about the wedding.
This kind of marriage is inadmissible.
It’s a crime against moral,
the society, everything we hold sacred.
Marrying a bondmaid?
People should know their place.
Otherwise, it’s chaos, Sodom and Gomorrah.
As for your insinuations,
this is nonsense.
Yes, I were at the Chervinskys’ house,
but it wasn’t about Kosach.
Lidiya Ivanovna, everybody knows you are fond of Aleksey.
You are the one who benefits from this lie.
I’m asking you to go to the Chervinskys today, this minute,
and tell them the truth. Have a heart!
How awful it is...
for a woman to be so open in her feelings,
giving an excuse...
to belie her.
Yes, I love Kosach.
I’m more happy than anyone that the marriage isn’t going to happen.
And yet, this isn’t my doing.
I have nothing to do with it.
It’s fate. Destiny.
It’s meant to be, Nikolay Aleksandrovich.
-So you aren’t going to the Chervinskys. -Don’t even dream of it.
Well,
it’s up to you.
Did you have any sinful thoughts?
Is some man seducing you?
I heard about your love for your neighbor.
Yes, Father.
I love him.
But why is it a sin?
Believe me, Father, there is no sin in my heart, only love.
Katerina, you are overwhelmed with lust.
I didn’t believe Aleksey was able to lead a girl astray.
Not at all, Father Pimen.
There is no other man in the world as pure and innocent as Aleksey.
-Don’t believe what people say about him. -Your judgment is clouded.
Beware of carnal sins.
You will fast for one month.
Read the Psalter and pray...
for your dear ones to reconcile.
This is what you need to think about,
not your infatuation with him.
I will pray...
for your salvation, too.
God is omnipotent.
Everything will be settled if it’s God’s will.
What?
Mother?
I remembered...
you wanted me to be at the fitting.
-What is it? -God,
you’re handsome.
You’re unbelievably handsome.
I am...
I have been worrying lately...
because of your wedding and Kitty.
But now I am just happy...
because...
you are so handsome...
and so grown-up.
Come on, Mother.
Everything is fine.
Yes.
I’m so happy I lived to see this day.
Mother, isn’t it too wide?
No.
It’s perfect.
No need to change anything.
It’s great.
Again?
I’m sorry.
What are you staring at?
I’m leaving.
If Anna Lvovna asks after me,
tell her I went to visit Mlle Natalie.
Whatever you say, Grigoriy Petrovich.
It’s just...
What?
It’s a bad omen if the groom sees the bride on the eve of the wedding.
Idiot.
Stop!
Brilliant!
Brilliant, Mlle Yakhontova.
You should take a leaf from her book, M-me Kanatokhodova.
This is a raw talent.
Thank you for the rehearsal. This is a wrap.
Larisa Viktorovna.
Congratulations on your lead.
This play will be the sensation
of the season.
Thank you, Sazon Sazonovich.
It’s not me you should thank, my dear.
I hope Piotr Ivanovich...
stays in your good graces,
and it’ll inspire him to keep supporting our art.
Please tell him I said hello if you get a chance.
I will if I get a chance.
How dare you?
Quiet.
Didn’t I warn you to stay away from my father?
I won’t be mild with you anymore.
Either you tell him today
that it is over...
or you will regret it.
Believe me, you will.
Do you understand?
From now on,
look for patrons elsewhere.
Is that clear?
You?
Me.
Did you think I were your beau?
Thank you. You can go.
Since when are you giving me orders?
You are no mistress of mine.
What,
you don’t feel like eating?
I can help you out.
Everything is in French...
You’ll probably miss them.
-What do you mean? -Nothing.
I heard the masters talking.
Well, tell me.
Oops, what a shame.
You can clean it up.
You should get used to it.
Your new masters won’t tolerate your tantrums
when you are sold on an auction.
An auction? Wait.
Right over here...
Come in.
Nicolas,
your timing is perfect.
The groom can’s see the bride before the wedding,
and I need a male opinion.
How do I look?
Spectacular!
The prettiest bride I’ve ever seen.
Oh, Nicolas.
How fortunate that you aren’t engaged yet.
Otherwise, I’d miss out on this compliment.
Orysia, move it to the right.
Let me!
Are you all right? Are you hurt?
-Are you fine? -I’m fine, I’m fine.
Get out!
Larisa Viktorovna,
you like to torture me, you cruel girl.
Why didn’t you come to the restaurant?
I even ordered champagne.
Allow me.
How do you like your new part?
I can see the posters.
“Sensation!
Fantastic premiere...
starring Mlle Yakhontova.”
I’ve done what I promised.
-Your hand, please. -Stop it.
I don’t feel like celebrating.
Dis something happen?
Your son ambushed me at the theater today.
Grigoriy?
I thought he was your only son... unless you have bastards, of course.
He almost killed me...
Demanding that I broke up with you at once.
He threatened me with horrible things.
The bastard!
He won’t do anything to you.
He won’t dare.
I see.
You leave it to me.
What a great champion you are!
No, he won’t lay a finger on you.
Badmouthing people is easy.
I’ll show the bastard his place.
Telling me...
whom I’m to love!
You will see he will apologize to you.
Larisa Viktorovna.
You are the best thing in my life.
How can I let you go?
I only want to know one thing,
and then I can survive anything.
Do you love me?
Nicolas...
this is bad, so bad!
The bird,
the mirror.
It’s so awful!
A very bad omen.
Woe is me, Nicolas.
Nonsense.
Don’t worry about that.
How a silly bird and some shards of glass
can harm anyone?
This is old women’s tales.
Nicolas!
Don’t say this.
It’s very serious.
I can’t believe you.
Where is my fearless, adventurous sister?
Where is the girl clearing hurdles like a hussar?
Natalie,
where are you?
Natalie, sweet sister?
Tata,
I can’t see you!
Where are you?
Where are you, sister?
I’m here.
That’s better.
If you are so scared,
it can be easily helped.
Say one word,
and there will be no wedding.
No.
I’ve made a decision,
and nothing will stop me
from becoming Mrs. Chervinsky.
Why were you looking for me, sir?
I was told you can procure any kind of papers.
Lies. You’re mistaken.
I assure you I am no spy.
I’m a man in a desperate situation.
I won’t expose you.
I believe you.
You wouldn’t.
Still, it’s a mistake.
I don’t do any papers.
I have money.
All right,
all right. I know a man.
He might be able to help. What is it you need?
A passport for an 18-year-old girl.
The name... Say,
Katerina Troyanskaya.
I see.
Also, traveling papers.
But first the passport.
I’ll need to pick it up tomorrow before dawn.
You’ll have to pay for the short notice.
Don’t worry.
Your bird will have fake papers
no copper will ever doubt.
Aleksey.
Are you dead set on losing your soul?
Bless me, Father.
God bless you, my son.
Miss,
all these omens are silly.
Ask your heart.
It won’t lie.
The thing is,
I’m confused.
I don’t know...
if it’s my heart speaking...
or my fear.
You could also...
try fortune telling.
At the village, girls always
tell fortunes at the hen party.
What the bride’s fate will be,
whether her husband will be loving and true.
Can you...
tell fortunes?
Of course.
I know this thing...
It will tell you all the truth.
Just say a word.
People say you’re gambling...
and seducing other people’s bondmaids.
So you’ve heard the rumors, too.
I love her.
Is it a sin?
Human’s carnal love needs...
to be consecrated by the Church.
I was going to marry her!
You would be the one to wed us.
The Chervinskys refused to sell Katia to me.
You need to reconcile
with her godmother and Piotr Ivanovich.
How? They won’t even listen to me.
Accept it, then.
Meekness is a great virtue, Aleksey.
Keep your conscience clear.
You are crossing all lines!
This is low, disgusting!
You...
What a whirlpool of passion!
I’ve tolerated this long enough.
You think I didn’t know all these years
that Yakov was supplying girls for you?
Birds!
Is that what they’re called?
You monster!
You frog’s piss!
May you have no happiness in life.
So that’s who is doing all this, eh?
-You loafer! -I’ll...
I’ll kill you!
Look at her!
I’ll show you!
Here you go.
You dog! Get out of here.
Aunt Pavlina? Where does this china go?
China?
Don’t you know where china goes? To the kitchen!
-Wash it and make it shine. -Yes, ma’am.
Hey! What is this fuss about?
You think I don’t know about your Khimkas,
Kilinas, Avdotyas, Glafiras
and Vasilinas?
You have an enviable memory. So what?
It did hurt my feelings but not my honor.
Now, though,
you’ve crossed the line.
Now I see where this sudden obsession
with art comes from.
You liar!
You bastard!
You think I’m incapable of follies?
I’ll divorce you.
I’ll make it official and demand my dowry back.
I’ll make sure the whole Chernigov
province knows all about you, my dear Romeo.
Are you done?
Now I see you are.
Listen to me, Anna Lvovna.
Everything you’ve just said is complete nonsense.
It has nothing to do with me or the reality.
Varvara Yegorovna was here.
Your affair...
is the talk of the town in Nezhin.
You are the butt...
of all jokes and gossip,
and so am I.
Why would she lie about it?
How do I know?
Out of boredom or envy.
Who knows?
I’m not going to investigate
why this old fool told you all these lies.
You have nothing to worry about, darling.
There will be no scandal,
because the rumors are false.
That’s it.
I’m going out.
Out?
Where?
To her?
To Nezhin?
My darling,
I have always gone when
and where I wanted.
We are too old for such scenes.
Spare me the vulgar drama.
I only have myself to answer to.
Well?
Will you keep wasting your masters’ property?
I won’t! Believe me, I won’t!
Have mercy! I’ll work it off.
You and all your litter cost less that this china.
Now, Miss,
pour the wax
into the water.
A cross.
Orysia, what does it mean?
Is it bad?
Not at all, Miss.
Why would it be bad? It’s good.
It’s obvious... why it’s a cross.
You will walk to the altar tomorrow
to stand in front of the cross.
All your troubles and worries
will go underwater like this wax did.
Your life will be quiet...
and clear.
You aren’t lying to me, are you?
As God is my witness!
This is what is going to happen.
The wax fortunetelling...
always comes true.
Now I can breathe easier.
My heart feels lighter.
I don’t know how to thank you.
Holy Mother of God and all saints,
protect God’s slave Natalya.
What are you murmuring?
I’m saying,
look at the bright moon.
It’s also a good sign, isn’t it?
You’re right.
So bright!
Thank you, Orysia,
for your kind heart and your fortunetelling.
Nazar.
Nazar!
Mr. Kosach!
What are you doing here?
You can’t be here.
What if someone sees you? God knows what will happen then.
I know.
I need to see Katia. It’s urgent.
It’s impossible.
She is locked up. She doesn’t eat or drink.
The priest was here today.
Why would he come?
You have let the girl down.
Nazar, please!
Find a way to sneak in...
and pass her this.
Please.
Lord, give to this unworthy
the bliss of understanding
to recognize things that are desirable to you
and useful to me...
and not just recognize but do them...
not to get carried away with empty things
feel for the sufferers
and be gracious to the sinners.
Here.
From you know whom.
He expects an answer.
"My dear Katia.
I can see no arguments
will persuade the Chervinskys
to let me buy you out.
Thus, I suggest a last resort measure:
elopement.
Believe me, this is the only way for us to be together.
We will go far away
from this unfortunate place and get married.
I have obtained a fake passport for you and made all preparations.
As a gentleman, I must forewarn you:
our marriage will not be legal.
We will be husband and wife only before God.
I understand how drastic this measure is and don’t dare to insist.
If you don’t agree, send this letter back to me.
If you do, burn it so that the Chervinsky didn’t see it by accident.
Forever yours, Aleksey Kosach."