Original subtitles

Katrusia, my child...

this is your father.

How could she be my daughter?

She's a lady.

My girl...

Looks exactly like Solomiya...

I'm such an old fool.

Katia...

When you looked at me, my heart skipped.

My God...

Don't mind that I'm old and ugly.

My girl...

I love you more than life.

Don't touch them.

Let them cry.

They have to let so much sorrow out.

So much sorrow...

Did it hurt?

It’s bitter, rather.

It stands for convict, hard labor.

But when they branded my parents and brother with it, completely innocent,

I thought my heart would burst.

But no matter.

They didn't live branded for long, may they rest in peace.

Rest in peace, God save their souls.

-So what, did they all die? -Yes.

Mother and father died on the road.

And your uncle died there, at the mine.

Was it hard?

It was.

It wasn't the work itself - it's infernal here, too.

-Yes. -What was so hard to take

was that you're not on your land.

Right...

Here, every blade of grass smiles at you.

Cold, hungry...

You know what my favorite food there was?

What?

Balanda.

It's like a broth with rotten cabbage.

How can people eat that?

What if there's nothing else?

They eat it and die like flies.

But I was too tough.

That's good.

My God.

It's such a shame that Solomiya didn't live to see this day.

My God.

She can see everything, Pavla.

And I swear, she'll rejoice when I take our torturer by the throat.

You what?

My body trembled like a blade of grass,

and my soul only lived on in hopes to choke that bastard.

Burn all the devil’s spawn so that no Chervinsky walks the Earth.

My God...

Stiopa, come now.

He's old, really old.

And the lady is dead.

And she repented.

She atoned for it all her life.

She took Katia in, raised her as her own.

Anna is dead. I am not her judge anymore. She will answer before God.

But my soul will not rest as long as that devil Piotr Ivanovich

walks the Earth well-fed.

What have you planned, Stepan?

What I've planned, I'll do.

Don't, Father.

You don't have to take revenge.

I've forgiven them all.

That's right.

You should think about your new life now.

And it's such a great sin.

What next, running away again?

What if they catch you?

We've only just found each other, Dad.

I don't even want to live without you now.

Let them be. Let your heart be.

My little bird...

Fine.

I'll try.

But I can't hide my heart in my pocket.

I'm afraid that if I see him I will strangle that dog.

For sale: landlord Piotr Chervinsky sells his bondmaid

Katerina Verbitskaya, 18 years of age.

You old bastard!

Starting price 500 rubles.

Come in.

-What, have you decided to sell Kitty? -Yes.

-You can't sell her. -Why not?

Mother loved her dearly.

Kitty is part of her legacy.

What?

There's her legacy.

You're her legacy.

This house is her legacy, confound it.

But Katia - I don't need her.

But you do, do you?

Well, go ahead.

The bidding is today.

Give me a good price and she's yours.

What's the matter?

No money, you pauper?

What have we here, vodka?

Great. Take it to the shed.

You're free for a minute.

No, leave the vodka.

What do you have? Potatoes?

Yakov Yukhimovich!

What have we here?

What is there?

Grandma, tell me something else. What was he like when he was young?

My tongue hurts from all this talking! What was he like?

Cheerful and stubborn.

Sometimes he'd burst like dry straw.

Your mom was the only one who could calm him down.

I suppose he loved her.

Very much.

She's the reason he got convicted.

Her and his temper.

Tell me.

Well...

Our lord Piotr Ivanovich

is a womanizer now, too.

But when he was young, he was such a dog...

And Solomiya, your mom, was a beauty.

You take after her.

So the lord took a liking to her.

He told her to come to his office one evening.

To wave the smoke away with a fan.

And Stepan found out about it and gave our lord a beating.

Don't! He didn't have time to hurt me!

You will not touch her again.

Stop it, you fool, you will kill yourself!

So that's why Anna Lvovna sent him

and all his family to Siberia.

Fine, I will forgive it once, but...

To the cellar.

-What did you bring, Panas? -Oats.

-How much? -Five pood, as you ordered.

Five pood?

I wish everyone paid their rent like this.

Take it to the shed.

Somebody get in here, get in here!

One moment, one moment, my dear.

One moment...

You alive? You're alive.

Wait, wait, wait...

You're alive.

Galia, why? My little dove, what did you do that for?

What for?

My God, why am I so unlucky?

Why did you get in the way?

What's the matter? Everything is good.

I can't live anyway, I'd rather hang myself.

I'd hang him, but I can't reach him.

Who?

Our Yakov Yukhimovich. Our shining star.

I feel like I awakened from a long, long sleep.

As if I didn't even live before.

I need to get out of here, or it'll be like with my mother.

What,

is Grisha pestering you again?

That fool.

An apple doesn't fall far.

How are you going to get out?

Run again, with your dad?

No. This time, it'll be legal.

I know how to do it.

Katia, come. The master is calling for you.

He called me little dove, too.

Petted me.

And I kissed up to him so much.

Do you want some sausages

from the master's pantry, Yakov Yukhimovich?

Please.

Wine from the master's cellar? As you wish.

And he got what he wanted and off he went.

I hate that beast so much.

I'd rather hang myself than breed his bastards.

What, are you pregnant?

Look, it dawned on him.

But now he turns his nose up.

The cossack's had his fun.

Why the hell did you come? Why did you get in my way?

Who needs me now, with the baby?

Everyone's going to spit at me and at my child now!

And when it's born, I'll strangle it myself.

Or I'll drown it like a kitten, so it doesn't suffer.

Don't you dare! Hear me? Don't you dare.

Children are God's gift, innocent angels.

And you're good.

You don't know that, but I do.

You hear me? You're good.

Yakov Yukhimovich!

Let's go for a swim together!

I'll be so gentle with you.

I'll whip you.

For what?

For your lies.

You got that baby under some fence and you're blaming me.

Get up, quit lying around.

Go work, lazybones.

You shouldn't do that, Yakov Yukhimovich.

She's a good girl.

Good?

So take her.

Will you take her like that, damaged?

I will.

The fool.

Grab him before he's gone.

Galia, I...

Fool.

MERCHANTS’ BANK

Well, Grigoriy Petrovich...

You're the heir, the rightful owner of the house.

If you want to mortgage it,

that's your right.

But should you?

What sum are we talking about?

Three thousand rubles for a year.

Great. Do I get it now?

-It's up to you. -Right now. Ready the papers.

Come in.

Still walking around like a black hen?

Enough. Make yourself presentable.

Dress up, pick a better dress.

Don't scare people away with your mournful aspect.

As you wish.

Oh, she speaks.

Great. You will have to show all your talents today.

-What, are we having visitors? -Buyers.

Anna Lvovna is dead, and I don't need you. So I've decided to sell you.

Thank you.

What?

Piotr Ivanovich, if you want to sell me,

let me buy myself out.

Buy yourself out? What, you came into money?

Or did you find a new suitor?

No, no, I have no money, but...

But there is the grand piano,

which I've been told my godmother graciously left to me.

It is very expensive, I could sell it and...

Grand piano?

So funny.

I did not expect that.

Offering me to buy yourself with my own grand piano.

Maybe I shouldn't be selling you.

But... but I thought it was mine now...

Right, right, inherited.

I can get what, about 300 rubles for that old wreck?

But I'm going to sell you for much more.

So go.

I want you shining like a new five kopek coin.

Where's Katia?

The master called her.

To prink her, must be. That's smart, better that way.

What are you talking about?

She's going to be sold.

Why would she eat his bread for free?

The old lady died. There's no one to entertain anymore.

And as for housework, you know yourself she's useless.

You're lying.

I have no reason to.

Get busy with the snacks,

or we'll have nothing to treat the buyers with.

So what, there's going to be a bazaar?

A bazaar. You yokel.

An auction!

Whoever pays more, gets her.

Go on, get a move on, at least twenty people are coming.

Has the young lady come back yet?

Not yet.

All right, then.

Galia, you're in charge today.

-Me? -Yes.

We need to make snacks for a whole crowd of people.

And you?

I'm going to the village.

My mother's sick, I need to visit with her.

So what, are you leaving me alone here? Am I supposed to do it all myself?

It's not much, just the snacks.

You can get Darya to help you if you want.

Come on, get to work. I'm off.

NEZHIN

Well, all the best.

Hello.

Good afternoon, Madam Chervinskaya. How can I help?

Hello.

You see, my husband suffers from pain.

He is a war veteran; he was wounded.

I see, I see. I can offer you oregano oil.

-You need to rub it into the... -We tried it.

It doesn't help.

The only thing that alleviates his suffering is smoking opium.

But I really don't like that.

Have you heard about morphine?

No, what is it?

It's a wonderful remedy. Simply a revolution.

And with the help of Mr Pravaz's latest invention, the injector medicus,

using it became very simple.

Consider your husband saved.

Here.

A week ago, I received a limited shipment all the way from Paris.

Only our drugstore has it.

How does it work?

You need to learn how, but it isn't complicated.

-Tell me, this morphene... -Morphine.

Is it addictive?

Come, now...

Addiction, as everyone knows, is a property of the stomach.

And since morphine gets directly into the blood through this thing,

addiction is practically impossible.

Here, take it.

Take it, you won't regret it.

You know, I use it myself and I am very content.

I have a very bad case of gout.

But a single injection turns me into a young boy.

Put it back.

It isn't yours, just like everything else here.

Why are you clutching it?

You will be back here in an hour.

Or did you think you could run from me?

I will buy you. Me.

No matter how much it costs me.

I will outbid everybody,

and it'll all be back to the way it should be.

You will belong to me, just like this house.

-So... -Mom!

God...

God, baby, what happened?

Is there a fire in Chervinka?

Tell us.

They're selling Katia.

Oh my God...

Oh God, where are you going? Dear me...

Where are you all running to?

THE SHAFER MANOR

Nonsense.

All nonsense.

Into the fire.

Into the fire.

Stop!

Quit hoarding that, give it to me.

Dummy.

Bondmaid for sale: Katerina Verbitskaya, age 18.

The auction starts at 2 o’clock.

Ira, what day is it?

Saturday the 19th, m'lady.

Saturday the 19th...

Hey you, both of you. Get me some traveling clothes.

Now!

Verbitskaya...

Thank you for your invitation.

Right...

Say, Grigoriy Petrovich,

is this birdie as good as they say?

Depends.

But she's not for you.

She's a humble girl, my mother's protégée.

So she's educated.

But we don't care about that.

All we want is for her body to be good.

Piotr Ivanovich, gentlemen.

Do you believe in providence?

Just yesterday, I told Lev Nikolaevich,

I'm so tired of being alone.

Let's adopt an orphan, at least.

And he would not budge.

You can never know what they are like.

What if we get a foul one?

One that bangs you on the head in the night, and that's it.

My dear Valentina Romanovna gets bored during the day.

Is it true that the late Anna Lvovna handled her education herself?

Of course it is. We hired so many tutors...

She is fluent in French and she speaks German.

Would she make, say, a good tutor?

-I want one for my daughter. -She would, why wouldn't she?

If you hire someone from the side,

over ten years it'll run up to quite a sum.

But like this, you understand, Mr Lysenko...

She'll teach your younger children, too.

She's schooled in various sciences.

And how she is with music...

What would you like to hear, gentlemen?

-How about The Skylark? -The Skylark!

Come, Katia!

Wait!

Wait a minute, some air...

Come on, faster! We'll be late!

Wait, what are you planning, you lout?

Remember what you promised to Katia.

You'll raise hell! Don't think about going for Piotr!

What, do you think I'm some kind of fool?

I won't save her and I'll lose my own head.

-Let's go, let's go, for God's sake! -Wait.

What are you going to do?

What? We'll see.

First we'll see who they sell her to, and then we'll see.

Maybe I'll steal her on the way or later.

Let's go!

Wait!

Pull your hat down so nobody recognizes you at the manor.

Let's go.

Well, gentlemen, you've seen the lot.

Now it's time to...

set the price.

-Gladly. -Yes, all is clear. We can start.

Then to start with, one thousand rubles.

One thousand! My good man, for what?

The... the advertisement said 500 rubles.

Come, now, Mr Suslov.

I told you these goods weren't for you.

They're delicate, they require sophistication.

What sophistication?

For that money I can buy half a dozen decent wenches at the Nezhin market.

So go to the market, my good man.

Yes!

Well, then, gentlemen?

1150.

1200.

1300.

1350 rubles.

1350... A good price.

Who's going to pay more, gentlemen?

Fifteen... hundred.

1600.

1700.

1800.

1900.

2000.

2100.

And let's finish this.

2200.

-2300. -2400.

2500!

2600!

-2700! -2800!

2900.

3000.

God have mercy...

Three thousand rubles...

A good price, yes.

Believe me, my dear, I don't like this auction either, but that's life.

You will like our house.

We'll read so many books, have so many cozy...

Maybe...

somebody will pay more?

3000 for a hen!

Doors!

Well, then I suppose...

Gentlemen. I apologize for being late.

Is the bidding over?

Lidiya Ivanovna, welcome.

No, it's in full swing.

The Lopushinskis are paying

3000 for my lot.

3000 one, 3000 two...

-3000... -Ten.

Are you out of your mind?

Thousand.

In gold bullion.

Right now.

Father, please, a word.

Dad, I'm begging you,

for my mother's sake, don't do this.

The house is yours if you want it.

I will renounce my inheritance in your favor.

Father, if you wish to, get married,

I won't say a word. Just...

Oh Grisha, this thorn is deep in your side.

-Dad! -Gentlemen!

Sold.

Lidiya Ivanovna, congratulations.

Great purchase.

Be careful with it, it's expensive.

Zakhar, you're taking the piano.

And she can walk.

No reason to burden the horses.

Your shoes are so flimsy.

You won't make it to the woods, let alone the 15 verst to the manor.

Show me.

Take them off.

Take them off.

Your old owners spoiled you.

Your feet probably don't know how to walk on the ground.

They float, don't they?

You're walking barefoot, got it?

Run along.

-Don't! Katrusia, my child! -Get out.

Come, now... No need for sentiment.

This is for your own good, Grisha.

Come on, go.

My precious!

-Go on, go. -No, don't!

I said go!

Get away, I said, get away!

Go. Want to get whipped?

Go.

Well, Piotr Ivanovich, thank you.

I will have some great entertainment now.

I am the one who should thank you.

Deals like that happen once in a century.

Great pleasure doing business with you.

All the best.

My girl...

The merchant lady sure knows how to pick her people.

Look at that mug.

Looks like a convict.

Where?

Oh, you mean her torturer?

Sure, he's a beast.

I wish we had one like him, I would breathe freely.

Quit lagging behind, get a move on.

Excuse me, could I have a gulp of water?

Sure, right.

Please.

What if you're contagious?

I'm not.

Please, have some mercy. Just a little.

So you're healthy?

Then get a move on. We're barely moving thanks to you.

Look, the lady is worried.

What you looking at?

Come on, come on, move.

Or I'll treat you to the whip.

Go on! Chop!

Look at her. Poor thing.

Load that piano down.

Be careful, though, don't scratch it.

It's expensive.

-What took you so long? -It's this one.

Too weak and sickly.

Why do you want her?

She'll die in a week, if not sooner.

None of your business.

Sickly, you say?

That's all right.

If she wants to live, she'll get lively.

Zakhar,

give me your knife.

-Where do I put her? -Let her clean up after herself.

Then take her to me.