“I admit slandering an honest man, Grigoriy Chervinsky.
I can’t live with this. Goodbye. Yours, Aleksey Kosach.”
The fool!
It’s all right.
It’s all right, Katia.
It’s over.
God...
keeping you in the cellar! It’s impossible.
Anna Lvovna would never have allowed it.
And I...
I won’t allow it, either.
I’m your friend, Kitty.
And now I’m your mistress, too.
I’ll take you under my wing.
I don’t care what happens to me without Aliosha.
Well...
It will be the same as it was with Anna Lvovna.
You will want for nothing.
I promise.
Natalie, let me see Aliosha.
Something happened to him. I know it. I feel it.
Kitty, darling.
This isn’t the time.
I need it.
Natalie, please. I really need it.
Kitty.
You have to understand.
After your elopement, it’s impossible.
Don’t look at me like this.
It’s your and Aleksey’s own fault.
Then don’t call yourself my friend.
You vouched for him, and look what happened.
He killed himself.
He probably didn’t want to be disgraced in court.
It happens.
Are you sure this wasn’t a suicide?
What else?
Here.
The gun in his hand, the note.
Do you know Aleksey Fiodorovich’s hand well?
Did he write it?
Looks like it.
The signature definitely is.
This is strange, thought.
Doesn’t look like him.
He’d never write such an important note in pencil.
Star-crossed love makes people do strange things.
I’m sure Mr. Kosach did shoot himself.
His choice of place looks weird, though.
The mill is in the Chervinskys’ land.
This isn’t done, taking your own life in your neighbor’s land.
This mill is special for Aleksey.
He used to meet with his beloved here.
Right. He talks about...
some slander in this note.
Yesterday, during the wake...
Aleksey accused Grigoriy Chervinsky of desertion and forgery.
Oh.
I think I should pay a visit to Grigoriy Petrovich.
Are you done here? Can I take Aleksey with me?
What?
The body, I mean. Can I bring it to the family?
Oh. Yes, of course.
Nikolay Aleksandrovich.
Did you find him?
Is he all right?
Nicolas... How could...
Go inside...
and don’t let the children out.
I’ll do it.
Aliosha, my son!
Who did it?
The police says it’s suicide.
No, no!
No! No! It can’t be true!
It can’t be.
He wouldn’t...
Aliosha...
It’s a mortal sin.
Sofya Stanislavovna.
He left a note.
The police officer took it. They need it until the investigation is over.
Aliosha! Aliosha!
Aliosha!
What have you done, Aliosha!
What have you done?
How could you, Aliosha!
The inspector is here.
-Is it about your debts? -Papa!
Show him in.
Hello, Piotr Ivanovich. Gentlemen.
Will you join us? Be so kind.
No, no, thank you. I’m here in my official capacity.
-I’m listening. -Piotr Ivanovich.
The old mill across the forest - is it yours?
Yes, it is. Why?
A dead body was discovered at the mill an hour ago.
Whose body?
Your neighbor.
Aleksey Kosach.
Natalie, just a second.
-Oh God. -His death was caused by a shot wound.
This note was found next to the body.
-Suicide? -Looks like it.
Calm down.
Piotr Ivanovich, let’s not upset the lady.
Let’s spare Natalya Aleksandrovna.
Can we go to some other room?
My study, please.
It’s all right.
Grigoriy Petrovich.
I’d like you to join us.
Go.
His poor mother! God save us from sons like him.
She asked me to spare him, poor thing. Well, never mind. Come in.
Thank you.
So, what can I do for you?
Do I have to sign something, being the owner of the mill?
No, it doesn’t matter. It’s not the point.
What is?
The thing is, it was staged to look like suicide.
In fact, Mr. Kosach was killed.
Why?
By whom?
Your son.
No! No!
No.
No!
Oh God!
This is horrible!
How come...
-How could it happen? -I don’t know.
The inspector says he shot himself at the old mill.
You know, Pavlina...
We need to break the news to Katia.
How can we tell her?
She is beside herself already.
No. I’m afraid it would make her lose her mind...
or worse. Like him...
God forbid.
You’re probably right. Let’s wait.
Let her get better first.
How dare you come to my house with such accusations?
Why the hell would Grigoriy want to kill him?
As he has told you,
he had spent all night at the casino with Mr. Suslov.
-Right. -Don’t you believe him?
Besides, you have Kosach’s suicide note.
I’ve seen these suicide notes before. It’s in fact a duel note.
A technicality allowing the surviving participant to get away scot-free.
You challenged him, didn’t you?
I don’t think you let his accusations slip.
Yes.
We were supposed to meet this morning at the farthest lake.
The duel never happened, though. Kosach didn’t come.
I don’t think this is what happened.
There was a duel.
You shot Mr. Kosach.
However, it happened at the old mill.
This explains why Aleksey Fiodorovich
chose to end his life not at his home
but at his enemy’s land.
What are you talking about?
Kosach didn’t appear.
What do you want?
You see, I’m absolutely on your side.
Arrogant liars should be punished.
However, duels are banned, and as a member of the police...
How much?
The usual price for a duel without consequences is 100
200 if someone is wounded.
In your case, though...
Nonsense!
I’ll say it again: there was no duel,
with or without consequences.
Kosach never showed up.
I have witnesses.
-Who? Apart from your seconds. -Come with me.
Well, if Natalya Aleksandrovna confirms it...
Then, of course...
Still, I don’t understand.
Why did he chose such an unusual place?
Who knows what these suicides are thinking.
Pray forgive me. Goodbye.
Kosach did me a bad favor again.
I’m sick and tired of all this.
I wish I could go away from all this.
Why don’t you?
You should go. To Paris or...
But... we’re in mourning.
How would it look?
Never mind. You’ll go quietly and come back quietly.
Why should you stay here after the wedding?
That’s true. You’re right, Father.
-Let’s do it, Natalie. -When?
Tomorrow or the day after.
Yes. All right.
But...
I’d like to see Liddy.
You understand... It would be better for her to learn it from me.
Pavlusia.
What shall I do?
I’ll go to Piotr Ivanovich.
I’ll beg him!
Let him put me on the most menial of duties let him sell me
just let him forgive Aliosha.
Help me get dressed, Pavlusia.
I said stay in bed!
He isn’t here. He left.
The doctor said you should be in bed.
Are you?
Oh God, such a big sin!
He is definitely going to hell now.
Poor Katrusia. What will happen to her now?
Right. Poor girl.
God save us.
-Idling again? -The devil...
Did you miss my whip?
I can arrange for you to meet it.
Be quiet!
Yelling on a day like this!
Don’t tell me what to do. It isn’t the Easter.
No!
Oh God. Katrusia!
My baby!
Pavlusia, tell me it isn’t true. She’s lying! She’s lying!
-What happened? -Mr. Kosach shot himself.
No!
He couldn’t have! He was killed!
Oh Lord, You are omnipotent and omnipresent.
Punish his murderers!
Let them be tortured eternally!
Let them pay for what they’ve done again and again.
Let his murderers burn in hell!
My dear. Darling!
Somebody! Somebody help!
-Somebody help. -Bring water.
Nazar!
Nazar, take her,
carry her... inside.
My baby, my precious little bird.
Oh God. Put her down here.
Yes.
Here. Oh my God...
Give her strength to survive it.
I know it’s a sin to say such things but...
I’m glad this gent is dead.
-What? -Maybe now it will work, her and me.
Go. It’s not the time to talk about it.
She’s burning again. Oh my God.
Goddamn Galia!
Let her have a furuncle in her mouth!
Let her tongue rot and fall out!
Aunt Pavla, if you need something for Katrusia, you know I...
Go. She doesn’t need anything.
All she needed was peace,
but someone couldn’t keep their mouth shut.
Smooth this lock...
you clumsy creature.
-Mrs. Chervinskaya is here. -Show her in.
Natalie, darling, excuse me for receiving you like this.
I’m trying a new hairdo from the fashion magazine. Do you like it?
It’s very pretty, Liddy.
Darling, I...
-Aliosha... -Aliosha?
Is he back? Did you see him?
No.
Aliosha is gone.
10 YEARS BACK
Natalie!
Look, it’s a horse.
Yes, a horse.
This is its head, and the croup...
Liddy, do you see?
Maybe I’ll go somewhere.
A horse means a hussar.
Natalie, you’ll marry a hussar!
-Silly girl. -I don’t know.
What’s burning in here?
Oh!
The Epiphany night fortune-telling!
Nicolas, get out of here! Out!
-Why is that? -Go, go.
Nicolas, let’s go dip in the ice hole!
Aliosha, no! No, no, no. It’s freezing out there. You’ll get a cold.
That’s right, Aliosha. Stay at home.
-You’re just a kid. -Me, a kid? I...
Stop! Aleksey! Naughty boy.
Excuse me. Aliosha has been out of control
since his father died.
Just look at him!
He is going to dive! Nicolas, please keep an eye on him.
Ask the first man you see, understand?
Yes, yes.
Name! Quick.
Aliosha. What’s going on?
No, not your name.
Ah, fortune-telling. Well...
Avtandil Dormidontovich.
Too late.
Aliosha it is.
Look at you, brother!
No!
It’s not true!
Unfortunately, it’s true.
The inspector said Nikolay had found the body. So...
-Liddy, I am very sorry. -Sorry?
You’re sorry?
-You!!! -Lidiya Ivanovna, don’t.
You bitch!
Wretch! Skunk!
Botch!
I hate you! I hate you!
-Lidiya, recollect yourself! Lidiya. -What?
Leave me alone!
Leave me! Go!
Go!
I only blame myself for everything that happened.
If I helped Aliosha run away...
this tragedy would never have happened.
He and Katia would be in Poland now.
Too late now.
Father, I close my eyes...
and see him the way he was that Christmas...
Soaking wet, snow in his hair.
He saw me as his big brother, and I failed him.
You couldn’t have known.
Who would have thought Aliosha would kill himself?
He couldn’t have.
No, Father. He just couldn’t have.
Anyone but him.
He loved life too much, and he was a fighter.
You mean he was murdered?
But why, by whom?
Also, there is a note.
I don’t know what to think yet.
But I won’t let it go.
Now I see why you lingered.
To talk in private.
You’re asking for impossible, Sofya.
You know I can’t read the last rites for someone who killed himself.
He is forever banned from the Pearly Gate.
Such a horrible sin!
-Go. -Father!
Father, I’m begging you!
Don’t.
Father! Please!
Our Lady Maria the Protector!
What have I ever done for You to punish me like this?
Enough. Enough.
It’s not your sin. It’s his.
He chose this fate for himself.
There is nothing we can do.
Father, you baptized him.
You know him.
At least pray for him in private.
I will.
And I give you my blessing to pray for the recently departed Aleksey.
In private.
That’s all we can do.
What love are you talking about?
She cast a spell on him.
He wasn’t even scared of eternal damnation.
I’m telling you, Katia sold her soul to the devil.
Where did she get that spell?
You’ll see, this gent will be haunting us.
Why!
Self-killers know no peace.
He’ll start coming to her.
Wandering around, wailing...
scratching at windows.
Or something worse.
Galia, shut up. Don’t scare us. We’re scared enough already.
We will have no peace while this witch is here.
She’ll bring the devil here!
Nazar, what?
What are you doing?
Do you have nothing to do but torturing people?
-What do you mean? -Was it you who told Katia
that her lover is dead? Tell me!
What if I did?
She’d find out anyway. Why wait?
You foul mouth!
If I ever see you near Katia or talking to her...
I won’t care you’re a woman I’ll kill you! Got it?
-Got it? -Got it.
Aunt Pavla, did you see that?
He almost strangled me!
I’d do it, too!
Who asked you to tell her?
What did I say? Anyway...
Galia, don’t tempt me!
Don’t come to my kitchen agai
or I might hit you with a pan by accident.
Where should I go, then?
To the henhouse, to clean chicken shit! That’s your place.
Go to sleep!
Enough.
Punish his murderers!
Let them be tortured eternally!
-Hush, darling. -Let his murderers burn in hell!
Beware...
Oh... God!
Aunt Pavlina!
Gritsyk, what are you doing here?
Is my mother ill?
No, she’s fine.
Here, she sent you this.
What did she say?
Well...
She asked when you would come to bake pies for her.
She misses you.
Here.
Tell her I don’t know when I can come.
I’m busy. Katria is sick. All right, go.
Why are you staring at me?
You want to bully me again?
Why would I?
Why are you all green in the face?
None of your business. Be on your way.
Oh, God’s punishment!
Katrusia.
My poor girl! Cry.
Come on, cry. You will feel better.
It’s cold.
Dark.
It’s night...
Where?
Where do you see the night?
It’s day.
And it’s summer, not winter.
Look out the window. Look!
It’s night.
Night, Pavlusia.
You only wear black skirts at night.
Black gowns and gloves, too.
Lay out my black dress for me, Pavlusia.
You know the one I need.
Get it ready.
Piotr Ivanovich!
How nice.
-You are so... -So what?
So... I don’t know how to describe it.
-I forgot to say thank you. -What for?
-What for?
Kuzinsky visited me behind the curtains yesterday.
Can you believe it? He is recruiting a company for a European tour.
He wants me to join them... as a lead!
We’ll go to Warsaw, then Prague, Vienna...
and then...
France.
Two whole months.
We’ll be touring the south of France in the fall.
Riviera! I can’t believe it.
Neither can I. He must be a fraud.
What? Wasn’t it you who sent him?
Not at all.
Who is this Kuziakin?
Kuzinsky. The whole Kiev knows him.
Not just Kiev: he is hiring actors in St. Petersburg, too.
I’m even flattered...
that he found me all by himself.
So it seems your protege isn’t totally without talent.
Don’t worry, he is a very reliable man.
Come on!
How can I not worry? You’re leaving.
So what? I’ll be back.
Come on, don’t pout.
Don’t.
You won’t. You’ll find somebody else there.
If I wanted to, I’d fins him here. We aren’t in a desert.
All right, Larisa.
You’ll have to make a choice.
It’s either me or Kuziakin.
Thank you for coming, Nikolay Aleksandrovich.
Others were too scared or too squeamish to come.
What are you talking about, Marianna?
It’s true.
We are poor and now also disgraced.
Who wants to say goodbye to a self-killer?
As if they were without sin.
It’s your grief speaking, not you.
What matters is who is here.
We all loved Aliosha. This is what counts.
Sofya Stanislavovna, it’s horrible.
Be strong.
Aliosha is looking at us from heaven.
I’ll always be there for you. We are family now.
Uncle Nikolay, will Aliosha become an angel?
It’s in God’s hands.
We can’t know that.
God is kind. He will have mercy on Aliosha.
I don’t think you should be there. Nikolay is enough.
-Grig. -We need to leave.
Don’t argue with me. I’m going to the funeral.
I promise we won’t stay for more than two hours.
Natalya Aleksandrovna.
Please have mercy on me!
Let me come with you. I want to have one last look at him.
Katia, please rise.
Rise.
Now, now.
Of course you’re coming with me.
Let’s go.
Oh my God.
Outside the cemetery,
without a cross!
How horrible.
We’ll always remember Aleksey
as a true friend,
a loving son and brother.
Let God forgive him his sins,
voluntary and involuntary,
because he had a pure heart
and a serene soul.
God rest his soul.
We’re late.
He’s already in grave.
Maybe this is for the better, Kitty.
Listen, darling, you can’t...
just show up like this.
Let’s wait until everybody leaves.
Then you can go say your goodbye.
You can stay as long as you want.
All right?
Yes.
Sofya Stanislavovna.
ALEKSEY KOSACH
My son!
My baby!
-Sofya Stanislavovna. -Aliosha!
Forgive me, for God’s sake, forgive me.
It’s all my fault! Forgive me!
What have you done?
What... What have you done?
I’m sorry...
Forgive me!
Aliosha! Aliosha.