Idiot (2003) s01e02 Episode Script
Part 2
with the support of the Cinematography Service the Russian Ministry of Culture produced by 2-B-2 Studio ENTERTAlNMEN Fyodor Mikhailovitch Dostoevsky lDlO Evgeni MlRONOV As prince Muishkin Starring Vladimir MASHKOV Lidiya VELEZHEVA Olga Budina lnna CHURlKOVA Alexei PETRENKO Vladimir lLYlN Michael BOYARSKY Alexander LAZAREV Larisa MALEVANNAYA Maria KlSELYOVA Written and directed by Vladimir BORTKO Photography by Dmitri MASS Design by Vladimir SVETOZAROV Marina NlKOLAYEVA Original music by lgor KORNELYUK Producer Valery TODORORVSKl Episode 2 Now tell us about your love affairs.
How silly you are! Don't listen to her, prince.
They must have something in their minds, But they like you.
- l know their faces.
- l know their faces, too.
- How so? -What do you know about them? l'll tell you afterwards.
lf you can read faces, you must have been in love? Tell us.
No, l haven't been.
- l was happy in another way.
- How? There were children there.
l was with children.
They were from the village.
l passed 4 years among them.
But l wished for nothing better.
Children soothe and heal the wounded heart.
But the children did not love me at first.
They used to laugh at me, and throw stones at me.
But when they saw me kiss Marie, l only kissed her once in my life.
Don't laugh! lt was not a matter of love.
l just had pity for her.
She was consumptive.
A French commercial traveler seduced her.
And everyone in the village despised her.
l explained to the children that's this was not good.
When l came in here and saw your kind faces, My heart felt light for the first time.
l know it's a shame to talk about these things.
Yet am l talking to you, and l am not ashamed.
You asked me about your faces.
What l could read in them.
l will tell you.
You, Adelaida lvanovna, have a very happy face.
''One can think: ''''She has the face of a kind sister''''.
'' You too, Alexandra lvanovna, have a very lovely face, but l think you may have some secret sorrow.
As for your face, Lizabetha Prokofievna, l not only think, but am perfectly sure, that you are an absolute child.
a child in all, both good and bad.
So, we examined you.
Bravo, prince.
What you said about my face is absolutely correct.
l am a child, and know it.
l think your nature and mine must be extremely alike.
Like two drops of water.
Only you are a man and l am a woman.
l've not been to Switzerland.
Why you haven't told us anything about Aglaya? l can't say at present.
l'll tell you afterwards.
- Herface is clear enough.
- Of course, it is.
You are very beautiful! You are so beautiful, that l'm scared to look at you.
ls that all? And qualities? lt is difficult to judge.
Beauty is a riddle.
You have set Aglaya a riddle.
Guess it, Aglaya! - But she's pretty? - Most wonderfully so.
Almost as lovely as Nastasia Philipovna.
But quite a different type.
As who? What Nastasia Philipovna? Where have you seen her? Who is Nastasia Philipovna? Gavrila Ardalionovitch brought her portrait to show.
How? Did he bring the portrait for my husband? Only to show it.
She gave it to Gavrila Ardalionovitch today, and he brought it to show.
l want to see it.
Give me a favor, prince.
Just step to the study and fetch it.
Please, hurry up.
Please, go! Say we want to look at it.
He is a nice fellow, but too simple.
He is, indeed.
He is almost ridiculous.
Who asked you to talk? You know nothing! - ldiot! - l am very sorry.
l was not thinking at the time.
l merely said that Aglaya had the same beauty.
Just forget Nastasia Philipovna! Listen, prince.
l wish to ask you a great favor.
l particularly wish to speak to Aglaya.
l have written a few words, and l need to give it to her.
Could you do so that no one else should see? lt isn't much of a secret, but will you do it? - l don't quite like it.
- lt is most important! l hope she will reply.
Believe me, it's dreadfully important.
- l will take it then.
- But nobody is to see.
Of course.
The letter is not sealed.
l will not read it.
One word from her.
And l may yet be free.
Gavrila Ardalionovitch begged me to give you this.
Yes, she is very pretty.
l have seen her twice, but only at a distance.
So you admire this kind of beauty, prince? Yes, l do.
- Especially this kind? -Yes, this kind.
Why? There is much suffering in this face.
You must be wandering! -What a power! -Whom? What power?! With such beauty one might overthrow the world.
Ask Gavrila Ardalionovitch to step this way! Mamma! l shall just say two words to him.
And that's all! Enough! You see, prince, it is all secrets with us.
All secrets! They talk of a marriage.
l don't like this marriage.
Mamma, what are you saying? What, my dear girl? Do you like it yourself? Prince is listening? We are friends with him.
l'm his friend, at least.
Here comes another marriage.
Hello.
You are going to be married? Married? How, what marriage? You want to take a wife? lf you prefer that expression.
Me? No.
You said, no.
That's enough.
l shall remember that you told me this Wednesday morning, in answer to my question.
You said, no.
What day is it, Wednesday? lt seems so, mamma.
They never know.
-What date is today? - 27th.
27th, good.
Take care.
You have a good deal to do, and l must dress and go out.
Take your portrait.
Give my respects to your poor Nina Alexandrovna.
Au revoir, dear prince, come in and see us often.
l shall tell old Princess Bielokonski about you.
And listen, my dear boy, God has sent you to Petersburg from Switzerland on purpose for me.
Alexandra, come with me, my dear.
-Au revoir, prince.
-Au revoir.
l am just going home.
lf you still want to stay with us, you come with me.
You don't know the address.
Wait a minute, prince, write something in my album first.
Father says you are a talented calligraphist.
Au revoir, prince.
You told them that l am going to be married! You are under a delusion.
l didn't tell them that.
You heard lvan Fyodorovich say that everything was to be settled today and blurted it out here.
Who could have told them except yourself? You must know best, but l didn't say a word.
Did you give my note? ls there an answer? There, prince, there it is.
Choose a page and write me something.
There's a pen.
Do you mind a steel one? l have heard calligraphists don't like steel pens.
One word from you, and l'm saved.
-What shall l write? - l'll dictate to you.
''''''l never make bargains!'''''' Put your name and the date.
Let me see it.
Thanks, how beautifully you have written it.
Wonderful handwriting.
Thanks so much.
Au revoir.
Come, l want to give you something for a keepsake.
Read this.
l know you haven't read it.
You could never be that man's accomplice.
''''''My fate is to be decided today.
'' Only tell me, break off the whole thing! l will do so this very day.
Oh! What can it cost you to say just this one word? ln doing so you will but be giving me a sign of your sympathy for me, and of your pity.
But if you say this word, l will accept my poverty.
''- l will be glad'''' - Enough!'' This man assures me, that ''his ''''break off everything'''' '' does not commit me to anything whatever.
''He knows that if he ''''broke off everything'''' by himself, '' and without telling me a word about it, l should perhaps be able to accept his friendship.
His soul is a wretched thing.
He wants me to give him hopes of myself before he lets go of 75 thousand.
He's audacious and shameless.
Take the letter and give it back to him.
What shall l tell him? Nothing.
This will be the best answer.
l heard, you are going to live in his house.
Yes, your father kindly recommended me to him.
l want to warn you.
He won't forgive you easily, for taking back the letter.
The answer! The answer! What did she say? My note? He didn't give it to her! O my God, l might have guessed it! Of course she did not understand what l meant.
-Why didn't you deliver it? - l did.
And just as you asked me to.
But Aglaya lvanovna returned it to me.
When? When she asked me to come out with her.
She gave me your letter to read, and then told me to return it.
To read? -You read it? -Yes, l have just read it.
She gave it you to read herself? l would not have read it without her permission.
She cannot have given it to you to read.
-You are lying! - l'm telling you the truth.
l'm sorry that this is so unpleasant for you.
Did she, at least, say anything to you? - Did she give an answer? -Yes.
Tell me, damn it! When l asked her what will be the answer? She said, There won't be any.
And this is the best answer.
Forgive me l forgot her exact expressions.
This is what l remember.
She throws my letters out of the window! ''''''She never makes bargains''''.
'' l shall pay her out for this! But how was it that you, idiot, were so very confidential! Why do they like you? l once was so ill that l really was little better than an idiot.
Yet l am almost recovered.
lt's not pleasant to be called an idiot to my face.
Before we reach you house, maybe it's better to part? l have 25 roubles, and l shall find a lodging.
Forgive me, prince, For the god's sake.
You see, l'm in trouble.
lf you knew everything, You would forgive me.
Of course it was inexcusable of me.
l really do not require such profuse apologies.
Your unpleasant position makes you abuse me.
So come along to your house.
l shall be delighted.
- May l? - One minute.
lt's OK.
l'll wait.
- Got any money? - Not much.
- How much? - 25 roubles.
Show me.
How strange that it should have browned so? These 25 rouble notes brown in a strange way.
While other notes often grow paler.
Take it.
- Ferdishenko.
-Very well, what next? A lodger here.
Wish to make acquaintance? l came here to warn you.
First, don't lend me any money, for l shall certainly ask you to.
All right.
- Have you seen the general? - No.
- Nor heard him? - No.
You'll both hear and see him.
He even tries to borrow money from me.
Avis au lecteur.
Good-bye.
Can a man live with a name like Ferdishenko? Why not? Good-bye.
This is him! As though he were alive! l heard the dear familiar name and it reminded me of the irrevocable past.
- Prince Muishkin? -Yes.
General lvolgin, retired.
Father of Gabriel, Varvara and little Nicolai.
May l ask your name? Lev Nicolaievitch.
The son of my old friend! My childhood's friend, Nicolai Petrovitch! Nicolai Lvovitch.
Lvovitch! l carried you in my arms.
Really? But it's 20 years since my father died.
20 years and 3 months.
l gave him my blessing for eternity.
Your mother She died a few months later.
From a cold.
Oh, not cold! Not from a cold, but from grief for her prince.
Yes, l remember the princess as well.
Youth! Your father and l, old friends as we were, nearly murdered each other for her sake.
l was passionately in love with your mother, when she was engaged with my friend.
The prince noticed that and was furious.
He came and woke me at seven o'clock one morning.
l rise and dress in amazement.
Silence on both sides.
l understand it all! He takes 2 pistols out of his pocket.
Across a handkerchief, without witnesses.
Why invite witnesses, when both of us will walk in eternity in 5 minutes? The pistols are loaded, we stretch the handkerchief.
We aim the pistols at each other's hearts! Suddenly tears start to our eyes, our hands shake! We weep, we embrace.
The battle of self-sacrifice! He shouts, she is yours! l cry, she is yours! ln a word -You wish to live with us? -Yes.
For a while.
Prince, mother begs you to come to her.
l want to warn you: There's a tragedy here.
A marriage is being arranged, between a questionable woman and a young fellow who might be a flunkey.
They wish to bring this woman into the house where my wife and daughter reside! But while l breathe Prince, give me a favor.
Come to me for a moment.
lmagine, it turns out that l have nursed the prince! Prince, please.
My friend's son! You don't remember Nicolai Lvovitch? -You saw him at Tver.
- l don't remember.
- He was yourfather? -Yes.
- But he didn't die at Tver.
- He did! He was moved to Tver.
l gave him my blessing, when he died.
He was about to be tried.
l still don't know, what he did.
He died in the hospital.
lt was the Kolpakoff business.
Of course, he would have been acquitted.
Yes? Do you know that for a fact? Yes! The court-martial came to no decision.
An impossible business! Mysterious, one might say! Kolpakoff stole some leather to sell it and buy drink.
Before sergeant-major, and a corporal, the prince rated Kolpakoff, and promised to flog him.
Kolpakoff went back to the barracks, lay down, and in a quarter of an hour was dead.
An impossible affair! Kolpakoff was buried.
The deceased's name was removed from the roll.
All as it should be! But 6 months later at the inspection of the brigade, the man Kolpakoff was found in the 3rd company of the 2nd battalion of infantry Novozemlianski Division.
Same brigade.
Same division.
How?! No, it's a mistake.
lt's easy to say My husband is wrong.
l'm the witness.
Father, your dinner is ready.
Very glad, l'm particularly hungry.
A strange coincidence, almost a psychological.
-Your soup'll be cold.
- l'm coming.
And this despite all the papers available.
Take a seat, prince.
You'll have to excuse very much in my husband, if you stay with us.
Everyone has his faults, His little peculiarities.
One thing l must beg of you.
lf my husband applies to you for payment for lodging, tell him, you've paid me.
What is it, Varia? lt's a present from herself to him.
The question is to be decided this evening.
This evening? Then it's all settled, and there's no doubt and hope left to us.
l want to ask you.
You have known my son long? l asked Gania about you, and he said, he knows everything, no need to stand on ceremony.
What does it mean? l wished to know, to what extent? - ls it today, Gania? - ls what today? O, you are here! You can't hold your tongue! ls it a disease? Prince! l am to blame, Gania.
l told Varvara Ardalionovna.
lt's better so, as the matter is settled.
lf it's all settled, then Mr.
Ptitsin is right.
Don't frown.
You need not worry yourself, Gania.
l've submitted to your will.
All l wish is that you may be happy.
There'll be no more tears, but l only answer for myself.
You can hardly expect that from your sister.
Everyone, who will cross this threshold, will have to treat you with respect.
Now l will only ask you one question.
How can she give her consent, when you do not love her? How can such a What?! Practiced hand? l was not going to express myself so.
But how could you so blind her? You are always like that! Varia can do as she pleases.
That's quite enough! This is it! l've said already, when she comes in, l go out.
And l will keep my word! You don't marry Ptitsin, thanks to your obstinacy! You needn't frown at me! l don't care! You can go at once, if you wish! l am sick of your company! Are you going to leave us, prince? Mother, l asked you thousand times to leave me alone! Calm down, Gania! lf you are too lazy to mend your bell, you should wait in the hall.
You've dropped my fur cloak.
You need to be kicked out! Where are you taking my cloak to? Are you mad? What an idiot it is! Where are you going? -Whom you will announce? - Nastasia Philipovna.
Oh, you know me? l've never seen you.
Go, announce.
What is this noise? They are quarrelling.
Try to understand, l'm capable to decide for myself! l'm the master of my fate! Nastasia Philipovna! At last l've entered! Why do you tie up your bell? lntroduce me, please! My sister, Varvara Ardalionovna.
Nina Alexandrovna.
This is a rare pleasure for us.
Hello.
Where's your study? And where are the lodgers? You do take in lodgers.
How you squeeze them in? Don't you use a study? - Does this pay.
- lt is troublesome.
Of course, it pays.
What a face you have on at this moment! Drink some water, and don't look like that! Gania! Are you a doctor, prince? -You scared me.
- Prince? He is prince? l took him for the footman, and sent him to announce me! Please forgive me.
Not bad at all! Ferdishenko, what are you doing here? l didn't expect to find you in here.
Nastasia Philipovna, may l recommend, though I met him this morning, Prince Muishkin, our lodger.
ldiot.
What prince? Muishkin? Why didn't you put me right when l made such a dreadful mistake? l was astonished, seeing you so suddenly.
lt seems, l've seen you before.
Why were you so struck dumb at the sight of me? What was there so overwhelming about me? What things l would say if l had such a chance as that! So should l, in your place.
l was talking about you to the Epanchins.
And Rogojin told me about you in the morning.
And how did you recognize me? Your portrait struck me very forcibly this morning.
What else? l imagined you as you are.
l seemed to have seen you.
Where? l seem to have seen your eyes somewhere.
But it cannot be! l never was here before.
Maybe in your dream? Bravo, prince! But he speaks out of his innocence! Excuse me! Ardalion Alexandrovitch lvolgin, an old soldier, unfortunate, and the father of this family but happy in the hope of including in that family so exquisite l have heard that my son Your son, indeed! A nice papa you are! Why didn't you come to see me? Do you hide yourself, or does your son hide you? You might have come to see me.
The children of the 19th century, and their parents Nastasia Philipovna, will you excuse the general? Someone is inquiring for him.
Oh no, l have wished to see him too long for that.
What business can he have? He has retired, hasn't he? You won't leave me, general, will you? l give you my word that he shall come and see you, But he needs rest just now.
They say you require rest.
My dear! -Won't you leave the room? - No, l'll stay till the end.
You are friends with general Epanchin? Yes, l knew lvan Fyodorovitch well.
Me, he, and the deceased Prince Nicolai Lvovitch Muishkin whose son l have this day embraced, were three inseparables.
Atos, Portos and Aramis, if l can say so.
But as to Epanchin, after that affair with the poodle, it was all up between us.
The poodle? What was that? Tell me about it.
l haven't heard either.
- ln two words.
- Papa, you are wanted! 2 years ago, l had to go somewhere on business.
l took a first-class ticket.
l got in and began to smoke, l was alone in the carriage.
l had the window open.
Suddenly, in came two ladies with a little poodle, not bad-looking women.
They looked haughtily about, and talked English together.
And l kept on smoking.
l observed that the ladies were getting angry over my cigar, l took no notice.
lf they didn't like, why couldn't they say so? Human beings can share! Not a word, not a hint! Suddenly, and without the very slightest warning, a lady in light blue seizes my cigar and throws it out.
On flew the train, and l sat bewildered.
And the wild woman, out of her wildness, glared at me with flashing eyes.
l didn't say a word, but with extreme courtesy, l reached my fingers over towards the poodle, took it up delicately by the nape of the neck and threw it out of the window, after the cigar.
The poodle's yells were lost.
- The train went flying on! - Oh, you naughty man! Bravo! Bravo! l was right! Truly right! lf cigars are forbidden in carriages, poodles are much more so.
-And what did the lady do? - Her? That's where all the mischief of it lies.
Without a word, without any warning, she slapped me on the cheek! A wild woman! Out of her wildness! -And you? - l lost my head! - Did you hit her? - No! l didn't.
There was a great flare-up, but l didn't hit her! l had to struggle a little, purely to defend myself.
But the very devil was in the business.
lt turned out that the light blue was an Englishwoman, governess at Princess Bielokonski's, and the other woman was a princess Bielokonski.
And old-maid of 35.
Well, everybody knows what great friends the princess and Mrs.
Epanchin are.
Of course, l called with apologies.
And l wrote a letter, asking for forgiveness.
But they would not receive either me or my apology.
And the Epanchins cut me, too! But how is it? 5 or 6 days ago ''l read exactly the same story in the ''''lndependance''''.
'' Exactly the same! lt happened in a railway carriage, between a Frenchman and an English girl.
The cigar was snatched away exactly as you describe, and the poodle was thrown out of the window after it, as in your case, and the dress was light blue! But assure you that the same thing happened to myself! l assure you! lt happened to myself! My father had a trouble with Bielokonski's governess.
How very curious, the same anecdote happening at different ends of Europe! All the details are same.
l'll send you the paper.
But my experience was 2 years earlier.
That's it, no doubt! Father! Will you hear a word from me outside? Here he is, the Judas! Hello, Gania, you scoundrel! You didn't expect Rogojin?! l suppose it is true, then! So that's the end of it! Will you answer me or not? What, you here too, prince? What does it mean?! You are not in a stable, my mother and sister are here.
l see your mother and sister.
- May l ask you - He doesn't recognize me! l have met you somewhere, l believe.
You met me somewhere! lt's only 3 months since l lost 200 roubles to you.
You made me play, and you cheated.
Ptitsin knows all about it.
l'll show a 3-rouble note and you'd crawl on your hands and knees to get it.
l've come now to buy you up! Don't think that because l wear these boots, l have money.
l have! Enough to buy up you and all yours together! l'll buy you up! l will! Nastasia Philipovna! Don't turn me out! Say, are you going to marry this man, or not? Certainly not.
What are you thinking of? No?! No?! And they told me you had promised to marry him.
Him! As if you could do it! l'd buy him for 100 roubles! l'll give him 3 thousand, he'd run before his wedding, and leave his bride to me! Wouldn't you, Gania, skunk? Would you take 3 thousand? Here they are! l've come to pay you off! Get out of this, you drunken beast! Nastasia Philipovna! 18 thousand.
And you shall have more.
Damn! l lied.
Why l listened to you! 18 thousand roubles, for me?! You're a fool.
40 thousand, then! 40 thousand! 40! 40 thousand! Everything l have today! Everything l have! Not 18! All l have in my pocket! Everything to the table! lf so 100 thousand.
100 thousand, l will give you today.
Ptitsin! Help me.
You'll have your share.
You are mad! You're drunk! Think where you are! He's just boasting! No! You'll have it today! Ptitsin, get the money, you gay usurer! Take what you like for it, but get it by the evening! l'll show, i'm in earnest! Come, what's all this?! What's this now? Come with me, old man! You'll have your drink.
lt's too horrible! There must be someone who will turn this shameless creature out of the room! l'm the shameless creature! And l came to invite them over to my house! Look how your sister treats me.
-What have you done? - Should l apologize? She insulted our mother and disgraced the household! What have you done? What a girl! Congratulations, Ptitsin.
Come on.
Enough.
Are you going to cross my path for ever, damn you! l shall not allow you to strike her! How ashamed you will be of this afterwards.
Yes, you will be ashamed! Ashamed of yourself for having injured such a sheep.
Prince, my dear, leave this and come away with me.
You'll see how Rogojin loves his friends.
l really think l have seen him somewhere.
Aren't you ashamed? Are you really that sort of woman? ls it possible?! l am not that sort of woman.
He guessed.
Nastasia Philipovna! l'll see you off.
See you in the evening.
Please do come.
Stand back! You've lost the game, Gania! The end
How silly you are! Don't listen to her, prince.
They must have something in their minds, But they like you.
- l know their faces.
- l know their faces, too.
- How so? -What do you know about them? l'll tell you afterwards.
lf you can read faces, you must have been in love? Tell us.
No, l haven't been.
- l was happy in another way.
- How? There were children there.
l was with children.
They were from the village.
l passed 4 years among them.
But l wished for nothing better.
Children soothe and heal the wounded heart.
But the children did not love me at first.
They used to laugh at me, and throw stones at me.
But when they saw me kiss Marie, l only kissed her once in my life.
Don't laugh! lt was not a matter of love.
l just had pity for her.
She was consumptive.
A French commercial traveler seduced her.
And everyone in the village despised her.
l explained to the children that's this was not good.
When l came in here and saw your kind faces, My heart felt light for the first time.
l know it's a shame to talk about these things.
Yet am l talking to you, and l am not ashamed.
You asked me about your faces.
What l could read in them.
l will tell you.
You, Adelaida lvanovna, have a very happy face.
''One can think: ''''She has the face of a kind sister''''.
'' You too, Alexandra lvanovna, have a very lovely face, but l think you may have some secret sorrow.
As for your face, Lizabetha Prokofievna, l not only think, but am perfectly sure, that you are an absolute child.
a child in all, both good and bad.
So, we examined you.
Bravo, prince.
What you said about my face is absolutely correct.
l am a child, and know it.
l think your nature and mine must be extremely alike.
Like two drops of water.
Only you are a man and l am a woman.
l've not been to Switzerland.
Why you haven't told us anything about Aglaya? l can't say at present.
l'll tell you afterwards.
- Herface is clear enough.
- Of course, it is.
You are very beautiful! You are so beautiful, that l'm scared to look at you.
ls that all? And qualities? lt is difficult to judge.
Beauty is a riddle.
You have set Aglaya a riddle.
Guess it, Aglaya! - But she's pretty? - Most wonderfully so.
Almost as lovely as Nastasia Philipovna.
But quite a different type.
As who? What Nastasia Philipovna? Where have you seen her? Who is Nastasia Philipovna? Gavrila Ardalionovitch brought her portrait to show.
How? Did he bring the portrait for my husband? Only to show it.
She gave it to Gavrila Ardalionovitch today, and he brought it to show.
l want to see it.
Give me a favor, prince.
Just step to the study and fetch it.
Please, hurry up.
Please, go! Say we want to look at it.
He is a nice fellow, but too simple.
He is, indeed.
He is almost ridiculous.
Who asked you to talk? You know nothing! - ldiot! - l am very sorry.
l was not thinking at the time.
l merely said that Aglaya had the same beauty.
Just forget Nastasia Philipovna! Listen, prince.
l wish to ask you a great favor.
l particularly wish to speak to Aglaya.
l have written a few words, and l need to give it to her.
Could you do so that no one else should see? lt isn't much of a secret, but will you do it? - l don't quite like it.
- lt is most important! l hope she will reply.
Believe me, it's dreadfully important.
- l will take it then.
- But nobody is to see.
Of course.
The letter is not sealed.
l will not read it.
One word from her.
And l may yet be free.
Gavrila Ardalionovitch begged me to give you this.
Yes, she is very pretty.
l have seen her twice, but only at a distance.
So you admire this kind of beauty, prince? Yes, l do.
- Especially this kind? -Yes, this kind.
Why? There is much suffering in this face.
You must be wandering! -What a power! -Whom? What power?! With such beauty one might overthrow the world.
Ask Gavrila Ardalionovitch to step this way! Mamma! l shall just say two words to him.
And that's all! Enough! You see, prince, it is all secrets with us.
All secrets! They talk of a marriage.
l don't like this marriage.
Mamma, what are you saying? What, my dear girl? Do you like it yourself? Prince is listening? We are friends with him.
l'm his friend, at least.
Here comes another marriage.
Hello.
You are going to be married? Married? How, what marriage? You want to take a wife? lf you prefer that expression.
Me? No.
You said, no.
That's enough.
l shall remember that you told me this Wednesday morning, in answer to my question.
You said, no.
What day is it, Wednesday? lt seems so, mamma.
They never know.
-What date is today? - 27th.
27th, good.
Take care.
You have a good deal to do, and l must dress and go out.
Take your portrait.
Give my respects to your poor Nina Alexandrovna.
Au revoir, dear prince, come in and see us often.
l shall tell old Princess Bielokonski about you.
And listen, my dear boy, God has sent you to Petersburg from Switzerland on purpose for me.
Alexandra, come with me, my dear.
-Au revoir, prince.
-Au revoir.
l am just going home.
lf you still want to stay with us, you come with me.
You don't know the address.
Wait a minute, prince, write something in my album first.
Father says you are a talented calligraphist.
Au revoir, prince.
You told them that l am going to be married! You are under a delusion.
l didn't tell them that.
You heard lvan Fyodorovich say that everything was to be settled today and blurted it out here.
Who could have told them except yourself? You must know best, but l didn't say a word.
Did you give my note? ls there an answer? There, prince, there it is.
Choose a page and write me something.
There's a pen.
Do you mind a steel one? l have heard calligraphists don't like steel pens.
One word from you, and l'm saved.
-What shall l write? - l'll dictate to you.
''''''l never make bargains!'''''' Put your name and the date.
Let me see it.
Thanks, how beautifully you have written it.
Wonderful handwriting.
Thanks so much.
Au revoir.
Come, l want to give you something for a keepsake.
Read this.
l know you haven't read it.
You could never be that man's accomplice.
''''''My fate is to be decided today.
'' Only tell me, break off the whole thing! l will do so this very day.
Oh! What can it cost you to say just this one word? ln doing so you will but be giving me a sign of your sympathy for me, and of your pity.
But if you say this word, l will accept my poverty.
''- l will be glad'''' - Enough!'' This man assures me, that ''his ''''break off everything'''' '' does not commit me to anything whatever.
''He knows that if he ''''broke off everything'''' by himself, '' and without telling me a word about it, l should perhaps be able to accept his friendship.
His soul is a wretched thing.
He wants me to give him hopes of myself before he lets go of 75 thousand.
He's audacious and shameless.
Take the letter and give it back to him.
What shall l tell him? Nothing.
This will be the best answer.
l heard, you are going to live in his house.
Yes, your father kindly recommended me to him.
l want to warn you.
He won't forgive you easily, for taking back the letter.
The answer! The answer! What did she say? My note? He didn't give it to her! O my God, l might have guessed it! Of course she did not understand what l meant.
-Why didn't you deliver it? - l did.
And just as you asked me to.
But Aglaya lvanovna returned it to me.
When? When she asked me to come out with her.
She gave me your letter to read, and then told me to return it.
To read? -You read it? -Yes, l have just read it.
She gave it you to read herself? l would not have read it without her permission.
She cannot have given it to you to read.
-You are lying! - l'm telling you the truth.
l'm sorry that this is so unpleasant for you.
Did she, at least, say anything to you? - Did she give an answer? -Yes.
Tell me, damn it! When l asked her what will be the answer? She said, There won't be any.
And this is the best answer.
Forgive me l forgot her exact expressions.
This is what l remember.
She throws my letters out of the window! ''''''She never makes bargains''''.
'' l shall pay her out for this! But how was it that you, idiot, were so very confidential! Why do they like you? l once was so ill that l really was little better than an idiot.
Yet l am almost recovered.
lt's not pleasant to be called an idiot to my face.
Before we reach you house, maybe it's better to part? l have 25 roubles, and l shall find a lodging.
Forgive me, prince, For the god's sake.
You see, l'm in trouble.
lf you knew everything, You would forgive me.
Of course it was inexcusable of me.
l really do not require such profuse apologies.
Your unpleasant position makes you abuse me.
So come along to your house.
l shall be delighted.
- May l? - One minute.
lt's OK.
l'll wait.
- Got any money? - Not much.
- How much? - 25 roubles.
Show me.
How strange that it should have browned so? These 25 rouble notes brown in a strange way.
While other notes often grow paler.
Take it.
- Ferdishenko.
-Very well, what next? A lodger here.
Wish to make acquaintance? l came here to warn you.
First, don't lend me any money, for l shall certainly ask you to.
All right.
- Have you seen the general? - No.
- Nor heard him? - No.
You'll both hear and see him.
He even tries to borrow money from me.
Avis au lecteur.
Good-bye.
Can a man live with a name like Ferdishenko? Why not? Good-bye.
This is him! As though he were alive! l heard the dear familiar name and it reminded me of the irrevocable past.
- Prince Muishkin? -Yes.
General lvolgin, retired.
Father of Gabriel, Varvara and little Nicolai.
May l ask your name? Lev Nicolaievitch.
The son of my old friend! My childhood's friend, Nicolai Petrovitch! Nicolai Lvovitch.
Lvovitch! l carried you in my arms.
Really? But it's 20 years since my father died.
20 years and 3 months.
l gave him my blessing for eternity.
Your mother She died a few months later.
From a cold.
Oh, not cold! Not from a cold, but from grief for her prince.
Yes, l remember the princess as well.
Youth! Your father and l, old friends as we were, nearly murdered each other for her sake.
l was passionately in love with your mother, when she was engaged with my friend.
The prince noticed that and was furious.
He came and woke me at seven o'clock one morning.
l rise and dress in amazement.
Silence on both sides.
l understand it all! He takes 2 pistols out of his pocket.
Across a handkerchief, without witnesses.
Why invite witnesses, when both of us will walk in eternity in 5 minutes? The pistols are loaded, we stretch the handkerchief.
We aim the pistols at each other's hearts! Suddenly tears start to our eyes, our hands shake! We weep, we embrace.
The battle of self-sacrifice! He shouts, she is yours! l cry, she is yours! ln a word -You wish to live with us? -Yes.
For a while.
Prince, mother begs you to come to her.
l want to warn you: There's a tragedy here.
A marriage is being arranged, between a questionable woman and a young fellow who might be a flunkey.
They wish to bring this woman into the house where my wife and daughter reside! But while l breathe Prince, give me a favor.
Come to me for a moment.
lmagine, it turns out that l have nursed the prince! Prince, please.
My friend's son! You don't remember Nicolai Lvovitch? -You saw him at Tver.
- l don't remember.
- He was yourfather? -Yes.
- But he didn't die at Tver.
- He did! He was moved to Tver.
l gave him my blessing, when he died.
He was about to be tried.
l still don't know, what he did.
He died in the hospital.
lt was the Kolpakoff business.
Of course, he would have been acquitted.
Yes? Do you know that for a fact? Yes! The court-martial came to no decision.
An impossible business! Mysterious, one might say! Kolpakoff stole some leather to sell it and buy drink.
Before sergeant-major, and a corporal, the prince rated Kolpakoff, and promised to flog him.
Kolpakoff went back to the barracks, lay down, and in a quarter of an hour was dead.
An impossible affair! Kolpakoff was buried.
The deceased's name was removed from the roll.
All as it should be! But 6 months later at the inspection of the brigade, the man Kolpakoff was found in the 3rd company of the 2nd battalion of infantry Novozemlianski Division.
Same brigade.
Same division.
How?! No, it's a mistake.
lt's easy to say My husband is wrong.
l'm the witness.
Father, your dinner is ready.
Very glad, l'm particularly hungry.
A strange coincidence, almost a psychological.
-Your soup'll be cold.
- l'm coming.
And this despite all the papers available.
Take a seat, prince.
You'll have to excuse very much in my husband, if you stay with us.
Everyone has his faults, His little peculiarities.
One thing l must beg of you.
lf my husband applies to you for payment for lodging, tell him, you've paid me.
What is it, Varia? lt's a present from herself to him.
The question is to be decided this evening.
This evening? Then it's all settled, and there's no doubt and hope left to us.
l want to ask you.
You have known my son long? l asked Gania about you, and he said, he knows everything, no need to stand on ceremony.
What does it mean? l wished to know, to what extent? - ls it today, Gania? - ls what today? O, you are here! You can't hold your tongue! ls it a disease? Prince! l am to blame, Gania.
l told Varvara Ardalionovna.
lt's better so, as the matter is settled.
lf it's all settled, then Mr.
Ptitsin is right.
Don't frown.
You need not worry yourself, Gania.
l've submitted to your will.
All l wish is that you may be happy.
There'll be no more tears, but l only answer for myself.
You can hardly expect that from your sister.
Everyone, who will cross this threshold, will have to treat you with respect.
Now l will only ask you one question.
How can she give her consent, when you do not love her? How can such a What?! Practiced hand? l was not going to express myself so.
But how could you so blind her? You are always like that! Varia can do as she pleases.
That's quite enough! This is it! l've said already, when she comes in, l go out.
And l will keep my word! You don't marry Ptitsin, thanks to your obstinacy! You needn't frown at me! l don't care! You can go at once, if you wish! l am sick of your company! Are you going to leave us, prince? Mother, l asked you thousand times to leave me alone! Calm down, Gania! lf you are too lazy to mend your bell, you should wait in the hall.
You've dropped my fur cloak.
You need to be kicked out! Where are you taking my cloak to? Are you mad? What an idiot it is! Where are you going? -Whom you will announce? - Nastasia Philipovna.
Oh, you know me? l've never seen you.
Go, announce.
What is this noise? They are quarrelling.
Try to understand, l'm capable to decide for myself! l'm the master of my fate! Nastasia Philipovna! At last l've entered! Why do you tie up your bell? lntroduce me, please! My sister, Varvara Ardalionovna.
Nina Alexandrovna.
This is a rare pleasure for us.
Hello.
Where's your study? And where are the lodgers? You do take in lodgers.
How you squeeze them in? Don't you use a study? - Does this pay.
- lt is troublesome.
Of course, it pays.
What a face you have on at this moment! Drink some water, and don't look like that! Gania! Are you a doctor, prince? -You scared me.
- Prince? He is prince? l took him for the footman, and sent him to announce me! Please forgive me.
Not bad at all! Ferdishenko, what are you doing here? l didn't expect to find you in here.
Nastasia Philipovna, may l recommend, though I met him this morning, Prince Muishkin, our lodger.
ldiot.
What prince? Muishkin? Why didn't you put me right when l made such a dreadful mistake? l was astonished, seeing you so suddenly.
lt seems, l've seen you before.
Why were you so struck dumb at the sight of me? What was there so overwhelming about me? What things l would say if l had such a chance as that! So should l, in your place.
l was talking about you to the Epanchins.
And Rogojin told me about you in the morning.
And how did you recognize me? Your portrait struck me very forcibly this morning.
What else? l imagined you as you are.
l seemed to have seen you.
Where? l seem to have seen your eyes somewhere.
But it cannot be! l never was here before.
Maybe in your dream? Bravo, prince! But he speaks out of his innocence! Excuse me! Ardalion Alexandrovitch lvolgin, an old soldier, unfortunate, and the father of this family but happy in the hope of including in that family so exquisite l have heard that my son Your son, indeed! A nice papa you are! Why didn't you come to see me? Do you hide yourself, or does your son hide you? You might have come to see me.
The children of the 19th century, and their parents Nastasia Philipovna, will you excuse the general? Someone is inquiring for him.
Oh no, l have wished to see him too long for that.
What business can he have? He has retired, hasn't he? You won't leave me, general, will you? l give you my word that he shall come and see you, But he needs rest just now.
They say you require rest.
My dear! -Won't you leave the room? - No, l'll stay till the end.
You are friends with general Epanchin? Yes, l knew lvan Fyodorovitch well.
Me, he, and the deceased Prince Nicolai Lvovitch Muishkin whose son l have this day embraced, were three inseparables.
Atos, Portos and Aramis, if l can say so.
But as to Epanchin, after that affair with the poodle, it was all up between us.
The poodle? What was that? Tell me about it.
l haven't heard either.
- ln two words.
- Papa, you are wanted! 2 years ago, l had to go somewhere on business.
l took a first-class ticket.
l got in and began to smoke, l was alone in the carriage.
l had the window open.
Suddenly, in came two ladies with a little poodle, not bad-looking women.
They looked haughtily about, and talked English together.
And l kept on smoking.
l observed that the ladies were getting angry over my cigar, l took no notice.
lf they didn't like, why couldn't they say so? Human beings can share! Not a word, not a hint! Suddenly, and without the very slightest warning, a lady in light blue seizes my cigar and throws it out.
On flew the train, and l sat bewildered.
And the wild woman, out of her wildness, glared at me with flashing eyes.
l didn't say a word, but with extreme courtesy, l reached my fingers over towards the poodle, took it up delicately by the nape of the neck and threw it out of the window, after the cigar.
The poodle's yells were lost.
- The train went flying on! - Oh, you naughty man! Bravo! Bravo! l was right! Truly right! lf cigars are forbidden in carriages, poodles are much more so.
-And what did the lady do? - Her? That's where all the mischief of it lies.
Without a word, without any warning, she slapped me on the cheek! A wild woman! Out of her wildness! -And you? - l lost my head! - Did you hit her? - No! l didn't.
There was a great flare-up, but l didn't hit her! l had to struggle a little, purely to defend myself.
But the very devil was in the business.
lt turned out that the light blue was an Englishwoman, governess at Princess Bielokonski's, and the other woman was a princess Bielokonski.
And old-maid of 35.
Well, everybody knows what great friends the princess and Mrs.
Epanchin are.
Of course, l called with apologies.
And l wrote a letter, asking for forgiveness.
But they would not receive either me or my apology.
And the Epanchins cut me, too! But how is it? 5 or 6 days ago ''l read exactly the same story in the ''''lndependance''''.
'' Exactly the same! lt happened in a railway carriage, between a Frenchman and an English girl.
The cigar was snatched away exactly as you describe, and the poodle was thrown out of the window after it, as in your case, and the dress was light blue! But assure you that the same thing happened to myself! l assure you! lt happened to myself! My father had a trouble with Bielokonski's governess.
How very curious, the same anecdote happening at different ends of Europe! All the details are same.
l'll send you the paper.
But my experience was 2 years earlier.
That's it, no doubt! Father! Will you hear a word from me outside? Here he is, the Judas! Hello, Gania, you scoundrel! You didn't expect Rogojin?! l suppose it is true, then! So that's the end of it! Will you answer me or not? What, you here too, prince? What does it mean?! You are not in a stable, my mother and sister are here.
l see your mother and sister.
- May l ask you - He doesn't recognize me! l have met you somewhere, l believe.
You met me somewhere! lt's only 3 months since l lost 200 roubles to you.
You made me play, and you cheated.
Ptitsin knows all about it.
l'll show a 3-rouble note and you'd crawl on your hands and knees to get it.
l've come now to buy you up! Don't think that because l wear these boots, l have money.
l have! Enough to buy up you and all yours together! l'll buy you up! l will! Nastasia Philipovna! Don't turn me out! Say, are you going to marry this man, or not? Certainly not.
What are you thinking of? No?! No?! And they told me you had promised to marry him.
Him! As if you could do it! l'd buy him for 100 roubles! l'll give him 3 thousand, he'd run before his wedding, and leave his bride to me! Wouldn't you, Gania, skunk? Would you take 3 thousand? Here they are! l've come to pay you off! Get out of this, you drunken beast! Nastasia Philipovna! 18 thousand.
And you shall have more.
Damn! l lied.
Why l listened to you! 18 thousand roubles, for me?! You're a fool.
40 thousand, then! 40 thousand! 40! 40 thousand! Everything l have today! Everything l have! Not 18! All l have in my pocket! Everything to the table! lf so 100 thousand.
100 thousand, l will give you today.
Ptitsin! Help me.
You'll have your share.
You are mad! You're drunk! Think where you are! He's just boasting! No! You'll have it today! Ptitsin, get the money, you gay usurer! Take what you like for it, but get it by the evening! l'll show, i'm in earnest! Come, what's all this?! What's this now? Come with me, old man! You'll have your drink.
lt's too horrible! There must be someone who will turn this shameless creature out of the room! l'm the shameless creature! And l came to invite them over to my house! Look how your sister treats me.
-What have you done? - Should l apologize? She insulted our mother and disgraced the household! What have you done? What a girl! Congratulations, Ptitsin.
Come on.
Enough.
Are you going to cross my path for ever, damn you! l shall not allow you to strike her! How ashamed you will be of this afterwards.
Yes, you will be ashamed! Ashamed of yourself for having injured such a sheep.
Prince, my dear, leave this and come away with me.
You'll see how Rogojin loves his friends.
l really think l have seen him somewhere.
Aren't you ashamed? Are you really that sort of woman? ls it possible?! l am not that sort of woman.
He guessed.
Nastasia Philipovna! l'll see you off.
See you in the evening.
Please do come.
Stand back! You've lost the game, Gania! The end