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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.
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.
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,
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!
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!
Awild 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?
''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 no 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!
And you shall have more.
Damn!
l lied.
Why l listened to you!
You're a fool.
Everything l have today!
Everything l have! Not 18!
All l have in my pocket!
Everything to the table!
lf so
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