Anna Karenina Page #5

KARENIN:

I'm to be deprived of my wife so that adul-

tery may be forgiven? I can't excuse him

just because he's your brother.

ANNA:

It's for Dolly's sake too.

KARENIN:

(has to go)

I have four committees today . . .

There is another interruption: Serozha, aged seven and a half, and his

tutor, Vasily Lukich, enter for a ritual "good morning." Serozha is a little

frightened of his father, but the mother and son are in love. Anna goes

straight to Serozha, her heart lifted, to hug him.

KARENIN (CONT'D)

Good, good!--I have the world waiting

for me, there's never time to look at your

exercises!

11

LUKICH:

Sergei Alexeyich is doing very well, Your

Excellency.

ANNA:

(a button missing)

Tsk-tsk, who put this shirt on you? Never

mind. I'll come and hear you read.

KARENIN:

Tomorrow, perhaps. Thank you, Lukich--

perhaps tomorrow.

Lukich bows. Anna goes with Serozha, relinquishing him finally. She closes

the door on them.

ANNA:

Alexei, do you think nine years of mar-

riage and children should count for nothing

against a . . . an infatuation?

Karenin cracks his knuckles, concedes.

KARENIN:

No. Very well.

(kisses her hand)

But sin has a price, you may be sure of that.

INT. OBLONSKY'S DRESSING ROOM, OBLONSKY

HOUSE--DAY

Oblonsky has been bunking down on his couch. He moans and groans. He

gets up and tries the door to the bedroom. It's locked. He knocks timidly.

12

OBLONSKY:

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