"LENFILM 1941" "He rebelled against society, He was always alone ... and was slain!" "On the 100th anniversary of the death of Mikhail Yu." "Lermontov 1841 - 1941" "MASQUERADE A drama in verse by M. Yu." "Lermontov" "Written and directed by Sergei Gerasimov holder of the State Award cinematographer" " V. Gardanov composer" " V. Pushkov" "Cast" "Arbenin" " Nicholai MORDVINOV" "Nina" " Tamara Makarova" "Prince Zvezdich" " M. SADOWSKI" "Baroness Strahl" " S. Magarill Kazarin" " A. PANKRYSHEV" "Sprich" " E. Gal Stranger" " S. Gerasimov" "Oh, how I want to embarrass their gaiety" "And boldly throw into their eyes the iron verse," "Bathed in bitterness and anger!" "Lermontov" "MASQUERADE" "Let me place a bet." " Very well, sir." " 100 roubles." "All right." "Well, good luck!" "One should always try to improve one's fortune," "This looks bad ..." "Luck should be bent a little." "Here we go." " All in?" " That'll sting you!" "Listen, my friend, if you don't stake it high you'll never amount to anything." " Keep your eyes open." " All in!" "Prince, anger only makes your blood boil." "you shouldn't gamble when you're angry." "Do keep your advice to yourself for once." " Covered." " Damn it ..." "Kindly pay up." "In your fever you seem to be ready to gamble everything away." "What are your epaulettes worth?" "I earned them honourably, they're not for sale." "You'd better be more modest, having such bad luck at your age." "Well, aren't you gambling?" " Kazarin?" " Look at you, my dear." "Married, rich - you've become a real baring." " You've quite forgotten your old comrades!" " It's been some years." " So what keeps you busy all the time?" " Love ... not work." " Taking your wife out to the balls?" " No!" " Gambling?" " No ... just taking a sneak." "But I see a new face here." "Who's that fop over there?" "Sprich!" "Adam Petrovich .." "I'll introduce him at once." "Come here, my friend, let me introduce, Arbenin." " I know you." "I don't remember meeting you." "I've heard so much about you that I've been longing to meet you for a long time." "I'm afraid I haven't heard anything about you yet." "But I'm sure you'll tell me all about yourself." "What strange new people you're acquainted with." " Kazarin!" "Athanasius Pavlich ..." " Coming ..." "What terrible treachery!" " Hurry up!" " What's the trouble?" "Prince, you here?" "This must be the first time?" "I was going to ask you the same question." "Let my answer be a warning, perhaps:" "I used to frequent these places, and I often observed an anxious youngster trying his luck at the wheel of fortune." "One was winning, another was crushed." "I neither envied them, nor did I join them." "I saw a lot of young men, full of hope and a sense of complete, ?" "happily ignorant of life's ordeals ..." "fiery souls, their sole aim in life was love ..." "They died quickly before my eyes." "And here I am, watching it again." " I've lost." " So I see." " So what?" "Will you shoot yourself?" " I'm in despair." "You only have two options:" "either to swear never to gamble again, or to sit down at once at the table... and learn to win." "But then you must decide if you want to sacrifice it all:" "family, friends, and honour," "You have to live the experience, coldly, impartially probe the abilities and souls of your gambling partners:" "dissect all their components;" "learn the art to study the faces of men you hardly know." "All their motives and thoughts;" "it takes years of practice, the use of your hands, to learn to despise the laws of society, the laws of nature, scheming all day, gambling all night, the torment of never knowing freedom, and to conceal your suffering." "Not to tremble when you meet someone of equal skill, hoping for good luck every moment, awaiting an inglorious end, and not to blush when he calls you "scoundrel!"" "I don't know, what should I do?" " What should I do?" " Whatever you want to do." " Perhaps, some happiness ..." " Oh-oh-oh ..." "There's no happiness here!" "I've lost everything!" "Please give me some advice." " I don't give advice." " Well ..." " Then I'll sit down at the table again!" " Wait." "I'll sit in your place." "You are young - I too was inexperienced and young once, like you, arrogant and reckless, too, and if someone had stopped me then ..." "Allow me to try my luck with a bold hand, and the rest is really none of your affair!" "Please don't refuse a handicapped man;" "I want to see what fate may have in store for me." "Whether I'm equal to today's young adepts." "I'm a slave of long standing!" "He couldn't resist ... the old fire burning in him again." "Well, don't let them put you to shame, show them what an old hand is still capable of." "Certainly, here's your book." "You're the host, we're the guests." "Beware - now be all eyes!" ".." "I cannot stomach this "Vanka Cain"." "And he might even top my ace." "They all have crowded into a pile." "Seems like a thundercloud." "He'll cow them for a month!" " He's a wizard." " He was." " He was?" "And now?" " Now?" "Married and rich, the man turned solid." "He may look like a little lamb now, and yet, the same beast ..." "I say, you can't fool nature." "It's silly to say:" "he looks like an angel, and all he does is pretending." "And even you, my friend, as every child can see, are carrying a litte devil inside." "It seems the gentlemen are being overpowered?" " Arbenin is like a whale." " Come on, gentlemen!" "Well, if he goes on like that, perhaps 100.000." " He'll cut his throat yet." " We'll see." "Basta!" "I shall never forget ..." "You've saved my life ..." "And your money too." "Indeed, it's hard to say which of the two is dearer." " How much you've sacrificed for my sake!" " Nothing at all." "I was glad to get some distraction, I was feeling restless, my blood suffocating me in my head and chest;" "I sat down at the gambling table like you would go into battle." " But you might have lost!" " I?" "..." "No." "Those blissful days are over." "I see through it all now..." "I know all their subtleties." "And that's why I'm no longer gambling these days." "You're trying to escape my gratitude." "Upon my word, I'm telling you, I cannot bear gratitude." "Nothing and nobody obliged me to it, and if I was helping someone out, that wasn't because of attachment, but because I found it profitable." " I don't believe you." " Who's asking you to believe!" "I've been used to it for ages." "And if I weren't so lazy, I'd be a hypocrite ..." "But let's end this conversation ..." "Let's have fun, just you and me." "After all, today's a holiday and, surely, there'll be a masquerade at Engelhardt's ..." " Really?" " Let's go?" " With pleasure." "I'll relax in the crowd a bit." "There are women there ... miracles of beauty." "Here's the generation of today." "And when I was young, was I like them?" "Why, prince!" "Have you had another adventure?" " I've been searching for an hour!" " Don't think the adventure is going to find you." "A new adventure ..." "I can sense it coming." " All masks are silly ..." " There are no silly masks." "When they're silent, they're mysterious, when they talk, so cute." "All this is easy to tell ..." "And yet, I'm still yawning ..." "But here's one of them." "God be blessed!" " I know you!" " And intimately, it seems." "I know what you're thinking of." "In this case, you're more fortunate than I." "But if I'm not mistaken, your lips are lovely." "You like me?" "That's too bad." " For whom?" " For one of us." "I don't see why, and your prediction doesn't scare me, and though I'm not very smart, I'll find out who you are ..." "So, once you know, will that end our conversation?" "We'll talk and then separate." " To the right?" " You to the left, but I to the right ..." "But what if I'm here on purpose, to meet you, to speak to you;" "what if I say that in an hour you'll swear that you'll never be able to forget me, that you'll happily devote your life to me." "And when I'll fly away like a nameless spirit, you'll beg me to say just one word:" "good-bye." "You're such a clever mask, why waste so many words." "Since you know I love you, tell me who I am?" "You have no character, you're immoral, godless, proud, angry, but a weak man;" "in you, our entire age is reflected, brilliant but miserable." " Oh!" "Do I know you ..." " I find it very flattering." " You did a lot of harm." " One cannot help it." "Who knows!" "I only know that a woman ought not to be in love with you." " I'm not looking for love." " You're incapable of looking for it anyway." "I'm rather tired of searching, I'd say." "But what if she appears one day and suddenly says to you "You're mine!"" "Would you dare to remain heartless then?" " But who is she?" "The ideal woman?" " No, just a woman." "But what does it matter." " Please let me see her." " Do you want her that much?" "Think carefully what to say!" "She doesn't demand your sighs or declarations, no tears, no fiery speeches ... you only have to take an oath to drop all efforts to find out who she is, and keep silent forever." "By Heaven and Earth, upon my honour." "Well, let's go then!" "But remember, there'll be no jokes between us ..." "You have uttered such things about me, sir, a man of honour cannot endure it." "Do you know who I am?" "I know who you were." "Take off your mask, right now, You're acting dishonestly." "Why!" "My face will be to you as unknown as a mask." " I'm seeing you for the first time." " I don't believe it!" "Somehow you're afraid of me." "To be angry with you would be shameful." "You're a coward!" "Go away!" "Farewell, but beware." "Tonight misfortune will strike you." "Wait!" "He's gone ..." "Who is he?" "By God, he got me worried." "Or just some cowardly enemy, impossible to count them all." "Farewell, my friend, good luck ..." "Whom were you mauling so severely, Yevgeny Alexandrovich?" "Just joking with a friend." "Really?" "Just joking?" " He went away and scolded you." " Who?" " Some mask." " I'm amazed at your accurate hearing." "I hear it all, and always keep silent." " And I never interfere in the affairs of others." " Obviously." "So then you wouldn't have heard ..." "Well, the loss is all yours." " that ..." " What is it, sir?" " I was only joking." " Tell me!" " They say you have a beautiful young wife." " Well, what of it?" "And what about the man near her, dark, with a moustache?" "You dried-up has-been ... trying to make fun of me ..." "I'll see you made a cuckold yet." "I can hardly breathe ..." "He ran after me," "What if he had torn off my mask ..." "No, he didn't recognize me ..." "How on earth could he suspect that a woman who is envied by all society, would forget herself in the heat of self-abandonment, and throw herself at his neck, begging for two sweet moments." "Not begging for his love - but only for his pity, and boldly say, "I'm yours!"" "He shall never know this secret." "Let them ..." "I don't want to ..." "But he'll want some token as souvenir." "well, my ring ..." "What shall do ... this is a terrible risk!" "What luck!" "Good gracious!" "Someone lost a gold-enameled bracelet ..." "I'll let him have that ..." "I'll allow him to catch me." "That's right ... it is she." "Among thousands, I'd have known her." " Don't run away!" " But I've no intention to." " What do you want?" " To see you." " Don't be absurd!" "I'm standing right before you." "This is an evil joke!" "But your purpose is to joke and my purpose is another ..." "And if this heavenly creature won't show me her face right now," "I'll tear off her mask by force;" "I'll ..." "Try to understand a man!" "You're insatiable ..." "It isn't enough for you to hear me say that I love you." "No!" "You want it all." "You need my honour to be mocked, so that, after having met me at the ball, on leaving, you'd laughingly tell your friends about your droll adventure, and dispelling their doubt, you'll say:" ""There she is!" and point your finger at me." " I shall remember your voice." " That would be really a miracle!" "Hundreds of women talk in the same voice." "You'd only embarrass yourself." " And it wouldn't be that bad!" " But my happiness is not complete." "One never knows." "You might want to bless your fate that I don't want to remove my mask." "I may be old, ugly ..." " What would you have done with me then?" " You only want to scare me, but knowing only half of your charms, I can guess the rest." " Farewell forever!" ".." " Grant me one moment!" "Won't you let me have a souvenir?" "Have pity on me?" "You're right, I pity you." "Take my bracelet." "I was made a fool of ..." "I have a reason to lose my mind ..." "Who was this prophet of evil ..." "He must know me ... and was unlikely to joke." "Your recent lesson served me well." " I'm delighted to hear." " But happiness can be fickle." "No sooner had I caught her and thought, that's done, when suddenly ..." "Now I can only assert, unless it's been a dream, that I've made a fool of myself." "I know nothing about it, so I won't contradict you." "You're still making fun of me, but you must help me." "I'll tell you everything." "Was I surprised!" "The charmer got away .." "like in a dream." " The end was pitiful." " And it didn't start too badly!" ".." "Well, let me see." "The bracelet looks pretty, I think I've seen the same somewhere before." "Hold on ..." "No, it can't be ..." "I've forgotten." " Has the mistress come home?" " No, sir." " And when will she be here?" " She promised to be back at 12 o'clock." "It's after one now, maybe she'll stay there overnight?" " I don't know, sir." " Indeed?" "You may go." "Put the candle on the table, if I need you I'll shout." "God is just!" "Now I'm being punished for all my past sins." "I used to chase after someone else's wife." "Now I'm waiting for my own wife ..." "Hello, Nina ... at last!" " It's high time." " Am I too late?" " I've been waiting for you for an hour already." " Really?" "How sweet of you!" "You think I'm a fool?" "Waiting for you ... whereas you ..." "My darling!" "Again you're looking out of sorts, stern, always finding fault with everyone." "You pine for me when I'm away, and when we meet, you're grumbling!" "Why don't you just tell me:" ""Nina, give up society, I only want to live with you and for you." "Why should another man, some soulless and empty fop, some shabby dandy squeezed into a corset, meet you in society from morning to night, while I only see you an hour per day, can only say to you a few words."" "Just tell me to ..." "I'm ready." "To bury my youth in the country, leave balls, pomp, fashion and this boring freedom." "Tell me as if I were just a friend." "But where is my imagination leading me?" "I suppose you love me, but your love is so small that you're not even jealous of anybody!" "What can I do?" "I'm used to living carefree, and it's ridiculous to be jealous." " Of course." " Are you angry?" " No, just grateful." " You're sad." " You just told me that you don't love me." " Nina?" " What is it?" "Listen ... we're tied by destiny's fetters forever ..." "Perhaps it was a mistake, but it's not for you and me to judge." "Your soul is still young, of the large book of life you've only read the title page, and before you opens a sea of happiness and evil." "You may drift either way." "Hopes and dreams - there are so many hopes so far away." "And your past life has been so pure!" "Without knowing my heart or yours, you gave me your love, I believe, but unconsciously, playing with feelings, frolicking like a child." "But I love you in my own way:" "I went through it all, understood, realized it all." "I have often loved, more often hated, and most of all suffered!" "First I wanted to have it all, then I despised it all:" "that I couldn't understand it, that the world didn't understand me." "And I learned to curse my life, my feelings grew cold and locked-up, I had no more earthly joys ..." "So many years have passed." "Those youthful days, excitement poisoned with convulsions ..." "I always feel so wretched when resting on your breast." "At first I didn't know your worth!" "But soon my soul shed this stale crust and flew away, to a wonderful world, my eyes were opened, and not in vain," "I was resurrected to life and goodness." "But sometimes an evil spirit carries me back to the turmoil of the old days, erases my memory of your radiant eyes, the magic of your voice." "When struggling with myself, under the weight of gloomy thoughts, I become silent, stern, morose." "And I'm afraid to defile you by touching you." "I'm afraid that you're frightened of me, moaning, quietly, in your misery." "And now you're telling me: "He doesn't love me!"" "You're a strange man." "When you eloquently talk to me about love, and your head is on fire, and the thought makes your eyes shines vividly, then I can easily believe it all." "But often ..." " Often?" " No, but sometimes!" ".." "I'm too old at heart, you're too young." "If only our feelings could be alike!" "And I remember, at your age, I believed in everything." "Again you're angry with ..." "My God!" "Oh no ..." "I am happy, happy ..." "I'm a cruel and insane slanderer;" "far away, away from the envious and angry crowds," "I'm happy ..." "I'm with you!" "You're pale, trembling ..." "Oh, my God!" "I?" "No!" " Where's your other bracelet?" " I've lost it." " Ah!" "Lost." " So what!" "It's no disaster." "It cost 25 roubles at most, it wasn't expensive." "Lost ..." "Why do I feel so embarrassed?" "What are those strange suspicions whispering to me?" "Can it be that it was only a dream, and this is the awakening?" "I really don't understand you." "The bracelet is lost?" "No, I was lying!" "But the likeness, the likeness!" "I must have dropped it in the carriage, have it searched." "Of course if I had know of this reproach, I would not have dared to wear it." "Thoroughly search the coach." "A bracelet was lost there." "And by God, don't you dare not find it!" "My honour, my happiness are at stake." " But what if they don't find the bracelet there?" " Then I must have lost it somewhere else." "Somewhere else?" "And where?" "Tell me?" "This is first time you're so stingy and severe." "I'll calm you, tomorrow I'll order another one, exactly the same." "Well, what about it?" "We've searched the entire carriage, sir." " And you haven't found it?" " No, sir." "I knew it ..." "You may go!" "Perhaps it was lost at the masquerade." "The masquerade!" "So you were there?" "Leave us!" "Wouldn't it have been fair to tell me this before?" "You would have done me the favour to take you there and escort you back home." "I would not have submitted you to strict supervision, nor a vulgar display of tenderness ..." "With whom were you there?" "Ask people, they'll tell you all, and even more." "They'll tell you all the details:" "who was there, whom I spoke to, whom I gave the bracelet for a souvenir." "And you'll know a hundred times better, as it you yourself had gone to masquerade." "It's funny, really funny!" "But you should be ashamed of yourself, it's a sin to get alarmed over a trifle." "By God, I hope this wasn't your last laugh!" "If you keep on talking nonsense, I'll certainly keep on laughing." "Who knows, maybe ..." "Listen, Nina!" ".." "I'm ridiculous, of course, I love you so much, forever, as much as a man can love." "And isn't it a miracle?" "Other men of the world have a million hopes and aspirations, some find fulfillment in getting rich, others want approbation in science, others official ranks, crosses, glory, others love company, fun, others like to travel," "others stir their blood with gambling..." "I have travelled, gambled, was frivolous and industrious, I've learned to understand my friends, the treachery of love," "I neither strived for official rank, nor did I achieve fame." "Rich or penniless, the torment of boredom was the same." "Everywhere I saw evil and I always remained proud, I never bowed to anybody." "All that's left to me in life is you, a fragile creature, an angel of beauty." "Your love, smile, eyes, breath ..." "I'm a human being as long as you're mine, without you I have no happiness, no soul, no feelings, no existence!" "But if I were cheated ..." "If I were cheated ... if I have nursed a snake on my breast, warming herself for many days, if I have rightly guessed the truth ..." "while being lulled by your caresses, others mocked me behind my back!" "Listen, Nina ..." "I was born with a vigorous soul, like lava, normally, it's as hard as rock ... but it can be terrible when it melts!" "Then, then, don't expect any forgiveness ..." "I won't have recourse to the law then, but I shall, without any tears and regrets, tear your life and mine to pieces!" "Don't come near me ..." "How terrible!" "I'm afraid ..." "No, you're joking, I'm absurd!" "You just keep on laughing at me ..." "Why should you go pale and tremble, when you've at last reached your goal." "Or rather, where is he?" "Your ardent lover, your plaything of the masquerade?" "Let him come and entertain you!" "You already let me taste all the hellish torments, only this final one was lacking." "What horrible suspicions!" "And this all because of a bracelet ..." "Believe me, your suspicion will be laughed at, not only by me, but by all society." "Be silent..." "I'm asking you ... enough ..." "But listen ..." "I'm innocent ..." "May God punish me." "Listen ..." "I know you through and through." "It pains me to hear your reproach ..." "I love you, Yevgeny." " Upon my word, now the time for revelations has come ..." " Hear me out, pray ..." " Oh, God, but what do you want?" " Revenge!" "On whom do you want revenge?" "Who knows what may happen in due time." " Revenge on me?" "What are you waiting for?" " Don't try to be heroic." " Who is it?" " Whom do you fear for?" "Do you imagine I'm expecting him here any minute?" "Oh, stop it ..." "Your jealousy is killing me ..." "I don't know how to beg, and you're relentless ..." " But once again, I forgive you." " Spare your efforts!" " However, there is God ..." "He will not forgive you." " I am sorry for you!" "I went out for a sleigh ride, and it occurred to me to call, mon amour!" "C'est une idée charmante, vous en avez toujours." "You look pale today despite the wind and the cold." "And your eyes are red, were there tears?" " I didn't sleep well last night and now I feel ill." " Your doctor is no good, take another." " Ah, Prince!" " I sent you a note yesterday that our picnic has been cancelled." " Please sit down, Prince." " I just made a bet that you'd be upset, and you seem so calm." " I'm really very sorry." "And I am very glad ..." " I would trade 20 picnics for a masquerade." " Last night you were at the masquerade?" " I was." " In what disguise?" " There were so many ..." " I even managed to see through the disguises of some ladies." "Of course, you all love disguises." "I must tell you, Prince, that your observation isn't funny." "How could a respectable lady go where every riff-raff goes, where anyone can walk in and accost her, and risk being recognized?" "You ought to be ashamed of your claim." "Take it back." "I cannot take it back, but I'm ready to feel ashamed." " I saw you in a shop today." " Which one?" " The English one." " How long ago?" " Just now." " I wonder why I didn't recognize you." " You were busy ..." " Having a bracelet cleaned, here it is." " A pretty bracelet." " But where is the other one?" " I lost it!" " Really?" ".." " What's so strange about it?" " If it isn't a secret, when did you lose it?" " Three days ago, yesterday, last week..." " Why are yo so interested?" " I have my own theory about it, an odd one, perhaps." "My question embarrassed her!" "Oh, these prudes!" "I would like to offer my services to you ... I might help you find it." "You're welcome ... but where?" " And where was it lost?" " I don't remember." " Perhaps at some ball?" " Maybe." " Or you gave it to someone as a souvenir?" " What makes you think so?" "And whom would I give it to, if not to my husband?" "Society doesn't consist of just your husband." "You have a lot of (lady) friends I'm sure." "Well suppost you lost it, and suppose someone finds it," " will he get an award?" " It depends." "But if he loves you, if he finds in you his lost dream, and if, for your smile, he'd renounce all worldly pleasures!" "If you'd ever be so bold to hint about future bliss, if you, not recognized under the mask, had caressed him with words of love ..." " Please understand!" " From all this I only understand that you're getting carried away." "And now for the first and last time, I politely ask you never to address me again." "Oh, God!" "Am I dreaming?" "Are you really angry?" "She's rejected me!" "She can do as she pleases ... but the time will come when I shall achieve my goal." "Adieu, ma chère, until tomorrow, I must go." "But wait, mon ange, we hardly had time to say two words to each other." "Come and see me tomorrow morning." "Today will seem as long as a week to me." "I'll avenge you!" "What a prude!" "Perhaps I'm a fool - perhaps she'll deny it." "But I recognized the bracelet." " Engrossed in thought, Prince?" " One has so many things on one's mind." "It seems you've had a livley conversation." "What did you quarrel about?" "I claimed that I saw her at the masquerade." " Whom?" " Her." " How so, Nina?" " Yes!" ".." "And I proved it to her." "I can see you're a shameless man, taking a weird pleasure in talking scandal." " Out of weirdness I sometimes dare ..." " Do have mercy on us behind our backs!" " Besides, you have no proof." " No ..." "But last night I was given a bracelet." "And she has exactly the same." "What kind of proof is that?" "Just a logical answer!" "They sell them in every shop!" "Today I went to all the shops and now I'm convinced that there exist on two of those." "Tomorrow I'll give Nina some useful advice, not to trust gossips." " And what advice do I get?" " For you ... to continue boldly what you've started successfully," " to value women's honor better and to cherish them." " For those two pieces of advice I thank you twice." "Can a woman's honour be treated like some flimsy joke?" "And would I become a target too, if I were careless?" "Farewell, Prince," "I won't try to mend your ways." "Oh, no, God forbid." "Only, one thing is strange, how come I found her bracelet?" "So Nina was there!" "And that's the clue to the whole charade!" "I don't know why, but I love him." "Perhaps out of boredom, frustration, jealousy ..." "I'm yearning and burning and nothing gives me relief." "I seemed to hear the laughter of the silly crowd and the whispering of spiteful regrets!" "No, I'll save myself ... even if at the expense of another, from this shame, although the price will be my suffering from remorse." "What a terrible chain of events." "Oh, Sprich, you always come at the right time." "Tell me, what's the news?" "I just heard some at the Count's, I was there right now, society is full of news." "Did you hear the latest about Prince Zvezdich and Arbenin?" "In fact, you've quit all those fancies society is so proud of, you're treading again the path of righteousness!" "Excellent idea ..." "You must a poet, and above all, by all indications, a genius." "Domestic life constricts you, let me shake your hand, dear friend." " You're with us!" " I'm with you!" "Not a shadow of my former self." "It's nice to see how smart men look upon society nowadays, proprieties to them are worse than chains ..." "And would it be too bold to ask if you go half with me?" " We'll have to fleece the Prince a bit." " Yes ..." "Yes." "The hassle will be fun." "We'll see." "Transport!" ".." " He's here." " Is your hand trembling?" " Never mind, I'm out of practice." " Ah, Prince!" "I'm very pleased." "Don't stand on ceremony, take off your sword and have a seat." " We're having a terrible fight." " I'm prepared to watch." " Still afraid of gambling?" " No, not when I'm with you." "I called on you today." "I read your note, and as you can see, I obeyed." "On your doorstep I met someone, he seemed embarrassed and alarmed." " And did you recognize him?" "I think I did." "Prince, you're a dangerous seducer." "I got it all figured out ..." "He didn't understand at all - it's obvious." "I wouldn't want you to take a fancy to my wife." " Why not?" " Well ..." "I don't have the virtue that lovers seek in husbands." "He doesn't even feel embarrassed ..." "I shall destroy your sweet world, you stupid boy, and I'll add my poison too." "And if you would stake your soul on a card, then I would stake mine against it." " I'm putting down 50 roubles." " Me too." "I'll tell you an anecdote I heard when I was young;" "the story keeps running in my mind." "You see, once there was a baring, a married man - your turn, Kazarin." "A married man who completely trusted his wife, slumbering in sweet unconcern." "You're paying too much attention, Prince, be careful you don't lose." "He was a good husband, he was loved, he lived peacefully through his days." "And to top it off, the good, carefree man had a friend." "An important service the husband rendered to his friend once, and, moreover, it seemed the friend repaid him with honour and dignity." "And what?" "I don't know by what tricks of fate, but the husband learned that his noble friend, his honest debtor, took a fancy to his wife and was granted her favours." "What did the husband do?" "Prince, you're neglecting the game." "You're playing without looking." "So you're curious to know what the husband did?" "He picked a minor pretext and slapped his face." " What would you have done in his place, Prince?" " I would have done the same." " Well, did they shoot it out?" " No." " Cut each other up with sabres?" " No, no." "Did they make up then?" " Oh, no ..." " So what did he do?" " He remained avenged." "And the seducer was left with a slap in his face." "But this was against the code." "What does the code decree?" "To hate and revenge?" " That one takes it ..." "I win." " Hold on." " You switched that card." " I?" "Look here!" "The game is over since there's dishonesty at the table." " You're a scoundrel and a cheat." " I?" " I?" " I'm marking you here right now, so that everyone here will take offense in meeting you in the future." " Now we're even." " What's come over you?" "He's made a mess of such a splendid occasion." "The Prince was eager and would have been good for at least 200.000." "Now it's my turn, my turn!" "Blood!" "Only your blood can wash away the insult!" "Shoot myself?" "With you?" "I?" "You are mistaken." " You're a coward." " Go ahead!" "But I don't advise you to assault me, or even to stay here!" "Even if I were a coward, but you couldn't even scare a coward." "Oh, I'll shall make you fight!" "I'll tell everywhere what you did." " What you are, it's not I who's a scoundrel ..." " For that I'm prepared." "I'll say that I've had your wife ..." "Be on your guard!" "Remember the bracelet ..." "For that alone you shall be punished hard." "I'm in such a rage!" "Where on earth am I?" "The whole world's against me," " I'll kill you!" " You could kill me." "I'll even give you some advice:" "Rather kill me quickly, otherwise your courage might cool down in an hour." "Where are you, my honour!" "Take back your word, take it back and I'm at your feet." "Nothing is sacred to you," "Are you human or a demon?" "I'm ... a gambler." "Now we're away from the crowd, there won't be another chance." "I must say a few words, and you must hear me out." " Must I?" " For your own happiness." "What a strange concern." "Yes, it's strange, because you are the cause of my ruin." "But I feel sorry for you, I can clearly see that the same hand that struck me will kill you." "I won't lower myself to any pitiful revenge." "But listen carefully:" "your husband is a villain, soulless and godless, and I have a premonition that you'll be in great trouble." "Farewell forever, the villain is still around and I cannot punish him now." "But the day will come" " I'll wait ..." "Take back your bracelet." "I don't need it anymore." "Prince, since you've clearly gone mad, I can no longer be angry with you." "Farewell forever - and I'm begging you for the last time ..." "Where are you going?" "Far away, it's obvious, but certainly not to the moon?" "Much closer - to the Caucasus." "Almost everyone is down here, and I'm afraid it'll be crowded." "Please step into the ballroom, gentlemen!" "Ladies, please follow the gentlemen." "Did I doubt?" "I!" "They all know." "Hints stinging from all sides, they're following me ..." "I'm so pitiful it's ridiculous!" "And where are the fruits of my efforts?" "And where my former power when I tamed the crowd with just one witticism?" "Two women have killed that power!" "One of them ..." "Oh, I do love her ..." "To love - and to be so treacherously deceived ..." "No, the others don't own her ..." "And they shall not judge her ..." "I myself must accomplished this terrible trial ..." "I must mete out her punishment - as for me, I shall be executed here." " I need some rest now." " It's so hot in here, I think I'm going to melt." " Nina Pavlovna, please sing something for us." " But I don't know any new romances." "And the old ones are so boring." " Not at all, sing, Nina, sing." "You are too kind, you won't make us beg in vain for an hour." "But I must ask you to listen attentively, as punishment, since I have no talent." "Wheninsadnessyourtears,involuntarily willrushto youreyes," "Iseeandunderstandanditdoesnothurt ," "Whyareyouunhappywith theother ?" "An invisible invisible worm is gnawing  atyourdefenselesslife," "Andwhy?" "I'mgladhecannotdefeat  yourlove," "HowI love." "Butifthechanceofhappiness gleamsinthelightofyoureyes," "ThenI amtormentedbitterlyinsecret, andtheflamesofhell" "will burn in my breast." " Well, go on." " I forgot the end." " If you like, I'll help you along." " No, why?" "I don't feel well." "It's so hot in here, I'll rest on the side." "My angel, I'd like some ice cream." "Death, help me!" "I feel so sad, bored." "Of course, misfortune awaits me." "I sometimes trust my premonitions." "Take this as a medicine against boredom." "Yes, it'll cool me." " Oh, it'll cool you all right." " It's so boring here right now." "How can that be?" "In order not to be bored with people, you have to teach yourself to observe the stupidity and treachery!" "That's all that makes society function!" " You're right!" "It's horrible!" " Yes, horrible!" " And I've never met any pure souls." " No." "I thought I had found one once, but I was wrong." "What did you say?" "In society I found such a soul, you!" " You're pale." " I've danced a lot." "Good gracious, mon ami!" "You never left your seat." "Then I'm pale because I only danced a little." "Here, please put it on the table." "All of it, all of it!" "Not a drop left for me!" "Cruel!" "I've made the fatal step, it's too far now to to go back." "But let no one else die of it." " How clumsy you are." " Never mind, I'm feeling ill." " Let's go home quickly." " Let's go ..." "But tell me, my dear, you're so gloomy!" "Have I displeased you?" "No, today I was pleased with you." " Madame, you're looking pale." " I'm not feeling well." "You're tired." "My husband scares me." "I don't know why, he was strangely silent." "There's something wrong, it must be the corset." "Tell me, was I elegantly dressed tonight?" "You're right, I'm pale, pale as death." "In Petersburg, everybody is pale, right?" "Except that old princess, and then - it's only rouge!" "Society's tricks!" "Put it somewhere and give me my shawl." "That new waltz was really good!" "In a rapture I was whirling faster and with wonderful aspiration, and I imagined I was being magically captured and carried away." "Then my heart felt sad and then it felt happy again." "Sasha, give me my book." "As that Prince war boring me again, and yet, I feel sorry for the crazy boy!" "What was he saying ..." "Punish the villain ..." "Caucasus ... misfortune ... that's nonsense." " Shall I take it away?" " Leave it." "Shall I go?" "Leave us." "Go." " She won't need you anymore." " Are you there?" " I'm here!" " It seems I'm falling ill, my head's on fire." "Come closer ..." "Give me your hand - you feel how it's burning?" "Why did I eat that ice cream." "That's when I caught cold, wasn't it?" " Ice cream?" "Yes ..." " My darling!" "I want to talk to you." "You've changed lately." "I can no longer feel your old affection, instead your voice is husky and your eyes are cold." "And all that because of the masquerade?" "Oh, I how hate them!" " And I have sworn never to go there again." " Not likely!" "You'll no longer be able to!" "What if I went there once, carelessly." "Carelessly?" "Oh!" " And that's the whole trouble." " You should have thought of it beforehand." " If I had known your temper beforehand, then I wouldn't have become your wife." "To torment you, and to suffer the most, it hasn't all been fun and easy!" "Indeed, what is my love to you!" "What kind of love?" "Who needs this kind of life?" "You're right, what is life?" "Life is an empty thing." " I want to live." " For what?" "Yevgeny, I'm in torment, I feel ill." "But you'll never know the torments that are more terrible, more severe." "Send for the doctor." "Life is eternal, death - just momentary!" "But I ..." "I want to live!" "And so many consolations await the martyr." "But I beseech you ..." "Send for the doctor, right now!" " I won't send for him." " Of course, you're joking, but that's a godless joke." " I may die - send for him quickly." " What was that?" "Can't you die without a doctor?" "But you're a villain, Yevgeny" " I'm your wife." "Yes!" "I know, I know!" " Oh, have mercy!" "Flames are burning in my breast ..." "I'm dying!" "So soon?" " Not yet, you still have half an hour." " Oh, you don't love me!" "And why should I love you?" "Because you put a living hell in my heart?" "Oh no, I'm glad, I'm glad you're suffering." "My God, my God!" "And you demand my love!" "How dare you demand my love!" "And what was the price for this tenderness of yours?" "How much did I expect from your love?" "A gentle smile, a welcome look of your eyes, and what I found was:" "treachery and betrayal ..." " Oh, if I knew my fault, I would ..." " Be silent!" "Or I'll go mad!" "When will these torments cease!" "The Prince found my bracelet, then some slanderer deceived you." "God Almighty, have mercy!" "He won't listen, but You hear, You know everything." " You, the all-powerful, all-just!" " Stop it!" " Don't lie to Him!" " No, I'm not lying." "I will not break His sanctity with false pleas," "I have offered Him a suffering soul." "He, your judge, will be my protector." "Now's the time to pray, Nina." "You shall die in a few minutes and your death will remain a mystery to the world, and God will judge us on Judgment Day." "What?" "To die?" "Right now?" "No, it cannot be." "I knew beforehand it would be hard for you to die." "Death, death!" "He's right - in my breast burns a fire, hellish ... hellish ..." " Yes ..." "I gave you poison at the ball." "I don't believe you, it's impossible." "You're laughing at me ..." "You're not a monster ..." "No!" "In your soul there is a spark of goodness ..." "You couldn't kill me in cold blood, not in the bloom of my life." "Don't turn away from me, Yevgeny, ease my pains." "Save me, dispel my fear ..." "Look at me ..." "Oh!" "There's death in your eyes." "Yes, you'll die and I shall remain alone." "Alone ... the years will pass, I'll die too ..." "And I shall be all alone!" "Terrible!" "But don't you fear!" "The world of beauty is quite near you, and the angels will take you to the Heavenly abode." "Yes, I love you!" "I'd leave to oblivion that was betrayed." "There's a limit to vengeance and here it is, look, your murderer is crying like a child over you ..." "Here, here ... help me!" ".." "I'm dying!" "Poisoned!" "Poisoned!" "Can nobody hear me ..." "I see you've been careful ..." "No one's near ..." "Alone ..." "But there is ... a Heavenly Court and remember, murderer, I curse you." "A curse is no good." "I've been cursed by God." "The poor creature, she's beyond punishment ..." "So pale!" "But all her features are calm, they show no repentance, no remorse ..." " What if she was .... ?" " Farewell, Yevgeny!" "I'm dying, but innocent ..." "You're a villain ..." "No, no - don't say this." "You certainly won't help yourself by lies or tricks ..." "Speak up!" "I was deceived..." "Even hell itself can't joke with my love!" "Silent?" "This is the vengeance you deserve ..." "But that won't help you, you'll die ..." "And your death will be a mystery for the world." "Be silent!" ".." "I don't care ..." "And I remain innocent before God." "A lie!" "Already it's obvious that the Lord's curse is upon him." "He was a wicked husband, a wicked a son." "Remind me to call at the shop to buy some fabric for my mourning dress." "Although today there's no money left I'm prepared to ruin myself for the sake of the family." "Ma tante, why did my cousin die?" "Society, Miss, and it's silly fashions always lead to misfortune." " Were you there when she died?" " They didn't call for me in time." "I always say, ice cream at balls causes trouble." "The pall cover looks rich - did you see the brocade?" "For my brother, last spring, I had exactly the same coffin made." "You need to rest." "My heart is breaking!" "You indulged too much in your grief last night." "Please go to bed." " I'll try to." " You cannot help her anymore, all you can do now is take care of yourself." "I'm indestructible.." "Death!" "Death!" "The word is here ... everywhere I'm all imbued," "It haunts me ..." "I watched silently for an hour over her silent corpse." "My heart was full, full of inexpressible anguish." "Her childlike carefree smile that flourished so quietly before eternity, and there ..." "let eternity read psalms for her soul." "Can it be that I was wrong?" "Impossible!" "If I was wrong, who could prove to me her innocence?" "False!" "It's false!" "Where is the evidence?" "I've got it!" "I did not believe her - whom should I believe?" "Yes, I was a passionate husband, but a cold judge." "Who would dare to contradict me?" "I would dare!" " And who are you?" " It's no wonder, Yevgeny ... that you don't recognize me, though we used to be friends." " But who are you?" " I'm your guardian angel." "Yes, unnoticed, everywhere I was near you." "Always changing my face, always in a different costume, always knowing all your deeds, and sometimes even your thoughts." "I warned you recently at the masquerade." "I don't like prophets." "And I ask you to leave at once." "I mean it!" "Is that so?" "In spite of your threatening voice and determined order, I'm not leaving." "Seven years ago you used to know me, Arbenin." "I was young and inexperienced, ardent and rich then." "As to you ... in your heart had already settled that chill." "That devilish contempt for everything, that pride you flaunted everywhere!" "I don't know whether to attribute it to your brains or to circumstances of life," "I can't understand the secrets of your soul, only God can understand that, who created you." " The "debut" sounds good." " And the finale won't be any worse." "So you talked me into it, sucked me in." "My purse was full, and besides, I believed in luck." "So I sat down to play with you ... and I lost." "My father was a miserly and strict man." "And to avoid his reproaches I decided to play a revanche." "But you, though young, had me in your grip and I lost again." "Then I gave way to despair." "There were, as you will perhaps remember, my tears and pleas ..." "In response you just laughed." "I'd rather you had pierced me with a dagger then." "You're looking away, so let's proceed prophetically." "And only now your evil seed has produced a worthy fruit." "You're trembling, you understand my purpose and what I have said." "Well, tell me again that you don't know me ..." "Go away!" "I know you." "Now get out!" "Get out!" "Is that all you say?" "You made me a laughing-stock, and now it's my turn to have some fun." "Recently by accident I heard some gossip, that you're happily married and rich ..." "And I felt bitter and my heart rebelled," "And I thought: why should he be happy?" "And some feeling whispered to me distinctly:" "go, go, and harass him!" "And I began to follow you secretly, mingling with the crowd, everywhere, always and everywhere tracking you, learning everything ..." "Finally my efforts were rewarded." "Look, I found out the ... and I'll tell you the truth ..." "Listen, you've ... murdered your wife!" "Murdered?" "I..." "Prince!" "Oh, what's going on?" "I've started and he will tell the rest." "Ah!" "A plot ... fine ..." "I'm in your hands ..." "Who dares to defy you?" "No one ..." "You are the masters here!" "I'm humble, I'm at your feet ..." "My soul trembles before your mere glances ..." "I am a fool, and like a child I have no defense against your words." "I'm instantly defeated, I'm cheated jokingly and peacefully I shall put my head under the axe ..." "Don't you know that I still have presence of mind, and experience, and strength?" "You thought she had taken it all with her to her grave?" "That I would pay up to you all like in the old days?" "Am I so humbled in your opinion by the babbling of insidious rumors?" "Yes, the scene was well conceived, but did you guess its outcome?" "And this boy, did he decide to fight me?" "After a little slap in the face, now he wants another!" "You all shall get one, my friends." "You're so bored with your life!" "It's no wonder, it's a fool's life." "A Don Juan of the suburbs." "Please rest assured - you shall be killed!" "You'll die a scoundrel's death." " We'll see about that!" "Very soon." " Come on, let's go!" " Now I'm happy." " You forgot the most important ..." "Wait!" "You must know by now that you have wrongly accused me, that I am in no way to blame for your sacrifice." "You insulted me at the time ..." "I was about to disclose everything to you, but now let's go." "What?" "What?" "Your wife was also innocent." "You were too harsh with her." "You have a lot of jokes up your sleeve!" "No, no" " I'm not joking, I swear by God!" "By accident, the Baroness found a bracelet and then she gave it to me from her own hand." "And with this letter, the Baroness reveals everything to you." "Read it quickly, as my time is limited." "Why are you silent, you wretch?" "Tear your hair, tormented and scream." ""Terrible!" "Oh, horrible!"" "I'll strangle you, my executioners!" "Repentance won't help you." "Now to the pistols - our dispute hasn't been resolved yet." "He doesn't hear you, has he lost his mind?" " Possibly ..." "You've spoilt it for me." "Our targets differ." "I am avenged ..." "For you, I think it's too late!" "Endofthefilm" "Engl. subtitles: bornikserdar202@KG using partly the Karpovich translation"